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SA in June

TRF_stormer2010

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2 Months away but I thought it'd be fun to start with the speculations.

How will we do? I for one think we might surprise a few people and put 20 on England. True there will be a new coach and new players and they won't have any time together to speak of but I think the guys will be hungry and out to prove a point and will be smart about selections (at least I pray we do). Also, it's England and lets be honest we reserve our best rugby against England even if it's 2012.

The big question is what will the match-day 22 look like? Will Meyer- like Steve Hofmeyr pleads- 'maak die Bulle almal Bokke' and stick to what he achieved success with at the Bulls (back in the day) and select a team based on the Bulls and the kick-and-chase game? How much influence will Rassie Erasmus have as technical guru (what is his job ***le?) and will his Stormers/Cheetahs connections come into play? Will we stick with experienced guys like JdV, Morne Steyn and Habana because we won't have much time to get anything else sorted, will we take a chance on our form players even if they might not have test experience or will it be some kind of mixture and if so then who gets the nod over whom? Meyer has stated that he is open to picking overseas based players but will he do so as he has indicated by bringing Frans Steyn back to SA that he will favor local players..

This is what I'd like to see ITO a 30 man squad;
1 Dean Greyling (abbrasive and brings a good all-round game to complement his solid scrum-work)
2 Bismarck du Plessis (Bismarck had a slowish start to the season but has shown what he offers is priceless)
3 Pat Cilliers (probably not a popular pick but rate his scrumaging in an out-gunned Lions tight 5 and the amount of work he goes through in open play is huge)
4 Gerhard Mostert (I don't know what he's been up to overseas but based on his games on the away leg of the 3N last year )
5 Eben Etzebeth (one of the revelations of the season IMO)
6 Schalk Burger (if he can get back to his feet after injury) / Siya Kolisi
7 Jacques Potgieter (get him in a green jersey ASAP!)
8 Marcell Coetzee
9 Francois Hougaard (his kicking game is improving not that he needs it as he has a good pass, is a rock in defense and is a danger around the fringes or if the game opens up)
10 Johan Goosen (has shown enough allready in my mind and with Morne Steyn not on the best form I'll back the youngster)
11 Gio Aplon
12 Francois Steyn (might need to get rid of a kilo or two but we need him at 12)
13 Jaque Fourie (still our best bet at 13 IMO)
14 JP Pietersen
15 Patrick Lambie (he has it all and only needs some time at 15 for the Bokke)

16 Werner Kruger / Steven Kitshoff
17 Chiliboy Ralepele / Adriaan Strauss
18 Steven Sykes / Juandre Kruger
19 Duane Vermeulen / Pierre Spies (if he can continue adding to his game) / Lappies Labuschagne (this is my pick for a bolter; he hasn't had a game this season yet with injury but watch out!!)
20 Piet van Zyl / du Preez or Pienaar in from abroad as experienced cover
21 Elton Jantjies
22 Jaco Taute (can cover 13,wing and 15) / Willie le Roux / Robert Ebersohn

So I've gone with a relatively mixed group without
Guthro Steenkamp would he want to play for SA still?
Jannie du Plessis who doesn't add a lot in the loose and has discipline issues
Flip van der Merwe who I think is limited
Andries Bekker has been shown up by his young partner and IMO Kruger as well
Heinrich Brussow as the game doesn't suit him anymore IMO; I don't think a specialist fetcher is as important as it was in 2009
Willem Alberts needs to step it up
Juan Smith needs to get back from the dead
Morne Steyn also limited and off his game
JdV off his game and getting on a bit
JdJ whow in conjunction with JdV means the ball won't get to the wings ever
Brian Habana who is too overeager and a dead end
 
Can't disagree with much you said there, and With most picks I do agree. But, as we have seen numerous times some guys just step up when they're in a green jersey... Heinrich Brussouw for instance never has a bad game in a bok jersey.

As for our Management staff. Heyneke Meyer is a very smart coach, and Rassie too. they have finally the advantage of picking anyone they want and will use each guys strengths to benefit the type of gameplan they'd want to play.

My Opinion: We will go to our traditional strengths - Big Strong forwards, tall locks, nippy scrumhalves, a fly half that punishes the opposition, strong centres and very fast wings and an all round full back... Oh wait, that's how the perfect rugby team should look like. And we have that, in opulance!!

