Building around Sacha

I think it's unanimous, Sacha is the best back in SA. Looking like he might not just be the best 10 to come out of SA, but like he would be the best 15 or 13 to if you chose to play him there.

I'd put my money on him eclipsing Dan carter, and probably anybody else on the world stage too. I don't like hype trains but can't seem to find the door to exit this one. Every bit of evidence suggests that Sacha is SA's Messi.

So, the question...

How do you build around him and who do you choose.

Looking at the score he made on the weekend, after being tackled in the air, DDP was just quick enough to keep up and receive his pass. Would DDA have been there? Of course not.

Looking at at the support line he ran for one his scores against Benneton, tells you that you'll get maximum benefit from Sacha by selecting a twelve that will take contact and then find the wonder-kid with an offload.

DDA doesn't fit the bill. He just doesn't. So who is Sacha's long term partner at 12? Is Willemse the guy? I still feel like AE is the option. I don't think he can keep up with Sacha but I do think that gain line advantage will give Sacha front ball and allow him to escalate momentum. In terms of maximising the Sacha advantage, perhaps there's an outside pick that we're all missing.

For me, it's Williams at 9. A no-brainer by all accounts. Williams is the fastest 9 in world rugby and crispy as all hell with his passing. He'll give Sacha more time than anybody else, by far, and that's exactly what I'd want.

Looking at how Sacha is 21 and beat Connacht on his own. Seeing how he takes sniffs of chances and makes something bankable from them, you simply have to build a side around him. You can't just pick your BIP players and roll on.

If you do pick players that will benefit him the most, and you get an extra 20% out of him, you simply have to go that route because an extra 20% from Sacha is worth more than an extra 200% from anybody else.

What do yas think?

Who would you put around Sacha?

Sacha

A combination of Sacha and De Allende worked out very well and was successful in 2024 - so for the time being the top 12 in the world according to rugby experts will be the best choice at 12. That is also what Sacha will prefer, An example was in the Aussie test - where Sacha made a clean break through the Aussie backline - ran for about 30 meters and passed the ball to De Allende and he in turn drew in the last defenders and passed the ball to Reinach who scored under the posts.

In the case of the 12 other than De Allende the likely inside enter will be Willemse. There are no other real 12's that is always mentioned on site - Eaterhuizen is as thick as a brick when it come to rugby and is physical - but deficient in pace. Hooker and Kriel are both not physial enough to play on test level at 12 - and will do better as 13 or on the wings and even at full back, - where they will be good back-ups,

As to scrumies I think Williams is the best option - but I will as back-ups prefer Van den Berg, Jantjies or Papier as back-ups - Reinach being too old to play at scrummie on test level in future, ,

I am not sure what will happen in the upcoming July tests, I doubt whether Sacha will even play in the tests against Georgia and IIaly and the same applies to Pollard,

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Mike,

Here's a question you won't answer.

Who is faster, AE or DDA?

Here's the answer: AE has both more acceleration and top speed than DDA.

If you dispute this we can hold a vote on this board to prove it to you or you could simply search some videos and look for yourself.

So, is DDA slow?

Hooker not physical enough? You are joking, right?

DDA = 102Kgs and 189cm

Hooker = 98Kgs and 194cm...and still a baby. He could get to 105-108 quite easily.

I really like Hooker at 12 with sacha at 10. That is a mouthwatering prospect. Hooker has that dog in him that always wants to chase play and i think he'll work well off of Sacha. Also, one of the few 12 contenders that can keep up with Sacha in terms of pace.

A good long-term combo, based on current form anyway.

EggChasers says...

" A combination of Sacha and De Allende worked out very well and was successful in 2024"

Sacha usually bypassed The Tractor

( DDA ) by well placed kicks for our fast wings.

Or he found space on his own with good runs beating defenders, and then passing the ball to Kolbe, Arendse, Kriel and Fassi/Willie.

To my recollection there was absolutely no positive interaction between Sacha and The Dud. ( Like running of Sacha into space for example)

When John Deere gets the ball, he runs straight into contact and the ball dies with him…..as usual he is a Cul de Sac.

For now I would definitely start AE more as he is capable of creating space.

Much better at offloading the ball….Very very good at pulling in defenders and so creating more space for his Backline to run off.

We definitely need a new 12 that can embrace the teachings of Brown and improve our Backline play.

Hooker is definitely a option, but I really hope that Rickus Pretorius will come back to SA to be considered.

Is JJ injured?? My favourite to join Pretorius or Hooker would be Henco. But JJ should also be given a shot, to see how he does….

