Ah yeah JP cant play 13

This guy is equally at home at 13, making a mockery of de Jongh at 13, to think some wanted this wee pretender as the Bok 13, what a joke. JP ran through him twice one on one - it looked like de Jongh was not even there.

Its about time some of you boys started paying attention to what I say. JP could easily play 13 for the Boks, is certainly a far better option than Jean.

Wow what a performance from Etzebeth with ball in hand, the bouncing of Bismark, being my rugby moment of the year. No-one bounces strongman Bismark. Bekker had a great game as well, as did Kitshoff. Harris got slaughtered by the Beast, Malherbe was a vast improvement when he came on - one has to ask why Coetzee started with Brok. Kolisi had an off day, players so. Elstadt was very good, Fourie is not a 8. 

Grant had a good game, never saw Duvenhage. Jean was good on attack but poor in defence. Habana was good, the little guys like Joe, de Jongh and Aplon showed why Super rugby was their pinnacle. de Jongh in particular was seriously exposed.

For the Sharks, I retract my take on Ludik, I rated this kid when he first arrived, he then seemed to struggle to assert himself, but in the last few months has bounced back to show he has what it takes and is a quality player. Viljoen is a very average player, not Super material. Mvovo was good as always. JP was sublime at 13, Whitehead, like Jean, had a poor game defensively - both normally being good in the department.

Freddie was great at 10 for the Sharks, you cant beat a 10 with flair and creativity - lad has a great touch.

The Sharks frontrow bullied the Stormers, Beast and Jannie were huge. Alberts is no lock. Bresler has emereged as a real talent, hard nut who puts in a huge amount of work. He is good enough to make the Bok squad - is better than Jeandre Kruger.

The Sharks loosies were awesome. Kankan is in the form of his life, Daniel is pure class and Coetzee continues to cement his place as our best loosie.

The conservative approach of the Stormers cost them, the art of rugby is playing the ball like the Sharks did. When the Stormers decided to start playing rugby they turned it on - all too late though.

The Sharks are on fire but could do with the services of Frans, Lambie, Jordaan and Steph du Toit

That's the problem with you Dave, a player you like can have 100 subpar games, play one decent match and it suddenly vindicates your position, but JDJ did the same 2 weeks ago and you'll still stick the boot in....plus you've already tossed up so many players for the 13 jersey I no longer have any idea who your man is, I guess it's back to JPP again now.

 Nope I stand by the fact that de Jongh is a liability at 13 and no way in hell could he ever be considered as a Bok, JP proved that yesterday.

Nope my take is that JP could easily play 13 for the Boks, I am not saying I would select him there. I would certainly select him there ahead of Jean.

Nothing has changed......my Bok options at 13 remain Taute and JJ - that has never changed so your take on me tossing so many names in at 13 is rubbish. I have only mentioned names that are candidates now and in the future. JP proved yesterday that he is certainly worth considering at 13. The lad is lethal on attack and at 13, we would have him involved more - worth considering

 fair enough

JP was certainly one of the most dangerous backs on the field yesterday. But let's stop a second and look at his stats:

He beat all of 4 defenders. The first one when he was put outside de Jongh. Jean snuffed that out by taking down Mvovo in space.

Two of the others were Etzebeth and Grant.....on a step....again with plenty of space. Those were golden running chances....Habana and Jean do exactly the same with similar ball. It's the opportunities stupid!

What I thought was encouraging is he missed no tackles....but did he have tackles like Jean on Mvovo to make????

As for your attempt to say Whitehead and Jean both had bad days defensively. Rubbish. Jean crucified Whitehead for 56 metres (far more than JP gained) and missed Ludik in a very odd defensive situation. The Mvovo tackle was the best of the match.

Don't obsess Sapp....next week will tell about JP at centre......yesterday he had great chances.

ive been impressed with jp pieterson at 13 since the sharks OZ/NZ tour where he had magnificent games on attack and defnece.
if meyer plans to play a similar brand of rugby to what the Boks did against england, then jp pieterson is best served out on the wing, but if hes looking for more punch in the midfield without compromising both attack and defence then a f styne and jp pieterson combo is better.
jordan, englebrecht and taute are all too green, but taute has shown a lot of class considering he plays for the lions, i would like to see what he could do with a good team backing his plays like the Boks.
 

i also rate de jong very highly, but his size really is an issue and the time hes spent with the stormers who are plagued with an attacking virus has got to have done some serious damage to his Bok chances, infact right now habana is the one and only stormers back worthy of Bok selection and deon fourie, bekker and ezebeth are the only ones worthy from the forwards.
i have lost a lot of respect for the stormers and thier inability to adapt, always the bridesmaid is a fitting label for the stormers who despite themselves are still a powerhouse of super rugby.

