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Backline we will probably see: 9. Pienaar 10. M.Steyn 11. Habana 12. F.Steyn 13. JdV 14. Hougaard 15. Lambie I actually like the idea of Hougaard on the wing with Pienaar at scrum-half. Just wished Lambie would take M.Steyn's place even if it does mean we have to play with Kirchner. Edit: Why thank you good sir, and dammit... Lambie noo... so much potential at 10 or even 12...
Originally Posted by Sker Backline we will probably see: 9. Pienaar 10. M.Steyn 11. Habana 12. F.Steyn 13. JdV 14. Hougaard 15. Lambie I actually like the idea of Hougaard on the wing with Pienaar at scrum-half. Just wished Lambie would take M.Steyn's place even if it does mean we have to play with Kirchner. Edit: Why thank you good sir, and dammit... Lambie noo... so much potential at 10 or even 12... -Probably. -So do I, I don't see him as a scrumhalf. -Agree, a massive waste. He is simply not a fullback. He lacks the pace for hitting the line and it is a waste of his playmaking skills. I worry that he will do a Francois and leave. Etzebeth has torn hip cartiledge; Bakkies Botha and Franco van der Merwe are on standby.
Last edited by TRF_Draggs; 06-08-12 at 08:37 PM.
@draggs_XV
Originally Posted by Draggs Don't know if I missed it amongst the bickering, but Juan de Jongh has been called up for JP Pietersen. JP has a fractured thumb A bit of a blow for the Boks in my opinion, as Pietersen has been in great form over the later half of the season (at least when he has been playing on the wing). While I think de Jongh is a good player, I do wonder why Aplon still hasn't been included. Is he carrying an injury that I'm unaware of, or is he just out of favour?
Originally Posted by Draggs Etzebeth has torn hip cartiledge; Bakkies Botha and Franco van der Merwe are on standby. Yeah I read that article too... It would be great if Bakkies can make a return... Originally Posted by TRF_Darwin A bit of a blow for the Boks in my opinion, as Pietersen has been in great form over the later half of the season (at least when he has been playing on the wing). While I think de Jongh is a good player, I do wonder why Aplon still hasn't been included. Is he carrying an injury that I'm unaware of, or is he just out of favour? I think Aplon is out of favour, but it's because HM sees him as a winger and not a fullback, and due to other wingers playing so well, and because they're a bit bigger than Aplon, HM would rather pick them over Aplon
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Aplon not getting selected... the best attacking player in SA... oh wait... attacking... mmmm... opposite to the "park the bus" initiative... oh ya that makes sense now as to why Aplon is not selected...
This can't be Naas Botha.........This man is running with the ball...
Originally Posted by Icemn Aplon not getting selected... the best attacking player in SA... oh wait... attacking... mmmm... opposite to the "park the bus" initiative... oh ya that makes sense now as to why Aplon is not selected... He's 70 something kg...SA famed for their Physicality..if he does not fit into the gameplan the coach has then it's just unlucky
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He's just 74, but he reminds us all how physics work. K = ½ m*v² mass isn't all you can bring... despite what SA coaches use to think.
Aplon would never be selected for NZ though, you can count on that. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's the best attacking player in SA. He's very hot and cold and hasn't really shown this "attacking" talent on the international field where it counts. It doesn't really mean anything if you can do it in Super rugby, but not test level. I'd even say that JP Pietersen, Habana and Mvovo are much better overall players.
Originally Posted by lucky number 7 He's 70 something kg...SA famed for their Physicality..if he does not fit into the gameplan the coach has then it's just unlucky i always find this comment funny... tell me something... why is he then "eligible" for S15... he's playing agaisnt all the NZ players that are goning to play for the NZ national side in any case... or what?? do all the NZ players get "havier/bigger/faster" when they play for the NZ national team??? no its a bull**** excuse, as to why the coach don't want to play him... for what ever reason... for a small guy aplon is good under the high ball... he has the best attack in sa... his defence is brilliant for a small guy... his is moer quick... what is the problem:?
