Andre Esterhuizen's Powerful Performance against Bath 2024

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Persronally I do not rate Esterhuizen particcularly high as a center - a good provincial player  an even on tests but not against Top international teams.    Maybe it is prejudice  - but the first time I saw him plaqying for the Under 20  Springboks  - he was ceter in the final of the RWC Under 20,   Easterhuizen knocked n a god pass to him withan opn tryline ahead of him and as a resu lt f that the SA under 20's lost the match b y 2 points.   On at least one occasion where he did play in a test the same thing happened.for the Springboks the same thing ahppened.

Howver Es terhuizen is not when tackled thaqt the ball comes bac at breakdown whee he does not go into the mauls to ensure the balls are protected against take-overs.     

There is anothe issue which may coun against him and that is defense.    I will give you on xanle.  -   Each of Esterhuizn and De Allende was involved in 5 tests.   In his five tests - De A llende made 42 tackles and missed 5 tackles.    in his 5 tests Eserhuizen made 22 tackles and missed 5.   

I do not think he is aprticulary highly rated by E#rasmus ad  eoher coaches.who select the squads and teams.   In the 2019 WC Willemse was called  up to replace Kriel as center.   Fact is that Willemse I think at the time was only 20 yesrs of age - but he was also the Player of the Year in the Un der 20WC that year.    He had lots of promise but have played only a few games pla ying fo the Sormers and was very inexperieced.   The fact that he was called up to teh Sringb ok squad says a lot about the coache\s opinion of Esterhuizen as a player.   He is coming back tto SA to play for the Sharks and then more people wiill see him play.   Willemse and Jantjies - the scrummie.          

Talking about Willeme - the Rupert family has a program whereby promising sports kids are enrolled at Paul Roos Gym and they are also provided proper housing facilites and supvisory staff to look afte complaiane with their diets and disicipline compliance are also provided.    There have been at least 2 Springboks that came though that program - Willms and Jtjie he scrummie.    Rupert and Montsepe own 74,5% share in he Northern Bulls Franchise team and they hav appointed as Manage of their Rugby interests.          .   .               

I guess that can’t have been Esterhozen that played against the All Blacks at Twickenham.

Wrong, the biggest donkey at 12 was De Wet Barry......not only a donkey but a thug as well.