That is an impressive team. However, I'll shift Esterhuizen to 12 instead
Good side and not easy to top.
Is Snyman injury free and fit. Ditto Kolisi. Kleyn and Deon Fourie are able replacements. Fourievimptessed me with his pacecl around the park, fetching ability and that he could play 80 minutes at his age.
I think Damian Willemse is one of our best attacking players. I would like to see how Esterhuizen Willemse (13) combo would work.
I noticed in the recent Argie test they didn't try up and under. Having The taller Willemse Moodie and Mpimpi stopped them using the up and under too much. I quite like this as your back three. But Willie, Moodie and Kolbe could be fine.
Shifting Esterhuizen to 13 for Damian is an insult to Bok rugby, and to Andre himself. I'd rather Esterhuizen and Kriel. Damian is not test quality. He never was test quality. He never will be test quality.
The loose trio is a mess. Kwagga at 6 is the obvious choice. Mostert and Wiese. I'd have liked Dan d/P at 7, but your esteemed coach doesn't see the big picture.
Koch for Malherbe.
Libbok can't play test rugby. Willemse will have to alternate with Willie. That's the best option we have right now.
Damian is one of the worst centres I have ever seen. At test level, he is the very worst. He does nothing good at all. His record speaks for itself. Against all of the best 12s of all time, he is a literal cellar dweller with an embarrassingly poor record. Damian is the epitome of the mediocrity and worthless idiocy of South Africa. Damian has never outplayed another 12, nor has he ever had one good test, just like Kolisi.
Deus you have talked yourself into a very extreme position regarding Allende. He is a competent test center.
In the last RWC Allende was a stand out player. Yet you still were trashing him.
Given 4 wings have been picked Moodie will likely get a game at 13?
Andre at 12 with Kriel, duh Allende on the bench as he covers both. Ride splinters for 8o minutes.
Andre at 12 with Kriel, duh Allende on the bench as he covers both. Ride splinters for 80 minutes.
Duh can cover loosie too...
Beanbag, what did Damian do exactly at the World Cup? Let's look at the final first, where he gifted England try scoring opportunities, which Frans shut down! He was hopeless throughout that dithering campaign. Beanbag, it's best you sit silently and just smile politely. Any more than that only brings shame upon your ancestors.
Dud and Dud at lock.
This would be my starting team for the first game of the World cup: It will be refined based on form, injuries etc.
15. Willie / Willemse
14. Kolbe
13. de Allende / (This position is a problem on defence, where Kriel is ok)
12. Esterhuizen
11. Arendese /
10. Libbok
9. Williams/Faff
1. Nyankani / Kitshoff (Ox needs to prove his fit)
2. Marx / Bongi
3. Malherbe / Kock
4. Etzebeth /Kleyn
5. RG Snyman
6. Kolisi /Kwagga
7. PSDT
8. Vermuelen
Kriel is a weak tackler….he is okay in positioning. I have no faith in Kriel’s ability to take down a potent centre in space.
Yes, I can see Kriel starting because the one thing that Rasnaber sees is Kriel's positional play on defence and organising the backline defence line. His tackling technique is not great.
My big concern with Delande going to 13, is that he might not be able to organise the defence.
Delande could be good on attack at 13 where he would get a bit more space to pick up his speed.
However, can we trust him on defence?
Has Esterhuizen been in the system long enough to be able to organise defence from 13?
You need a speedster at 13, Reiko Ioane .................... DA & AE are slow in comparison
