Best back in SA

I like Arendse a lot.   He is to my mind a top dveloping player.  I am not worrying about our wings - but shortage in the fluyhalf position.   That to my mind needs to be fixed since I cannot see Pollard still playing in 2027.   Any suggestions on that one?     

Ardense played exceptionally well, but in the key games was marginally eclipsed by Kolbe.
It might be a coincidence that Kolbe just got more ball - very close, both are exeptional.

Kolbe has the x-factor that turns close key games.
Ardense, tears teams apart when their is a bit more space.

It is good to see South Africa producing some of the best wingers in the world. 

Agreed Arendse closely followed by Moodie, Willemse, Libbok and Am

Someone is not happy about your list , Dave.

De Allende was not a tpoic for discussion.  I personaly think that Willemmse should replace De Allenmde when replacement becomes necessary.   At present it seems if Erasmus does not agree with the experts on site.

Mpower

I fdully agree with Wohuter but he is not goig to get anywheere since he neraly never plays for the Stormers,   In one S tormers team he was outstanding and I thought he may develop firther - but a fter a subsequent injury he never played fir the Stormers.   He from 2020 he played only 2 games for the S tormers and 6 for WP/  

Wonder why th at happened - if he is still woth the S ttomers he shoud move to a fdranchise to get more game times.       

Plum

Agree with  you about the players mentioned - but what about the critical issue of a future flyhalf.    Other than Pollard as from 2018 we had the worst concotiion of flyhalfs the Springboks had since 2012 were total disasters and the roblem is they either fail in goalkicking  or alternatively unable to use Backline attack properly/

.   

Mpower

You are right there was a report in September 2023 on Wolhuter  moving to the Lions for "the next season" - but it does not seem as if he has played for them yet.        

Libbock?

Flakey as fuck, especially his kicking, has the potential, but not sold on him yet. Time will tell if he can step up.

Sexton is 38….Pollard is 29. Good till the next WC barring injury. Pollard is a better athlete,  his strong, hard running could be an alternative to Dud Allende, freeing up the 12 slot for a more creative player.

All our backs are starved of the ball and of imaginative coaching. There is a dormant attacking side to all our inside backs that would come alive with the right back line coach.

Mozart

Pollard is plaguued by injuries.- that was why he was not in the 2023 World Cup squad initially.   He hardly played any rugby in 2016 and 2017 and he was constantly injured and out of test rugby in 2022 and 2023 before the WC.    That is the reason w hy we need another reliable flyhalf.   In this case age is not a problem - potential injuries are.

In any event - Pollard's career was nearly destroyed by Meyer and he became a top class player under Erasmus - so he would plan his further career wih care to protect him from potential injuries, but that may not work out.   So some replacements must be developed before the 2027  WC,  

Arendse dies not have the brilliance of Kolbe who repeatedly makes tries out of nothing.

Personally I hope we don't end up with two tiny wings and a small 15.

I think Moodie, Grant Williams (superb) pace and Williams are excellent attacking players. 

There is no reason to think a great backline can't be built. Defence though must remain a top priority as again this World Cup again showed.

Libok  should continue to improve. Apart from the Ireland game his place kicking was good and his line kicking top notch. 

IDK Beens..

for me it's a coin toss between Arendse and Kolbe...both very good...Arendse is a bit better in the air and Kolbe a slightly better stepper and a bit stronger, but both are magical players.

Nope Draad Kolbe is quite a bit better. Not quite in tbe same league right now. 

Arendse has a fantastic try scoring rate for the Bokke...

"........ that combined with a Attack Minded Backline coach ..."

And who would that be?

"Dunno, from what I've seen of Arendse so far I put him ahead of Kolbe."

Well now, that's a delightful debate to be had with a klippies and coke in hand  around a camp fire .

Brandy & coke ...................... is it still SA's favourite topshelf?

...brandy&coke and beer!!!

"Cool" will do just fine leave the ethnic bit to the colour conscious.

How about Swys de bruin or Dawie Snyman from the stormers?

Hard to say, who knows, you don't want instinctive flair coached out of them, we know Jake co-opted Eddie Jones who made an immediate impact....reason enough to believe there wasn't a SAFFA around to do the job. Also know the players had a ton of respect for unsung hero Felix Jones who has departed the Boks and is now the Irish assistant coach. Almost think it might not be a bad idea if the players coached themselves instead of the drop kick who poses as the current backline coach. 

Can't even remember his name....anyone know?.....no matter.

Since I am nt a drink anymore - I had my fiirst glass of wine his year on X-Mas day - I cannot comment on the drinking anymore.   However, I incident many years ago when i ws at a party fo a friend of mine.  A  lady ws aksed what she would like to drink and she sad whiskey please.   Ny frind then asle her what she would have as a mix and she said coke.   Not in my H ouse you wont   

I found it vey funny at th e time.   Noawadays I would like a beer  when vey hot - but thu,s fa this year we did not really have a really  hot day - so it jsut did not happen.    I always try and serve wine at meals iro vistors - but that  did not happen this year as well.   

Deny...there's a definite ethnic component to it...the guys from Behind the Ruck calls them Power Rangers...the people from the so called "Coloured community" brings something special to the game...a lot of heart, grit and almost supernatural dexterity...and Bok Rugby is the richer for recognizing and embracing it...size isn't everything. 

The kiwis have Will Jordan......should say sensational Will Jordan, slick, smart and skilled but wait on, in Moodie, Kurt Lee, Kolbe, Grant Williams and Willemse there's three if not four who matches him.

Draad..I think we're having a different conversation.

...there's a fine line between forced woke culture and actually embracing diversity and making it work for you...rugby is ideally suited to accommodate all shapes and sizes...and everything that goes with it...it has brought together people from vastly different backgrounds...the makeup of the members of this board being a prime example...