Marcel is our best young player

About 8 weeks back I suggested the order was Etzebeth, Goosen, Kitshoff and then Marcel. We can't say anything more about the injured Coetzee....but for the others I'd reverse the order.....it's Marcel, Etzebeth and then Kitshoff.

Not that I don't think the other two have great potential....it's just that Coetzee is the real deal, right now. This kid reads the game so well, moves to the crucial spaces, makes his tackles. And here is the crucial difference with most SA loosies....he steps into contact. So he slides off tackles allowing to offload, or break them altogether.

Contrast that with Jacques Potgieter.

Marcell has been a revelation, but he has to be used at blind side flank, cos we gota have Heirich, specialist fetcher at openside.

I agree with that....we have to have a fetcher. That ultimately means our 8th man should be a power runner.....like Alberts. 

Mozart

When Marcel came into the Springbok side you said repeatedly how bad a selection he was and that he is not up to standard.   I think that there was a huge turn-about on your side on this player.   I always maintained that he played well and he remains my selection as the best loosie in the world at this early stage in his career.

No Mike I said that Coetzee was an excellent player, but I didn't think he was hard enough ...yet.....to handle the McCaws in a tough test. Today he proved he has the mojo. I also said I think we need Brussouw because time and again, we have learned the lesson that fetcherless teams, without forward domination, are vulnerable.

I saw enough of Jordaan yesterday to annoint him as well, he alongside of Marcel would have to be our best new prospects.

Denny

I warned one of the board players to watch out for Jordaan - he is going to be problematic for the Aussies.   He handled the ball twice when he scored his try.   Quick pass to Pietersen that broke away from the sideline and when Pietersen was caught he passed to another player - who passed the ball back to Jordaan for a try under the posts.  Excellent link play.    That guy is a natural ball player - sorry he is been troubled with a hammy problem since the Junior WC - but he will get over it.   

I rate him above both Taute and Engelbrecht as a 13 - and that says a lot.  To my mind he will one day be on par with Conrad Smith - he is the same kind of player - or better than him, since he is a speed merchant as well.