Delande has become the new Morne Steyn. A player that makes watching the Springbok pattern of play boring. A bit like a song that was OK for a while, and now it is just overplayed to death.
Willemse was a breath of fresh air getting a few chances at inside centre, which seems like his best position.
The backline looked much more creative on attack, and the outside wingers were getting more chances.
Willemse can pass very well, and it is relatively unique for a Bok team to have such as creative player at 12. That long pass to Mapimpi was not something we see often from centres in the professional era.
At his best Delande is very good with all the attributes to be a good player- except a long pass. He can offload, make good short passes, and sidestep, and he is one of the strongest backline players in world rugby able to smash through defences.
Sounds great, but at his worst, he destroys any thought of using the outside backs.
He goes into wrestler mode where he just wants to run at people, with little thought.
Some days he just goes off the boil, and looks slow and ponderous just taking the worst possible options. Often he just walks up slowly, and gets gang tackled. .
Tackling has always been an issue, but for a while, it seemed he has solved that problem, but now it is back. He misses many key tackles that lead to tries.
He has killed many overlaps this year to use the outside backs. His kick passes are a joke. He only seems to be able to pass left, and short pop passes. Often he struggles to draw a player and straighten the line before passing.
When he gets tackled, his upright position without leaning his shoulder is not good for protecting the ball, and he is not very good at making the ball available in the ruck when he is tackled. He is conceding turnovers or delivering a slow recycle.
The opposition are waiting for him to carry it up, where is often isolated by running away from the forwards. The 2nd tackler just goes for the ball as Delande is battling to gain a few extra millimetres.