DDA

DDA by a poverbial mile, Besides from that DDA has rugby intelligence totally absent in AE. DDA is always vey close to where the action is - AE is n0ot, That is why he scored tries against the AB's or play a role in scoring such tries - with Anever present in such cases,

A vote on the board is meaningless - bbecause to man members have prejudice against De Allende because they prefer thick players like AE.

Rugby ex[perts over the last 5 ears has rated the llende as the top no 12 in thew orld and that counts wth me as well.

Manpower

I gave one example of a ty against the Aussies wer scored last year already. I also accept what Pollard said about De Allende - namely that he is the best inside center he ever oplayed with and that include De Villiers. Sorry - but you miss the main criterium present and required from a 12 - namely to be a physical player woith intelligent play also a requirement. That is why De Allende score tries and AE does not, .

The wfollowin g quote applies 100% to Estrhuizen:-

"When John Deere gets the ball, he runs straight into contact and the ball dies with him…..as usual he is a Cul de Sac."

Esterhuizen has poor ball skills and the ball dies since he does run striaght into the imaginary cu-de-sac you wrote about. He loses more balls in turnovers, If Engelbrecht is tacked with the ball is turned over he gets baclk slowly to his position - - the same does not happen to DDA.

I agree with rugby experts world-wide about DDA and that is why he got contrcts overseas and AE got found out and had to come back to SA. The Japanese clubs playing a pace-linked game would not offer AE a job as water carrier.

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Plum, both DdA and AE are on the slow side for centers... I like AE and I think he's good enough for the Bokke, but I think Damian is slightly better...and faster...but it would be interesting to see what the rest think...will probably follow the normal lines.

" AE got found out and had to come back to SA"

Do you have prove that this is why Esterhuisen came home?? I smell BS here big time.

AE was a standout player for Harlequins.

If he is so useless as you make him out to be, why did Harlequins keep him for 4 seasons??

Just remember uncle Mike, Kak praat is n siekte:)

Rassie & Brownie will need to rethink our attack game plans with our Zuluman at the helm .

I'm not convinced that either of the two(DDA and AE) have the necessary skills to play alongside Sasha. I don't know who is best to fill the position but he must have good running skills and a desire to run the ball, he must also have natural speed off the mark that way there's speed from 9 to 14.

Rassie & Brownie will need to rethink our attack game plans with our Zuluman at the helm .

Not sure if anyone can make up a plan for these guys, if they do I reckon it goes out the window as soon as the game kicks off.

Sasha will get the best out of the players around him...it will get better gradually as he plays with them...exiting times!

Scha alrezdy plaid wifo the Springboks agaainst the A;; Blacks and Wallabies with teh ecosting bacline players and the rethink is not necesary..

He as and is goin g t be the pivot and the othe players he aleady played with is thier to furthe built out the emphasis on backline attacking play here the loosies also play a major role.

Anybody but DDA.

AE gives you gain line advantage, an offload, excellent hands, beastly power and, as Mike will tell you, he's got great rugby IQ.

Hooker gives you, pace youth and since he's in Sacha's age bracket, it has long term benefits if they start playing together now.

DDA gives you "Ima run into everyone, make no ground, stand up for a while, give the defence 6 years to reset... and then go read Ruckers cos Mike and Dave are the only two fans I have left."

For the moment AE….longer term Hooker looks the business. There is absolutely no merit in having a crash baller like Dud at 12. Here’s the distinction.

Sacha passes to Dud who immediately slows down to take contact, he tractors in place refusing to go down but eventually capitulates. The ball is retained and it comes back to Sacha one meter from where he got it before facing a stacked defense

Sacha passes to Esterhozen….he hits his opponent at pace, then deflty offloads to Sacha as he wraps around Sexton style…..Sacha is now in the gap between 12 and 13 channel with some space to operate. Only good things can happen.

We'll see...

Esterhuizen is definitely not the answer considering he is already 31

Sacha is an unbelievable talent - the hype of late has been DuPont but Sacha is even better without a doubt

Who to build around him at 10?

Inside him it has to be Williams with vd Bergh the next best. I like Papier and Nohamba and did like Jayden Hendrikse but am starting to question that - hopefully it’s just a form thing

At 12 the obvious choice for me is 98kg Willemse - a combative talent with a craving to attack. Back ups at 12 are Hooker, David Kriel and Jordan Hendrikse

At 13 we have young options in Jurenzo Julius, Moodie and Henco v Wyk

On the wings, Arendse is a certainty as is Kolbe for now, but at 31 the clock is ticking. Backups are Edwil vd Merwe, Horn, Moodie and Green if Rassie is savvy enough to cap him

At fullback it has to be Fassi with Jordan Hendrikse, Willemse and Moodie as options

This combination excites me in the near future - 9 Williams 10 Sacha 11 Arendse 12 Willemse 13 JJ 14 Moodie 15 Fassi

The fact s that Dave is right - the choice at 12 if changed is Willemse. The beutuful picture of Al and Mozart is total prejudiced shit. If there is a crashballer ot is St Esterhuizeen. H is sklo nd gettinmg slower. Watch he second try scored by Ulster against the Sharks and see how Eaterhuizen;s slow jog back where a loose scum developed and there was no ball poction and the ulste playe got he ball and scored with A E at ful pace was not at te 22 yet.

