Keo on Esterhozen:

‘Andre the Giant brought his own storm to Cape Town on the most perfect of January summer evenings. The Stormers mantra is to make Cape Town smile but all they did was make Cape Town cry as Esterhuizen owned the hosts in a complete performance.

Esterhuizen, at inside centre, scored the try-scoring bonus point which finished off the home team in the 72nd minute.

The Sharks beat the Stormers 30–19 at a sold-out DHL Stadium and there was nothing accidental about it. From the first kick-off they were ahead on the scoreboard, ahead in intent and ahead in appetite. They scored inside four minutes and they were never behind.

This was a win built on desire, discipline and leadership and Esterhuizen, the captain at inside centre, embodied all three’

……..

‘’You seem to be in the Keo camp lately HasBeen, so perhaps this will help you see….no need to thank me.

Nobody is disputing that Andre is a great player...but it's not actually so much about Esterhuizen ...more like anyone but DdA...with AE being the new hope to replace him...that's why Beenz is pestering you lot.

It's about both Draad.

DDA was okay for when Pollard was the main guy and all we wanted to do was kick.

But now that Sacha is there and we clearly have to build around him, DDA doesn't suite that game at all.

Saying that, DDA was there in the 14 man win again the French this year...which is probably to date the most influential game I've seen him have and probably my favourite win in recent history.

So he gets priaise as a captain but what he did as captain only he and his team know. It's a bit like Kolisi being lauded for being captain when in reality he did next to nothing.

Esterhuizen failed to make an impression on attack. and his main weapon of bashing it up got nowhere. He was stopped in his tracks.

But the MGU of course miss the whole point. We are talking about what we want in the Bok backline. If we want to take a step up we need more creativity on attack. Neither Esterhuizen nor Hooker seem to do that. Hooker looks like a wing to me. Andre a useful hybrid player on the bench.

So to me I wouldil like Willemse and say Moodie to get a chance as the Bok center pair.

Mozzietard as per usual is simply demonstrating his poor understanding of the game. Lacks rugby acumen. The srrvile gimps dutifully chime in securing their coveted Gimp status. Bwahahahahaha.

Poor plumpster appears if we want to play a more running game the Esterhuizen is a better option than Willemse.

I think Mozzietard is confusing the Plumpster.

Never worry oaks Beeno is here to school the mamparas!

Beens, if we want a full out running game then perhaps Willemse is the answer...

But by the same token, what did he do yesterday other than catch and dot down what Sacha created?

I don't think a full running 12 is what the Boks will want at the WC. My guess is that Rassie will be using Esterhuizen. And I think the chances he has given Willemse at 12 is exactly because he wants to start AE at 12 and Willemse at 15...and then be able to shift AE into the pack and move Willemse into 12. I don't think Rassie is properly looking at Willemse as a starting 12 but rather more as a hybrid 15/12.

I honestly think that DDA's days numbered, and that Rassie is trying things to fit around his plans for Andre as a hybrid.

I could be wrong, but that's what I'm thinking

Mampara king, if you watched the game and still say Esterhuizen did nothing, then you’re either deliberately biased or deliberately lying.

Andre was heavily involved. His passing and distribution from 12 were excellent, and his kicking game has improved a lot.

Saying he made no impression on attack is nonsense. He didn’t smash through the Stormers because they played it smart, with a big body like Ben Jason Dixon tracking him.

That limited the bash, not his overall impact. What you conveniently ignore is his distribution, game management, and defensive work.

Leadership also matters. Watch the game properly. After the final whistle, the players went straight to him. You could see the respect, including from guys like Fassi.

During the match, when things got heated, Andre stepped in, calmed his players down, and they listened. That’s leadership, of note and your Bias BS, that no one believes in any case, can't change that.

You offer no evidence. No examples. No timestamps. Just noise. Same with your take on Hooker. He’s a young, very talented player, and Rassie clearly sees something there. Writing him off just shows bias again and lack of Rugby acumen.

