Meyer's Statement about Morne's kicking

He did not want to give other players the penalty and conversion kicks - because Morne always "come back strong".   The second part is equally funny -  Goosen did not kick well in training - so that is the reason he was not used for conversion purposes.

Morne coming back is a joke.   this year has proven conclusively - Morne;s kicking at goal detriorates as the games go on.  Goosen kicked at goal twice - the first one - a 58 meter kick was about 2 meters short.  The othr one he converted.

There seems to be a bond between Morne. Kirchner and Meyer.   He simply ignores the atrpocious displays by hose two and keeps them in the team.   When will he ever learn?  

Morne had an iffy start to the Super XV, but as the season went on got much better. You assessment is very far from reality.

And to refer to Goosens in-game kicks? So what, that obviously cannot be a base of reference in the build up to a game, now can it? It's obvious that if he is struggling in practice, and is still very inexperienced, you won't throw him in with the wolves. Perspective Mike, perspective.  

The Cat

What about giving a player three chances and see what happens.   By I fail to see how he improved as stated by Meyer and supported by you can it be said that he can improve"   The kicjibfg failures was not through the season -as you trieds to justify things - it was within one match.   And lets also think about the recent tests - 56% success rate against the POMS - 3 tests - and this did not include two drop goals attems that also went amiss in the third test.    50% in the two tests against the Argentines.   46% ahainst the Aussies and now 20% against the All Blacks Saturday.   Showed great recovery - according to those stats.

He should have given him three chances and then replace him.   Do you realize there were potentially 11 points missed by Morne in an atrocious kicking display.

I mst tell you that whenever Morne is under pressure - his game deteriorates and that goes for his kicking as well.  

The throwing to the wolves is quite funny - Morne threw the whole game to the wolves and even if Goosen missed some penalties - he would not be thrown to the wolves.   This excuse of Meyer is really wearing thin - and further losses may teach him yet that his mysterious game plan - which cannot be implemnted without Morne and Kirchner - shoiuld also be explained to the public - then they may have more sympathy with his seklection of those two players - despite numerous failures.   That may help just a little

 Wouldn't say Kirchner has been atrocious. He did butcher that try on Saturday, but otherwise has been pretty solid. I do think Lambie would have done equally well in most respects, but also brings a game-changing element Kirchner does not.

Mike, you really are a plank. Hasn't SA destroyed enough talent at 10? Goosen needs to be carefully managed. I saw already that he was exposed defensively on Saturday, he needs time to build into the successor for the 10 jersey.

As for your take on Kirchner? You are, not for the first time, a liar. Kirchner never put a foot wrong on Saturday, and it was Habana that butchered that try by bumbling the ball. It's clear as day for anyone who wants to see.  

 Cat - that pass was behing Habana. He possibly should have caught it, but the pass was not where it should be.

Incorrect, Habana was too far forward, it would have taken a FORWARD pass to put the ball in front of Habana. A  poorly timed run and subsequent bumbling of the ball. No fault of Kirchner.  

Wasn't habana's fault at all. It was a poor pass.

Cat, if you are going to argue that Habana was to forward, and timed his run wrong, maybe I could Argue that Kirchner should have gotten the pass off earlier realizing that Habana had already began his run.......Both players could have done much better, but the bottom line is, is it was a badly timed pass.

Interesting Can, the problem is that in rugby it is common knowledge that one of the arts of running lines is depth, pace and timing. Kirchner passed quickly enough and Habana had more than enough time to gauge the run. It's very similar to the World Cup, where Lambie overshot the run. The pass was as it should have been, as quick as was possible. It's really as simple as that.  

The Cat

Ok - lets manage Goosen carefully - but not to the detriment of the team.   Morne's performance was hopeless on Saturday and he should have been replaced at halftime - not before he buggered up two further kicks at goal.

Kirchner beat Morne's abysmal performance by quite a distance - constantly out of position and made serious positional flops.  Not one efective tackle by him.   His passing to Habana mentioned by you would be possible by a school kid - it was really a hopeless pass against Habana's shoulder - how is Havana supposed to catch that pass when at full speed.?

I know you think a lot of Morne and Kirchner - but please be realistic and realie that they really had poor games on Saturday. 

 The pass was useless. It was also too late.  Habana was not in front of him, so no need to pass behind Habana.

The right time to pass was when it was clear that the cover defence would not be able to close down the space.  Instead Kirchner hung onto the ball and made a shocking pass. Even if he had passed the ball straight this would have allowed Habana to not slow down and take the pass cleanly. It could even have been slightly backwards. 

Did Kirchner make a single mistake? The first 40 minutes was faultless and his defensive work was immaculate. He was definitely one of the better Boks. The problem here is that you haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about. And this has nothing to do with what I like. I hold everything to a high standard and nothing escapes my attention or criticism if they fall short of these things. Olivier and Kirchner were two players I tore to shreds in 2008. My views change as things change, constantly viewing and reassessing what is presently at hand. Even my favourite player, JP Pietersen, was castigated by me in 2009 and 2010. That is another difference between the two of us, you clearly have been roped into provincialism and you allow your emotions to conflict with rational judgement. You hate the Bulls, you hate their players, thus you twist and interpret everything you can to suit yourself even if it means completely fabricating events, as we've already seen. One of two try opportunities that Habana did not take advantage of, the other being the ball he didn't protect properly and had knocked out of his hand. But then, you probably have a creative twist to that too. 

The Cat

Whenever a player is criticized for rank incompetence - and you cannot answer the statement with facts - up pops the tale "You hate the Bulls".

Bullshit - I hate no team and has said in the past that I am very worried about the Bulls team in CC.   They really are playing poor rugby -since with rare exceptions theie forwards are not up to standard.   That does not reflect hatred - it reflects real concern about the matter.

Lucky for me - there was on Channel 200 last night a reshow in slow motion of the Kirchner pass - and it was indeed a hopelessly bad pass - if Habana caught that one, he coud get the catcher of the century award.   Kirchner was useless - normally hopelessly out of position.   Tell me - why was he amongst the forwards trying unsuccessfully to tackle Hore - while he was supposed to be covering the backline play of the All Blacks since they wer ein possession of the ball.   No wonder Dagg scored that try.   Explanation please.

Kirchner was a maor impediment in the game on Saturday - no asset at all, but a liability.  After assessing the game again - the newspapers came up with the same assessment as I - with a push 3 or 4 out of 10.