Boks vs Aus - 1st Half

Not a bad performance so far, Louw and Vermeulen are absolute beasts!!!!

Kirchner is also have a dream game, but still think Lambie deserves a chance at 15.

Look what happens when you give the backs some ball. The very first game under Meyer that Pienaar has feed the backline! Kirchner doing what he always does. Joint top assists in the Super XV, great linebreak stats and all that. Just a shame the media have done a hackjob on him. Robbed for a second try too. Lambie? Done nothing for the Boks or the Sharks. Viljoen is by far the best 15 the Sharks have, and Michallak at 10. Lambie has failed too often for the Boks. Too much hype and too little substance, likewise Jantjies. Goosen having a good game too, a tad nervy putting Kirchner away, made him have to do too much, but he'll grow in confidence.

retardcat since when does Daniller play for the sharks? thats just shows your rugby knowledge, now back to your hole mate!

Shame you can't read, but be that as it may, I still trump all of you for rugby knowledge. Hows that howler by Lambie? Totally lost on defence, totally nowhere on defence for that Aussie try. Shows what YOU know. I would usher you back to your hole, but I'm afraid you would take that literally, such is your lack of class.

hahahaha retardcat quickly edited hey. anyway, Hougaard missed the tackle and left Lambie stranded

Wrong again. But then you lot are always wrong. Do we need to do another inspection on it? Like the one on Morne where you cowards fled for your lives? Pathetic. Too much yapping, too little substance.

I looked atthe game and it was an entirely different game with the two Steyns not in the backline.   It was really running rugby - the first time over the past four years and it shows it can be done.   Only problem is that the goalkicking is still a nightmare.   One can understand that Goosen was very nervous with the first two kicks given to him - and thereafter Pienaar tried all the conversions and missed nearly as many kicks as Morne did last week.

The difference is really what Goosen did compare to what Morne used to do.   There is no doubt that the moving of De Villiers to 12 made a major difference as well - no more crashballing by the inside center - but really  flowing game.

There also should  be no further questions asked about the loosies.   Alberts had a good game - but Vermeulen and especially Louw was brilliant.

Lets look at what the different players and see what their performance has been:-

Kirchner - a good prformance,   There was two pressure high kicks aimed at him.   He caught both - and both resulted in mauls and there was one turnover.   Scored a good try though and just missed another one.  7 out of 10.

Hougaard had a quiter game - missed a crucial tackle though whih led to the Aussie try - 5 out of 10 

Taute had a reasonable good start as an international center.  Good defence and he made one good  line break -   6 out of 10

De Villiers - played a major roll in the backline play of the Springboks today 8 out of 10

Habana - Deserve the man of the match award - 9 out of 10

Goosen - Except for the two missed kicks this youngster has all the capacity as a excellent flyhalf - he really was very good and as tests go by - he will develop as one of the top flyhalfs SA ever had - 8 out of 10

Pienaar had an absolutely brillinat game - bar his failed kicks at goal.   9 out of 10

Vermeulen was brilliant at 8 - he really showed why he is such a good player in that position.  8 out of 10

Alberts had a relatively quieter game compared to the other loosies.   However - he did well in the tighter phases of the game.   6 out of 10

Louw - absolutely brilliant - that last try of Habana was a real work of art    9 out of 10

Bekker did a lot of hard work in the tighter phases of the game.   Very good in the driving mauls - 7 out of 10

Etzebeth - This youngster has got it all.   I think he was replaced to prevent potential injury for the game next week.   Pity - after that we lost the ball in a line-out, probably duie to the bad throw-in.   8 out of 10

Props and Strauss - Did a lot of hard work in the tighter phases of the game and did well.    Strauss did show some ball sense with the pass back to Habana - which let to the second Habana try. 7 out of 10.

The replacements were not on the field for an objective assessment.   During the circa 5 minutes they were on they did nothing noteworthy other than Jantjies who passed the ball to Louw in space.   However = he did miss one tackle with a forward running at him.

There are a number of problems and potential problems that will have to be dealt with in the next test.   One of the main issues that will be addressed I am sure is what Francois Stey wouold produce at no 12.   If he fails and not fit into the type of game played today there will probably be many questions asked about  his future in the team.    Taute did well enough to play a constructive roll in the future performance of the Springboks and there remains a serious question mark about Francois Steyn at 12.   I think that Jantjies is still a problem when run at by forwards and he nissed a tackle- so there is no chance that he could fill Goosen boots at flyhalf.

On the whole Meyer can be satisfied and very much so by the performance of Goosen and reasoibaly so by  one of Taute.    However, I believe that we still require JP Pietersen as wing - and then the bench position would probably go to Hougaard.