Massive Willem...the best ball carrier in Saffaland

WA is the destroyer and bulldozer on the NH fields...cannot understand what my dear ol'friend Maaikie has got against him. You get basically 2 types of good ball carriers...the dam busters and those that move around the defender (mainly backliners...but even there you get 2 types...Jonah Lomu just burst through...Jason Robinson just went around). With forwards I can name but a few...not necessary flankers although Alberts can play B/s flanker, no 8 or even lock...Bismarck is one, Kieran Read is another...Thierry Dusatoir and Richie are probably the most allrounder flankers not only good carriers but good tacklers.

Mike is gonna have a field day with this. After all, according to him, Alberts has only made half a meter in the last three tests he has played in.

Duplicates

 Seb

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine.   My problem is Alberts carry balls a minimal number of times during matches - at most four to five times a match, mostly less.   His carries are on average 2 meters per carry.   That makes me always wonder why he is rated as such a mighty ball carrier - since he is routinely tackled by the first opposition defender.  The other problem is the fact that he is clumsy and he often enough lose balls in possession or gives away penalties when and after he carried balls.  It beats me hollow - I always wondered where did he get that reputation from - because it is not supported by either facts nor statistics.

For the record players like Etzebeth and Bismarck - as well as Strauss - are much more effective ball-carriers than the slow and clumsy Alberts will ever be.

Once a reputation is made then you become a heavily marked player...think that what also happened to a lot of good line and defender breakers of the past...one thinks of Frans Steyn, Sebastien Chabal etc...the problem here is too reconstruct your game plan.

In the old days you had Frik Du Preez...who often played lock as well as flanker, with Jan Ellis and Tommy Bedford. Tommy was a light weight but could orgestrate a change in attack at a whim or drop of the hat...today game plans and strategies are so lacking in creativeness (especially England and SA)...the AB's not so and never were so that's why they succeed ....WA would awesome if used correctly. Change in strategy most often leads to bafflement of opposition...cannot help thinking of Kitch Christies reorganisation of Mark Andrews (lock) to number 8. The game plan was adjustable to meet the need. Today SA rugby is so readable. The initiative is often given to individuals like Bismarck and Strauss and other selects to make the game rather than playing the game as a team...imagine an orgestra only relying on one or 2 greatplayers and the rest mediocre and just going along. The cohension together has got to be perfect to have a perfect result and that applies to all things including team sports.