I’ve never seen better. His lineout is a formality, he always produces a few steals, his power in the tight loose is unmatched.
And right now I’d nominate Marx as the best fetcheron the planet.
With those two aces in the deck, the Boks are hard to beat.
Agree on both points Moz.
Great players for sure.
Etzebeth was better than expected, but he has never ever been the best of his generation. Loads of players way better than him at lock. Marx is a good 6, not a great 2.
Just listening to Schalk’s comments he is dead right about the defence….the Boks swarmed all over the ABs they never has a metre of space. They were totally baffled offensively.
There are too many passengers in the AB team…both wings, both flanks, all their props…..pretty much useless.
Schalk is a fucking block head. The Blocks were run around, run through, and trampled over all game. The Block defence was absolutely shit all game. The Kiwis blew the game by going wide-wide with a pocket runner ball that was too deep all game. Never played for territory. The Blocks were smashed on defence. I counted at least 12 times the Blocks were fucking DRAGGED several metres before going to ground. One fucking Kiwi runner dragging at least two Blocks across the field. Schalk is fucking thick, and yarpies in general have no analytical ability.
Wise is alright, just needs to stop looking for off the ball bullshit. Somehow got away with it today!
There we have it... another week of shit Block defence... ESPN: Blocks 84%, Kiwis 94%. I suppose Schalk can't more than his toes... up to 12.
In all honesty one would be hard pressed to make an accurate evaluation of the Goats.
This is easily the worst All Black side I've seen in 4 decades.
They were pathetic.
Both Ioane brothers were selected out of position.
What Sam Whitelock is doing there is beyond me.
Not being able to settle on where Beauden Barrett plays shows just how confused their coach is.
Foster doesn't have a clue.
Well played Goats ... a loss to this pathetic All Black side would have been embarrassing.
As for Etzebeth. He was ok. I've seen him play better.
You guys will upset Red Nose by claiming that Etzebeth is the best lock ever to play the game.
In his opinion Johnson and Beaumont are his #1 and #2 to ever have played rugby.
Got to be a Pom of course.
Itoje is the best lock in world rugby. End of fucking discussion. Outplays Etzebeth every fucking time!
Itoje is Eben's b!tc h.
Even has never ever outplayed Itoje. Eben goes Mia too much. Not a player you can rely on and that's why Erasmus doesn't make him a focal point. Think about that.
Itoje always dominates the Boks. One tackle from Faf doesn't mean a damn thing. Worry about your lot who got blown away. And I mean ripped apart.
Fully agree, Red Rose.
Itoje has ruled over all for many moons now.
He is by some way the best lock on the planet.
Etzebeth plays mostly consistant and always brings his contributions...itoje is a good lock, but it's always a close match up when they face each other.....with etzebeth leading by a small margin, in metres gained and general play...Marx on the other hand rules both of them in a way...his ability to take possession almost at will, his rock solid defence and his forward motion offloading game is magnificent. Lukanyo Am is really playing well and makes most things happen in our backline.....and Willie in his Role as impact player, makes perfect sense as he showed last night with his opportunist try.... although he is sometimes inconsistent, he has the know how to make a Game Changing Difference...DDA was yet again just a extra loose forward....his position as 12 needs a playmaker and strong defender....Willemse with his strong defence and good running in those narrow channels, is for me the obvious choice at 12...Kurt Lee was good until he went for the man and not the ball....barrett had a nasty fall and I hope the man is ok...but Kurt will learn, he is young and fast + good defence so he will do good in the future...willie should start at wing with Gelant @ 15 for second test if Kurt is out...Kitshoff must start as our scrum operates better with him there....Wiese was ok, but Roos should get another chance of the bench...Elrigh should also be on the bench as Kwagga was not impressing yesterday...otherwise the Boks took there chances when it mattered and with a more Balanced kicking game was able to keep pressure on AB...they can do much better though, if more of the chances were taken....this is where the personnel changes must come into effect.
Yes we do need Snyman back, he brings something extra to the table...but so does Eben and consistently he delivers the goods with strong presence and game winning stature....deny it all you like, but the facts is there for all to see...itoje is good, but not better than Eben.
Itoje is an outstanding lock. So is Etzebeth, the difference I think is the mindset, the self control.
This is where Itoje has a slight edge.