Originally Posted by Icemn i always find this comment funny... tell me something... why is he then "eligible" for S15... he's playing agaisnt all the NZ players that are goning to play for the NZ national side in any case... or what?? do all the NZ players get "havier/bigger/faster" when they play for the NZ national team??? no its a bull**** excuse, as to why the coach don't want to play him... for what ever reason... for a small guy aplon is good under the high ball... he has the best attack in sa... his defence is brilliant for a small guy... his is moer quick... what is the problem:? That's your opinion. He's a good player but i think you are overrating him greatly. He isn't that much of a stand out imo.
Last edited by welshglory; 07-08-12 at 03:02 PM.
Originally Posted by Icemn i always find this comment funny... tell me something... why is he then "eligible" for S15... he's playing agaisnt all the NZ players that are goning to play for the NZ national side in any case... or what?? do all the NZ players get "havier/bigger/faster" when they play for the NZ national team??? no its a bull**** excuse, as to why the coach don't want to play him... for what ever reason... for a small guy aplon is good under the high ball... he has the best attack in sa... his defence is brilliant for a small guy... his is moer quick... what is the problem:? You shouldn't have to say for a small guy.. I don't watch enough to comment on the playing style of the Stormers and how it may contrast with the coaches view of how the boks should play but I know that Aplon is not quite as good as you're making him out to be.
Maybe not the best, but as cover for 14-15, he deserves a spot. De Jongh doesn't offer more than him, IMO. Also... Joe Pietersen totally overlooked... maybe he deserves a chance, anyway it's just the squad for Argentina tour, something can change after that!
Pietersen was outstanding in the first half of the season, but his form hit a bit of a slump. I certainly think he should have been in the squad, but undoubtedly Louis Ludik has been the best South African fullback. Instead, Meyer will ruin the career of someone who could become one of the most talented standoffs of his generation because he can't play Bulleball. Peter Grant is tough to call. I have seen him play some really solid matches for the Stormers, and then seen him just be entirely anonymous. He has the boot that Meyer desires, and better defence and playmaking abilities than Steyn. I'd rather him at outside half if Lambie is out of the question. Who has two thumbs and can't pass, tackle, or run?
Originally Posted by Draggs Peter Grant is tough to call. I have seen him play some really solid matches for the Stormers, and then seen him just be entirely anonymous. He has the boot that Meyer desires, and better defence and playmaking abilities than Steyn. I'd rather him at outside half if Lambie is out of the question. Totally agree. He's not a god, but he's a solid player, a normal working man who can deliver good matches if he's surrounded by good players, good playmaker skills, quite big guy... IMO South Africa won a RWC with a 10 that played almost exactly as Grant uses to play with the Stormers: Butch James. Maybe he just isn't test rugby material, surely most useful than the guy with 2 thumbs (who really seems not to have them...)
Originally Posted by madflyhalf Totally agree. He's not a god, but he's a solid player, a normal working man who can deliver good matches if he's surrounded by good players, good playmaker skills, quite big guy... IMO South Africa won a RWC with a 10 that played almost exactly as Grant uses to play with the Stormers: Butch James. Maybe he just isn't test rugby material, surely most useful than the guy with 2 thumbs (who really seems not to have them...) Both Maritzburg College boys as well. You are saying exactly what I am getting at. OK, Grant isn't a world class outside half, but he offers so much more than Steyn.
There is a reason why Butch James was the starting fly-half and not Derick Hougaard back in 2007. Hougaard is a very static player, just like Morne Steyn. It might help if your whole gameplan revolves around him, but with the pack that is playing now (Bismarck, Coetzee, Mtawarira, Etzebeth) is full of players who are used to a different style. They play in a team that is more all-round and the pack is not there just to please Morne Steyn the way they do in Pretoria. It might sound wrong, but Morne Steyn is bakkie-engine stuck in an Audi car. It doesn't work.
More like an Audi engine in a bakkie, better metaphor.
Originally Posted by Sker More like an Audi engine in a bakkie, better metaphor. Steyn is no where near an Audi Think steam engine...
