Saffex
Mozart is the typical one incident junkie - you will hear how weak Du Toit is for the next year and his performances will become "process" play to discredit Du Toit. I have learnt 1 thing about Mozart - if things is to go his way the 2007 WC team must with rare exceptions be the WC team for 2015. That really is pathetic - but it is typical Mozart.
That's true Dave, I do change my opinion on players....all the time. When evidence emerges that a player has stepped up as in the case of Flip, or down as in the case of Hougaard.... I accept the evidence.
Hougaard is a classic case. I was a huge Hougaard fan. He was a combative, gutsy player with an instinct for the main chance. But a different Hougaard took the field in 2012....an edgy bloke who seemed to be playing by the numbers. After enough evidence, I concluded the shift back to scrummie wasn't working and is unlikely to ever work. The trend line is down.
Now on to Steph. We are blessed with a number of great locks Etzebeth, Flip, Steph and perhaps Lood. Then there is Bakkies who, with dedication, could do a Brad Thorn at RWC15. In this company Steph is the most athletic of the group, except for Etzebeth, but least likely to move a ruck. Is he inadequate for test rugby. No I'm not saying that. But Flip has been a potent player in the tight/loose in our last few tests. Unless he loses form I can't see HM giving up on that.
So that leaves Steph on the bench or possibly at 7...a very often used Bok tactic with mobile locks. At 6'6" and 115kgs, he is slight figure among the Alberts, Flips and Etzebeths and certainly seems capable of covering the park well. As he gets into his mid to late 20s I'm guessing he will become heavier.
So that contradicts the gospel according to Dave, trouble is, it's very consistent with the Gospel according to HM.
