Saffwx
You have some really predictable solutions in your team selections abnd although I agree with some - there are other useless players that you kept on playing - that was part of the major problem encountered in tje POM series and in the tests against the Argentinians that you want to retain.
The backline was the key to the tests disasters under Meyer. Planless and totally clueless. The problems started with the scrummie and goes through to the full back. The real issue is not only the players - but also the backline coach. What else do you expect from a backline coached by Loubscher?
Despite his try last night - one of the key backline problems is Francois Steyn and the other is Hougaard. The latter's service is hopeless. No improvement in last nights test. We need a real scrummie - not a re-conditioned one. Somebody that can pass to the backline fast - not running a few steps and then pass. In any event his kicks were as aimless as those of Morne and Francois Steyn.
Kirchner - agree whole-heartedly. Put in Lambie or if he ever start playing again even Taute.
Pietersen is a WING - don't try and put him at 13 - where he has all the wrong attacking and defensive lines. He never was really a success there. Mvovo was clueless last night and he brings nothing into the game. Put Pietersen on the wing and don't try and promote a player that has a long way to go to play on international level.
In any event at least De Villiers tried some things like skip passes - his center partner tried NOTHING The latter's charge down try was a real accident - not part of any move or anything. We should get a new center combination to try and instill some life into that backline - but if you retain Francois Steyn like he plays at present - you are onto a dead donkey. Try some youngsters - rather than FATSO and De Villiers and do not dissipate a top wing the way you propose. Incidentally if you come up with real centers I would support anybody to replace the present two. Just on more thing - if he was so good, why did Racing Metro not renew their contract with Francois Streyn? The latter looks more and more like a prima donna to me. Come now - some real centers will do the trick -so start thinking about younger players.
Morne Steyn - together with an insde center like Francois Steyn is a killer of any effective backline. Although Goosen did not show much in his return match - he is to my mind a better proposition thatn Morne. Put Hougaard and Francois Steyn both sides of him and he will fail miserably.
Bring in a real scrummie - not a recycled one - and with that I mean a scrummie that could vary his game according to circumstances with a fast and effective service to the backline. How many times was hre caught with the ball last night and how many kicks of his was in any way effetive? Look at that and come up with a scrummie.
Your looose forward combination is utterly predictable. I watched the CC game yesterday and especially wanted to see how Vermeulen and Kolisi perform. Vermeulen showed some real class - Kolisi was nowhere to be found. The latter may show some real potential - but he is NOT really ready for selection and the question is - would he ever be? Would destroy him to select him too soon. Put Vermeulen at 8 and Coetee at 6. Now for the other loosie. The one player that showed some real class in recent CC games was CJ Stander. He should be in the mix despite his overseas contract and even Louw would be better than Alberts. Better still get Kankowski back.
The rest of the forward selection is OK - but I would never ever select Strauss as first choice hooker - he was partly to blame for the initial line out problem with inaccurate throw ins and showed very little otherwise. Do we miss Bismarck? His injury was a real disaster.
Nowhere ever did you mention the backline coach - so I would say AGAIN AND AGAIN get rid of Loubscher as backline coach - he is and was a disastrous cjoice as a coach.