My Squad would be:

1. Dean Greyling / Caleb Oosthuizen
2. Bismarck Du Plessis / Chilliboy Ralapelle
3. Werner Kruger / Pat Cilliers / Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Flip vd Merwe / Eben Etzebeth
5. Andries Bekker / Juandre Kruger
6. Heinrich Brussouw / Schalk Burger
7. Jacques Potgieter / Willem Alberts / Duane Vermeulen / Josh Strauss
8. Pierre Spies / CJ Stander / Nick Koster
9. Francois Hougaard / Jano Vermaak / Piet van Zyl
10. Morne Steyn (yeah i know) / Johan Goosen / Pat Lambie
11. Bjorn Basson / Lwazi Mvovo
12. Francois Steyn / JDV / Andries Strauss
13. Jaque Fourie / JDJ / Alwyn Hollenbach
14. Akona Ndungane / Gio Aplon / JP Pietersen
15. Jaco Taute / Zane Kirchner
 
http://www.sarugby.com/news.cfm?newsid=20046



States in the article that Meyer has apparently been in talks with FdP and Daniesaurus as well...

Not sure how I feel about this. I am sure FdP is still a good player but I for one feel it's time to move on. We should have fielded Hougie in the knock-out rounds of the RWC over an out-of-form FdP, didn't, and couldn't cross the whitewash with all the posession in the world, FdP knocking on in what should have been a sure try to boot... Hougie for me with Piet van Zyl a similar type of player that I'd like to see around the Bok fringes if only to get some exposure. If Du Preez and/or Pienaar come into contention it should be behind Hougaard.

Same thing with Rossouw. Rather give either of Van der Merwe, Mostert and to gain the exposure Etzebeth their chances as they are good enough and how long will Rossouw really be in contention still?

Maybe this is a sentimenatl thing; Meyer wanting to have the players he helped develop at the Bulls play 1 or 2 matches with him with the Bokke.. can't say I'd agree.
 
du Preez admittedly by his standards had a poor World Cup, but he was the best scrum half in the world for 2007 until 2010 and at aged 30 I think he has a couple more years at international level left

I find it hard to judge Hougaard, most of the times I've seen him he's been on the wing, South Africans seem to rate him very highly considering he is still unproven at scrum half at international level
 
Meyer has said that he will see each game as a must-win so maybe he will not be looking to bring in more than 1 or 2 rookies in a match. We could very easily see a starting XV that goes

Steenkamp, Du Plessis, Du Plessis, Rossouw, Bekker, Brussow, Burger, Spies, Du Preez, Steyn, Habana, Steyn, Fourie, Pietersen, Kirschner. Would a team with half of these names missing and newer faces and hunger be any less competitive? I doubt it.

The main reason I want the likes of Hougaard, Goosen, Etzebeth, Taute, Lambie, Coetzee, Potgieter, Kruger, Kitshoff, Greyling etc to get their chances is I don't want to see these guys snapped up by the lure of overseas contracts when they are left out to dry in SA for 2 more years.
 
Well, here we go!!! I am so excited to see some regular Test rugby again! This is where things start and this will be fun. Since the appointment of Meyer as our new head coach, there has been a lot of speculation. 4 of our 5 Super Rugby teams are playing very exciting and don't rely on the old kick and rush play we know from our Boks. Will this turn of events have influence on the type of rugby played by our national team? I hope so!

In Durban we have the Sharks who have always been a very open ball-in-hand team. We failed to put it to good use and win a Super Rugby ***le, but making the final 3 times in 4 years in the Currie Cup shows consistency. With the likes of Mvovo, Pietersen, Viljoen, Lambie and Coetzee they have a thrilling group of players.

In Cape Town the Stormers are top notch once again with massive depth in the lock-position. Etzebeth and Elstadt are 2 examples of the great development of talents. With players like Aplon, Vermeulen and Kolisi are the biggest assets together with captain Schalk Burger. The exciting play is also present in Bloemfontein and, since last year, in Jo'burg. The 2 smaller franchises (Cheetahs and Lions) have some talented youngsters coming through and winning matches for them against tough opposition.

