Exit Frans Steyn....now things may improve

The stats show plenty of ball has been going to the 12 slot, and dying there.... with Steyn running a lot, for an average of less than 2 metres a run. Outside him the backs have been starved. Inside him the forwards have had to scramble back to defend ball on the ground....behind them. It's been a mess.

But not to be deterred, pundits who called for Steyn, have seen all sorts of positives in his play. Imaginary positives. Steyn is not a quick reflex guy.....more of a ponderous player. Fifteen is his ticket.

With Jean back at 12 we will get over the advantage line and get some distribution. Can Taute impose himself? I'm not sure, but I'm hoping he can. We need some real centre play. I can't remember a year where our centres made so few breaks.

Is this oficial? I dont think JdV will be much better then F steyn (tho hes better @ inside center then outside) but Im glad tautes getting his chance.

Edit: I see it is official. Coenie allso out!

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyChampionship/Double-late-blow-for-Boks-20120928

is francois out of the Boks team for sat??? i havent heard or read anything to say otherwise.

frans main problem is all that wedding weight hes put on, lol. but seriously, the guys all class, but hes been well below his standards in 2012.
IMO JDV and taute could do a lot of damabge for the Boks, but while i would drop frans to the bench, it would be mainly as a message to him to get his act sorted, hes been resting on his laurels a little bit too much this year IMO.
 

Both are out. So we shall see how the Moz combo works.

Moz you really are clueless, everyone has been banging on about how poor Jean has been and now you have it down to Frans - go figure.

Centre is not a strong point with you is it - Adi Jacobs, Meyer Bosman, bring back Joubert and recently its been de Jongh........not to mention Jean would be perfect at 13!!!

Jean and Morne were the issues in the side. What is great to see is that Taute will start at 13 and lets hope he makes a real impression for then Frans will return at 12 and Jean will be history by the end of year tour - bring it on I say.

Wrong Dave....I never rated Bosman as a centre. As a young flyhalf with great hands ....yep. But he was played in the wrong position. Adi was the best centre statistically in the 2008 TN....he did a fine job. Joubert was our only long strike threat at 13 since Snyman in 98.....his tries against Oz are among the best the Boks have scored in the last 15 years. De Jongh is probably superior to Taute, but I have seen the latter mainly at fullback.....so unlike you I maintain an open mind.

Against this your argument is.....let me get it right.....< 2 metres per carry Steyn is imposing himself? Hahahahaha.

Adi has never been the best at anything, he was an insult in a Bok jersey, we all know that but yourself.  Bosman was as pathetic and now not even good enough to start for the Cheetahs. de Jongh is way out of his league at the highest level, hell we saw a whole S15 pass without noticing him in a top flight side.

Joubert was great in his day, but hell you wanted him back a year or so ago.

Frans is world class we all know it and he will be sorely missed as he was in the 3rd test against England.

Jean will fail again on Sat, watch this space - he is done, deadwood.

Taute is a class act, hell he has played no rugby and has been elevated straight into the starting 15......says something about his ability which you keep missing as you do with most.

Jean will be gone by the EOYT, much like Morne is history

Frans<2 Steyn missed....nah.  The difference between your views and mine Dave is.....yours are projected.....things that are going to happen. Mine are facts....things that have happened. I'll let you know the verdict on the new centre pairing, once we have the facts.

So how do you work out that Frans has scored amongst the highest in player ratings amongst the backs in all the tests under Meyer then?

Saff, I think it is fair to say that Habana (Surprisingly) has been the best back for the Boks this year. The rest, with the possible exception of JP Pietersen, have been below par, so for F Steyn to be rated best, is not much of an achievement!

I agree in part with both you and Moz, Frans is a fantastic talent, but he has been nowhere near his best this year. Yes, he's had moments of brilliance, but they have been few and far between. I am looking forward to seeing Taute in the Springbok fold, even though he is probably more suited to fullback. I think if Taute is able to make his mark, Frans may just get the kick in the pants that he needs in order to get his position back. About Jean, he is past it and needs to retire.

