One certainty is that it is far more pleasurable and entertaining watching the S18 than the monotony of the 6N’s
The Cheetahs did well considering their limited resources against a Argie side packed with test players and some real class acts in Creevy, Sanchez and Cordero. I was impressed with SA player of the year Lood at lock, the lad is a class act. Frans Venter at centre yet again confirmed that he has test credentials written all over him. Was great last year and continues to impress. Good rugby brain and an ability to beat defenders. Rhule on the wing was also very good, has for some time now sorted out his defensive issues and his pace is always a threat with ball in hand. The frontrow stood firm against the renowned Argie scrum, with tighthead Maks v/Dyk doing his reputation a world of good. Carl Wegner, the other lock also had a solid game. Love Sergal Pietersen, but his injury curbed his zip.
I love the spirit and way the Lions play the game, its difficult to judge their performance as we don’t know how good the opposition are yet. Coetzee is a quality 15, has always been, easily good enough for higher honours. Skosan is another quality player on the wing. Combrink was quiet. Mapoe and Mnisi had good games. Jantjies created space with his great hands – that try set up was special and Faf was as industrious as ever. Quality player is this young player – far better than the likes of Pienaar who was invested in. Mostert at lock was as good as he always is. This lad would never let a side down and its hard to imagine what is standing in the way of him receiving higher recognition…..my guess is the 1.98m he stands and 112-115kg he weighs. Jaco Kriel continues to make a mockery of his non-selection as a Bok. In the top 5 for steals and metres gained last S15 and his stats in the game on the weekend were phenomenal. Easily the best openside in SA by some distance……twice the 6 average Louw is. Wow how good was Marx when he came on…..this guy is a physical freak, the way he man handled players with pure power……our new Bismark without a doubt.
Willie was at his best for the Sharks, Mvovo and old man Ndungane were good. Jordaan scored a great try where his pace counted. Esterhuizen was very physical at 12. He looks comfortable now that he has settled into the side. Joe is a handy replacement for Lambie at 10, its his best position. Reinach had a very good game. Coenie had a very good outing at tighthead, where the Sharks dominated the scrums. Beast was solid as was Marais. Andrews was a no show at lock, the sooner Lewies starts the better, having now recovered from his injury. The Sharks loosetrio is going to take some beating…….physicality personified in Coetzee and the du Preez twins. Coetzee had a great second half, the twins were huge all game – two freaks, to think they have Mtembu, Deysel, Potgieter and Daniels in the wings. I’m a massive fan of Mtembu.
The Kings will be the whipping boys of the comp. Astle at lock was good as was Cloete at 6….it pretty much ended there.
The Bulls vs Stormers game was a good one until the Bulls decided to dispense with their domineering frontrow and concede the advantage. From then on they were on their back feet. Kolbe and Gelant were both good at the back. v/Wyk was the pick of the wings. There was nothing in the centres, with the Bulls pair getting very little ball in the second half. de Jongh was good but for being exposed for the little guy he is when Serf lined him up and smashed him out of the way. Serf looked to attack space unlike take contact as he did under Ludeke. Kotze was good, Kriel got very little ball, but looked to dance his way out of nothing when little ball he got. Brummer at 10 is awful, another Morne clone, devoid of talent. Why on earth Schoeman did not play 10 is beyond me. Paige and Vermaak were good. I expected the Stormers scrum to dominate, but in fact it was the Bulls that had to slight edge, so credit needs to go to Marcel v/d Merwe, Strauss and Nyakane. It was only a slight edge, Koch and Kebble were good. Etzebeth and PSDT were awesome, difficult to choose who was better, but easily the best pair of the weekend. What a combo they are going to be. Hatting was as industrious as ever, another Mostert type of lock, just never stops. Snyman did not last thanks to his hammy but Jenkins was very good as a replacement – he should have started. We saw another of his great breaks, something we saw for the Baby Boks……one for the future this kid. Carr and Notshe were good, the stats tell us Schalk was ineffective – I never noticed him. Arno Botha was the pick of all the loosies, he had a good game. Kirtsen at 7 looks a handy player, can’t say I noticed de Jager the 6.
Good start to the Comp…..its just such a pity the format is so stupid…..instead of the local sides playing eachother twice, they should have them playing foreign sides. There is far more pleasure gained in SA sides playing against Oz or Kiwi sides