What exactly have I missed.
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you walk on my dreams." -William Butler Yeats Most pretentious signature 2013
Originally Posted by big ginger 8 What exactly have I missed. A troll, and not a very good one.
Originally Posted by Draggs A troll, and not a very good one. Ah right. Anyway the boks will be competitive even some of their players aren't the the best in the country. People saying they'll lose to Argentina I find that highly unlikely as they are well able to match the physicality IMO Aus are far mTore likely to lose to them. S.A. do need to change if they want to be the best but they're still bloody hard to beat.
Meyer isn't entirely without sense. He says that du Toit would be considered to replace Etzebeth if he was fit. Anybody know how long PSdT is out for? He has been named in our Currie Cup squad, so they must believe he will be fit soon enough.
Originally Posted by Draggs Both Maritzburg College boys as well. You are saying exactly what I am getting at. OK, Grant isn't a world class outside half, but he offers so much more than Steyn. I disagree, I think Steyn and Grant are both equally one dimensional. and based on that, I can see why HM will only pick one of them for his squad. Although, I do think he picked the wrong one this time around as Grant is in way better form at the moment than Steyn
Originally Posted by Draggs Meyer isn't entirely without sense. He says that du Toit would be considered to replace Etzebeth if he was fit. Anybody know how long PSdT is out for? He has been named in our Currie Cup squad, so they must believe he will be fit soon enough. I read that as well and also thought that bodes well. That and the inclusion of Pat Cilliers who I right very highly at tighthead. I think we might struggle to end 2nd in this years edition but I think we might surprise next year with a bit of luck on the injury front and the younguns getting another year of top level rugby under the belt. Lets be fair, Meyer has actually given a few rookies a fair chance already despite the penchant for selecting Bulls 'experience'. We might even surprise this year with Lambie and Ludik in the right places (please, God, surely there is still time for a miracle) and if we manage the breakdown for once. We are going to miss a lot of players unfortunately; C Oosthuizen, Etzebeth, Burger, Brussow, Vermeulen, J Smith, J Goosen, JP Pietersen and Jaco Taute are players that could have come in real handy if it weren't for injury. Also, give guys like Piet van Zyl, Ludik, Pieter Labuschagne, Willie le Roux and Jan Serfontein another year and who knows.. I don't think we are going to struggle with depth at all, maybe depth in experience for a while but certainly not depth in quality.
Last edited by stormer2010; 08-08-12 at 07:45 AM.
All the teams are going to struggle to win in Argentina, I think... Likewise in South Africa and NZ.
There seems to be a few parallels between Lambie and Jeremey Staunton...exactly better start playing him 10....
Originally Posted by welshglory That's your opinion. He's a good player but i think you are overrating him greatly. He isn't that much of a stand out imo. i'm compairing him too all the other players in SA... not NZ in SA he is a standout...
Well i think that Pietersen, Basson (who's out injured) and Mvovo are better attackers on the wing. He's too short to be a fullback and they have better options there. Just because you think he should be in the squad doesn't mean he should.
Originally Posted by welshglory Well i think that Pietersen, Basson (who's out injured) and Mvovo are better attackers on the wing. He's too short to be a fullback and they have better options there. Just because you think he should be in the squad doesn't mean he should. pietersen ? which one? joe or Jp :? basson can't tackle... can't think if i've seen mvovo tackle :? well everytime Aplon touches the ball the whole newlands go "befok", so 50 000 people can't be wrong...
I personally think Aplon should be in there. I'd agree that he is South Africa's best attacking player. And yes, I'd have him in the All Blacks over Guildford. He's not over rated at all in my opinion, he's got an amazing step, a very good turn of pace and compensates extremely well for his lack of size with good technique. He's scored tries this season and last that I don't think any player in South Africa (and for that matter New Zealand and Australia) could. Size is something that kills me, when people criticize an outside back for being too small. If being short and light was a reason not to select a fullback, we'd have never seen Jason Robinson. Someone from Wales saying an outside back is too small to be useful is terribly ironic.
