Foxsport Looise ratings - SA Players

Foxsport takr into account the statistical performances of players - but not the playing time.  Some players can be detrimentally aggected by injuries and others are not always selected in the starting line ups of teams.  Be it as it may their ratings of players closely relate to their performances.  

At this stage the ratings of SA Flanks are as follows:

Position               Player             Points

     1                 Labuschagne         338

     3                 Du Preez                324

    10                Coetzee                 283

                        Botha                     240

Insofar as the no 8's are concerned the stats are as followa:-

Player                              Points

Van der Walt                       319

Spies                                  250

Vermeulen                         219

There are vast differences in the playing styles of number 8's.  Vermeulen is a tighter and perhaps less flashy kind of player - whilst Van der Walt, Spies and Botha are more similar in style of play.

There is one issue here that should be taken into account.   Botha had less exposire than the other players and despite that he put in excellent perforances in the games he did play in.

Based on form and taking into account the fact that Vermeulen may not be available for the June tests - my choice for loosies will be as follows:-

   6     Brussow                 -     if Louw is not preferred by Meyer

   7     Labuschagne          -   Bubbling Under   -     Coetzee

   8     Van der Walt           -   Bubbling Under  -      Botha

I am a great admirer of Arno Botha and think he has an exceptionally bright future.   Coetzee is not showing the same form as last year - but he is still performing better than other loosies in SA Syuper 15 teams.    I think that with Botha - with his limited time on the field - is very much on par with Spies pointwise.  That shows that Botha is a much better performer than Spies.

I however believe that Meyer does not like the playing style of the Cheetahs and prefer Bulls players - so I do not think he would select Cheetahs players as loosies.    The Cheetahs will only have Strauss and Oosthuizen in the Boks squad.  Ans Spies will be in the team - come hell or high water.

 CM - I find the average points per game pretty illuminating as well. 

South African loosies only in order:

du Preez - 32.4

Labushagne - 30.7

Phillip v d Walt - 26.6

Engelbrecht - 26.6

Watson - 26.4

Wimpie v d Walt - 24.8

Botha - 24

Coetzee - 23.6

Daniel - 22.8

Spies - 22.7

Vermuelen - 21.6

Brussouw - 18.9

Watson ahead of Brussouw tells you this rating system is nonsense.

Yea, Watson's sample size is small because he has only played a couple full games and has scored two tries - which have high point value - in those games, so the average is not as consistent but for the others this point rating is based off stats collected over 12 or so games now - a sample size that is large enough to address irregularities and one-off good games

Points are allocated for tackles, runs, line breaks, offloads, tries  etc with subtractions for penalties, turnovers conceded, errors etc. It can only be taken at face value, but at the very least is a good indication of workrate. It cannot show the intangibles, skill level and other important qualities but certainly should not be dismissed as having no value.

In the case of Labuschagne it is truly amazing that his points are so high as he has only scored one try this season to boost his score - the rest of his points have been hard earned by tackles and runs. Not a flashy player but credit must be given for his immense workrate - surely something that could translate well to the international stage. I can't remember him ever being overwhelmed or intimidated by a larger player.

Perhaps OM, Labuschagne has incredible tackle counts. But so does Coetzee in his test matches, and he wasn't able to influence events. Van der Walt has great stats as well, and greater physicality.....he might be the better bet.

Mozart

Why read this lot since you are always downgrading Labuschaagne because he is not physical enough according to you.   He is more physical and you have apparently not understood or read what is said of him by coaches and experts.    He is the best loosie in SA by some distance and I remember you saying that you did not see him doing anything in a match that you watched - which patently was a nonsencical statement on your part.

Labuschagne is not a one-dimensional player like you try and make it out referring to "incredible tackle Count"   He has the highest number of possession turnovers, line breaks and line-out takes of any SA loosie.  Sorry to disappoint you - but you are prejudice in this case.

So Philip vn der Walt - weighing 105 kgs has greater physicality than Labuscheagne weighing 105 kgs - load of standard cap from Mozart to be expected.

oi-matey

You are wrong about Labuschagne - he scored two tries this season - the first one against the Sharks and the second one when he aggravated his injury against the Bulls.   He also gained points on a number of line breaks, turnovers in possesion and line-out takes.  That is the reason for his very high average on a constant basis.