All in all, it's difficult to predict. I hope Meyer shows some balls and calls up young guns. My preferred match-day 22 would be this:

1. Dean Greyling

Has shown he is able to scrum against tough opposition and has many years still to go. Could be a serious threat to Mtawarira for the loosehead position

2. Bismarck du Plessis

This one is the easiest to pick. Bismarck du Plessis is the best hooker in the world, easy as that. Now he gets a chance. He has to stay sharp though, with Adriaan Strauss getting better and better

3. Werner Kruger

This was a tough one. Jannie du Plessis, Cilliers and WP Nel have not shown the form needed to be an asset on the Bok team. Kruger is the most consistent one of the available options

4. Eben Etzebeth

Still young, but man... This guy is a new and improved Bekker. I do think he needs a solid experienced man next to him. This is one for many years to come

5. Andries Bekker

Has earned his chance after waiting for years. Matfield is not there anymore, Bekker has the chance to step up.

6. Marcell Coetzee

Biggest talent we have for the loose trio. He can play each of those positions and will do so in style. Plays blindside for the Sharks but is equally impressive openside.

7. Schalk Burger (C)

The captain of our new Bok squad. What else can be said about it? Has grown a lot mentally these last few years.

8. Duane Vermeulen

This was a tough one. Jacques Potgieter deserves a spot in the starting line-up, but Vermeulen has earned it. It was a coin toss between the two.

9. Francois Hougaard

Definite choice for the scrum-half position. Nobody even comes close to Hougaard.

10. Patrick Lambie

Goosen, Jantjies, Grant, Morne Steyn... It's nice to have someone kicking 60 metres or score dropgoals, but I want consistency. Lambie is the biggest talent we have and he is more all-round than the other options. Linebreaks, offloads, place kicking, tee kicking. His talent would be wasted at full-back.

11. JP Pietersen

Strong on defense, the ability to push defenders away on a rush and much better than Habana on current form

12. Francois Steyn

Was the big revelation this past year during the World Cup. Coming back to SA and the future inside center, with JdV getting older

13. Juan de Jongh

Not picing Fourie, since I only want home-based players in the squad. Still young, but a lot of talent

14. Gio Aplon

Best winger together with JPP. Way ahead of Mvovo (inconsistent) and Basson (poor on defense)

15. Riaan Viljoen

Deserves a chance. Was invited in 2009 but failed to make a good impression. Has stepped up lately and is one of the positive aspects of the 2012 Sharks season.

16. Adriaan Strauss

17. Tendai Mtawarira

18. Juandre Kruger

19. Jacques Potgieter

20. Piet van Zyl/Charl McLeod

21. Jaco Taute

22. Johan Goosen

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk
 
i know heyneke said that he will always select the strongest team possible, but:

[h=1]Ras-eise gestel aan Bok-breier[/h] 2012-03-31 23:17

Stephen Nell




Heyneke Meyer, Springbok-rugbyafrigter, gaan aan 'n rasvereiste moet voldoen met die kies van die Springbok-spanne vir vanjaar se toetse.

Mnr. Oregan Hoskins, president van die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyunie (Saru), het Vrydag op *Saru se jaarvergadering in Kaapstad gewaarsku die regering sal transformasie afdwing as 'n sportsoort nie aan vereistes voldoen nie.

Dié waarskuwing gaan druk op Meyer plaas om sigbaar op toetsvlak aan die regeringsvereistes te voldoen en veral om meer etniese swart spelers deel van sy Bok-groepe te maak.

"As ons dit nie op ons eie vermag nie, is daar mense wat dit vír ons kan doen. Die departement van sport gaan dié maand 'n transformasiekomitee op die been bring om elke sportfederasie te monitor. Ons sal jaarliks terugvoering kry of ons slaag," het Hoskins gesê.

Hoskins het nasiebou uitgelig as een van rugby se groot prestasies sedert eenwording in 1992.

Die nasiebou-mandaat kan net met wenspanne vervul word, maar dit beteken nie hulle moet oorwegend wit wees nie, het hy gesê.

"Hoeveel kragtiger sal dit nie wees as ons dit doen met spanne wat ons nasie se demografie weerspieël nie?"

