Let's cut with the bullshit

Nine uncapped players. NINE UNCAPPED PLAYERS.
Like De Villiers said, people can't expect miracles...

And what about Mozart, saying that this was one of the weakest Baabas team??? What the heck? That team was glowing with talent, made mostly by fringe players that could become All Blacks! C-team my arse.



- Jesse Kriel had a reasonable game, much better at fullback than centre. When Petersen was swatted by Nayaravoro, Kriel was always there to take him down with powerful hits (look it up again if you doubt it).

- Petersen, although one of my favorite Cheetahs players, proved to everyone that he isn't up to Test level, at least not against killer whales like his opposite number...the try was good, but he was constantly exposed on defense, which is eventually gonna shorten his Test career. I don't believe he'll be selected again after this tour.

- François Venter didn't dissapoint, playing the role of the link player in the backline. Pretty good try with Ulengo in the end. Overall, great first game. Probably earned a spot on the bench against England next week.

- Rohan Van Rensburg...BEAST BEAST BEAST. Nuff said. Automatic starter at 12.

- Ulengo, good game but will most likely be replaced by JP or Habana for next game. Should try to be more involved on defense, sometimes he's caught napping with numbers in the outside channel. Physical in attack though.

- Lambie, did what a 10 should do and overrall didn't disappoint, except for the last kick (few people could make that kick, maybe Steyn or Pollard).

- Paige: I'll be the first to say that I didn't like Rudy Paige one bit. But oh did he prove me wrong in this game. Looked like a totally different player! Was a real fighter, always putting his body on the line and applying pressure in defense, with some great short bursts on attack. Massive improvement.

- Carr: good performance, always an emotional player as you can see during the national anthem. Did what was asked, without adding x-factor, but an annoying presence in the breakdown (in a good way). Bench probably, perhaps he'll be a better impact player.

- Mohoje...I can't understand this guy! He looks like a mantis while playing, and his exagerated movements on attack makes it really hard for other players to support him. Had a good run during the game but failed to pass, which shows his inexperience and lack of reading skills.

- Smit was a great fetcher, impressive in my opinion and wasn't worse than Louw. With Kriel out of the tour, this guy could be seen starting againt England, which wouldn't make me nervous to be honest.

- Snyman was a shadow of what he was in the Currie Cup, maybe it was first game nerves, maybe he's just not made for this level...we'll need to play him again at the end f the tour to make a better assessment.

- PSDT: great performance, great presence and one of his best games. He looked like a 4th loose forward out there.

- Adriaanse, what the hell are you still doing in there? Shouldn't you be in a nursing home?!

- Malcolm Marx: next Bismarck Du Plessis, but more athletic. But still very raw. South Africa will have to manage him really carefully, he can become of the greats with the right conditioning and the right mindset. The genetics are already there.

- Mtwarira was a must in this game, with such an inexperiend side starting, this guy was the pillar that kept things reasonably "stable". But you could sense that when the other 2 props came on there was a massive improvement. They brought physicality and strangely, ball skills.




This is my opinion, and I'm sure that most of you disagree with me. But I would like to know what you think is wrong in this post and why. Baabas were simply awesome, that loose trio was one of the best ones I've seen in a while...

For me, I would keep Marx, PSDT, Smit, Paige, Lambie, RVR, Venter and Kriel for England. What would be your pick?

 I tend to agree with you and would like to see the following team for the England clash:-
15  Willie le Roux, 14  Ruan Combrinck, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 ????. 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
16  Malcolm Marx, 17 Stephen Kitshoff, 18 ????????, 19 Lood de Jager, 21 ????????, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Johann Goosen, 23 Damian de Allende.
I am really at a loss about the no 7 blindsider and the tighthead back-up.  Alberts, Mohoje, Nyakane and Adriaanse are all four totally useless and that makes selection a serious problem.
Any suggestions will be welcomed.   Habana was atrocious in the last few tests and Pietersen is way to slow for a wing.       