Yes, Moodie will get more chances at 13, deservedly so. But Esterhuizen and Moodie have already played well together, including against the All Blacks at Twickenham. Those are facts you can’t argue away.

Willemse is a quality player, but his best position is 15, where he has time and space to make his biggest impact. Springbok rugby will always be forward orientated.

That 12 must bash it up, but also pass, distribute, and kick. That’s exactly what Esterhuizen gives you.

DDA is mostly a dumb basher. Willemse is a runner and stepper. Andre gives you both.

So maybe wake up and watch the game instead of recycling the same tired old shit.

While you’re at it, how about having your own original thoughts... we all know who you are following. The brown rings around your neck prove that...Bwahahahahahahaha

AE had a good game but I preferred Willemse’s impact at 12, he was more creative and beat defenders

AE was all about power which is obviously his strength, looked good again in that maul powering it forward to score

At 32 he is definitely not the answer to replace a similar aged DA. Willemse walks it as the replacement at 12

Hooker once again looked lost at 13, JJ replaced him and it took one ball in hand for him to make more of an impact than Hooker did all game

As for Sacha - the guy’s speed is an absolute weapon.

Nice to see the Sharks back on track - Fassi, AE, Pepsi, Jenkins, v Heerden and Manu were good and for the Stormers it was Willemse, Sacha, AH Venter, JD Schickerling, BJ Dixon and Theunissen

Willemse did nothing of note at 12 other than a walk in try of Sacha's hard work.

AE might be older and not the permanent solution at 12 going forward, but he showed yet again yesterday what it takes to be a complete 12 at top level.

Willemse is not there yet and a hybrid role as Plum suggested, 15/12 is more suitable for him at this stage. In my opinion a David Kriel or a Rickus Pretorius, lanky big players, are more suited at 12 for our Bok future.

Excellent post M that sums it up perfectly. The moment of the match was Esterhozen catching Zas, a quick winger from behind to prevent a try. Notice also they couldn’t leave Willemse to look after his man, they had to give BJD that task. Best I recall, his routine tries excepted, Willemse was anonymous. He needs space and he can be lethal.

Bullshit Willemse was better than AE, who was not even up for nomination as MOM

AE was good but Willemse was better because he actually beat defenders through skill not power

AE catching Zas proves how much pace Zas has lost, he looked like a carthorse in that attempt to break away

David Kriel has done nothing of note in a good few months now, bit disappointed in him but it does not help his cause playing a different position each week

Forget Rickus he is wasting his time in Japan - does not deserve a look in unless he returns home

Fassi was excellent at 15 yesterday proving he is our Bok 15 with the creative and physical Willemse at 12 - such an easy call to make

Willemse beat defenders….document that please. The only reason Willemse was up for MOM was because he finished 2 tries Sacha created.

And as even the commentator said during the game the MOM was Esterhozen

So far this URC:

Willemse 7 defenders beaten in 42 carries

Esterhozen 18 defenders beaten in 64 carries

Will happily provide the defenders beaten in yesterday’s game - not stupid stats actual time stamps

As a 12 Willemse was better than AE yesterday without any doubt

The commentators did not say AE was MOM they said he should have included as one of the candidates which I’m in agreement with

Pepsi won it and deservedly so

"As a 12 Willemse was better than AE yesterday without any doubt"

Well, you are clearly the only one thinking that and the evidence doesn't back your claim.

We all saw that game, but yet you claim that only your analysis is correct. That is highly unlikely. Here just one example from Rugby365.com:

Man of the match: "Phepsi Buthelezi and Aphelele Fassi produced great performances, especially with ball in hand. However, we gave the award to their captain Andre Esterhuizen, who was a colossus on defence and attack. His leadership was there for all to see, and he scored the bonus-point try."

