Is there a disease called Test Match Hangover?

This is for serious discussion and not for the standard inputs from one-tracked minds - please. Many years ago in the era of CC competitions - somebody made a remark about Springboks coming back from tests and playing in other games - they said never expect too much from such players. When looking at the performance of the players on Saturday - this saying came back to me with a vengeance. I looked at the performances of both the Springboks and the All Blacks and it confirmed that in may cases that saying applies - with relatively few exceptions. I am going to discuss this issue and hope for inputs. SPRINGBOKS Good performances * Bryan Habana - very good all-round performance * Jan Serfontein - was the standout center in all teams playing on Saturday * Siya Kolisi - excellent performance * Marcel Coetzee - top class performance * Cilliboi Rallepele - GOOD PERFORMANCE Average Performances * Morne Steyn - goal kicking improved - otherwise problematic * Pat Lambie - solid - but his goalkicking became problematic * Lappies Labuschagne - solid in defence and in line-outs, but did not show anything in ball carrying * Eben Etzebeth - solid in tight phases - showed very little in other phases Poor performances:- * Willie le Roux - very poor show * Bjorn Basson - as poor as Le Roux * JJ Engelbrecht - on the field for only 21 minutes - but showed nothing * Juan de Jongh - nothing expected and showed nothing * Piet van Zyl - very poor performance * Willem Alberts - nothing expected and showed very little - slightly better than two extremely poor previous games for the Sharks * Flip van der Merwe - just a poor performance * Juandre Kruger - came from the bench - showed nothing at all * Jannie Du Plessis - strong in scrumming, nothing else * Tendai Mtawarira - strong in scrumming, nothing else * Coenie Oosthuizen - poor all-round game * Trevor Nyakane - not good enough * Strauss - very disappointing performance ALL BLACKS The problem is not only applicable to the Springboks - it is also afflicting the All Blacks - but not as pronounced since there was an arrangement not to start with frontline All Blacks or not select them at all:- Good Performances * Dan Carter - outstanding top class * Rene Ranger - Came from the bench - immediate top showing Average Performances * Ben Smith - best test player - showed nothing above average here * Julian Savea - good under high balls - otherwise zip too mention * Beauden Barrett - excellent in some aspects of the game - but dangerous in others * Tawera er-Barlow - ordinary, nothing to write home about * Luke Braid - average performance * Sam Whitelock - nothing much to brag about * Ben Franks - same as Whitelock Poor Performances * Israel Dagg - showed nothing much to brag about * Conrad Smith - same as Dagg * Ma'a Nonu - came off the bench, disgusting performance (red card and 3 week ban) * Aaron Cruden - very disappointing performance * Piri Weepu - really sub-par performance * Aaron Smith - same as Weepu * Kieran Read - came off the bench and no show; * Same Cane - same as Read * Luke Ronamo - really very poor * Waytt Crocket - nothing expected, nothing provided * Andrew Hore - nothing to write home about Although we can expect adjustment problems in what has after the three week absence - what was produced by most players is definitely not up to standard. MY QUESTION REMAINS - why does the Springboks and All Blacks in some cases are top performers on international level and then barely make the grade on Super 15 level or fail badly on the lower level. Granted - some of the players should not have been in their respective international squads - but as they did on test level - they did worse on Super 15 level, Bad Performances

Motivation! These guys have just come from playing for their country, and now have to play club rugby immediately afterwards. It is a step down. I think as a rule, all Super Rugby franchises should be prevented from playing their international players, for the first week after the in coming test series. That way the playing fields are level and the international players will have a well needed break. This will help with injuries, and if all the teams do it, then there won't be a situation where one team has to play their international stars because another team plans to.

Bluebok A very sensible response - it is probably psychological,

No but there is a disease called terminal stupidity.....have yourself tested. The Stormers had no chance against the Cheetahs......hahaha.....no wonder you ran away with your tail between your legs.

Shit Moz, I also got the Cheetahs vs Stormers game wrong! On paper the Stormers have the better team, but I just thought the motivation for the Cheetahs to keep their play off hopes alive would bring them a win. The Stormers kakked all over them! Might also have had something to do with the international break, the Cheetahs had some decent momentum going into the internationals, but didn't seem to be the same team afterwards. From an ideal underdog point of view, I would've liked the Cheetahs to make the Semi's, but there is a mathematical chance for the Stormers to sneak in, and if I am honest, I would say the Stormers chances in a knockout situation would be better than those of the Cheetahs. Anyway....GO BULLS!!!

Please I ask for an intelligent response - not rubbish. An absolutely idiotic response - as expected. Did I deal with any franchise team at all? I dealt with a trend as to performance of test squad players when having to play at a lower level. Then - if people have pre-conceived ideas and spread rubbish - what else can one expect?

What can I say Bloobok, if the slipper fits? - The only team with a chance now are the Bloo Bools. And all the fine rugby players regularly denigrated on this Board.....like Kirchner, Ndungane, Basson, Morne, Hougaard, Chile, Juandre and even Jaque Potgieter are coming into form......the Board is all set for it's usual serving of bloo egg.

Mozart This thread had an entirely different bearing. However, the Bulls played the weakest team in Super 15 and now suddenly all their players are top class. Kirchner had a rubbish game and Basson similarly. Kruger was not in the staring line up and produced zilch when he came on. Morne's goal kicking was excellent the rest of his game average. Hougaard still runs a few paces before passing the ball - against stronger opposition he will get slaughtered doing that. Perspective is what is needed - not wild statements.

No OOM not because they beat the Kings.....because they are second in the tables and have their act together. Every player knows his job, that's the Bools' strength.

Interesting thread Mike. Well laid out

 

Seems generally speaking that those players who just got a sniff, or one game played much better than those that had to go all three games.

 

How good was Kolisi - holy crapola. Added a dimension to his game I haven't really seen before with the angles he was taking and running onto passes. If that keeps up, Meyer will be hard-pressed to keep him out of the starting lineup.

 

Was reading on greenandgold.com and a lot of posters were saying how Hooper was absolutely everywhere against the Lions, but he wasn't really making a physical impact. Coetzee would fall into that category for me as would Brussouw to a certain extent and I think that is where Louw and Kolisi have an edge over both.