3 out of 4, close games, then there are the lions

What a weekend. The Saarks had a start studded line up but made a meal of it. Nice to see Eben going the distance, Fassi had some touches but hobbles off, but the only non that can hold his head was Esterhuizen. At least it is a win on the road. Then there was the moment of the game for me. Step up Ethan Hooker. He turned and chase a player in the 78th min l, managed to tackle the player on the line and somehow get under him and hold the player up. The rest is a scrum and then the Saarks got back into the game. I know Dave rates Jizzo, but that type of play is what Rassie looks for

The Stormers and SFM blew the doors off but Connacht hung in there with some well organised structured play and this one nearly got away from the Strormers.

The Boools was probably the game of the weekend for me. A real forward battle only for the Currie cup players to nearly throw the game away. Devon Williams is the most overrated player there is and so is Sebastian de Klerk. Two seasons in the URC and still no rugby intellect. Cameron HANNEKOM and Marcel Coetzee were the standout players for me.

Then the lion's, need a say more. Every year I look at some of the youngsters on their books and I think this is the season only for them to concede. Ellis park is supposed to be our fortress, but the lions just played dumb rugby and allowed 40 points against them.

Rudolph Destroyly is the man with his hands on the check book and I don't know how he is still involved in SA rugby. I hate the fact that lions just gives points away to foreign teams. I would far rather the cheetah back than the lions. Johannesburg is a sespit and it is hard to get talent there but also the fans.

At least Bloem is somewhat better.

But as said by my last post. Many players are fleeing SA. Even Kolbe didn't want to take a big money contract with the Stormers because of the safety issue. I really want a record like Munster to show that it is really hard for foreigners to come and win.

Overall, it was great to see the youngsters stand up like Jan Hendrik Wessels, Cameron HANNEKOM, Ethan Hook and then the hot talent of SFM. I do hope Rassie can get these kids a proper run.

Then my final word goes out to Moerat. Actually saw the physicality that Dave was raving about. He had a great run of the 9 that led to SFM first try, that crash, bump the player off and draw in defenders is what created the space doe SFM. I also saw him put a few massive hits in. I hope to see more of this.

All and all, some great games to watch this weekend

A player like Moerat puzzles me. Clearly he has some of the goods. He gets a chance in the Bok side, lazes around, you barely see him do anything. And then every so often in a provincial game he'll pop up and put out and shows he is actually capable of something.

How do you rely on a player like that when you have the Hanekoms and the Sachas owning the field just about every time they set foot on it, or a Mostert putting in 100% effort game after game?

KC

Thanks for your comments - but I have some problems with issues, First of all in both the Sharks and Buls backlines were from ab attack point of view malfnctioning. and that I regard as poor rugby, In the case of the Bulls White is a forward orientated coach and for him backlines are there to defend and attacking rugby is not needed In the case of he Sharks backline the flyhalf is iffy - the centers are both slow and represemt deadhead rugby when it comes to attacking rugby,

In the case of he Stormers Sacha was the standout player in all SA teams this week. In my view the best flyhalf in world rugby. However his good work was nearly outsdone by disastrous defense by the outside backs - Gelant should be sent to play in the Witgatwortelfontein second team - not the first team - he would fuck up the first team totally I believe, . .

If Moerat was able to play more like that, more people wouldn’t mind him occupying a Bok spot….

Consistent performance should be his main goal.

Ruben V Heerden on the other hand, is ten times more consistent than Moeras.

His form this weekend was yet again great and he is much more worthy of a Bok spot

Lets hope the so called Genius can get his head straight and pick some of the inform locks….V Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Cobus Wiese etc…etc

Stormers backline defence was awful, I think SFM slipped a few tackles too.

Mike, I agree with you. The sharks backline was awful. It stem from the Hendrik brothers not living up to their reputation. They are so stagnant. At least when Williams come on things start to happen. I’m starting to think Hendrikse at 9 is over rated, but I said the same of Grant Williams and he came through.

Am was actually starting at 13, he did nothing for the Saarks. That was a Soringbok back line except for Hooker.

I also agree about the bools, but the conditions didn’t suite them. Too wet.

van Heerden is way better that is for sure but he is the wrong skin colour

Yep Moerat is no token player - he can play, difficult to make an impression at test level when you live off test cap scraps

Same has applied to the likes of Esterhuizen, the du Preez twins, Roos etc

Mike, I agree with you. The sharks backline was awful. It stem from the Hendrik brothers not living up to their reputation. They are so stagnant. At least when Williams come on things start to happen. I’m starting to think Hendrikse at 9 is over rated, but I said the same of Grant Williams and he came through.

Williams made a difference, but there is nothing creative happening for the Sharks. They send Esterhuizen in, he sets it up, they take contact next phase, and so on. As I said during the game, someone needs to run off Esterhuizen. He almost always either beats the first tackler or drives through the tackle. That can create space around him to exploit with a runner onto an offload as it sucks in a second defender, but they need to run plays to use that - they have one of the strongest 12s in the business and they're just using him as a battering ram instead of playing off him. It sums up how passive they are out back. Hopefully Williams starts from now on, Jayden ain't the business.

Pakie

Lets get it straight if a backline player cannot read games and is "sent in" he does not deserve to play in the position he does play in, That is where i differ from you and that is why no thinking ability by the center pairing yesteday was so awful.

Alot of what Plumtree does is wrong

Like starting Emile v Heerden ahead of Jenkins or Corne Rahl at lock

Playing Kolisi at 8, when he should stay at 6 with Manu Tsituka starting at 8

Starting Jayden ahead of Williams

Id also prefer to see Hanro Jacobs start at 3 with Koch coming off the bench