Ideally I'd like to see an on form Frans and Taute at centre....and Jean helping out with coaching or something.

 Wrong Steyn. Now things will improve because Morne is not at flyhalf. Frans Steyn played well against England, and had some good flashes in other tests. Put any centre outside Goosen and they will play better. IJean Devilliers is past his best I think but still a good player. I think it is make or break time now for the centres as they no longer have the legitimate excuse of playing outside a kicking flyhalf that stands to deep.

Jean has played for 3 years outside the same flyhalf and always made breaks. This is a poor excuse for Frans<2 Steyn's mediocre performance.

wJean rarely makes breaks these days.

Back in 2008 and before he was excellant at running through the opposing backline attempted tackles.

He has never been able to pass well though and that I why I think he is better at outside center. Frans Steyn was much better than him as an all round center in 2007 world cup and was actually fortunate that JDV was injured. The same thing happened again in 2011 worldcup but it was unfortunate that Frans got injured.

Sharkbok

I am always amazed how some of us iinvent things to justify oursupport of players - while in the process we denigrate others.   Take the case of Frans Steyn and Jean De Villiers as an example.

Both are being praised or denigrated without any attemtp to be objective.   Both can by no means be described as top international centers - they are both as a matter of fact both average players..   Both had defensive lapses - but here Steyn missed more than De Villiers.   Both did not really break the line -  there was one exeption - in the All Black test Steyn made one sigbificant line break.   Steyn scored one charge down try in the six matches he played in - but hs hd no role whatsoeverin any of the other tries scored by the Springboks.   De Villiers played a key role in three of the tries scored by the Springboks.

The above being a vrief summary of the performances by the two players in tests this year.    That confirms my contention that both were average performers - the diffrence between the two is from a rugby perspective minimal.   The only advantahe Steyn has is he has a cult following based on his reputation.

I believe that they will have to find a replacement for De Villiers - think this is his last year on international level.   Unless Steyn bucks up - he really is also a candidate for replacement.   We can do with better players than average performers. 

 .  

With Frans Steyn injured we might get to see more exciting attacking play (or maybe not !). When Frans Steyn gets the ball, he's predictable (as are many other Bok players) and that's the difference when one looks at the All Blacks style of rugby. This makes life very easy for the defending side, so one has to keep 'em guessing and that way you make line breaks. I just can't believe that Kirchner is in the side at all, Taute should be first choice at Full-Back. My prediction: Boks 29 Wannabies 15.....

With Frans Steyn injured we might get to see more exciting attacking play (or maybe not !). When Frans Steyn gets the ball, he's predictable (as are many other Bok players) and that's the difference when one looks at the All Blacks style of rugby. This makes life very easy for the defending side, so one has to keep 'em guessing and that way you make line breaks. I just can't believe that Kirchner is in the side at all, Taute should be first choice at Full-Back. My prediction: Boks 29 Wannabies 15.....

With Frans Steyn injured we might get to see more exciting attacking play (or maybe not !). When Frans Steyn gets the ball, he's predictable (as are many other Bok players) and that's the difference when one looks at the All Blacks style of rugby. This makes life very easy for the defending side, so one has to keep 'em guessing and that way you make line breaks. I just can't believe that Kirchner is in the side at all, Taute should be first choice at Full-Back. My prediction: Boks 29 Wannabies 15.....

sa Jean played very well today, and on todays performance could be considered as the starting 12 with Frances Steyn on the bench. Although like I stated above"Put any centre outside Goosen and they will play better. "

Sharkbok

I think there really is a serious question to be answered in the case of Francois Steyn.   He always believed  in strength and whilst in France he became more of a crashball player relying more on his strength than anything else.   On the other hand De Villiers always was a more thinking player.

That leaves a major question mark - will Francois Steyn be able to fit into a fast moving game as was played today.    If he does not - he has a lot to worry about.    His position in the team will be in serious jeopardy.