In recent matches AE showed again his ball skills are deficient - and his tendency to knock balls on has been in exiostence at the time of the Under 20 WC and that is also t he reason why at 31 he has no try scored a try at center for the Sprngboks in 21 tests, The one case he had the opportunity to score a try for the Springboks in 2019 he knocked the ball passed to him - similar to the case where he did when playing for the Under 20's in teh final losing the Under 20 final for the Juniors

That is why under Erasmus he was not in the 2019 RWC squad, When given the oppostrtunity to play with Sacha he fucked up royally by getting red carded 3 minutes after the start of the match and got a 4 week ban as a result.

Rassie had it with that guy - he is eveything and worse at it than Plum, and Mozart describe in their day dreams about playing him at center, He was not in the RWC squad in 2019 for the reasons gven by me - a waste of balls when he was center - so when Kriel was injured Erasmus called up the newbie Willemse to replace Kriel. In the tess Willemse played for the Boks he scored 56 poinmts for them - in the case of Esterhuizen = even against Georgia and Tonga in the 2023 RWC his contribution was one big zero.

But then conveniently it was forgottem by the two of you De Allendde did scored a try and played a major role in the Springboks to beat France - a team I beieve is rated higher than Tonga and Romania, Mozart still believe in the if and buts - and faied to accept that the Springbks did win the RWC trophy in 2023.

The whole arguments of Plum and others are based om prejudicial BS to give it an exact descri[tion and n their world of delusion De Allende is worse at centter than AE, With Willemse returning from injuy Esterhuizen is totally out of contention for a place at 12 and I think Erasmus will not select the slow donkey AE playing at center.

Last year he was given the opportunity to play in a test to see how he adjust to the changed format of attacking play and he faled horribly - a red card within 3 minutes intothe game he got red-carded an d copped ban of 4 weeks and that is near t end of his career as a Sprinbok player,

Btw "Plum, both DdA and AE are on the slow side for centers"

I refute this claim.

DDA is slow, very slow.

AE is quicker and stronger than DDA. I would venture that AE is quick enough to play at 13. I would never dream of playing DDA there.

Watch the first break against NZ...there is a second or two where you see his pace versus the AB backs. They'd not have caught him were it not for the 15 in the way. That is not slow for an inside or outside centre.

This would have been my 12 from day one in the job.

Let’s have a bit of perspective about Sacha boys for fucks sake!

Yes, he’s very talented but he’s only had one season of test rugby. According to Plum he’s going to blitz Dan Carter’s record and we also have Suffolk saying he’s already better than Dupont!!

You’ve gone completely over the top about his prospects and I only hope he’s not reading this shit otherwise he’ll end up under unbearable pressure!

moolaa, you're right and Sacha does look like he might be injury prone . . . but you also have to understand how long it's been since we had a talent like this in the #10 jersey rather than just a mindless kicker.

Of course we're excited! We might actually use our backline in the future.

There is no way in hell Esterhuizen is faster and stronger than DA

Strength probably par and de Allende is quicker without doubt

Sasha is the most all-around flyhalf we have had in the professional era. A fly-half needs to be able to run. kick and get his backline running. Sasha has done all of this and more.

It is early days, and Sasha does look his best when he gets space. He still has to go through tight test matches with less time and space. Also, how he copes behind a losing pack where he has to play most of the game in his own half.

Far too early to compare him to Dan Carter, but a damsight better than any 2nd choice alternative in SA.

Sorry, Moola...

The hype train's choo'ing too loudly... can't hear ya.

Sacha has been phenomenal. Every time he plays he just does amazing stuff and it pays dividends.

The hype actually matches what we see on the field.

It's very difficult not to get excited.

If he has a full career, I can't see it not being an amazing one.

"It is early days, and Sasha does look his best when he gets space. He still has to go through tight test matches with less time and space. Also, how he copes behind a listing pack where he has to play most of the game in his own half."

Did you watch the All Blacks tests last year where Sacha was the difference at the end?