 Great team, maybe they'll have to take a risk and team up Smit with Louw as flankers...not the greatest combination, but that should disturb the english breakdown just enough.
And you're right, Combrick has to be there, with him o n the wing no one will be able to run through there!

At 18 I would put again Lizo Goqboka (I don't know how to spell it) because he would be involved in a more experienced team and he also shown good signs with ball in hand.
At 21 that's a different story...maybe Alberts, just because the english will no with no doubt unleash big Vunipola. WE NEED THE WEIGHT, even if he plays like shit.



You know what, I've got another idea: it's not gonna be a popular suggestion, but I would start Alberts at 7 with Louw and Whiteley. Why? Because when he finally tires himself out around the 50-55 minute mark, the youngster Smit can step up and fetch all the balls he wants, fresh and ready to go...what do you think?

 Quacky
I have one serious problem with Alberts and a load of other problems as well.   If you look at Alberts through the years there is a problem inasmuch as he is the LAZIEST loosie I have ever seen.    His tackle count is often enough worse than that of a prop and his missed tackle ratio is high as well.  
Another issue is the fat that Albert's pace is way too slow for rugby.   He cannot assist in any way in breakdown ball protection and recovery - by the time he gets to breakdowns the ball is gone already.
Another Alberts issue is his famous ball carries.   In most matches Alberts carry the ball two to three times making no more than 2 meters in the process.  
You may as well put a prop on the field as a loosie.   For me he is an absolute no-no as a loosie.
If Louw is available I will start with him as number 7 - he is also basically useless as a lloosie, but he is better than Mohoje. 
I am not sure whether Lizo is a loose or tighthead.   If he is a tighthead then he is an obvious choice at 18.     

You have low standards Quackster....that BaaBaa team was selected with no NH players and no current SH test squad players avaiailbale . Relative to prior BaaBaas teams who could often pick from both sources, this was a very weak team. Try to keep up will you.

Goodes, Fatialofa, Shields, Taufua, Whitelock, Ellis, Tamanivalu, and Buckman are all fringe players...what does that mean?
Players that, wasn't the colossal depth of their country, would be certain All Blacks. Every other nation would kill to have any of those players in their starting lineup.

The same could be said about Akker Van der Merwe and Akkermann for the Springboks.

And Ready, Carter, Stirzaker and Nayaravoro for the Wallabies.

On the other end, you have NINE UNCAPPED PLAYERS, that at least didn't lose, a trend that's been very popular this year for the "experienced" team. Not all of them will be in 2019 (Petersen for example), but the backbone of the squa d for the next RWC is right there, so get used to it!

It's very simple. You, CC and others made comments to the effectthat the Bok team Saturday was better than our test team. So how do we measure that....by performance right? So who were they playing ....a third string BaaBaas team. How third string? Because these players never made the 30 man Oz, AB , Bargie squads. And had no first team club players from Europe. By definition third string. And we eke out a draw because the despised Adriaanse and Beast outscrum their opponents and get us some momentum. Witless logic.

 Third string, that's cute . Stopped reading at that point

 It's quite simple....the first 15 are first string....the second 15 are second string.....can you complete the logic chain?

 Mozart - when your favourites made up the Springbok team in 2011 against the team you listed above - they lost, 
How many of the  SA players were frontline players yesterday,   Some of the players were poor - very poor.   In  that category I include players like the loosies - except Smith - and even one of the locks, as well as Petersen.   They should never be near to any SA team.
However, you have to look at performance when it comes to selection for the Springbok team - never only at reputation like some people think should be the case.   I am happy that the Babaas of yesterday would have beaten  the Japan team of last year with ease - something Meyer's reputation players could not achieve.     

 Perhaps some of the Ba-Ba players will eventually represent their country but they are not their yet.
I was not impressed with either team and a draw does not instill any faith in our team at Test level.
The SARU folks are way out of their depth and dragging the team down to their level.
Shocking to see what is taking place.
Vasbyt.

That sums it up pretty well....poor opposition, and a totally uninspiring young Bok team.

 one thing is beyond any doubt. This year's boks would 100% definitely not get out of the pool of last year's RWC. Shitty management crappy coach poor squad.