lionel mapoe, best centre in SA at the moment???

on form IMO, yes.

pace, power, and incredible vision.

time is something i dont have much of these days, so im only able to watch the NZ teams in super rugby, but i do make an effort to watch the lions games who are my fave non kiwi team at the moment.

lions have some real solid players with whittley, janties and mapoe being stand outs, but i find mapoe getting the uzumaki nod of approval nearly every single game.
right now i think mapoe is too good to not be in the Boks starting XV anddf at 13, but im not sure how to fit him in yet...

 That from the guy who was a rabid JJ fan.

He's a previously disadvantaged player .
He will be in
Hell, he may even be captain.

I called for the inclusion of Mapoe last year. He was sublime and still is although I think he lost a lot speed but still has qualities that he can add. He is a player on form this year but not as great as he was last year to be honest.

The best SA centre at the moment on form this season is Francois Venter by a long way, he's very versatile and showed he can perform well at 12 and 13, much like Harold Vorster. One of the huge problems in HM's reign is he was biased in a lot of ways, Meyer favoured bulls centres like Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht and J Kriel... Hopefully AC is more open mined and willing to give Venter or Mapoe a chance at 13 for the boks, also maybe Harold Vorster in the future. H Vorster is definitely one of the most talented, sadly he is unable to prove himself now due to injury but look out for him.

Mapoe deserves a shot. He is a bit injury prone but he has attacking brains. He is a very deceptive runner- a bit like JP Pieterson a few years ago. More importantly he has a good offload game- and understands how to create space.

I like Venter as well. But he isn't exactly quick, 12 seems the more likely role at test level. Mapoe is probably not a test centre, especially defensively.

 Mozart
Venter is injured and when a person objectively evaluate his performances last year he did much better at 13 than at 12.   How do you get to your assessment on the guy whom you criticized before you even saw him in games?    

 Venter is ahead of Mapoe in the Fantasy rugby points. Of course as Mozart doesn't participate he wouldn't have that information

 Exactly ... that's what I said a few weeks back. 
Mapoe is indeed the best outside centre in the land ... and if not top dog .. then at least a close second ... behind Venter.
He's competing against Jordan, De Jongh, Venter, Kriel and I suppose Serfontein.

He reads the game like no other ... has a powerful array of attacking skills, with excellent running lines, good off loading abilities in contact, gets constant go forward with deceptive upper body strength and knows how to score tries. He's also a solid defender in what many refer to as the most difficult channel to defend. 
Unlike Kriel, he's a team player, has a high work rate and plays till the final whistle sounds.
Comrade Mike thinks he's best suited on the wing ... with De Jongh.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahah!!
Talk about being delusional.

 Watched a tape of the Bulls/Reds game. Saw a huge improvement in Kriels passing game. So much so that I think he is the guy we need.Allende needs to get back to form but I think these two are the young combo we should bring through.Mapoe is playing well and could deserve a shot. Venter is good. Jan Serfontein continues to progress. Vorster unfortunately is out. Big Lions centre is one to watch as well. 
Jesse Kriel has the X factor. I am hoping he will go on from this last game and set the Bulls on fire. That guy Kirsten is also looking very good at 7! 

 JW we are talking rugby here not fantasy rugby that you and ou saSUE specialise on!

 Kriel is simply useless as a midfield player. He doesn't have the necessary skill set to play there ... much like JJ.
Sadly there are several better fullbacks available as well. 
He should go learn how to play properly at club level first.

Beeno, my considered advice to you is to participate in Fantasy rugby as you have a better chance of winning that than you do in winning reality rugby
Sounds like Venter is injured anyway, 
de Allende is still making his way back from injury and will disappear to the 7s game soon anyway.
Kriel is a better full back than center.
So Mapoe it is IMO, but can he perform at the Bok level? He needs to be developed with this in mind. Will this be done - I doubt it. 
Nope best to forget the backs, stick with the tried & true Bok game plan, smash it up in the forwards, ensure kicking is from hand is aimless & hope for penalties & the driving maul will win the day.
JW trying to introduce realism where it is needed

 CC obviously you were fast asleep or didn't even watch the last bulls game. Kriel was very good and his offloads excellent. Wake up CC.JW, you daft duck, I leave the fantasy rugby to the amateurs! Draad tighten that grip please!!

 Kriel......5 tackles made, 2 missed....he remains a turnstyle. I think wing may be his best position. He isn't physical enough to handle the butcher shop.

SA centers S18 season so far:
made / missed / percentage made

Jordaan 78 / 9 /  89%
Venter  51 / 11 / 82%
v Rensburg  12 / 3 / 80% (235 minutes played)
Mapoe  29 / 8 /  78%
Serfontein  45 / 12 / 78%

Esterhuizen 66 / 19 / 78%
DeJongh  41 / 12 / 77%

Kriel 21 / 7 /  75%
Odendall 13 / 5 / 72 % (307 minutes played)
Mnisi  24 / 10 / 71%
Watermeyer 32 / 16 / 66%
Kotze 21 / 13 / 62%

As a matter of interest - SA loosies:
Whiteley 69 / 3 / 96%
Kriel  51 / 2 /  96%
Tecklenburg 50 / 3 / 94%
Coetzee 57 / 4 / 93%
Lappies  33 / 3 / 92%
Botha 36 / 3 / 92%
Notshe 62 / 7 / 90%
Bruger  62 / 8 / 89%
JL Dupreez  58 / 88%
Kolisi 41 / 6 / 87%
Carr 62 / 11 / 85%
Dan Dupreez 42 / 7 / 85%

SA locks


Etzebeth 52 / 0 / 100%
Uys  40 / 2 / 95%

Kirsten 68 / 6 / 92%
Snyman  40 / 5 / 88%
Jenkins  43 /  6 / 88%
PSDT  61 / 12 /  83%
Schickerling  24 / 5 / 83%
Lood  54 / 12 / 82%
Mostert  61 /14 / 81%

Mapoe has been very good has always been a test standard centre. Jessie Kriel is better though and his last two performances for the Bulls proves that.
Frans Venter has shown for some time now he is more than equipped for the highest level....oozes class. His best spot is 12 but is at home at 13.
Serfontein is looking very good for the Bulls as well. de Allende now starts for the Stormers so things will only get better there. Janse v Rensburg is looking good for the Lions.
Our centres stocks are looking damn good and to think Vorster and Odendaal are injured right now 

 Right on snapster and great to see you back!!