Mike Greenway in weighing.......

the pros and cons of who best to lead the Boks had this to say.....

"Sharks captain Keegan Daniel cannot command the openside flank role ahead of Heinrich Brussow, while Bulls No 8 Pierre Spies is not up to international standard."

Suddenly media scribes are waking upto what some of us on here have been saying for awhile about Spies, I'll even go one step further, IMNSHO I don't even think he is S15 standard.....sad to think because once upon a time I believed that he'd be better than Bobby Skinstad.

I can't think of another player who's promised so much and delivered so little.

A total flop, but he just keeps getting picked....why? About the only contributions Spies makes is winning the odd lineout. Sure he looks grand sprinting through open field, but then along comes a tyke like Joe Pietersen and puts him on his duff. We can't afford to play with 14.5 men....that was our biggest RWC mistake.

......... and then another scribe and Crusaders flanker Matt Todd , a NZ'er this time have this too say:

www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6696730/Spies-continues-Bulls-monster-tradition

RICHARD KNOWLER

Botha, Matfield and Rossouw: just whispering their names used to cause small children to scream with fright.

The three big men, menacing in their own unique way, were the heart of the mighty Bulls pack.

They are gone, but one monster remains.

His name is Pierre Spies, the 108kg giant who was famously converted from the wing to No8, and has the ability to terrorise opposition back rowers with his pace and inside backs with his intimidating bulk.

On his day, Spies can present a frightening sight for his opponents, especially when he strikes the ball at pace and dips his head like a human battering ram.

What's the answer to stopping him?

Not being sucked into trying to wrap up the ball helped, said Crusaders openside flanker Matt Todd.

"If you go high, he can fend you off so you want to chop his legs to get him down. You don't want to get caught riding up high or he'll make easy metres. So you try to get his legs and bring him down as quick as you can."

Spies is unique in that he also possesses a dangerous turn of speed for such a big lump. If his scrum can twist towards a first five-eighth, he likes nothing better than working the angles to his advantage and locking a smaller man in his sights.

"He certainly has speed off the back of the scrum," Todd acknowledged. "We have to be aware of that and in general play if you give him half a yard he will take it. He's big, strong and powerful and quick."

Botha, Matfield and Rossouw may have gone but the Bulls pack were never going to change their play book. They still play in a direct style, looking to get over the ball by ramming any opponents into the next galaxy and happily exposing any frail defence by using runners off the ruck.

Last year the Crusaders forwards produced an immense display of power and passion when they battered the disinterested Bulls pack to win 27-0 in Timaru.

Todd is taking nothing from that result: "They probably weren't overly excited to be in Timaru.

"They will be up for this one in Pretoria."

The return of Richie McCaw, who has had the screws taken out of his foot and could be available within the next fortnight, adds an extra edge to this match for Todd. Unless coach Todd Blackadder opts to run McCaw on the blindside, Todd's time in the No7 jersey could be running short. Then there is the Loftus Versfeld crowd to contend with on Sunday morning (NZ time). Todd hasn't played there before but has heard all about it.

"It is probably one of the most hostile environments you can play Super Rugby in, so you know you are just not up against their team. They also have their passionate fan base who are going to get stuck into you.

"We will have to stick together; it is sort of like us against everyone in there."

 Cera that sounds like a true take on Spies instead of that crap by Mike who?

Its down to blind prejudice and nothing more when it comes to those who are anti Spies. To say that he has not returned to form this season smacks of ignorance. Spies is back to his best and will walk the Bok side under Meyer thank goodness.

 I truly hope he does, as he's an absolute passenger at international level, the AB's have a much better chance with him on the field.

OK chaps. If not Spies then who else?

My pick for the future is Wilhelm Alberts. Maybe Vermuelan. But right now - Spies is the bloke for the job.

 Poi-e seems the Kiwi players think differently to the rubbish you come up with. I think I'll go with Todd's views on the man

 Jeremy - agreed Spies is the man. Alberts is hardly young so hardly the answer for the future. Vermeulen and Josh Strauss are the other options at 8

 Yeah Dave - because players have a history of slagging each other off in the media...look I know you're a Spies fanboy but you can't ignore the growing discontent over his poor international performances.  Mike Greenway is only printing what a lot of people see, I know it might hurt, but by and large it's accurate.  

Verleulen should have a mortgage on the 8 jersey based on this years form.  But if you like a guy that runs like tarzan and tackles like Jane then Spies is your man.

 Nope I see a man back in form and playing well. Vermeulen is up there as well and why I would play him at 7 for the Boks and Spies at 8.

Todd did not need to say anything about Spies, he brought it up, he was not asked a question about Spies

Just another opinion piece of Pierre Spies - couldn't have put it better myself.

With muscles that are clearly more suited for the bench than the backrow, Pierre Spies can only be described as a high veld specialist. Seriously, when that guy runs on for a test match outside of Gauteng he goes missing. His work rate is poor, defence very so-so and with ball in hand he resembles someone better suited to riverdance than international rugby. When have you ever said the following sentence, “ Shit did you see Pierre Spies tackle the shit out of that oke in open play?” ? No I think will be your answer. Sure he is big strong and bloody quick, but at international level Jacques ‘hands like feet’ Cronje made more impact at the back of the scrum. If you are going to be 6ft5’ and built like a brick shit-house, would you mind asserting yourself from time to time! He is like the Morne Morkel of rugby, but even Morkel hits a few okes in the head sometimes with some aggression within the laws of the game

"Botha, Matfield and Rossouw: just whispering their names used to cause small children to scream with fright.

The three big men, menacing in their own unique way, were the heart of the mighty Bulls pack.

They are gone, but one monster remains."

LMAO, how can anyone take this seriously after an intro like that? Half the stuff he says is exaggerated, but hey, lap it up if you please. You will find more substance on Keo!

 poi-e just about every report on every Bulls match this S15 has praised Spies on his form - much has been attributed to the responsibilty of leadership but I dont buy that as his form improved at the end of last season

@poi e (my fave NZ song form the patea maoori club, lol),
runs like tarzan and tackles like jane, LMFAO, :D,,,im going to use that and pawn it of as my own, hahahaha, :)

@saffex,
much respect for the way u go to bat for spies every single time, i am keeping an eye on his performances now more then i have so far this year, but i have to say i agree with most the nay sayers. at the begining of 2010, he was one of a few players who had me really worried against NZ clubs and the All Blacks, du preez being the other, but he hasnt struck the same cord of fear he once did since injuring himself at the end of 2009. i havent found his performance in 2012 anything to brag about, but i havent been keeping a close eye, instead ive been watching and admiring daniels and vermeulen who IMO are SAs form No8s.

 @sasukeuchiha - feel free!

Good point on Keegan Daniels - is there are more under-rated player in SA in the Bok selector's eyes, fantastic player with 10 times the ticker of P Spies. 

 Agreed Daniel is a class act, should have been involved with the Boks alot more. Certainly the best back-up to Brussouw and offers so much to a team

Spies may have muscles but that doesn't seem to help. Josh Strauss walked right through him recently. And I still have vivid memories of Andy Powell manhandling him.

As for that thing from Vlagman....hahahaha....was he crying when he posted it....another myth of the invincible volk. And this oke lives in Pomerania. You can take the Bool out of Pamplona, but you can never take Pamplona out of the Bool.