What do we think? I thought he did pretty well.
I remember years ago when Cheslin first arrived on the scene. He was a fullback then and I remember being annoyed when he started playing on the wing. Of course, he went on to become one the best wings in world rugby . . . but I think he still has the fullback software. I still have high hopes for Fassi but in Cheslin and DW we have two viable alternatives.
Sacha is a god.
Well done Bokke!
He does so much and so well at wing, I don't see a reason to change what already works phenomenally.
In a pinch, sure. But Willemse is the man at 15. Unless Fassi hits his form from 18 months ago...cos that's another story altogether.
Dumplum
There are other issuesd ypu have advocated in the past and thise are now added to by your comments as to Kolbe usage as a fullback.
We have a multitude of top class wings around - but suffer iro of the center positions. Willemse is the best replacement candidate for the 12 position and I believe Hooker should be used at 13 in future,
Erasmus is right about ine hing - Esterhuizen shoud be used as a loosie and not as a center and that is where he scored a try as well, Esterhuizen is one of the Sharks players who may be without playing careers once the changes to the Sharks is undertaken after the re-organisation of the Sharks is completed. A center he is to slow mentally and physically - to be a successful center - but physically he may end up as a useful loosie.
The Springbok backline functioned well yesterday - but I think Hooker should be utilized as a 13 - where he has the pace and strength to play - at 12 he would become a wasted talent.
The other youngster who is likely to replace Pollard in the 2027 RWC is Matthee of the Stormers, After an initial start as an unknown player against Leinster he developed rapidly and to my mind is a flyhalf with potential development further - he improved in evey match he played in for the Stormers at flyhalf and has potential as a top class player, while Pollard failed in the tests and the one URC match he played in. Both the Bulls and the Sharks have flyhalf problems and the Storemers have two top class young flyhalfs, Both the Bulls and Sharks needs real 12's as well - that is why the Buks abd Sharks backlines malfunctioned this season.and thet is shown by the fact that both have negative point diferences - the Bulls being minus 8 pointsamd the Sharks being minus 30 points. That shows that the Bulls and Sharks with top class tight 5 forwards and shit backlines - starting off at 10 ad 12 in both case. 12's are really in short supply on URC level iro both the Bulls and Sharks.
It would be intersting as to what the two rounds 6 and 7 matches from a S A perspective wold entail. .
Round 6
Connacht vs Sharks
Munster vs Stormers
Bulls vs Lions
Round 7
Stormers vs Lions
Sharks vs Bulls
After round 6 the Stormers has two of their away matches against NH teams left - their other 4 similar matches will be at home.
. .
I agree Mike, Esterhuizen is definitely good enough to play 15 as well. Your excitement about him is infectious, and who can blame you. The man is a machine.
Agree, Mike. I think you're right that Esterhuizen is the best 12 in rugby
Well, I believe he can play almost anywhere in the backline, he has everything, speed, skill and a brain. He also showed some excellent playmaking skills and with Arendse formed an added dimension to the attack. It was wonderful to see individual brilliance blended into a dynamic combination. There isn't anything more one could have asked of him he left everything out there. I'm not convinced an inform Fassi can do better.
Some interesting pre-game comments.....This from 'Corn'
Then See Kolbe and Arendse, hope they can inspire some counters from the back.
15 Cheslin Kolbe - Been Waiting for this for some time, still not convinced we have found our next best 15 between Fassi and Willemse
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse - Nice to see that he is back, like to see how plays with Kolbe at 15, can they conjure up some magic
Kolbe and Kurt Lee delivered on all of 'Corn's hopes and wishes.
And lastly this from yours truly...
Kolbe is the most natural and best choice at 15. The back three is the quickest and meanest ever.
I've never seen a more productive use of speed by the back three in any previous Bok side.