Hoskins het gesê die Springbok-afrigter benodig die hulp van provinsies om 'n nasionale span te bou waarop alle Suid-Afrikaners trots kan wees. Saru kon van 2008 tot 2011 op grasie uit politieke kringe staatmaak omdat hulle in Peter de Villiers 'n gekleurde Bok-afrigter gehad het.

"Daar is nou al 20 jaar lank deur ons en ander federasies om tyd gevra of aangevoer dat dit buite ons beheer is," het Hoskins gesê.

"Daardie verskonings gaan nie meer deug nie. Dis nou die regte tyd vir rugby om leierskap aan alle sport in Suid-Afrika te toon."

Suid-Afrika het sedert 1995 nog nie 'n Wêreldbeker-toernooi met 'n getransformeerde span afgesluit nie. Die Bokke het in 1995, 1999 en 2003 die toernooie met een gekleurde speler in hul beginspan afgesluit. Daar was twee gekleurde spelers in 2007 se wenspan en drie in die span wat verlede jaar se kwarteindstryd teen Australië verloor het. Nie een van bogenoemde was 'n etniese swart speler nie.

guess he'll never be able to select the strongest squad after reading that. :mad: I CAN'T &^%*& STAND THIS CRAP!!!
 
Eze, I like your side, but wouldn't it make more sense for Schalk to play openside, and Coetzee blind?
I'd also consider Potgieter to start, tough call.
 
i know heyneke said that he will always select the strongest team possible, but:

Ras-eise gestel aan Bok-breier

2012-03-31 23:17

Stephen Nell




Heyneke Meyer, Springbok-rugbyafrigter, gaan aan ’n rasvereiste moet voldoen met die kies van die Springbok-spanne vir vanjaar se toetse.

Mnr. Oregan Hoskins, president van die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyunie (Saru), het Vrydag op *Saru se jaarvergadering in Kaapstad gewaarsku die regering sal transformasie afdwing as ’n sportsoort nie aan vereistes voldoen nie.

Dié waarskuwing gaan druk op Meyer plaas om sigbaar op toetsvlak aan die regeringsvereistes te voldoen en veral om meer etniese swart spelers deel van sy Bok-groepe te maak.

“As ons dit nie op ons eie vermag nie, is daar mense wat dit vír ons kan doen. Die departement van sport gaan dié maand ’n transformasiekomitee op die been bring om elke sportfederasie te monitor. Ons sal jaarliks terugvoering kry of ons slaag,†het Hoskins gesê.

Hoskins het nasiebou uitgelig as een van rugby se groot prestasies sedert eenwording in 1992.

Die nasiebou-mandaat kan net met wenspanne vervul word, maar dit beteken nie hulle moet oorwegend wit wees nie, het hy gesê.

“Hoeveel kragtiger sal dit nie wees as ons dit doen met spanne wat ons nasie se demografie weerspieël nie?â€

Hoskins het gesê die Springbok-afrigter benodig die hulp van provinsies om ’n nasionale span te bou waarop alle Suid-Afrikaners trots kan wees. Saru kon van 2008 tot 2011 op grasie uit politieke kringe staatmaak omdat hulle in Peter de Villiers ’n gekleurde Bok-afrigter gehad het.

“Daar is nou al 20 jaar lank deur ons en ander federasies om tyd gevra of aangevoer dat dit buite ons beheer is,†het Hoskins gesê.

“Daardie verskonings gaan nie meer deug nie. Dis nou die regte tyd vir rugby om leierskap aan alle sport in Suid-Afrika te toon.â€

Suid-Afrika het sedert 1995 nog nie ’n Wêreldbeker-toernooi met ’n getransformeerde span afgesluit nie. Die Bokke het in 1995, 1999 en 2003 die toernooie met een gekleurde speler in hul beginspan afgesluit. Daar was twee gekleurde spelers in 2007 se wenspan en drie in die span wat verlede jaar se kwarteindstryd teen Australië verloor het. Nie een van bogenoemde was ’n etniese swart speler nie.

guess he'll never be able to select the strongest squad after reading that. :mad: I CAN'T &^%*& STAND THIS CRAP!!!

