<div class='quotemain'> Indeed GG, the Tri-Nations is gonna be a thriller this year. Could be the best in years.
Some reports were right, PdV used this Test match to experiment for Tri-nations preparation, I haven't seen Percy play outside center since the 90's and he was there for a good 30+ minutes. This team only had 5 of the 15 players who played in the WC final last year (including 2 player's debuts), so there's more to come from the Boks, especially in the Tri-nations.
Mujati didn't do well,. yes it's his debut but a certain Heinke vd Merwe who has one cap more would of done better, even out of his position at tighthead.
But Bekker! He played well, look very comfortable. He showed up a much more experienced lock.
I'm looking forward to see what team PdV picks for next weekend. No doubt he'll experiment again, hopefully give BEAST!!!, Kankowski and Steyn a start. The atmosphere and intensity will be higher in Pretoria, they don't call it Fortress Loftus for nothing. [/b]
Where must Steyn start? I'm still not totally sure of Jacobs, but he had a good game yesterday.
The biggest concern for me is if Januarie's playing. Bolla played well yesterday so he at least deserve a spot on the bench. But Pienaar also played well when he came on. So will he be dropped for Januarie or will PdV keep the scrummies as is?
Mujati had a shaky start in the scrums. But what more do you expect from a young tighthead on debut. He got settles quickly and he'll only improve the more games he plays. I still think he should've been brought off the bench. Bekker was brilliant in the line outs and at defense. He had a few handling errors, otherwise a solid game. It's good to know we have a replacement for when Matfield retires.
Danie Rossouw didn't really do much and I'd still like to see Kankowski in his place.
The best thing about this game was Percy's try. That blonde streak of lightning gave me the biggest fright! Who knew he still had that much pace left? The pass wasn't even meant for him but he timed it perfectly. I think Grant was actually meant to go instead of Percy, but he played well nonetheless.
Oh and I expect both teams to play better next week. Wales will be trying to prove a point after playing badly yesterday and the boks will be getting used to the new combinations and getting into their rhythm. [/b][/quote]
"Why should Steyn play?" = the question that has every Sharks and/or Bok supporter stumped.
IMO, Steyn should either play 13 or 15. Because firstly, he's a big boy and his physicality will be most effective there, plus his tackling is sound. Secondly, he's unpredictable (I'm talking about the good unpredictable here), has a good step, knows good running lines and comes onto the ball well. His distribution skills and decision making have failed him sometimes but he only turned 21 a month ago, that kind of stuff can be developed.
He should however stay far away from 10 or 12, the Sharks tried him there and he got showed up, especially at 10. He says he wants to play 10, but meh, he would say that.
Onto Jacobs, I don't think Jacobs will be a regular starter for the Tri-Nations either. I used to hate him back in 2002 but I'm sure any Sharks supporter will agree with me that he's been playing good rugby for a couple of years now. I really started liking him when he started running straighter lines and attacking the line with confidence, something he severly lacked back in his early Bok career.
Conradie played well against Wales, no doubt about that, alot of people are eating their words. I've been on his case all week, and I certainly didn't expect him to be so solid. Well played Bolla. But as we all know the Tri-Nations make or break players chances of a Bok spot, and last time around Conradie got showed up by the Aussies and Kiwis. I still think there are atleast 4 other scrum-halves above him.
In order: du Preez, Januarie, Kockett, Vermaak are above him on a consistent basis in the S14 IMO.
I also hope Rossouw gets 'rest'
next week, but he can cover 5 positions which makes it so hard to not include him, just-in-case. Know what I mean? For instance he replaced Botha, a lock, which I assume Kankowski couldn't slot right into it like him.
Mujati... Hmmm... I'm sure the Stormer fans on here already know I don't rate this guy as a Springbok. Gonna go out there and say that the Cape doesn't produce good international props. Visagie and Rautenbach were the last Bok quality props produced in the Cape. However it was quite clear that PdV wanted to play the expansive game by having Steenkamp and Mujati on at the same time, both aren't reknown for their scrummaging but they get around the park well. Dynamic props indeed. Perhaps that's why PdV didn't choose J.du Plessis and H. vd Merwe, both are extremely good scrummager but don't offer much in loose play. As soon as CJ van der Linde came on the scrums settled down a bit, but then got sin binned for that little scuffle he had :lol: I love that dude, so glad the Boks have him.
If Steyn would stop acting like a hyperactive nutter I would pick him as well. In the World Cup there were multiple cases of him trying way too hard and biting off way more than he could chew. Admirable stuff but he needs to remember that theres fourteen other green shirts out on the field there.
He'll stick in my mind for two things: one, the superb DGs against Australia and two, him completely going mad against Fiji and trying to take a long line out in his own 22 to a poor fellow Bok standing in try area. Thankfully, common sense prevailed and the ref brought it back but its moments of madness like them which cost games.
Thankfully, Smit told him to calm the hell down and he was back to his usual self afterwards. [/b]
You think he was a loose cannon in the WC, you should of seen him in the S14! My god, I was ripping my hair out.
