Juan de Jongh still looking like our only 13.

By the time the tests come Jean will have to stay at 12, his best position. The media and a few fans are reading all sorts of stuff into Steyn's play, but they did last year as well.  He is the same player.

Then we have the non tackling never can be's JJ and Sadie.....no answers there. Taute is going to prove second rate even at his best position....fullback.  

So that gives us a straight race between Juan and Jordaan. I would have gone for Jordaan after the S15 final last year.....but honestly what has he done since that game? Certainly zippo in this year's S15. So we have to almost default to the greater experience and proven CC winning skills of de Jongh.

This very underated player hardly ever misses a tackle and once in space is devastating. TMS.

Mozart

You obviously miss the plot completely in this case.  Lets look at De Jongh in reality.  He has had two years of Super 15 rugby where he did zip.   Why doio you refuse to take his stats into account and liberally use stats oin other cases.

I have never in my life seen a worse display of a center play than De Jongh did in the London test  and he was medicore in the Murrayfield test as well.   He is not an effective center - even at Super 15.   His great speed is a myth and he is constantly tackled back and losing balls in possession - that is if he does not knock the balls on.       

The problem with Jordaan in the first two Super 15 games this year was that Francois Steyn effectvely sabotaged attacking backline play of the Sharks.   Jordaan is in fact virtually never getting any balls from Steyn to play with - he got in total 5 balls in two matches - the rest Steyn kicked away or crashballed.   My question remains - how can an outside player ever perform under such circumstances?   Incidentally the same applies to Pietersen - who has done very little as well.

The Sharks last year had a wonderful attacking backline and Jordaan was one of the key players in that - this year it is all gone, because dear Fransie sabotaged it.   What a disaster - in the two games he played in this year - he did exactly the same as last year for the Sharks and for the Springboks  - zilch of any value.. 

Hahahahahaha......hoist by your own petard Mike. Hell I even signposted it for you....TMS.......The Mike Sting. All I had to do was post Juan de Jongh......and strike!!!!!! Sucker on the hook. Although I must say it was more like catching a Leervis than a Yellow Tail. Not an immediate strike, I had to wait to set my hook while you took the bait and posted another brick!

Okay Dave don't say I never did anything for you!

de Jongh has already proved what a failure he is. He spent the whole of last year in a winning S15 side doing nothing, then won 2 test caps on the EOYT tour where he went on AWOL of biblical proportions against England. de Jongh should never play a test ever again - he is physically not up to it, not even close.

We only have one centre position sorted at test level and that is Frans at 12. The only way the past it Jean is going to make the test side is if the stupid Meyer is adamant that Jean has to be his captain. If he chooses this route, Meyer will continue to fail.

The task is to find a partner for Frans at 12. We have some current options in JJ, Sadie and Jordaan playing 13 this S15. Sadie impressed in his first match and offered little in his second. Jordaan has offered glimpses but shown nothing to date. JJ is the best prospect of the 3 in terms of physicality and that great step of his.

I do think the Stormers should move Jean to 12 and play de Allende at 13. de Allende looks a good prospect but like all the centres in this years S15, he has shown little. Possibly the best bet is Jan Serfontein at 13 for the Boks outside Frans at 12. The Bulls need to give this kid game time this S15.

Given how average our 13's have been this S15 thus far, I'd be tempted to move Taute back to 13 for the Stormers as he remains a real contender for the Bok 13 spot. His display at 13 for the Boks against Oz, was the best of all the SA 13's last year. I wish Coetzee would include young Pat Howard at 13, this kid has plenty to offer. The same can be said of JP du Plessis.

The options for Bok 13 are Taute, JJ, Serfontein, Jordaan and de Allende.......I would also be more than happy to see JP at 13......certainly ahead of hasbeen Jean or weeeee de Jongh

Mozart

You are a star - I have to give you that.  I laughed out loud when I realized how catchable I really was.

Seriously now - I do have a problem with the way Francois Steyn is playing - he is putrid in fact as he is neutralizing the whole Sharks backline.   What do you think about that one?

Mozart

You are a star - I have to give you that.  I laughed out loud when I realized how catchable I really was.

Seriously now - I do have a problem with the way Francois Steyn is playing - he is putrid in fact as he is neutralizing the whole Sharks backline.   What do you think about that one?

"Help - Heer Koning" -  I cannot get Beeno to react to my nasty attacks on the Stormers either.  Any suggestions?

Mike you have to find the right key word to catch your man. All of last year for Dave it was "Taute".  For Beeno it's always been "Rassie" or "Victor".....try those.

