Balls - I said that Swiel had ball sense and have potential to develop further - he was not my great pick. Swiel has something Morne never had - ball sense and the ability to take decisions for the benefit of the team he played for. He has a contract at Harlequins now and will do well for them.
Sharkbok
I have been a Swiel fan since his school days and this kid has something I have not seen in any SA flyhalf for many years. He has -
* massive ball sense - I call him the ball sense whiz kid - where he is better than Goosen and Lambie (who has ball sense bit to a smaller extent) and Morne Steyn ( ho has none of that quality);
* speed - with an eye for a gap where there seems to be none;
* the ability to create space for other players who can carry balls further - it is not the tries he scores himself that is all-important, it is the tries that he creates which is even of more importance;
* the ability to kick at goal and virtually never misses a kick; and
* the ability to take tackles without dieing with the ball; and
* the ability to defend excellently.
Whenever I see him playing I think how we miss at senior ranks a player that can really play the ball like he does. I have a feeling that Timo will be the Sharks flyhalf this year and I think that the following backline might be evolved by Jake White:-
15 Lambie
14 Mvovo
13 Whitehead
12 Jordaan
11 Marais
10 Swiel
9 Reinach
When the Chiefs still think what will happen, the tries under the post would already have been scored and converted. All the above has amazing speed and are sound defenders - they all are clever players.
Cannot find a place for the slow and dull Francois Steyn in that backline. When Swiel has created space for the backline - Steyn would kill the move by crashballing - or he would be nowhere in sight because of speed deficiency.
Swiel is a dead cert for my fanatasy team selection - that is for sure.
"This old bugger is so intent on discrediting members that he does not realize how stupid he really is. He thus display an absolute lack o knowledge about rugby and it toally igmnorant about player performances.
The above is obvious - but is further illustrated by the following contribution I made in January 2013 and whisch he looked up in an effort to discredit me:-
"I think that the following are going to come through in the Under 20 WC, the CC nd even in Super 15 and we may see some new faces in the Springboks as well:-
* Timo Swiel - the real ball sense wiz kid
* Jan Serfontein - top quality World class player
* Raymond Rhule - top future wing"
If you like I can show you where you compared him favorably to Pollard as well.....eat crow.
Cleancut
A couple of things that I am looking forward to in Super 15 this year. I am confident that the Sharks will do well this year. They potentially have a top backline - but ther are things to be sorted pout, namely -
* will Francois Steyn actually repeat last years atrocious performances or will he get his physical fitness and speed back on track; and
* will Lambie really shine at 10 as he used to when he forst came to notice.
If Lambie does not up his game considerably he is in danger of being replaced by Swiel. If that happens - and I have a feelng it may happen - then Swiel will be in competition with Goosen for Springbok selection.
As to the Lions I always had reservations about them in the past when they were in Supper 15. They had a combination of what they regarded as key players - problem was that the same key players constantly let them down and were not replaced timeously.
The Lions now have a younger and more competitive team. I especially like Stokkies Hanekom as a 13 - he may yet go places in that position. There only real drawback is Earl Silky Hands Jantjies - if he repeats his performances of 2013 the Lions will go one way and that is down. I hope Ackerman bear that in mind and replace him - they have Boshoff - a much better flyhalf in any event.
However, I think the Lions will be the surprise package this year and I am looking forward to their performances.
Let me adjust that HasBEEN....."Mike lies most of the time".
Actually you ineffably stupid old fool, the only reason you can quote that and try to worm out, is because I had the integrity to post the whole paragraph...nothing was hidden, it's all there in the bright light of day.
But I would say the posting where you say Hoosen and Swiel will vie for the Bok jersey is dispositive, indisputable in fact. Enjoy your crow.
