Is there still a palce in the game for small loose forwards?

We have seen a number playing for the Boks for brief moments before fading away. Kabamba Floors, Solly Tybilika, Daniel, Stegmann and Brussouw come to mind. There are also a guys like Kolisi and Deon Fourie who although he has not played for the Bok is clearly the best of the small loosies.

Those who have played for the Boks have all flopped apart possibly for Brussouw who had a good  test series against the Lions but has faded since then.

So is it the end of th small loose forward one has to ask. The small guys will be agast at the thought as their participation in the game is diminishing by the year. scrummie could ultimately be the last refuge of the small guy in the game!

But there could be one other possibility. I would suggest that if your 7 other forwards can still dominate the tighter phases of the game this could  allow for a roving  role for a smaller loose forward. If so that man could be Deon Fourie. Also when playing on the hard fields of the highvedt at altitude this again becomes a possibility.

However is Deon Fourie betterthan Coetzee? The loose forward of the roving type will probably  be Coetzee who is a youngster weighing in at 106 kg. He will bulk up a bit and get too say 110 kg and become a useful number 8 of the roving type. Very nice pace etc. All this means is that the guys around 100 kgs are toast I guess. What a sad conclusion to reach!! 

Benchmark weight for a loose forward is fast approaching a minimum 110kg? 100 kg is simply to small. Okay there maybe at some point exceptions to the rule - few and far between though.

For this reason Kolisi could battle. He could bulk up a bit and if given a roving role may make it but I am not overly optimistic that he will find  a permanent spot as a Bok loosie. We shall see.

The short answer is effectively NO - unless theya re speedy enough and verys treetsmart in play.   The other pre-requirement is that there cannot be two small loosies in any side.  

The other issue here is that the loosies mentioned by you - bar Daniels - is either not speedy or they are not streetsmart or both.   Because they are not speedy enough - they cannot get quickly enough to brekdown points and the ed result is normally penalties for illegl efforts to effect turnovers - neiher re they good defenders.  Obviously if theya re like Fourie and Daniels they can perform better in open play.

In the case of the players mentioned by you only two are really speedy and streetsmart, Kolisis is speedy, but not streetsmart, Brussow is neither of the two.

Another aspect affecting performance is the fact that oppoing coaching staff evaluate players and determine ways and means of countering their effectiveness.   This is the main resason for some players like Brussow having an immediate substantial impact nd fade away subsequently.   There is noa rgument about that one - when brussow initially came into the Springbok team - he amde a massive impression - ever since that test series he has gone backwards in performance and even on CC level now - he is really not up to standard.  That is why his continued selection - advocated by some members on this site - is really such a joke.   Incidentally the way he performed on CC level may soon amke Brussow a bench player for the Cheetahs if he continues to play the way he palyed during the past three matches he was invovled in. 

The same can be said about Kolisi - was last few games on Super 15 level was not equal to his initial impact and performances.    After he came into the Storemers team - everyone spoke about him as well.   I wish him well though - but he surely need to put on an extra gew kilos and become streetsmart.  

Glad you agree Mike and certainly two small loosies are  a definite no no.

I also noted the Kolisi fade and put it down to him being a younster - stamina is not there yet plus he took  pounding. He will need to work hard on his conditioning and we will see.

It is of concern that guys like snapster want the Bok pack to include Burden, Daniel, Brussouw and his lock pick Juandre (ragtad also just doesnt understand the Bok ethos even though Saturday should have opened his eyes). Can you imagine what would happen then. Instead of us having the ab pack for breakfast as happened on Saturday they would be having the breakfast.

ou snapster has a good grip on junior rugby but some never graduated to the senior game. Hahahahahahhahahaha