The race monster raises it's ugly head again. Of the players in SA only 2 ethnic black players really deserve a Bok jersey on merit in Ralepele and Kolisi and then again only in the extended squad behind Du Plessis and Strauss- in Ralepele's case- and a whole host of possible players in the case of Kolisi particularly as him, Coetzee and Potgieter are all in their maiden S15 seasons and of the three I think most punters would pick the latter two ahead of Kolisi and then there are Burger, Smith, Alberts, Spies, Vermeuelen, Deysel etc to contend with. I guess only time will tell how this unfolds (or rather how this particular douche hits the fan).

I hate our government and Hoskins is a spineless ***; bends over backwards for both the ANC and SANZAR to the detriment of our rugby.
 
Really cannot wait for this, already growing tired of Super Rugby.

Looking forward to seeing what kind of approach Meyer takes when selecting his squad, whether he will go for an experienced them or give some deserving youngsters a go. But I feel Meyer and Erasmus are good coaches and will do what is best for our team going forward, because we are in a rebuilding phase.

I think we need to give guys like Coetzee, Etzebeth and Goosen a run who have all had great Super rugby debuts this season. I personally would like Goosen at 10, with Lambie at fullback as I feel Lambie is more than capable at the back which he proved in last years World Cup. It will be interesting to see if Habana plays, he is far past his best and at the moment is quite far down on the list of wingers available. Props in my opinion are bit of lottery at the moment, with Coenie Oosthuizen and Dean Greyling being the better two in S.A, however both are loose heads. A lot of people have been impressed with Cilliers, and to be fair is probably the best tight head available, but that is not saying much. We just have not had a good tight head for quite a while, hopefully someone steps up. Hooker is a given with Bismark, with Chilliboy and Strauss fighting for the bench spot. The other lock position is also bit of mystery with Bekker being the favourite, but playing well below his 2010 form. As a biased Sharks fan I personally would still like Alberts as eighth man as he has been solid in every game he has played for the Boks, and only just recently came back from injury and had a stormer last week for the Sharks.

Either way it's going to be a cracker, and I cannot wait for the squad announcement and more importantly the game itself. Here's hoping we throw the ball a round a bit.
 
For me the rookies that absolutely HAVE to be in for a debut in June are Goosen if only on the bench and Etzebeth and J Potgieter starting at 4 and 6. The rest I could wait for without getting frustrated at the selectors (though I'd like Coetzee and P van Zyl to start getting a role in an extended squad sooner rather than later and am keeping my eye on Willie le Roux and Rob Ebersohn). Duane Vermeulen, Riaan Viljoen and Pat Cilliers aren't newbies but I could get just as excited about them becoming a part of the Bok set-up.
 
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The race monster raises it's ugly head again. Of the players in SA only 2 ethnic black players really deserve a Bok jersey on merit in Ralepele and Kolisi and then again only in the extended squad behind Du Plessis and Strauss- in Ralepele's case- and a whole host of possible players in the case of Kolisi particularly as him, Coetzee and Potgieter are all in their maiden S15 seasons and of the three I think most punters would pick the latter two ahead of Kolisi and then there are Burger, Smith, Alberts, Spies, Vermeuelen, Deysel etc to contend with. I guess only time will tell how this unfolds (or rather how this particular douche hits the fan).

I hate our government and Hoskins is a spineless ***; bends over backwards for both the ANC and SANZAR to the detriment of our rugby.


2 more ethnic black players that i wouldn't mind having in the squad as well is beast and mvovo.
 
2 more ethnic black players that i wouldn't mind having in the squad as well is beast and mvovo.

I totally forgot about Beast. I think he's going to have his work cut out to make the no.1 his own and keep it. The competition can only be good. Mvovo certainly has the ability. I'd like to see him work on his workrate a bit; get more involved. Brian Mujati? We need a good tighthead with J du Plessis and Pat Cilliers our best options. Kruger is solid enough but nothing won't worry any international looseheads. The ANC would probably moan that both Mtawarira and Mujati were born in Zimbabwe though if I know my ruling party.
 
I totally forgot about Beast. I think he's going to have his work cut out to make the no.1 his own and keep it. The competition can only be good. Mvovo certainly has the ability. I'd like to see him work on his workrate a bit; get more involved. Brian Mujati? We need a good tighthead with J du Plessis and Pat Cilliers our best options. Kruger is solid enough but nothing won't worry any international looseheads. The ANC would probably moan that both Mtawarira and Mujati were born in Zimbabwe though if I know my ruling party.

also thought about that...gonna be interesting.
 