"Fassi was excellent at 15 yesterday proving he is our Bok 15 with the creative and physical Willemse at 12 - such an easy call to make"

You'd think so, yes . . . but just watch our resident rugby noob - the same ignorant old fool who once opined that AE had the pace of a snail and that Fassi was very slow - just watch him push for AE at #12 and DW at #15.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, DW is at his best in very limited space, not in wide open areas. He is much more suited to #12 than #15 . . . although I'd play him in both positions if he had a clone.

Kets look a bot objecttively at this rugby seasin thus far inlcuding both the ORC an European C ip :-

Stormers - Matches played 13 - won 11 lost 2

Lions - Matches played 13 - wom 4 lost 8 drew 1

Bulls - Mathes played 13 - won 5 lost 8

Sharks - Matches played 13 - won 5 lsst 8

No suddenly the wotst team if the abve 4 is praised to high heaven and the S tormers condemned bcause they lose against the S h arks and suddenly -

1. Venter of the best loosie playing in SA;
2. Esterhuizen is the ebst 12 in tehc ountry.

For a change after fucking up royally is most matches he played in gets he vote for being the top 12 in SA, Now suddenly Venter is the ebst lossi playing in S A, Venter i a top v;sdd [lsyrt - but npt anywhere near the ersormnce levels of Roos and De Villirs when it comes t loosie perfoirmances,

What is a huge plus - the site members are not selecting the Springbok team since if that was done the teamw ould be ranked below 5 in thr ankings,

.

Andre's performance is being slightly overrated, in my opinion, but a lot of his contribution is also dismissed by the detractors. Early in the game he floated a perfect long pass to Fassi in space out wide, which set up field position from where the Sharks scored their first try. Then he kicked that beautifully weighted grubber that set up the field position from where the Jordan cross kick try came. Later in the game he released Fassi into space again with an offload on the Sharks tryline after Jaden's boxie was charged. That ended with the Sharks back in the Stormers 22.

Yes, he was well marked and stopped by Dixon who was clearly tasked with controlling him and the Sharks should have adjusted to that sooner - might have been they were trying to soften up Dixon but I kinda doubt it. Still, that's nothing terrible, he just got parity against a competent defender. On the bad side he had that shitty little grubber with advantage ball, I could see Hooker was running through the line to chase it so it was clearly a play they called, but it's always a 50/50 thing when there are so many defenders in front of you, you have to thread it precisely otherwise it just looks stupid. So, while he didn't dominate the collision consistently thanks to Dixon, it was a solid effort with some telling moments and another big impact when he switched to the pack at the end. The tackle on Zas was another big moment.

Now we hear Willemse created so much better. Okay, what did he create? I remember him into contact once and I think he beat the first tackler without making any real ground after that. I remember him throwing the hospital pass (contrast with Andre's wide ball having the vision to find the man in space, not the man marked for death) and he also lost advantage ball in contact. I can't recall much else that he did outside of running in the two tries Sacha created. To me he looks lost at 12. We literally have those two moments against the All Blacks, the try and the break he made into acres of space in front of him carrying the entire argument for him at 12. There's been little to nothing since to suggest that it's his position. Even the sycophants at Planetrugby couldn't get themselves to give him more than a 5 for his performance despite scoring two tries.

I don't see the fuss about Fassi's performance yesterday.

He fielded a few good ones, had an excellent touch finder but was pretty standard otherwise. Sure, he's just back from injury and will take a bit to settle. But didn't feel it was a MOTM performance. Hopefully he gets back to his previous form because he was excellent and found it almost impossible to put a foot wrong 18 months ago. He looked like the best 15 in the world.

As I understand it, he suffered ankle injuries. And he for sure doesn't look like he has the same pace he had previously. Perhaps he'll get it back...I hope so.

This is the pace I'm talking about...he runs Moodie down like it's nothing.

Well said, Pakie.

Agreed, pretty much my exact thoughts too, Pakie.

Problem is a) WP bias and b) retarded Dave who is incapable of seeing anything outside of his ever narrowing point of view.

Once you get past the above, the facts aren't very difficult to discern.