As a special aid to your eyes Itchyhaha...here are Jean's stats from yesterday.

pieterson and JDV stats are very even, but jp missed no tackles JDV missed one. jp had two off loads to JDV none and jps try trumps JDVs try assists, but very even stat wise.
however, from what i personally saw last night was jp having a better game, looked more efficent when he had ball in hand and JDVs decision making was terrible, both as captain and a player. hope meyer sticks with him against the All Blacks.
 

 Moz I dont care what the stats say, JP beat de Jongh twice running straight through him. JP is a lethal runner and one of, if not our best attacker right now.......with that in mind, it would make far more sense to play him at 13 than on the wing for the simple reason it would get JP more involved in the game. 

As for Jean he might have tackled Mvovo but he missed a simple tackle on Ludik when Ludik scored. Its just madness that Jean will remain in the Bok equation, when he is clearly past it - much like us seeing Morne being retained later next month.

We are going to be selling ourselves short with these players - we have far better options

I saw Plumtree saying that on attack he plays JP at center and when they defend he moves to the wing. Obviously Plum still has some concerns re JP at center defensively. Jean will remain at 13 and captain the Boks.

The way Jean gassed Mvovo shows he is still fast. Beautiful pass to Aplon and held up over the line by Alberts. Fine game by Jean. No Jean has to stay that is quite clear.

Glad to see ou snapster has at last, after touting Juandre for at least two years, realised (Thanks to my comments) that Juandre is too fragile for a international lock even though he is 3 kg heavier than wee matfield snapster's hero. Hahahahahaha 

jean is the no 13 for now being the captain but looking ahead we need to groom another one in his place. jordaan maybe ????

Its early days yet but I am hoping Jan Serfontein makes a big statement next year at Super 15 level. I cant see why he cant make a fine 13! Seems to have all the attributes of a great center.

Then there is Taute, Jordaan or even JP.  I am not having sleepless nights  about centers. We also have JJ coming through. 

JJ coming through, sure, but please not tackling.

 Jean will remain at the 13 for the rest of the season barring injury, but he has been playing really well and he is the player we need right now. It doesn't mean that he will be captain for next season. 

At the moment we are lacking some serious depth quality of players at 9, 10, 13 and 15.

We have good players but not good enough to be the best in the world in those positions or even compete to be the best. That to me is shocking. I'm sure it willl sort itself in the next couple of years, but in international terms, its a very long time. 

Lambie is simply not fast enough to play 15. Goosen needs another season to even be considered, Grant and Steyn has not been setting the world alight and none of the 13's other than Jordaan have really put their hands up this season. 

 jordaan has hands....don!t know about Serfontein. Taute and JJ have no creative instincts

Saffex

Despite one good game at 13 - the rest were very average - I still prefer Pietersen at wing - so lets find a replacement for De Villiers elsewhere - that is when he bows out after the end of this year - or through injury.

I still think that with a good center combination that could provide balls to pietersen with some space he is admirable.    What he has done on Saturday against a sub-par De Jongh - he can provide even better at wing.   I can lay a bet with you - Plumtree will select him as a wing on Saturday and play Jordaan at center.  

I think once Plumtree can play Francois Steyn - your other favourite (Whitehead) would end up on the bench.   The latter is no creative enough at 12 and far too slow to play at 13.   I will also make a forecast - the future Bok 13 WILL BE JORDAAN.   When Goosen comes in at flyhalf - the Springboks will have a top class backline as follows:-

15    Lambie

14    Pietersen

13    Jordaan

12    Francois Steyn - he should speed up a bit though

11    Mvovu

10    Goosen

  9    Hougaard - that is if he can adjust to that position .

Wow, I've read it all - Taute and JJ have no creative instincts????? The fact that Taute has made more line breaks and gained more metres than any other SA back in the S15 in a piss poor Lions side - about sums the kid up.............one certainty is that he did not make all those breaks and gained all those metres through sheer pace and power - plenty of creativity played its part.

JJ of late has proved what a creative attacker he is.

Fact is both at quick, physical players who both possess a good step and swerve.......these 2 have all the attributes to make the Bok 13 spot their own. Just as JP has. These 3 guys plus Jordaan are far better options at 13 for the Boks than Jean is - no contest at all.

Mike, you are wrong about JP at 13 in his previous games where he was very good. Its complete nonsense that he was poor there.