I totally forgot about Beast. I think he's going to have his work cut out to make the no.1 his own and keep it. The competition can only be good. Mvovo certainly has the ability. I'd like to see him work on his workrate a bit; get more involved. Brian Mujati? We need a good tighthead with J du Plessis and Pat Cilliers our best options. Kruger is solid enough but nothing won't worry any international looseheads. The ANC would probably moan that both Mtawarira and Mujati were born in Zimbabwe though if I know my ruling party.

As long as they're black they wouldn't put up too big of a fight... and with yesterday's statement, I think the ANC will have their hands full with Juju and his youth league idiots...

For one thing, our Sports Minister will back whoever is picked as he's one guy who looks at results... and with the new plan of getting developed players more into the system, they are on the right track....

Back to the team - I was never a Mujati fan, his scrumming technique was always IMO a bit off... He got pinged a lot and broke the bind as well. Werner Kruger is solid and he can play both loosehead and tighthead... not a bad option to keep on the bench...
 
Mujati's been very good with Northampton who many would say have the most dominant scrum in Europe. I'd say he could ver well make the 'boks.
 
Hmm, as much as I'd like to see some young players in the side we also don't want to over expose anyone, they do need to be managed well or we could ruin them.

I doubt Heyneke will have more than one debutant in the starting 15, with probably 2 more on the bench. I definitely think Etzebeth should at the very least crack the bench as well as the stand-out of our young loosies (Potgieter has probably been the best thus far but I could see Coetze, Stander or Kolisi cracking the nod depending on form) and a promising back line player like Rob Ebersohn or Taute.

Other than that I don't see him doing anything drastic, I can live with Johan Goosen getting a season or two of Super Rugby before we rush him into the side. Fly-half is a hell of a lot of responsibility for a young player as Elton discovered to his detriment.

Also Hougie must start, even if FdP would be marginally better (in June) Hougie needs to be groomed, FdP will only get worse (especially playing in Japan).
 
So we can rule out Jannie and McLeod now.
Scrum half might be an issue for the Boks if they decide to pick SA-based players. Sarel has been in good form and perhaps worthy of inclusion into the 22.

Etzebeth and Bekker would be my second row partnership. Both will secure valuable lineout ball, and have good workrates in the loose.
Back row is open to discussion. Brussow at 6, though. Potgieter and Vermeulen would be my picks right now.
 
So we can rule out Jannie and McLeod now.
Scrum half might be an issue for the Boks if they decide to pick SA-based players. Sarel has been in good form and perhaps worthy of inclusion into the 22.

Etzebeth and Bekker would be my second row partnership. Both will secure valuable lineout ball, and have good workrates in the loose.
Back row is open to discussion. Brussow at 6, though. Potgieter and Vermeulen would be my picks right now.

Heard a lot about Piet van Zyl, but have not seen a whole lot of him. Don't understand why Vermaak went to the Bulls, he could of been an easy starter anywhere else and made a claim to be a regular Bok, but instead is stuck (rightly so) on the bench for the Bulls.

Developing a man crush on Etzebeth, the kid is just awesome. He has HUGE future ahead of him, needs to start for the Boks. Obviously Bekker is the obvious one to partner him, seeing as they play together at the Stormers and there is not much else to choose from...Kruger possibly?

And like you say, the backrow is bit of lottery at the moment. I do however think Willem Alberts should be considered a strong candidate for eighthman, he has yet to have a bad game for the Boks, and is slowly finding his form again.

Really hoping to see #10 Goosen and #15 Lambie.
 
How will we do?

Morne Steyn also limited and off his game

I´d say RSA win two tests and England one.

My Springbok team would be

15 Lambie
14 Aplon
13 de Jongh
12 F Steyn
11 Mvovo
10 Pienaar
9 Houggard
8 Spies
7 Burger (captain)
6 Brussouw
5 Bekker
4 Mostert
3 Kruger
2 du Plessis
1 Mtawarira

Bench

16 Chiliboy
17 Botha
18 Etzebeth
19 Potgieter
20 du Preez
21 Jantjies
22 Pietersen

FYI I was happy to read a knoledgeable person slam Morné Steyn!
 

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