2008 Tri-Nations - Adi Exposé

Game 1 v New Zealand

11:30 - Adi grabs Ali Williams but slips the tackle as he proceeds to make several of metres with Adi well behind him.

07:43 - Adi rushes up hesitantly upon Smith and allows him to pass and then shunts him with the shoulder (Deep in our half)

10:50 - Adi grabs Nonu, who he allowed to get ahead of him, from behind. Nonu makes a  metre before going to ground.

11:41 - Adi takes up Guard position at ruck on NZ 22m line.

12:09 - Butch taps and goes deep into NZ 22, he pops a pass to Adi who proceeds to make no ground loses the ball with a wild pass after turning in the tackle. Jean cleans up loose ball and takes it forward.

12:50 - Adi runs into Guard position at first ruck off scrum in NZ 22.

14:50 - Adi receives pass from Matfield and runs at Nonu. Nonu wraps him at and turns him, allowing Rokocoko to immediately contest the ball. No ground made.

16:02 - Adi receives pass from Smit but fumbles it. Odwa regathers it airborn to keep it alive.

18:13 - Adi drifts and wraps Sivivatu who makes a meter before offloading. Bok 22

27:15 - Receives pass fron Big Joe. Smith smashes Adi to the ground. Penalty NZ, Adi holding on

30:10 - Chip by Carter, Adi is left for dead and only just manages to latch onto the back of Smith long after he passes.

36:15 - On the blindside midway in our half, lateral pass to Jean who bursts between Sivivatu and Carter. Jean puts Habana away for a try.

38:35 - Hore overthrows lineout. Jean collects, and hands it to adi close quarters. Adi slips through the group of players to make it to the halfway line.

38:57 - Adi gathers a grubber. Passes to Butch who clears.

40:17 - Assisted tackle on Smith with no effect.

40:55 - Adi joins ruck.

42:59 - Adi assisted tackle with no effect.

43:16 - Assisted tackle with no effect. Big Joe drives All Black backwards over Adi

44:01 - Muliaina is wrapped by Adi, but breaks tackle only to be downed by Bakkies in our 22.

46:43 - Adi joins ruck.

50:18 - Adi joins ruck just outside our 22.

53:34 - Adi joins ruck.

53:53 - Adi latches on Nonu but slips the tackle.

55:48 - Lateral pass from Jean to Adi across the face of our tryline. Adi immediately sends a pass to Habana without fixing Nonu who is allowed to drift and cut off Habana on the inside. 

57:07 - A big burst by Nonu into our 22. Ali Williams breaks an Adi tackle from subsequent ruck.

59:02 - Adi brings Sivivatu down laterally and authoratively.

60:00 - Juan fixes his man and puts Adi through, Adi then grubbers into All Black, Bok lineout.

63:00 - All Black stumbles, Adi prevents him from getting up.

63:40 - Collects a knock-on directly into his arms.

66:36 - Adi joins ruck.

66:49 - Out wide Adi grubbers, All Blacks collect in 22.

67:44 - Assisted tackle.

67:54 - Tackles from offside position. No effect though.

70:00 - Adi left for dead as Nonu rips through Bok defence. Tracking back he stumbles over players.

72:49 - Frans sends a long pass to Adi out wide; runs across Smith and to his outside shoulder. He completely ignores Habana who was outside him, but who cut inside looking for an offload. Habana cleans Rudi Wolf off Adi to retain possession.

79:31 - Smith runs across Adi who falls and clutches his ankle. Jean comes in and puts
        Smith down.

78:37 - Adi joint tackle.

Game 2 v New Zealand

01:28 - Adi joins ruck.

06:28 - Adi joins ruck.

06:36 - Adi cuts between Thompson (outside) and Williams (inside). Sees Muliaina and passes more than a metre in front of him to Habana on his inside.

07:01 - Adi receives pass inside NZ 22 but is crunched backwards by Williams.