Pakie
Estehuizen is on of he reasons why the Sharks - with massive Tight 5 player superity are malfunctioning as a backline, All your praisesongs and the above idiocy show Esterhuizen is one of the key reasons why the Sharks only won 1 match after losing 4 matches - the one match won was against the weakest team in the URC this year - with zero points on the log after 5 matches played. Even the Lions backline is more effective than the Sharks backline - as shown in their matches against Ulster and Scarlets.
In the latter regard I may mention that players inside the Sharks backline - Hooker and Van der Merwe are both in the S pring bok squad - where they performe very well. In the S harks team theya re not showing th eir top class poerformances because of what happened with the balls they received from 10 and 12,
My advice - just get over your prejudices and see what happened to the Sharks and Bulls backline team performances because of their 10's and 12's misfiring,
Esterhuizen is one of the key reasons why the Sharks only won 1 match after losing 4 matches
Yes, he didn't play in the first three, so his absence was indeed a key reason they lost. Good to see you appreciating his value.
Agree Rooitwit he played very well at 15.
Personally I would like to see this bacline
Williams ( although Reunach is doing well) and Sascha. Fast most exidivrchalf back pair in Workd rugby.
Willemse and Kriel. Willemse a exceptional danger 12 and Kriel to run the defence.
Arendse, Hooker and Kolbe a lethal back there.
A forward pack to get excited about
Ox Marx Wilco
Eben, Snyman
Hanekom. Wiese, Du Toit.
I would back that side to beat anybody.
You could puck a great bench as well.
Hanekom needs to come back ASAP. I miss him and his ugly friend Elrigh.
Come on dude, Elrigh is a babe. Got that rugged 70s movie star thing going.
I shouldn't talk about Kaptein. It makes me sad.
Bloody unfair universe we live in
Kolisi going beast on his own countrymen, eliminating his competition.
Cheslin did his best like he always does. But versus Japan, his cover defence was Not tested to its fullest.
If he plays at Fullback vs France, it will certainly be tested and I hope he can be as good as Willemse, as our last line of defence.
Pakie
Sure Esterhuzien only played 2 mantches in the URC this year - but in both he was shit - particularly in the Ulster match. .
Oh boy imagine still wanting Willemse wasted at 15 - seriously?
As for Sasha that lad is on another planet - apart from all the skill imaginable, what about his pace, he is seriously quick
I don't know why we want to have Cheslin at 15 when he the best in the world at wing!? Why change what isn't broken.
I'd prefer Willemse there...but consider Hooker's pace, power, high ball ability all the rest. I'd rather have him at 15 before Cheslin.
Damn it's good being a Bok fan right now. These kids coming through are something else.
It was mentioned on the AB Ireland thread last night that picking from both Ireland and NZ, one can think of only a handful of their players you'd want in the Bok set up.
Happy Sunday fellow Saffas haha
‘Yes, he didn't play in the first three, so his absence was indeed a key reason they lost. Good to see you appreciating his value.’
Brilliant…..Eggchaser and Mike channeling each other commenting on the form of players who weren’t in the game.
Ox is a huge loss
I’d keep Willemse at 15, the position he has been at his best. Kolbe could play either as he might have shown yesterday, but it was hardly a serious test. Keep him and Arendse on the wings to keep the twin threat. Esterhozen is the man for 12 right now, Dud has to go, he could create nothing again yesterday against the weakest of opponents. Hozen is a hybrid…maybe as a flank, but more pertinently as a player who can play Rasmusball and Brown ball.
Bullshit has Willemse been his best at 15, he has been solid there
His best performance for the Boks was his game at 12 against the AB’s
You need pace at 15, like Fassi, Kolbe. Willie in his younger days
Willemse had never been about pace - he is about the step and power, he has enough explosive pace off the mark but not sustainable over distance which is what you need at 15
That test against NZ proved that his best spot for the Boks is at 12 and I’m sure Rassie knows it
It’s where we need him the most as well as we need to move on from DA and AE and we have Fassi at 15