Cronje out.....

stomach bug, Hougat starts..... Bladsy  bench .

No look pass, 10 bounce Hougaard is a liability. He is a small wing playing scrumhalf. He is fine as an impact scrummy but never a starting scrumhalf.

The cupboard's virtually bare when talking Bokke & no.9.

Call up our best scrummie Ruan Pienaar who is winning matches up north.

 Pollution alert,

 Stomach bug, wa s Suzzie involved?

 Time for the much hyped Hougaard to stand up and deliver.

 Denny
Hougaard has had so many chances and he did not deliver.   Why should that change tomorrow?

 
No Shark ... HouGat isn't a "fine" anything.

He is a chump ... always has been. Wake up!!

I would much rather have the useless Paige starting.

A Smith is going to have a field day.

 hahaha "10 bounce"hougaard!

However, there is a part of me that believes that this may be a blessing in disguise.
Cronje may lack the intensity needed for this game.
Hougaard has played his best when he dons the jersey against the AB's.

Hopefully tomorrow he does just that!!!
Brings the intensity and his A game.


Go BOKKE!!!!!!!!!!

 How they went with Hougard and Paige and totally left Faf out is suspicious. It can't be down to his talent or form because even when Faf was warming the bench at the Lions he still looked the best 9 in SA every time he came on.
There's probably something behind the scenes that has caused his exclusion. 

 @Plum...
I am a massive faf fan, but do you remember his implosion against the AB's last year? Aaron Smith ate him for dinner!
So I'm wondering if that had anything to do with his omission.

They have to include Paige because he is black.

Plum, Faf is unpredictable and exciting, but his kicking game is weak. Tactically, in tests, he is simply not reliable enough. That said, I would not mind him coming on in the last 20 mins when the opposing forward pack is starting to tire. 
Hougard on the other hand, is weak tactically and does not do the basics well either. He may be fast and strong for his size, but that is not enough. Even Reinach would have been a better option. Moz, Pienaar? Come on man. what has he done in a Bok jersey that is anything more than average?  

The best scrumhalf in the country for the last year has been Jano Vermaak who doesn't even crack the extended squad.

We do seem to be short of quality scrumhalves at the moment. We don't have one player even close to the level of a Will Genia, Conor Murray, Aaron Smith or TJ Perenara.

– Ruan Pienaar delivered a perfect kicking performance to steer Montpellier to a thrilling 22-17 win against hosts Castres. Pienaar landed a conversion and five penalties for a 17-point tally. He played alongside fullback Henry Immelman, lock Nico Janse van Rensburg, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and centre Frans Steyn. Castres had Robert Ebersohn, Rory Kockott, Dan Kötze and Jody Jenneker in their run-on side.

 Piennaar retired from international rugby last year. 

Sale has so far managed a loss at home to Newcastle and one hell of a thumping by Wasps.

And who can blame him. He was horribly treated by Bok fans. Not the most explosive player, he was tactically very sound and alert. He continues to be a match winner in France as he was in Ireland.

yes agreed, he was a solid player.  Like many, he was better when he was young- when he used to make snipe breaks around the ruck- reminiscent of a new  Yoost. 
He became more conservative as he got older, and perhaps tried to avoid injuries. 

Eventually, the fans turn on any scrumhalf or flyhalf that kicks aimlessly. Although, at times it appears this is actually the game plan instructed by the kick chase donkey coaches.

 Agree with Rooi, Vermaak is the best 9 x far in SA ATM. Faf took a bit of a dip since the Irish tests last year, but I still prefer him over Hougie.

 Piennaar retired from international rugby last year.

His club owner is under pressure. He would not have leased out the player to SA.
It is one competitive edge for SA players: once they hit the NH, they are no longer committed to international duties.