10:35 - Just outside NZ 22, Adi passes to nowhere into the middle of the field. It bobbles towards touch until Juan gathers and sends JPP down the touchline.

10:46 - Adi joins ruck.

13:23 - Muliaina blasts through Adi's inside shoulder making a good couple of metres.

13:33 - Adi receives pass inside 22, clears just outside the 22. All Black lineout.

15:13 - Adi makes late shoulder shunt on Nonu.

22:47 - Hands it to Big Joe at close quarters.

22:54 - Adi joins ruck.

25:56 - Adi joins ruck.

28:53 - Muliaina runs at Adi, Adi slips the tackle and allows Muliaina through to make it deep into our half before eventually scragging him from behind.

29:39 - Big Joe takes contact and slips a pass to Adi, Adi shuffles it to Jean without drawing the defence. Jean is guided by three All Blacks into touch.

30:28 - Adi out wide lateral pass to JPP, again without engaging a defender. JPP pushed into touch inside NZ 22. Try blown.

37:24 - Assisted tackle, breaks away from ruck thereafter.

39:31 - Receives pass the skip passes to Matfield.

40:45 - Shoots out of the line and hits into All Black nowhere near ball. Eventually makes his way to Muliaina and scrags him down from behind over a couple of metres.

43:00 - Adi tracks back and collects a loose pass from NZ knock-on, pass from ground to JPP.

43:49 - Muliaina drags Adi backwards and offloads to Nonu.

45:00 - Scrags Smith by the ankles while Juan smashed him to the ground. 

47:00 - Subbed for Frans Steyn.

Game 4 v New Zealand

02:19 - Adi, at inside centre, shoots out of the line at Nonu, Nonu passes long before Adi arrives.

11:19 - Du Preez sends a round-the-corner pass to Adi sending him clean through. Adi flips a high pass over Kahui to Monty right on the touchline. Monty flips it back to Adi who goes to ground. Boks infringe, Nz scrum in NZ 22.

20:12 - Adi rushes up to tackle Kahui; Kahui shrugs him off.

20:37 - Adi receives pass from Du Preez. He shuffles a few steps with McCaw in front of him. He tries to attack the outside shoulder of McCaw but is brought to ground and turned over.

24:35 - Jean passes from ruck base to Adi right in front of NZ's tryline. Adi goes it alone in front of So'oialo, Thorne and Carter. He blows the whole move with Boks out wide as he is turned over and the All Blacks.

25:15 - Assisted tackle, All Blacks recycle quickly.

27:33 - Adi joins ruck.

30:54 - Adi joins ruck but detaches to clean up ball bobbling out of ruck with a quick pass backwards to Juan.

34:01 - Adi passes lateraly to Bakkies deep in NZ without engaging defence. He then joins the subsequent ruck and tries to drive it up but is pushed backwards. Boks penalised for holding on and NZ clear the ball.

35:19 - Nonu and Smith drifting closely. Adi passes from static position a good metre away from Smith to Monty rushing into the line outside of him. Smith moves out and tackles Monty.

38:24 - Assisted tackle.

38:37 - Attempted tackle missed, joins immediate ruck.

41:15 - Head-on tackle successful.

41:32 - Leads a double tackle with Jean on Muliaina, who is driven backwards.

43:18 - Joins ruck and wins ball. Nz penalised.

47:32 - Adi joins ruck.

49:27 - Adi chases a Butch chip into NZ 22 but misses tackle on Muliaina.

49:56 - Jean nudges Adi from behind to join a ruck, which he does.

56:14 - Adi drags down Smith just outside Bok 22.

57:36 - Adi joins ruck.

58:35 - Adi passes from ruck base to Butch.

69:30 - Adi receives lateral pass from Watson, doesn't draw Nonu but Smith shoots out of the line which JPP to break away from Adi's unexpected skip pass.

69:36 - Adi joins ruck.

75:48 - Adi joins ruck following kick-off.

