Boys, Steph is getting old. Still rocking it, but there was a lot of creaking too against England and Scotty.
Post '27, or in the wake of an injury, who steps in though? I can't say I'm excited about the showings of BJD and Elrigh. Batho is a big chunk of disappointment at the moment. The Tsitukas nowhere near - what the hell was Vincent doing on the field against Scotland? Fish out of water.
The clear and only comparable replacement for Steph to me is Ruan Venter. What an evil twist of fate his injury in the URC was. We could have seen him out there now. He can play both lock and 7 like Steph, and he is physically perhaps even a more imposing unit plus he cuts a talismanic figure. The Lions looked like half a team without him.
Let's hope he comes back from his injury the same player he was, because there are big boots we'll need to fill soon and he's the man to do it.
