"The Chiefs went through phases and Aaron Cruden swept around JP Pietersen to score under the posts. Pietersen claimed obstruction, which was not obvious."
"They mauled, the siren went and they gave the ball back to Pulu who was expected to kick the ball out. Instead he broke down the right and, pumping his stocky legs, was able to tun away from Pietersen for the try. "
Seems we have another problem with pace.....you sure know how to spot 'em.
Let me guess Moz you never saw the game. JP was good at 13 today, always broke the first tackle.
That last try had stuff all to do with pace, if you had actually seen it - but you keep digging where there is no place to dig.
Actually last week I was still open to it being a contest between JP, Taute and JJ for the 13 spot - it was during todays match that JP convinced me he was the answer. He is able to create something in traffic. We already know how good he is in space, so he will be perfect at 13 for the Boks
JP Is NOT a number 13 and he can never be despite the Sharks efforts to make him one. Same goes with Habana. Problems are they break down with the passing game and their defence is not up to standard.
Sorry - but both players need to remain as wings - but JP may be too slow for that one.
No 13 seems to be a problem that can only be served by the return of De Villiers to full fitness. Van der Merwe may ultimately be a good proposition - but another no-no is De Jongh - too small by a long way to be a Bok.
Spot on Mike, we need our premier centre JdV. But don't expect Dave to get the message. By the way Dave I did watch the game.....your take on Pietersen is novel, I have to confess.
Im with moz and mike on this one. Jdv is first choice, but will he be fit for the tests agianst the poms..
Moz, I take Mikes take with a pinch of salt and if you had watched the game, you would have given us your own version of that last try which had stuff all to do with JP's pace. JP had a good game at 13, certainly better than Kaui and Sonny Bill
JP will stay at 14 for the boks as:
1. he is the man in possession
2. he's good in the air.
All attributes Heyneke Meyer values highly.
Also, he was really good at the World Cup - as a wing.
That is not given, given the fact that the Boks are without a 13 right now and JP is doing a good job there for the Sharks. He bring physicality and the ability to break that first tackle to the role - much in the Fourie mould. But JP has more flair than Fourie. Meyer must select JP at 13, we have depth at wing we dont at 13
Hell no!...we don't need carthorses on the wing, snails pace Fourie was painful enough.
Let me guess Denise, Jean is the perfect answer for 13 - sound familiar?
as an AB supporter, i sincerely hope they do play JDV in the centers, hell they can play him anywhere, one less person for the ABs to worry about.
jp pieterson was awesome in the centers against the chiefs, didnt dominate defensively like his previous games, but he was solid and tim whiehead even more so as evident with the way SBW and kahui was shut down.
chiefs are one of the best attacking teams at the moment and many players from the sharks were left wanting, even lambie (who i rate as the best defensive FB ever) was stood up twice in one on ones with aseli. sharks can thank their lucky stars for the humid conditions, cos the chiefs handaling errors is the only thing that stopped the flood gates from opening.
jps attack was very sound IMO, fronting up on attack over and over through out the game, consistently going over the advantage line and proved to be a handful as dave rennie mentioned on his website saying that both jp and whitehead were a handful on attack and defense.
Yep Sas we were watching the same game. JP is looking good at 13 - the lad is a handful. Big powerful lad with the knack of slipping tackles. With Frans Steyn at 12 and JP at 13, there will be some serious clout at centre for the Boks. JJ Engelbrecht and Taute would be perfect to use off the bench. Engelbrecht can play wing and 13, Taute centre and fullback......choices, choices
Actually I think it was the humidity that did in SBW......not Whitehead or JP. As for JdV being somebody not to worry about.....seems Nonu should have done a bit more worrying a few weeks back....huh?
Sasuckes the sharks dropped as many balls as the Chiefs and butchered a number of opportunities as keegan noted after the match.
As for JP he is looking more and more the deal so we shall see what happens. Meyer looks like he is going to be very conservative. Just pray 103 kg matfield will not return!! He is too light for a flank really and far too slow.
Jean de villiers remains a threat to nz so no we will not take sasuckes advice on that one!
@saffex,
IMO, a combo of francois steyn and jp pieterson would be one of the most potent center combos around and one i would love to see develop under hyneke, but all indications point to hyneke looking at the tried tested and failed conservative approach.
the comments on here that say JP cant distribute shows just how biased people can be with their opinions. JP can tick every single box as to whats required from a center and THIS spXV season, but so does JDV for that matter, but unlike JDV who has had ample opportunities to prove himself since returning from munster, JP has done more already and shown more hunger to thrive then JDV has the entire time sine his return from munster.
@mozart,
i love it when people use examples to furthur prove my arguments, JDV is good because he beat nonu??? LMAO, i guess that makes JP pieterson the best center hands down as he completely owned nonu in their clash. add to that the fact that JP did it in auckland, while JDV did it in the comfort of his own backyard and that gives JP even more bonus points.
FYI, historically nonu and many former hurricane and current hurricane players have historically always had roller coaster super rugby seasons at best, up one week and down the next, its when they go to All Black level where their class consistently comes out to shine.
@beeno1,
yes the sharks butchered tries due to the number of handaling errors just like the chiefs, but despite the very humid conditions, the chiefs still scored two tries as opposed to the sharks zero tries and that is why the sharks should count their lucky stars, cos dry conditions would have opened the flood gates and the chiefs would have shown the world how u drown a shark. :P
Yep sas that is the combo I want to see. I'd have Taute and JJ Engelbrecht in the match 22 and give them time at 13 as well