79:42 - Adi recives pass from Watson. Runs into three All Blacks and a metre or so.

Game 5 v Australia

01:50 - Adi joins ruck right in front of Aussie tryline.

01:57 - Adi receives pass from Du Preez, is double tackled and driven backwards but presents ball cleanly for Beast to pick and drive.

03:53 - Adi steps inside Giteau who over-commits to the drift. Makes good ground before offloading back in the tackle to Juan. Boks make it inside Aussie half.

04:09 - Adi at first receiver with lateral pass to Butch.

04:15 - Adi rushes in to grab ball from ruck base, Du Preez continues regardless.

04:57 - Adi clears Aussie scrum half out of ruck.

05:03 - Joint tackle.

06:43 - Joint tackle, grabs Mortlock by the ankle and drives inwards and Jean crunches him head-on.

10:30 - Out wide on halfway line, CJ charges towards defender who stands off and waits for the pass. CJ passes to Adi who takes the contact and offloads to Bismarck sending him through to make good ground and with one man to beat.

17:32 - Adi drifts across tracking Mortlock, he lines him up and thumps him to the
        ground side-on.

19:26 - Joins ruck inside Aussie 22.

23:05 - Joins ruck.

23:36 - A joint tackle with Beast.

24:52 - Joins with two other Boks to drive Aussies back deep in our half after Nokwe gets turned over.

26:15 - Joins Juan in piling into an Aussie pick and drive in front of Bok tryline.

28:35 - Butch with a deceptive grubber restart; Adi joins following ruck.

36:20 - Adi rushes into ruck then scoops up ball to Du Preez to allow momentum in a good attacking movement.

36:41 - Adi at first receiver again, sends it to Butch.

36:51 - Joins ruck.

38:51 - Dragged back nearly two meters by Aussie No.22.

40:59 - Palu loses ball during an attempted Jean tackle, Adi rushes inwards to send Aussie to the ground just as he regathers loose ball. Beast immediately joins to add some grunt and drive them backwards.

42:10 - Adi joins ruck after a Jean and Du Preez burst deep into Ausie territory.

50:38 - Adi rushes back to beat Tuquiri to a Mitchell grubber thus preventing a certain try. Ball grounded by Adi in our in goal area.

51:37 - Adi attempts tackle on Aussie ball carrier in front of our try line. He is grabbed, lifted off the ground with one hand and thrown backwards.

51:57 - Assisted tackle, Juan grabs Giteau by the legs and Adi pushes him down. Schalk goes for the ball and we get the penalty for Giteau holding on.

53:36 - Du Preez takes contact and sends a deft backwards flick pass to Adi who runs at Mortlock and sends Jean in for the crash ball. Jean turned over.

53:55 - Bismarck cleans up a bobbling ball and runs at Giteau, stopped dead in his tracks but passes back to Adi. Paul cuts Adi down instantly but Adi slaps ball into Beast's hands and the attacking movement continues.

55:32 - Boks attack flat off a scrum on Australia's 22m line. Ryan Cross falls trying to scrag Jean who offloads to Adi. Adi brought down near Aussie tryline. Aussie counter ruck secures possession.

57:32 - Lateral pass from Jean, Adi grubbers between Mortlock and Cross for Monty and Nokwe to chase.

58:19 - Du Preez passes from ruck base to Adi who skip passes to Schalk out wide. Receives pass from Beast at next ruck and passes to CJ who crashes it up.

59:30 - Aussies attack off lineout in Bok half; Tahu is brought down by Jean and Adi immediately attacks the ball. Mortlock and Smith clear him off the ball.

60:06 - Aussies to work it wide then back to the middle where Jean shoots out of line looking for an intercept and Allows Australia to pour into and behind our defence. Adi is swarmed by Tuquiri as ball carrier and Mitchell and is beaten. Aussie score vital try.