Fuck me Pakie you speak a load of horse shit - literally

Willemse looks lost at 12 - fuck off, seriously

His display at 12 against the AB’s is better than any singular match performance by the likes of DA, AE or Jean

Spot on Rooi as always - it’s so obvious that Willemse’s best position is 12, where his ability to attack space with his feet is unrivalled in SA. Add his physicality and we have the perfect candidate to take over from DA at 12 right now. Willemse is not quick enough for 15, he can’t add the value Fassi’s does with the lines he takes or the counter attacks he launches - both requiring speed to execute, which Willemse does not have

What a stupid call it would be picking AE a similar age to DA as DA’s successor - you might as well retain DA if that was the case.

Excellent pose Pakie. That certainly sums up the main points. Willemse doesn’t seem to have a game plan at 12, makes it up as he goes. The effective 12s start with power these days, but unlike Allende they offload

This is a bit confusing Dave. It seems you don’t want Willemse at 15 but Timestamp does if he could clone him…yet you say Timestamp is spot on.

https://rugby24.net/stormers-vs-sharks-rugby-full-match-replay-24-january-2026-united-rugby-championship

This gem of a site ... thanks to PofadderPakie.

There is logic to the DW at 12 thinking, but there's just not enough evidence.

The idea of having a physically weaker 12 that is able to use a step to get past defence and gain a bit of ground to sep up plays and breaks isn't totally faulty. Conceptually there is merit to it. I can see the idea that the Willemse at 12 bros have.

But there are two problems with that. The first and most glaring of them being that retarded Dave he been telling us for years that "ver ees no space in va modern game". Something that he has never reconciled with his newly found opinion.

Secondly, we don't see enough evidence of Willemse doing it at franchise level to assume he would be able to do it at test level.

There was a play on Saturday where Sacha looked to loop around Willemse. It was clear as day what they were trying to do, but Willemse was just incapable of holding his feet long enough to release Sacha on the loop. AE, in a situation like that, is far more capable of buying that bit of time, holding off multiple defenders and getting ball away.

I've just literally face-palmed after reading this thread.

So according to some of the posters on this thread,

a) The #12 who scored both of his team's tries on Saturday was anonymous?

b) This player here . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0paLVCJPt7I . . . isn't physical enough for #12 (and needs to prove himself at Test level nogal).

c) This player . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7iIhALxQdJQ . . . can only operate in space.

d) This player . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uIqVx2jsWCI . . . can't be trusted with defending.

Facepalm!

Snap...i also jut facepalmed after reading the most recent post on this thread...

b) This player here . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0paLVCJPt7I . . . isn't physical enough for #12 (and needs to prove himself at Test level nogal).

--> Willemse is running at an angle with nobody being able to make a direct tackle on him. One would think that posting a clip that is mean to prove physical dominance, it wouldn't be one of a guy running an an angle with a bunch of players being unsure as to who is supposed to tackle him. if anything, that is a 13's try, not a busting 12's try >>>> Facepalm

b) This player here . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0paLVCJPt7I . . . isn't physical enough for #12 (and needs to prove himself at Test level nogal).

I facepalmed because i was told that there is absolutely no space in modern test rugby and that this is why Dumbian the Donkey De Allende never steps.

d) This player . . . https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uIqVx2jsWCI . . . can't be trusted with defending.

I don't have too many issues with Willemse's defence but i have yet again to bring out massive facepalms because i was told that Willemse is slow and doesn't have the pace for 15.

But the biggest facepalm of all...I was told that Cheslin is simply too small to play at 12. I suggested it, and everybody said I'm crazy. But now my palms straddle my face because here is a clip of Cheslin bumping of a lock and this is surely definitive proof that he is big enough and strong enough to play at 12. The clip shows it, thus it is undeniable proof. Does anybody dispute this?????

https://youtube.com/shorts/j9GN-Py_X0c

Yep Rooi you get rugby ignorance and then you get these clowns

Lets not talk 12 candidates, the biggest clown of the lot is advocating Roos at 12

Enough said on the clowns grasp of the credentials required by an inside centre - let’s put Roos at 12 bwahaahaaaaa

Saffex, it's funny how ever since you and I expressed our appreciation for DW's great skills, suddenly he's very slow, he can't beat a tackle, can't bust a tackle, can't defend and can't influence games.

