Justin Marshall catches up with Beeno

Ex Supersport - extraxt from article "Long white cloud whitewash".

A clue to how we should go about it came from the unlikely source of former All Black scrumhalf Justin Marshall, who was commentating on the Invercargill clash. He saw the Cheetahs winning by only pouncing on mistakes, but that isn't what worried him. Instead he sent this across the airwaves: “Dare I say it? They are just too strong tonight. The Highlanders cannot combat those forward runners, who are running with aggression, with power. They come with just too much intent, and with ease they get over the advantage line. Too big, too strong, too powerful tonight.”

And almost every other night, Justin. We’ve just never learned how to take advantage of what we all know is our main competitive advantage in international competition: our big, athletic ball-carriers. (Now how many times have I said this is our competitive advantage? Sean Fitpatrick acknowledged this as well)

If you give the kind of possession our ball-carriers regularly provide to a New Zealand backline they will score nine times out of ten. We take an age to clear it, and when we do it goes to another crash-baller, and then another and another. (Well put)

If South African rugby was a boxer, the average fight would go like this: you wind your opponent with an almighty body-blow, but instead of knocking him out you go in for the clinch. And you do that round after round, bout after bout; forever relying on the judges to give you a points-decision despite having the biggest punch in the business.

On a rugby field, as with most battlefields, there is no such thing as an organised retreat. We need to realise that us getting over the advantage line “with ease” is an attacking opportunity we created ourselves. We need to learn how to take advantage every time that happens. We should have our finishers in possession and in space before the defensive line is re-set. We should stop clinching and start landing punches when we have our opponent staggered. (Again well put)

Only then will we really be the best

And they best is what w eshould be - consistently as well.

Meyer I am willing to consult man- I am here for you!

Beeno

A person has to say you and Saffex are always wrong - and I mean always.   The main cog in that forward wheel was a bloke called Labuschagne - but both you and Saffex write him off as being too light for a loosie at 106 kgs.

He made 24 tackles in the game - ran like a backline player - took a Highlander line out throw in - made a extremely improtant turnover in possession and ran like a backline player with ball in hand - but he is no good according to you.

Too light for your liking - what Marshall said was "Labuschagne - vow!"   That was aftrer he had a massive game aginst the SHarks and  after even the commentators made glowing remarks on his performnce in the Chiefs game.

Your heavyweight pack without brains means nothing.   Yes - we must have a strong lock, props and hooker combination - every game I wish Etzebeth is back - but outside of that we must look for the best loosie combination and you and Saffex are way off there. 

Mike dont lie about what I said about Labascagne. I said he was too light to play 7 for the Boks, because the Boks pick big guys like Alberts at 7 - get it?

Labascagne would have to challenge for the Bok 8 spot as he is not a 6.

But saying that, if the Boks were happy to play a 105kg flanker at 7 then Labascagne would be in contention as he is a good player

saffex

Elseewhere you were discussing the loosie issue and mentioned everyone but Labuschagne - so I assumed you wrote him off in advance - hence my comments about your view on him.

Yeah I rate Labascagne, but Kolisi, Elstadt, Coetzee, Botha and CJ Stander are better in my opinion.

I rate Labascagne highly though as I do v/d Walt of the Cheetahs

 To light, to big, to small, to heavy, to old, to young, to short, to tall, to slow everyone is an expert,nê.  You guys must come to the EC to see us play the game in a field that is mostly dirt.  But here the guys have passion and a true love for the game.  My boss gave some money so we could buy some jerseys and medical supplies but the rugby people they do not help us yet we support the game and every time there is a game in PE we go and we pay a lot for tickets to go watch because we learn.

I think most of the bad stuff spoken about players is just because there is a personal feeling by the writer.  Always I ask myself why then is that guy there representing his team and the writer with the big mouth and thick fingers is hiding here on the internet?  You must go prove you better than that guy or come and put a team together and come play us here in the EC,nê.

karlid good luck with the chiefs. Just understand that nobody is too concerned about the queens.Sorry but you have to earn respect and the queens have a long way to go.

I have to say the supprt for the queens so far has been great.