62:26 - Jean clumsily looses the ball in contact, Adi cleans up the loose ball and gives to Jantjies. Play wrongly called ball for an Adi knock-on.

64:13 - Boks drive it up in Aussie 22 through multiple phases. Adi at ruck base, picks up ball and runs through an unprotected ruck for an easy try.

70:21 - Adi attempts to join ruck in Aussie 22 but is cleared out.

70:25 - Jantjes passes wide to Monty. Monty sees Tuquiri and the space inside of him as well as Adi coming in on Tuquiri's blind spot. Monty draws Tuquiri then passes inside to Phil Waugh, George Smith and Aussie lock are bunched at the ruck and Waugh falls short of clipping Adi. Drew Mitchell comes inside and grabs Adi's upper body but Adi is able to turn and dot down for a try. 

74:57 - Jantjes and Adi double tackle Drew Mitchell, both are pushed backwards before Schalk dives on top of the three to bring them to ground.

76:12 - CJ lateral pass to Adi out wide, Adi approaches Mumm before passing to Big Joe.

79:23 - Quick tap and go by Januarie, he passes laterally to Jean who passes quickly to Adi. Mitchell over-commits and rushes in hard on Adi who passes to Jantjes who loses a rather high pass by Adi.

80:00 - Adi tries to latch onto Palu but gets beaten by him. Adi continues by tracking in behind Palu, who offloads in a Jantjes tackle to, to tackle the recipient Tuquiri into touch. 

Game 6 v Australia

06:02 - Adi attempts to clean up loose ball but is held back by Palu.

07:17 - Adi joins ruck midway into Aussie territory.

08:25 - Adi joins ruck near Aussie 22m line.

15:41 - Adi joins ruck a third of the way into Aussie territory.

16:01 - Aussies breakout from their own half, Tuquiri is put clean through but slaps the ball down. Adi regathers loose ball and carries it into touch with the help of Giteau.

17:00 - Adi joins ruck on Bok 22m line.

18:20 - Adi rushes out of the line to tackle Tahu who steps him and leaves Adi clutching dirt.

18:34 - Adi takes on Ben Robinson head-on and is drive into the Bok 22.

21:34 - Giteau goes on the run into our half and he attacks inside Adi who turns and clutches his legs and brings him down. Giteau offloads to Palu who offloads to Tuquiri and the Aussies are in our 22.

22:08 - Adi over commits to the tackle on Mortlock who angles out, he passes back inside and Palu runs into Adi's now empty channel.

24:56 - Jean bumbles around and misses Du Preez's bullet pass, Adi regathers and passes to Odwa who sets up Nokwe for another try.

28:45 - Adi joins ruck just outside Aussie 22.

31:04 - Adi darts towards ruck and gets in Du Preez's way, he sends a wobbly pass to Schalk.

32:43 - Butch sends a kick deep in Aussie half. Ashley-Cooper runs it back but has Butch, Adi and Odwa in front of him. Butch on the inside of Adi cuts off AC's route inside Adi andd Odwa is covering the outside. Adi proceeds to grapple AC and bring him to ground, Odwa instantly contests the ball.

38:23 - Adi at first receiver, lateral pass to Bekker. Adi joins following ruck.

40:07 - Schalk with a pass to ground aimed at Adi, Adi regathers and kicks downfield.

40:18 - AC runs it back and eventually tackled by Jean, Adi immediately contests ball.

40:36 - Adi joins ruck near Aussie 22m line.

41:00 - Bismarck gets ball out wide with Adi inside. Bismarck prefers to stand in tackle and swat at opponents. Adi calls for the ball but Bismarck ignores him, eventually Adi joins onto Bismarck and drives them both to ground, Du Preez recycles quickly.

45:43 - Joint tackle with Jean on Mortlock.

44:05 - Jean runs at Polota-Nau who misses Jean completely, Giteau cuts in to cover but Jean offloads to Adi. Adi runs through clear as outside backs over commit to the drift and are left for dead. Last Aussie defender, Peter Hynes, falls over trying to reach Adi as he dots down for a try.

