When you think of all the scrummies playing now who have been Boks or in the mix how come this guy never gets even a call up to the squad?
I think he hs been very unlucky. Of course snapster would never hear of it as he is not a 21 year old but my question is aimed at fair minded posters.
100% should have had atleast 10 caps or so,he heas been good for a couple of years now!I would love to have him on the bench for the boks,i have no clue how schreuder,macloed have been considered above him!
2011, I think he was tied for competition top try scorer and he has been great for Cheetahs again in 2013 and especially whilst on the road. If that doesn't deserve a shot at higher honours especially with the issues we have had surrounding the 9 jersey since the departure of Fourie Du Preez, then I dont know. Somewhere in his past life he must have pisd off the SA rugby gods.
How can he be a Bok if he battles to secure a starting position in his Union. In the past seasons (2011) he was good, 2012 he was a waratah and not a good one.
In comparison to what we currently have available I would definitely have thought he deserved a look see.
Vermaak and Pretorius are in my opinion the best scrummies we have in the country.
Still ... my first choice would have been Rory Kockett.
It seems I don't have the same ideas as Meyer when it comes to selecting talent.
Just grateful that the Nik Nak man is on his way overseas.
Clean, I believe if Reinach had not got injured mid season , bearing in mind Meyer had eyes on him already, I think he could have started to edge his way, in smaller doses, into the senior set up.
Sarel was alert to the break. Our scrummies have lost this faculty. Van Zyl, Reinach and Hougaard are all brilliant on the run....but a guy like Pretorius sees the opportunity. In Joosts day this was our major attcking weapon....Pretorius just reminded us how potent a scrummie break can be.
To be quite honest Buzz, I expected a lot of innovative risky selections from Meyer when the Italians and Scots were here ... but that seems to have died a miserable death. He had the opportiunity to give a few of our talented boys a run against them.
Reinach is a talent, also deserving a look see. Whether it would have happend is another story. Some how I doubt it. Meyer likes Pienaar or HouGat. Come hell or high water.
He's afraid to risk. Very conservative. Clearly trying to be the popular coach more so than blooding a few youngsters for the future.
As far as attacking goes, he is our number 1 number 9.
Hus decision making is very good, his distribution is very good and his running is superb.
However he has an obvious weakness... And that is his inability to tackle.
Its one of the reasons that he doesn't command a starting berth for the cheetahs and why he could not sustain the number 9 jersey at the tahs,
If he can get his tackling right, I reckon he could become a fantastic all round scrummie.
Chippo, you may be very right there because if we have to look at a modern day model of what a test 9 should be, it would have to be Will Genia. Now who is our closest match. With Genia's pace, we have a number of scrummies but not many with the attacking nouse and defensive capabilities.
Hougaard seems the closest one we have if you break his game down but when you piece it all together, he is far off Genia. Not sure why!
I reckon Kockett could have come close. He had the right mongrel mixed with an eye for a gap. Not sure why he is constantly over looked. Why was McCleod only given 1 game too? Surely that is not enough to base a decision on.
I think Sarel definately deserved a shot but I think more so than his defence, it is his base kicking abilities that let him down. This makes me wonder why Kockett was never used. He was, afterall, keeping Pienaar out the team or at 10 a lot of the time. He has a great boot and all the rest. He can also kick the goals! Why is Pienaar considered from overseas but not Kockett?? I think its just Kockett's attitude maybe??
Chip, ive had the same sentiments for 3 years now.
I really love watching him attack close quarters...
He is by far the most superior attacking 9 in the SXV.
However his defense lets him down so badly.
Man on man, he is terrible.
@Boklogic... not too sure about Kockett. Good boot, goodd runner, good defender... but his primary role as a super fast clearer isnt that fantastc.
An on song Hougaard is still out best bet. Im surre its just a matter of time until he clicks. He definitly has the talent and all round skills.
Flash, there is nothing wrong with any of our scrummies ability to clear the base quickly. SA has some of the best passes of a rugby ball around. The problem lies with our forwards.
Watch a game that features the AB's. Watch how their forwards absolutely blitz a ruck even if they are only committing 2 cleaners. They hit hard and drive past the ball freeing it up. Aaron Smith often has free reign at the back there to clear quickly.