Lavanini could be up there too but this powerful man has the mindset of a rebellious teenager...a loose cannon and penalty machine sadly.
I think though Eben has matured.
Wlarus, your assessment of the Block players just isn't found in reality. I think that's where conflict happens here... some people are casuals and some people have been involved with the game a know a bit more of how it works. I haver seen a lot of yarpies since yesterdays game talking shit that just never happened. Even Schalk, if Mozart quoted him accurately. Why do yarpies struggle to understand what they see? It's fucking annoying.
NZ and SA 3 WCs, Austr 2 Eng 1...speaks louder than words.
Next year it will probably be France.
Eng hosted WC a few years back and could not get out of the box in pool stage.
There have been a history of good locks in SA...the list is long...that goes without saying. Yes Martin Johnson stands supreme but so does Irelands Paul O'Connell and I agreed on Itoje.
Probably Australia's John Eales was the best of all.
Something we can agree on Dave….a welcome change.
Etzebeth has always been dominated by us. Show me where this has not been the case you blubbering sack of excrement.
I hope the Block's make your selections. It only adds to the lack of muscle. It'll be even funnier losing with your fan favs playing shyte and not being able to blame anyone for the shit that was served up. Dopey Bilbo Loggins.... always good for a fucking laugh. Just cut and paste names on a fucking sheet Bilbo said... but then they lost.
From the Guardian, which is an English publication in case you don’t know…..WC final player ratings:
Maro Itoje Could never emulate his stellar display against the All Blacks. A good display in the set piece in trying circumstances. 6
Eben Etzebeth For an hour was a real handful for the English pack despite having treatment for a shoulder injury. Back to his best. 7
……
From the Daily Mail, another English publication you may not know:
Eben Etzebeth 7 (Snyman, 59, 7)
Got the better of his duel with Maro Itoje before being taken off after an hour.
…..
Even the Pom rugby writers think Etzebeth was better than Itoje when it counted most… who in any case is more of a Dud Toit type….not a power lock like Eben.
Oh boy, here we are.,.. the writers. Before I begin, here's a box of fucking tissues you old queen! Etzebeth and Itoje very similar numbers, 2 passes and 5 runs. Neither got a lot of metres. Itoje beat 1 defender and offloaded once, Etzebeth one offload. Itoje made 16 tackles missing 1, Ebenezer made 13 missing 1. So who fucking egded the game then? Itoje also ended the tournament as the #2 defender in the competition, just behind Alun-Wyn Jones, Etzebeth wasn't anywhere in top 15. There's your fucking reality check. Then Itoje had the edge over Ebenezer in the Lions series. Fuck me this is easy pickings. Eben gets dragged around for fuck sake. He is an overrated poof. The only thing Eben does is glare thinking he is some fucking bad boy. He isn't. This chump never does anything outside of the lineout. One big carry and he injures himself. Not durable and one of those Blocks who is losing the battle on the line.
Spot the difference...
The 2019 RWC was won up front...Eben was influential...live with it.
So the English press was biased against their own player when they said Etzebeth got the better of Itoje…..hahaha…talk about clutching at straws. And you conveniently omitted Itoje’s turnover conceded. Very naughty.
You also ommitted to mention the Boks led by Etzebeth won 75%of their mauls vs 50% for the Poms, all their scrums vs 50% for England and all their lineouts.
Case closed.
Case closed? Not quite pal, you haven't told me how Ebenezer was better. You just quoted some randomers and then posted some team stats. Fucking hollow as hell. Nah, you lost this one. I tried to help you out but you just wouldn't listen to reason... biff! Go wipe your bloody nose... it's not a good look for you... XD
Actually I just told you…the Boks won the mauls, the lineouts and the scrums. Etzebeth was key in all those confrontations. And just in case you missed this from the RC team of the week:
4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): The Springbok centurion was rock solid against the All Blacks, completing eight carries and four tackles. Etzebeth was brilliant in the line-out, winning five and stealing one from the All Blacks. The second-row is showing his impressive consistency at Test level yet again and is a key figure in setting the tone for Springboks’ physicality.
Schplotttttt!
How was he key?? What was his contribution??? He caught 5 lineouts, so was not a driver in those mauls... the biggest reason the Boks won was the scrum and we didn't take our chances... small margins. Ebenezer Stooge was a meager presence.
