Size isn't Everything...

I still think Dave banging on about size and in other threads banging on about how 5'10' Patrick Lambie or 5' 10.5" Elton Jantjies should be the Bok 10, is highly entertaining.  But it seems 5' 10" Juan de Jongh is so small that only "idiots" would consider him for a Bok Cap.

The funny thing is, watching de Jongh carry players in the tackle, I'm convinced he is physically stronger than either of these other chappies. But what good is strength without weight. Hold on..... shouldn't that be weight without strength? Captain Dave Confusion at work.

The same Lambie that was torn apart by New Zealand? Or the Jantjies (85kg) blown to pieces by the Barbarians? Nah, Dave only does hardcore 120kg backs.

...sitting bull does'nt like to brag...but thirteen wives can't be wrong....

 You all keep telling me I am missing the point, no I am not - the jist of all this is that you lot are telling me size does not count and I am telling you it does and the modern test stats back me up.

Then Moz bangs on about Jantjies - hello he is a 10 - I'm talking centres, wings and fullbacks. Then we have Lambie's height, who cares how tall he is, the kid weighs 92kg's - good size for a fullback, maybe a little on the light side but fine.

de Jongh is 87kg, that will just never work at test level for a 13 - NEVER. The guy has done absolutely nothing in the tests he has played. Yesterday his contribution for the Stormers was negligible - the true contributor was Jean the 102kg centre.

Denny please feel free to refute the fact that you lot are trying to tell me the likes of de Jongh and Aplon belong in modern day test rugby? Missing the point??????? - I think not

de Jongh
Kick/Pass/Run: 0-3-9
Metres Run: 29
Clean Breaks: 0
Defenders Beaten: 3
Offloads: 2
Tackles: 4/0

Nothing wrong with that at all. Still very much underused, but still not bad. Your 102kg Jean has a tendency to be made a doormat at test level Dave. Not that I am making a case for Juan to be played at 12, because I have never suggested at any point of his career thus far. But I will say that he does have significant potential at 13. de Jongh is also a damn sight better than the grossly overrated 108kg Sonny Bill Williams.

Regarding both de Jongh and Aplon, both clearly have what it takes to play test rugby. The only reason you will not accept this is because the scale tells you they are not very big! That's the ridiculous part of all of this. Moz goes even further but pointing out your love interests Lambie and Jantjies!! You won't have a small winger, but you will have a complete turnstile in one of the most important defensive positions on the field; this doesn't quite add up (Lambie has inferior defence stats at test level than Aplon and never has dominated anyone in the tackle like Aplon either). Just for your information though, I do like big centres. I do not believe that is the only way it has to be however. Players of exceptional physical and technical ability, great minds, always trump big, clumpy and doff bashers. You tell me it isn't? Then please point out England and the Pacific Islanders record against South Africa please, and tell me how these two regions reknowned for size are handling themselves at test level. Adi Jacobs is an extreme case of when size cannot make it, but that is one side of the coin Dave.


 

Dave, stop for a minute and ask yourself why you've been told several times that you're missing the point.....the answer is not even blowing in the wind, it's quite simple, so let's rewind this blog to the very start and let's start with the header. "Size isn't EVERYTHING....no-one has denied the importance of size and weight, it's a given.....but it's not EVERYTHING.  And that is what Shane Williams is justifiably on about, that what he is giving away in weight and size he makes up for in skill, speed and nous.

Get it now?

 And my posts clearly say that size is not everything, I have repeatedly said its about size and skill - you cant have one without the other. de Jongh and Aplon have no size, hence they are not up to test rugby - end of.

But hey we can continue to select them, but then we need to be happy with staying at 4 or 5 in the ranking as top sides cant afford liabilities in their side - its bad enough having a ponderous plodder at 10 in Morne, but the real joke would be a 87kg outside centre in de Jongh and a 78kg wing in Aplon - heaven help us.

What de Jongh does to merit test selection is beyond me - seen this all before when the useless Jacobs was imposed on us. We cant seem to get away from bloody token centres in the Bok side. We have moved on from uselss Jacobs only to be landed with wee de Jongh - when will we ever bloody learn - lets hope like hell Meyer does not follow the White and PDV model

Excusez-moi mon brave homme; Vous dites, "I have repeatedly said it's about size and skill - you cannot have one without the other". Please explain why not. Your mate Cooper has little to no physical impact whatsoever, so doth Jantjies, Lambie, Giteau, Cullen or many dozens of highly rated Frenchmen.

Do you not recall Aplon scything down Muliaina, Rocokoco, Nonu and Jauzion? Do you not even recall his big hit on Mvovo? I can yet again bring the biggest South African rugby player into the equation and cite his very poor showings. One of which let his side down on Friday before getting injured! You say you cannot have skill without size. I say bulldust to that! You need balance in a side. de Jongh is more than holding his own at 13, he is good enough to represent South Africa at 13. Aplon has proven emphatically that he has the aptitude for test rugby having proven himself many times against both Australia and New Zealand. Your argument doesn't hold up very well.

You cannot compare de Jongh to Adi. de Jongh is much faster, has far better hands, better range of movement, better spatial awareness, runs good lines, good technique and body position in contact, very secure taking the ball to the line from 13. Adi could do none of those things. Furthermore, de Jongh is not a passive player. He has a good mind to adapt to what is in front of him.

I wold also like to remind you that the game before the ELVs required a little more bulk. The ELVs have forced teams to become more mobile, fitter and faster. Those elusive players that you despise are very much part of the picture. I still find it fascinating that you are looking for a strong running game, yet you select players purely for their ability to bash it up. Did you ever play in the backline Dave? Something just doesn't add up.

PS
If Meyer follows Jake's model we will reign world rugby throughout his tenure. But it will be more or less that, not quite exactly that. This is very good and I can't wait to see his side play!

 der please catch a wake up........have I not spoken about the size of centres, wings and fullbacks.......dont bring Cooper and Jantjies into the equation, they are flyhalves - wake up man. Small 10 and 9's are ok at test level.

How many more times must I tell you that Lambie weighs 92kg's - hardly too small for 15 - get it?

Cullen played years ago - I'm talking current players - get it?

de Jongh is no better than Adi at all, in fact he is probably worse, certainly alot smaller. He has done absolutely nothing at test level to merit selection and does very little at S15 level. The kid has skill, he is just not big enough for a centre - end of.

Meyer is 10 times a better coach than Jake, Jake was average to poor. Meyer will not follow anything close to the Jake model as he has far more tricks up his sleeve.

Did i play in the backline - yes centre for EP Schools. Is bulk a current requirement for test backs - yes - evidenced by the size of the currrent wings, centres and fullbacks playing for NZ, Oz, England, France, SA, Wales and Ireland - case closed

Aaprt from scrumhalf name m ethe backs under 90 kg plaing fo rOz o rNz sides. Were there any  at all?

It sn ouse quoting yesterday heroes. Things hav emoved on.

Lets talk about where rugby is not.

What players under 90 kg, excluding scrumhalf played for NZ /Oz sides this weekend.

There I am making it easier for you than Dave by including flyhalf.

All players I have reference have been recently played, with the exeption ofa few front rowers from South Africa who are still relevant to the debate.

Nope we need the OZ/NZ palyers apart from scrumhalf who played Super 15 rugby this last week end. Lets look at the very current situation.

Anybody have these stats.

Waar is ou windpomp when one doesnt need him!

Sitting bull if 13 women married you their collective IQs would be 5 and 5 eigths and the judgement on any issue unrealiable!