Nooooo, my key word would have to be 'Morne'

More like Greyling.....hahaha.

I'll be pissed off if Greyling, on his return from injury, replaces the impressive Mellett at the Bulls - but true to form, Ludeke will do just that.

Moffie, I must be honest, I was wondering what TMS stood for.

My first guess was you were signing off your posts with "Too Much Stupid" which would be quite appropriate but that would also require a level of self-awareness that you've never demonstrated before.

The correct phrase would be: "too much stupidity". I mean "too much stupid" is very stupid, even for you...haha.

Uh-oh, looks like another "PWNED" moment!

LMAO!

I keep forgetting I'm dealing with a very square and boring old relic who doesn't get out much. I do realize it's not grammatically flawless but the phrase "too much stupid" is quite fashionable among the younger set these days, Moffie old fart.

PWNED again!

RooiAAS, this is going to hurt.....but at 50 years plus, you are no longer part of the "younger set". You are in fact an old toppie.....please use language which is appropriate for your advanced years. If I want to get the latest lingo I'll chat to my grandkids, not a declining old lush like you.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaha!

As the flush of embarrassment starts to burn, Moffie quickly tries to deflect attention from his latest humiliating gaffe . . . but alas, it's too late and it's TOO MUCH STUPID!

PWNED again!

ROTLMAO!!!

Saffex

I have watched every game Steyn played at 12 during the last two games for the Sharks in 2012 - as well as all the tests he played in.   I was hoping that he would play a different game in 2013 and really start playing as a real attacking force. 

I made to clear statements last year already and those I want to repeat here: 

*    Steyn has to play better than he did last year - since he was disappointing to say the least and for that purpose he had to show during the Super Series in 2013 that he really deserve selection.

*    that if the excellent backline of the Sharks malfunctions in 2013 there would be only one person to blame and that will be Francois Steyn.

In both games he played this year - it was an exact repeat of last years performances.  Crashball after mindless and unthinking crashball.   Is he ever thinking about the game of rugby - or is he a mindless moron repeating the same thing over and over again?    Be it as it may - thus far this year the Sharks backline did malfunction badly and Steyn was the main reason for it. 

Last year without Steyn the Sharks backline was a potent attacking force scoring brilliant tries - this year it never functioned properly - because Steyn virtually refuses to pass the ball to outside players and crashball continuously and in rare cases launch aimless kicks.   None of his efforts worked properly - he normally gets tackled before the gain line and any ball carrying dies with him and the forwards must then again try to recover the ball.    There is no thinking or anything constructive in what he is doing - his only achievement is to kill every potential backline atack.  

Is that what we want from our backline?   We had Morne to kick most balls away - now we have Francois to crashball every ball.    Both has about the same level of ball sense - near to zero, becaue they both play predictable and repetative games.

If Steyn was successful in what he is doing it would have been posible to be less critical - but what has he achieved this year.   Not a single line break and he played against a rookie and center who really is a 13.  Nothing - zilch achievement.

After looking at the two games he played in this year repeatedly and also the tests last year - it is clear as daylight - he was sub-par as a number 12. After watching him play at 12 in the warm-up games I thought there may be some improvement in his game - but was quickly disillutioned by his last two games. He definitely was NOT UP TO STANDARD

Is that what we want from a Springbok center?   If the answer is yes and we want him to sabotage all backline attack possibilities - select him.   Otherwise look at other options.

On reflection that Old toppie looks a bit younger than your 50 plus.....so here's a more realistic image:

The neck is not visible, but the florid drinker's complexion is is totally consistent with your chosen name.....Rooinek. Hahahaha.....bet you wish you hadn't started this!

Mozart

I am enjoying this tussle between you, Rooinek and Saffex.  However, in between I asked a serious question about Francois Steyn's performances at center.   What do you really think about it?   I would like to have you opinion on that one please.

You bet I hadn't started what, Moffie? I put up a pic to show the usage of the word "stupid" in the same context that you were bleating about after you managed to get egg all over your stupid fat face again . . . and you're putting up totally irrelevant and childish pictures of drunken losers.

Carry on by all means but don't think your juvenile little antics are making me regret anything.

PWNED!

It's no tussle Mike.....there is nothing more laughable than a 50 year old Lush like Rooinek trying to be a teenager.

With regard to Steyn, I have to say, I am underwhelmed. Fransie was a veteran at 20, unfortunately he is now looking like a retired player at 25.