52:35 - Adi at first receiver, pass backwards to Butch.

55:31 - Jean tackles Mortlocl head on and starts driving him backwards. Adi darts in to assist but leaves his channel undefended, Mortlock offloads to Giteau who runs into the space left unprotected and sends Mitchell in for a try.

58:55 - Paul blasts in between Pienaar and Adi. Adi the secondary tackler struggles to hold him back as does Pienaar, as Paul drives forward for good ground.

61:15 - Jean sends a chip into Aussie 22, it bobbles around and into their in-goal area. Mitchell gathers loose ball but Adi dumps him from behind.

64:15 - Tuquiri taps-and-goes inside his 22 but is like a lost sheep, he is swarmed by Boks and offloads to AC who is taken ball and all by Adi and to ground.

65:43 - Mortlock shoots the ball back nearly a third of the field to nobody, Tuquiri  rushes back to gather loose ball but is downed by Jean. Adi dives in to contest ball and wins a turnover with Jantjes and Pienaar on either side of ruck to attack. Pienaar boots it into touch for a lineout in Aus 22.

67:02 - Adi joins ruck to contest ball, Boks win penalty in Aus 22 as Aussies hold on.

69:50 - Adi joins ruck.

71:30 - Adi shoots out of the line to tackle Hynes, he misses completely. Aussies make it deep into our half.

71:59 - Adi latches onto AC but is dragged halfway into our 22.

73:00 - Subbed
 

Conclusion: Adi was brutally exposed by New Zealand but did manage to redeem himself in the second Aussie test. He was less than impactful in the Aussie rout the following week, showing vulnerabilities on defence again. In no way is Adi better than Fourie, it was effectively the same substandard showings as 2002 and in 2009. I credit him for at least trying, and the idea of using him as a link closer in, particularly between Du Preez and Butch, allowing Butch more impact further out, did in fact look promising. He was more prominent at the breakdown than Bismarck and looked slightly more assured in the last two tests. In the end, he was considerably below Fourie's standard at all points of the 2008 Tri-Nations. Case closed.

What else did I learn from this review?

Bismarck was a disaster again, three or four strong carries throughout the campaign and no presence at the breakdown; just like the 2009 season and onwards. Spies was a solid counter-rucker and good ball carrier, showed little vulnerability on defence, much the same as 2009 and the World Cup last year. Bekker was much better than I recall. Not quite filling in the shoes of Bakkies but he did have a good work rate. It was his best season for the Boks, lets hope we see more of this when he is fit. Jean was nowere near the best 12 on the planet in 2008. I had made a mistake when recalling Adi being run over by Nonu and the Boks left scrambling for cover. It was in fact Jean. He showed little ball sense throughout and was definitely a vulnerability on defence. In the end he was overshadowed by Adi and made far fewer breaks or anything of note. Strauss had little opportunity, but he did look good when on.
 

Aristokrat

I never was an Adi fan and thanks for the long explanation of his misdeeds in 2008.    I always thought Jacobs was bad news and now you have confirmed it.   What is amazing is that the number of times he went off side, late tackled people, etc, as stated in your report - there was no penalty given.  What went wrong with the referees in not penalizing Jacobs?

I am also amazed by another issue - and that was the number of times you mentioned good play by De Villiers and then concluded he was no good in 2008.   Can you please explain that to us ordinary mortals. 

I dunno. I read lots of good things in there and a high participation rate. This kind of analysis needs to take the next step though, organizing into categories. Once that's happened you can abstract a little further and pretty soon you have the stats table. And we all know Adi had the best stats for any 2008 TN centre. So it's in there, in all those passages of play.

It's good to see you burning the midnight oil Aristo. But right now it feels like, yawn,  bedtime reading .....so, I'll read it again tomorrow.