LMAO!

Look, there's our world . . . where Springboks like Damian Willemse, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe and Aphelele Fassi are world-class players while the back-to-back RWC-winning coach Rassie Erasmus is both competent and successful . . . and then there's their world.

My advice, don't even try to understand their world. Just have a laugh.

I can remember a time when Moffie banged on forever and a day about Esterhuizen being a snail.

He'll most probably BS himself out of that one but I'm sure the regulars will remember.

Yes Willemse does not have a gameplan at 12, he just makes it up lol

Honestly you guys need to calm down on this Willemse at 12 narrative.

Yes, Damian Willemse is a very talented player. Nobody is denying that. He played well at 12 against the All Blacks in Wellington. That is also true. But one good game does not suddenly make him the obvious or only long term inside centre.

What actually matters is what Rassie does, not what people think should happen. Up to now, Rassie has picked Willemse far more at 15 than at 12. That’s a fact. Apart from that All Blacks game, he has not regularly selected him at inside centre.

In 2025 he was injured for a long time, yes, but even so, he was not used consistently at 12. So people claiming it’s “obvious” that Willemse is the future Bok 12 are guessing.

If Rassie truly sees him as the future 12, we will see it clearly. He will start picking him there regularly. He will bypass DDA and Andre Esterhuizen and stick with Willemse at 12 going forward. Until that happens, nobody knows.

Andre Esterhuizen might not be the long term solution, but he is absolutely an option right now. He is not old, he is experienced, and he fits the current game plan. Writing him off already is premature.

Then there’s the fullback question. Fassi is a very good player and very dangerous on attack. His defence was suspect before, maybe he’s fixed that, we will see.

But if Fassi plays 15, where does Willemse go and if Willemse stays at 15, where does Fassi go? Again, nobody actually knows yet.

So calling everyone idiots and dumb fucks because they don’t agree with your prediction is nonsense. It’s short sighted. It assumes only one analysis can be right, which is highly unlikely.

And surely you guys know what they say about assumption? " Assumption is the Mother of all Fuck ups"

Let Rassie make the calls. If he starts picking Willemse at 12 week after week, then fine, the argument is settled. Until then, take a chill pill and stop pretending your assumptions are facts.

Andre outplayed Damian on Saturday, no doubt.

Doesn't make Damian a bad option at 12 and also doesn't mean Andre is the next incumbent for the Boks. Andre is probably the wrong side of 30 going forward but till he is dropped by Rassie he will get minutes starting or off the bench. He has been the best 12 playing in SA since his return from Quinns and showed it this weekend. A centurion test center if he had played for another country and a damn shame he hasn't got more springbok caps.

What did AE do that has you declaring that he outplayed Willemse?

For me I preferred the performance of Willemse when it came to attack in not purely relying on brute strength

The wide passes out to Fassi and Williams, his turnover after tracking back, the hunt down of Zas, his first grubber through. The fact that time after time he took the ball up and drawing two or more defenders. Keeping possibly the stormers best tackler in BJD busy allowing Phepsi ,Hatton and Manu/Vincent more opportunities ball in hand against smaller players. His transition into the backrow when the sharks needed him and then scoring off a well worked Maul ( Damian's tries required less effort by himself.)

All this while leading the team and not with words or scowls but with actions. He took that team this weekend and said I'm going through, around and over the Stompies and you best follow.

For me I preferred the performance of Willemse when it came to attack in not purely relying on brute strength

He's already the best Springbok 12 since re-admission.

Those are not good enough reasons to have AE outplaying Willemse - pretty feeble really

Sure bro.