His territorial game nullified both Dmac and Baudie when it really mattered.

So there ain't much evidence, but the evidence that does exist points to him already having passed your test, VisKop.

The All Blacks are not as good as they used to be, so more needs to be proven,like how he plays in the northern hemisphere

Well we are apparently the rugby masters of the universe at the moment and the ABs ran us very close twice last year.

In one of the games they had the lead until the last 6 or so minutes and could easily have won.

So they can't be that shit.

Agree on the NH challenge though.

England and France are the best NH sides at the moment. Will be good to see how Sacha does in the against French away from home. Of course Ireland will be a challenge too...but less so.

Quickness depends in part on reaction time….Esterhozen reacts way faster than Dud Allende who suffers from brain lock.

Looking at the Esterhozen tackles in the video there is something else Dud never does ….put in a massive tackle. I can’t ever recall seeing Dud Allende crush an opponent. Cling to him …yes…annihilate him nope. Actually I can’t ever remember Dud making a low tackle in space.

I don't know how anyone can think that DDA has more pace than AE.

DDA never gets away on a break because even if he does get through he is run down almost instantly.

Not only is AE a lot quicker, they're not even in the same speed bracket. DDA has the pace of a slow flanker. Seriously Kolisi is faster.

And strength wise, AE is in Eben's strength bracket. That's how he manages to hold up three forwards on his try line.

Indeed Moz, he seems incapable of making aggressive tackles. Am, a 13, has made bigger hits than DDA has in the same time period.

The guy does absolutely zero for me. Nada.

It looked like the hooker, the flyhalf and scrumhalf.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1k2s8nr/andre_esterhuizen_holds_up_3_attackers_in_front/

Chat: "Between Damian de Allende and André Esterhuizen, Damian de Allende is generally considered the faster of the two.

Here's why:

1. Playing Style & Agility: De Allende, while a powerful and physical center, is known for his agility and acceleration in tight spaces. He often breaks the line with short bursts and clever angles.
2. Body Type & Speed: Esterhuizen is bulkier and more of a direct, crash-ball runner. His size (around 112–115 kg) affects his top-end speed, whereas De Allende (around 100–105 kg) is leaner and quicker over distance.
3. On-field Evidence: Watching their games for the Springboks or clubs (Munster and Harlequins, respectively), De Allende shows more frequent line breaks and cover defense involving pace, while Esterhuizen dominates more through brute force.

In short, De Allende likely has better acceleration and top-end speed, while Esterhuizen has the edge in raw power.

Thats means nothing Draad.

Chat is terrible at that sort of thing when there is very little information to go on.

Watch videos...there are plenty.

I watch plenty of matches an DdA is not half as bad as you guys make him out to be...that smashing through two Poms to feed Kolbe for his try was epic.

Who cares who’s the fastest? Fact is Esterhuisen is better at tackling, better at pulling in defenders and still manages to offload so the game will go on…

DDA causes the ball to die and forming rucks is all he does…

now and then he will get a open run in to score which necessitates zero skill from him.

AE is definitely the more intelligent player, and that is what’s needed in the midfield. Not a robot….

Bonus is his raw strength as sharks video showed holding up 3 defenders… Wow.

Plenty of acceleration...what you need from a center...take off the blinkers.

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DDA is almost as polarising as Bozo. Not for me though. I've always maintained that DDA is not nearly as bad as his critics make him out to be and not nearly as good as his fans make him out to be. He's somewhere in between.

I don't think there's much between DDA and AE in terms of pace, defence or playing style, but if I had to choose between them, I'd pick AE right now simply because he's two years younger. He'd only be my third choice though. I still like Damian Willemse at #12 and he'd be my first choice with Ethan Hooker my second.

Buttplug just apes whatever his master says and we all know that Moffie's opinion of his pet hates like DDA and PSdT is worth nothing.

Umm Rooi...I've been slating DDA for at least the last 5 years.

In fact, I was one of the first here to notice how sub par he is.

I'd dredge up the posts if I still gave a toss about proving you wrong.

Draad, DDA used to be a lot quicker. His pace fell off a cliff over the last few years.

Well here’s an example…..take the celebrated Dud try against France. He gets the ball from a 50/50 cross kick and sets off through open field. Jelonch the bulky French number 6 is parallel with him but a few meters to his left. He reacts a little bit late as Dud enters the 22. But on the 5 meter line he gets him with a tackle from behind.

Dud gets back up and gets the pass to score.

Jelonch is no speed merchant but he caught Dud….who at best is flanker speed.

Significant try in a significant match....let's downplay it...like the one he scored in the semi vs Wales in 2019....at a pivotal point in the match...pure luck.