The 'next' step up is not required. Those defence stats you kept harping on about were put into very good context, he was constantly allowing attackers to get behind him, constantly allowing the offload or shooting out of the line and leaving his channel open for attack. He was not the attacking force you claim either, on many occasions he blew good attacking moves by not engaging defenders and not being able to send a quick and accurate pass. You also claimed that he was always available for those Jean breaks, that only happened twice in the entire Tri-Nations and both times he just happened to be right beside Jean. In each and every way Adi's 2008 Tri-Nations was not good enough, and certainly well below any campaign Fourie has ever had. You just be man enough to concede that you were wrong.

OK, I'll admit it, Moz was wong. LOL!!

Adi was a complete insult as a Bok centre, he should never have won a single cap, much like Albert v/d Berg, Johan Muller,  Meyer Bosman, Koen, Braam and a host of other players

This is all in the interpretation. I examined exactly 3.2 minutes of a summary video, before I came across the first problem. Let's examine the case. You say:

"36:15 - On the blindside midway in our half, lateral pass to Jean who bursts between Sivivatu and Carter. Jean puts Habana away for a try. "

This sounds like Adi just passed the ball acheiving nothing....a simple lateral pass. But in fact he faked the outside step committed two players and popped the ball perfectly for Jean to cut onto...which he did brilliantly. It was probably our best backline try of the TN all started by Adi.

The NZ commentators said "lovely pass wasn't it". That omission changes the whole colour of the incident. So, my conclusion is, if you look for negatives you find them. I prefer to stick with the stats.

Others can judge for themselves at minute 3.18 on :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmRfNXqcyY

Adi had a fine TN. The stats, say that, his selection for many ALL TN teams say that, and the experts said that.

Moz, you are always too proud to concede an obvious defeat. You have been blown to pieces yet again. You were cocky in your assesment on the Bulls v 2009 Boks and were exposed, exposed on Bismarck, and now Adi. When will it end?

You completely overstate Adi. The defenders at no point fall for Adi's upper body shake - not even close to anything like a faked step - it was Jean who made the burst that made the try. Be that as it may, keep clutching at straws.
 

The defenders and attackers were lined up evenly. Adi committed two defenders and popped the ball perfectly into the gap. It was a nice bit of skill delivered in the blink of an eye. The NZ commentators saw the contribution.

You apparently didn't. Why? I can only assume bias.

Look I have done many mozcroscopes along the lines of what you did here. You can have your own interpretation, but you have to report the facts honestly. Otherwise the whole thing becomes suspect.....and it's too much work to have that happen. Just a word of advice.

Aristokrat - the Pink Bull with blue whiskers - please help me out.   I have to get two quotes from you and I extracted it exactly:-

"It was in fact Jean. He showed little ball sense throughout and was definitely a vulnerability on defence. In the end he was overshadowed by Adi and made far fewer breaks or anything of note. Strauss had little opportunity, but he did look good when on." 
 

 "You completely overstate Adi. The defenders at no point fall for Adi's upper body shake - not even close to anything like a faked step - it was Jean who made the burst that made the try. Be that as it may, keep clutching at straws. "
 

 Completely lacking ball sense?  Are you talking about the fulling that has no ball sense whatsoever:-

    Du Preez, Steyn, Olivier, Spies (not the one on the painting - the decorative 8), Mattfield standinga round rthe center/wing position and buggering up backline moves?

Now let us get one thing into perspective - WHY DO YOU CONTRADICT yourself constantly in your attack on players - or is it a common trait with Bull supporfers?   Anything contradictory is used without any factual base to make wild statements.    

I am happy about one thing - I am a SA Supporter and is not blinded by provincialism.    It is only provincialism that could lead to Du Preez and Steyn be exconerated from the very noticeable lack of performance of the Springbok back line and the blame be laid on De Villiers - the third guy receiving the ball normally through hospital passes.

What colour is your glasses - pink or blue? 