Our forwards seem to drive too the ball or "secure" it in a scrum like formation and Pienaar is often if not always left digging and scratching around for it often resulting in ruck base knock ons that are so frustrating. Just legs everywhere. Our forwards are often bigger and more physical than thier opponents so I dont see why we are not blitzing rucks and giving our backs fast, clean ball. I bet this way Hougaard would come into his own. He looks like a really busy player (like A.Smith) that just wants to make things happen constantly. Pienaar suits this current style we have as he always slows things down at ruck time which is not what we want. That suits this kicking game plan.
I reckon its our shit clean out at the rucks that is detrimental to Hougaard's game. Against Samoa, on occasions we smashed them at the ruck and we got our backs going so much better. Its all with the forwards. Forwards determine who wins that game. Backs just get the credit too often as its their name on the score sheet.
Sarel is a good player around the park, but has the weakest pass of any 9 I have seen at S15 level. His pass is too poor for international rugby
Probably right there Dave, but it was impressive to see an SA scrummie breaking with intent.
Yeah he is so good with ball in hand
Not sure i agree Saf.
Ive watched Sarel quite a lot.
Dont think his passing is a weakness.
But respect to your opinion anyway...
Something worth noting...
In the past 2 JWC's.. our 4 scrummies on show were probably our biggest flaws.
Last years team really lacked a good number 9. Similarly this year.
Looks like we may have to stick with Hougaard, Pienaar and Vermaak for a few years to come.
I hope that next year brings us a half decent junior 9
Sarel was dropped to the bench for the Tahs because of his poor service, the same has happend at the Cheetahs.
We have some good young scrummies in Reinach, v/Zyl and Groom.
Agreed our Baby Bok 9's for the past two years have been average
What????
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa!!!!
Does all this nonsense come naturally to you Stupd Dave or do you have to work at it daily??
Like the pass he sent to Benjamin in the dying minutes ... how shoddy was that??
The mere fact that it bulleted across, found it's mark right in the bread basket, keeping him on the front foot (unlike houGat who likes to pass behind you), enabling him to cross over for an easy try ... must be a hell of a concern for the Cheetahs coaching staff, right Davey???.
Would bringing him on 20 minutes earlier have made a difference?
Damn right it would have.
In fact they shoulda started with him all seasin long.
Drotske stuffed up and it cost them.
2 Griqua players in Bok team is enough thank you.
Why??
If they're good enough then by all means ... bring them all!!!
Define good enough in that part of the world.
Guys who run run eun and can't tackle tackle tackle that is why you see Griquas conceding 30 points almost every game
Your being silly now!!!
And I'm not sure I'm in the mood to spell it out to you.
Piet van Zyl all the way
Look at the bugger go
ffs
CC you really do know stuff all about rugby dont you. Its a given that Sarel has a poor pass.........throwing one good pass in a game does not rectify his service issues.
So why was he dropped by the Tahs and now the Cheetahs huh?
Is that your feet stomping and thrashing around on the floor again, Stupid Dave??
A hissy fit cause I dared to mentioned the shoddy and very poor HouGat!!!
Get a life will ya!!!!
You can talk him up as much as you like … we all know he’s USELESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaaaaaaa!!!
Not feeling well today, huh???
Bit of a bubby this morning, huh?
Don't be so touchy, Stupid!!!
I know you wont believe me but HouGat's shit stinks just as bad as yours. He's human, ya know ... susceptible to losing form. A bad streak!! You know the one he's been going through these last two seasons??
Now if he had a little more talent we could possibly overlook this with a certain confidence that he'll find his way back ... but sadly I reckon he's a gonner.
So make your peace with it, bro!!
Sarel on the other hand is at least within the top three best scrummies in the country ... with Kockett right at the top of the heap if he were to return.
His service is superb. Can pass both left and right without any difficulty. Sees a gap much like Joost and can turn a match on it's head in a moment. Solid on defense. So what's the friggin issue?
Now, do us all a favour and acknowledge that your hero worship of useless HouGat has no substance and to save face you've been harping on about this fool all season long.
We understand you wanna save yourself some blushes ... but for crying out aloud ... enough stupidty is enough, Stupid!!
Waiting in anticipation.
Daddy is correct here, Sarel is a bit down in the pecking order. There are a few ahead of him and he is also getting on in years a bit, nê. The bald spot is growing... Even Groom is marginally ahead....
Tell me Kaalgat Frikkie??
What kind of boom are you smoking down there in PE?
Clearly it must be good shit causing all these hallucinations!!!!
