Yes he was poor on attack yesterday. Very poor in fact. But class is permanent – he will come right."
ONE CAN ONLY HOPE HE WILL COME RIGHT - BUT THERE IS NO REAL SIGN OF THAT - AND EXCUSES CANNOT TAKE AWAY POOR BALL HANDLING.
The second question is - what is expected from a flyhalf? Is kicking at goal all that is expected from a flyhalf? If that be the case every fllyhalf yesterday was accurate in their goal kicking - as accurate as Steyn was last week.
So lets forget the goal kicking and look at the rest of the requirements. Steyn's passing game at flyhalf was poor and passes ranged from misdirected/inaccurate to wild. He never brought anything to the game in ball handling - matter of fact he spilled two balls. He is becoming notorious for the fact that he gives away penalties to the opposition - last week it was 1, this week it was 2.
Thus far in Super 15 there was no indication that Steyn could read the game and act accordingly - an essential for any flyhalf.
White is not going to give Steyn another go at 10 and neither will Meyer. So you are barking u the wrong tree in any event.
One thing that is really in question. Last year Steyn started off well in the first Super 15 game and then went on the skids. After a disaster against the Brumbies, Plumtree could not take it any longer and put Steyn on the bench. The same thing happened this year. A good start against the Bulls and getting progressively worse. Yesterday really was the pits - so bad that everybody - but the most prejudiced saw through it.
There is no doubt that White sees clearly enough what really is going on and there can be no doubt that he can differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable performances. The million dollar question is not whether White will take action if the resent trend of very poor performances by Steyn continues - but when such action will be taken? Unlikely to happen while the Sharks keep winning and while Jordaan is unavailable - but even that is questionable.
Boshoff last year in CC showed that he can perform very well and that continued this year. He brings more to the game than goal kicking and could indeed be a candidate.
Matfield showed zilch outside line out ball takes - and there are serious signs that he weakens the Bulls scrumming. So to say he is challenging for any position is really not on.
Burger is doing very well, but is probably challenging for the number 7 position to replace the quasi-lock masquerading as a loosie - we need a loosie at 7 who can perform all functions as a loosie - not one like we have at present.
Height
1.87mWeight
80kg
What exactly has Matfield done to merit selection??????
Schalk is a 7 not a 6 and Frans will challenge for 12 not 10
Others to impress are de Allende, Lood, Faf de Klerk and Jacques du Plessis.
Hougaard is returning to form as well
Once again it's a question of looking at what happens on the field, not simply projecting ex ante bias. Take Matfield. Before he played and during his first outings I saw nothing to change my view that his return was a mistake. But then, after only a few outings, he started and dominated two phases of play.....the lineouts and the kickoffs. he was also very good at linking, with his superb hands.
Here are his numbers from the Blues game....he made 4 offloads, never turned the ball over once, made all his 7 tackles and took 1 opposition lineout. He also showed touches that were bordering on ru gby genius. Taking the kickoff and offloading while still in the air and one pass round the legs while being tackled.
That was without doubt the best lock performance we have seen from a SA player this year. If one can set aside the preconceived notions.
LMatfield0/000/9/6100040 7/07/100/0
Sorry Moz, but that is complete rubbish......all the locks are taking their line-outs and kick offs, look no further than the number of kick off takes taken by Franco v/d Merwe for the Lions this weekend.
The merits of a lock do not end at line-out or kick off takes...........Matfield adds nothing in general play.......the has been physically exposed at times......the game has moved on
Our young locks, PSDT and Lood have been far, far better........Lood this weekend had another great game
Take it you missed his game on the weekend then??
Funny that your hero Jake says PSDT is one of the best players in the world right now........pretty impressive for an invisible player
Moz your problem is that you make so much out of nothing - ie Matfield has been a passenger to date.......and the best you can do is tell us how great he has been in the line-outs when in fact he has already lost one of his own.
And while you make so much out of nothing in Matfield, you seem to take great joy in dishing out nonsense about our youngsters - its a good thing Jake does not see PSDT as you do.....he just sees him like the rest of us do
Why on earth you think Bok rugby will benefit with a bunch of old farts on board is beyond me.....just look how poor Steenkamp, Bakkies and Fourie were on the EOYT
The only old guys who add value currently are Habana, Jean, Jannie and Schalk......the rest are liabilities, with far, far better youngsters to choose from