At no point has a contradiction been made. You clearly do not know what ball sense is. Jean does not have the ability to sum the situation at 12 like a real 12 should, this has been evident throughout the 2008 TNs where he fumbles around. He isn't too dissimilar to JPP at 13. Both are natural wingers, though Jean lacks some pace and acceleration. He is a hybrid between Odwa and JPP, definitely not a 12. Running into a gap along the touchline is something Jean is very well suited to, hence his standout showing in 2004, his last truly stellar TNs campaign!

As for provincialism? I more than anyone else do not adhere to provincialism. I can be scathing of the Cheetahs just as much as anyone else. You on the other hand have fallen hook line and sinker for thr anti-Bull media drive. You have even added to it with lies about Du Preez's performances, some of which I exposed in another thread!

Jean actually has been the recipient of very good ball. Morne is a player with very good ball sense, he won't pass for the sake of it and will make the right decision 9/10 times. Likewise Du Preez. There has never been another 9 in the game with the distribution of Du Preez. If you think otherwise then please provide the evidence, and not the lies you posted like in your other threads.

Something to consider, Before Jean was De Wet Barry. With him the Boks played a very attack orientated game. That with Du Preez and Jaco inside of him. Put Jean in the mix with either one of Jaco, Butch, Pienaar, Bosman, Frans, Morne or Pretorius and the backline stutters. Yet with Frans at 12 with the same supposedly substandard players the backline becomes lethal. I doubt you can fathom the honesty to arrive at a logical conclusion. The answers can be found in the 2006 EOYT against England, the Samoa test in the WC in 2007 and in the 2011 WC or the opening tests of the 2005 season. It is clear to see for anyone not blinded by prejudice and provincialism. Oh, and you might want to note Jean's failed move to Munster.
 

This Fransie at 12 thing is becoming something of a myth as well. If you want to see the risks of Fransie at 12.....you need look no further than the RWC07 final where his missed tackle on Mathew Tait could easily have cost us the game. Or look at the link above on Adi.....later in that link Fransie gets charged down and only briliant reflexes by Habana saved a try.

Fransie is not this panacea at 12. On balance I think Jean would be better at 13, and given that I would slot Fransie in at 12.....but not without some concerns for his penchant for totally bungling things.

Was that not the WC where Steyn was regarded as the best 12 on display?

Why on earth would you want to select an old man at 13 who has done very little of note all season. Why not select someone new and fresh - far too conservative Moz, no way in hell could I ever select Jean at 13. I would consider him at 12, but that would be based on what he offered in the past - it would not be based on his performances this S15 and he is now 31 so why bother.

Whitehead pre injury was our best 12

Yep that's the one....in that game he made a great break.....but his hubris got the better of him and he almost lost the test by missing Tait. The Guardian gave Fransie a 7 in that game and Tait an 8, although Tate was operating at 13. That's Fransie highs and lows, check the link above.

As for Jean being an old man, you obviously think of yourself.....a decade older.....as a fossil.

Aristokrat

What is ball sence???   You apparently heard about the term somewhere but is totally clueless about what it means.   The term is older than most people would think and was around as far back as the 1920's.   In essence it means that a player knows instinctively what usage would be of best advantage, of the team, read the game and be instinctively knows where the ball will end up and be in a position to take advantage of that knowledge.

Now lets test your players in dispute on whether they have "ball sence".     Years of watching him play and with many intercept tries - top candidate - Jean De Villiers.

Now for the real dispute - the following have no "ball sence": Du Preez plays like an automaton,  Steyn - totally aimless and no idea about linking function in back line.  Spies - in this respect a complete retard.    One exception - Mattfield - be in the back line between the centers - if passing the flyhalf the ball normally will get there and be there to bugger up everything.   Oops - I am wrong here as well.   the definition above is maybe deficient in one way - it should have a clause of efficient usage as well.   So out goes Matffield as well.

Do you understand now what "ball sence" really mean???????