My layman's thoughts on the weekend's games

Sharks

Was hoping to see a little more progress than what was on display against the Tahs.

Thought Bosch showed a bit on inexperience in making a few last gasp attempts when actually they could have worked the ball into a better position. Does he have a hero complex? Harsh i know.

Still seem to be forcing passes and defend solidly for periods but then get into disarray at random moments and allow in soft points.

Looks to me like they need to know when to play and when to consolidate. Seems to be a problem in general with all the Saffa teams. On the whole the skill levels have risen but they try to force that one pass too many or try the magic ball out of contact. Rather play a good few phases, regroup and then run again.

Moz will be delighted at the fact that Beast is still showing the pretenders up.

Akker should start.

Rob Du Preez didn't look good at all.

Lions

Jantjies was the best Saffa 10 this weekend followed very closely by Pollard(Yes i know he played at centre). Regardless, and despite Mike's hate for him, Jantjies is still ahead of the younger guys. He did fluff a few though and hung onto the ball too long at times. His kicking out of hand is at a ridiculous level right now. Huge and confident touch finders to set up pressure lineouts. Looks like if Rassie is gonna wanna play a kicking game then Jantjies will be first choice...on current form that is.

Lineout is functioning a little better, granted the Bulls hardly ever contested. Scrum "appear" to be reliable as ever but in reality it's not as solid as it was when Redlinghuys was there.

Looks like Mostert seems to have relieved the loosie issue for now.

Whitely is just the best 8 atm. Absolutely should be Bok captain going forward. Pops up in the right places to make breaks at crucial times and still defends like a trojan every time he plays. A real rally captain. Just what the Boks need.

Ideally Kriel, Kwagga and Whitely should start. Combrink needs to come in for Mahuza(Spelling).

Andries Cotezee can have the benefit of the doubt for now. Starting to look a little one dimensional though.

Everyone reckons Ross Cronje had a good game but he seems to be slowing attacks down too much. Just my opinion.

Bulls

Best part of their game for me was that they seemed to match the Lions for gas. A massive positive on which to build. Well done Mitchell!

I thought they had a decent game despite the score. Were they slightly better prepared for the Lion's mauls things could have looked much different.

Got a good few wonderful turnovers that changed key moments of momentum for the Lions.

Boshoff was outshone by Pollard and looks like he'll be playing second fiddle this season unless Odendaal is out for a while and Pollard stays in midfield.

Overall the bulls were not totally overwhelmed and were in it all the way until the yellow cards started raining down. Such a pity for them. How a team can be given two yellow cards in a row is just crazy. Surely the warnings should start afresh after the first card is handed out. Just totally ruined the game.

I don't think Mitchel will have been happy with the performance but he'll surely have noted weak areas and we can probably expect a good deal of improvement from them.

Travis Ismael is a my favorite SA winger right now. Large unit, solid under high balls, knows how to put in hits and and knows his way to the line. H e scored the try of the weekend.

My feeling is that the return fixture i the middle of the year will be a totally different affair.

Stormers

Didn't watch it because i was hungover but seems as though it was business as usual.

Ismael showed plenty of pace and at 94 kgs is not big but within reason. Muhuza has great gas but is very small and I think Combrinck should come back. Can the Lions cover for Mahuza's defensive frailties - they are a smart side. Redlinghuys is a huge loss for the Lions

Bulle yellow cards cost them the match and nobody can argue about that. They ended up much the stronger side. Gelant must start. 

Plum the Mighty Stormers outplayed the Crusaders for 60 minutes. Unfortunately they had a shocking start and were down by 26 points after 20 minutes but thereafter were the better side. Stormers pack definitely better. With Eben out and now Schickerlng we have suddenly got problems at lock.

I was disappointed with the Sharks. They bungled so many chances - this game should not have been close. 

Both the Stormers and the Sharks lack creative skills in the backs. Senatla was a passenger on defence. He is a defensive liability and with Rhule barely coping on defence the back three are too frail.       I see now SP Marais is injured. Its going a bit pear shaped.

@ Beeno

PSDT is out too i hear. Sucks man.

Man we are now in the dwang.  I think if everyone is fit the Stormers have the best pack in the country.

A Stormers backline of 

Vermaaak, Willemse/Du Plessis

Allende and Viljoen

Leyds, JJ and Marais would be reasonable.

But it looks like we are doomed to another season where injuries mess the side up. Is there something wrong with conditioning or what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plum Jamba Ulengo is 100kg. 

Beeno....I certainly cannot see what you are on about...the Stormers outplayed the Crusaders for 60 minutes...are you really serious, do you honestly believe this or is this just your funny humour...to get attention....bahahahahahaha

Well we'll soon see if this wild statement has any substance to it... .don't tell me that Plum agrees with you...he did not watch the game because of the aftermath of some unwise indiscretion...are we Saffas delusional or just tempting fate...

@Moz

Let the record show that Moz has yet again complemented young players based on performance. 

You need to stop doing this. Mike's reality deconstructs itself piece by piece each time you do.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg has had superstar written all over him right from the start ... it's just taken you two season to see it. You wanted the talentless brain farting Fransie Steyn in at 12 ... remember?? 

No program is necessary for this talented man and comparing him to the fat Basteraud is absurd. 

You will probably produce this post in years to come and use it as "proof" to show us that you saw him first.

Do you know who actually saw him first, Mozart? I did!!  I mention him the same time I spoke of another talented player ... Koch Marx.

Jantjies has been kicking out of hand brilliantly the last two season. His accuracy is mind boggling. That however isn't enough to retain him at 10. He wouldn't make my squad. He doesn't have what it takes to be a test rugby player.

Ismael is a class act and I wouldn't have any issues with him in the Bok run on team. How he was overlooked all these years is truly beyond me. 

We cannot afford to bring midgets into the Bok side ... especially not as outside backs. We have had a few talented midgets as outside backs and the only one that I can think of who made a success of it was Paulse.

@Mike

Allende and K riel are both in the same boat for me. Too many poor performances consecutively. 

Obviously I hope both improve. Just not sure if it'll happen.

So the Stormers played the Reds on Saturday  3 March 2018?    Did you watch the game?    If you did you must have been the only person in the world who watched  it - since I believe some people did watch the actual game against the Crusaders which in fact took place/

If you want to deceive members it was indeed a poor effort.   So be honest for a change.     

Plum

I have also written off De Allende as a center, but we must at least be honest to write the truth when a player did have a good game whether we like it or not.   Whether that improvement will be sustained is another question.

As to the best SA player this weekend I believe it is a tie between  Marx and Wiese.    Both were excellent - bu t one has to bear in mind that Wiese was in a weaker team playing a stronger team.

I am waiting for Mozart claiming. he discovered Wiese - the way that player performed he is a top class player who will play for the Springboks sooner rather than later,   He is a big guy weighing 116 kgs and very strong as well.   He said Juan Smith is his roll model.        

Mozart

Read what I wrote above about De Allende above.

I am sorry - we were discussing the games on Saturday and you now are devious with stats that had zero relevance to the game on Saturday.   That is plain and simple dishonest.