So given the Manie fuck up

Mpower

It is not the way Erasmus handle players - he will not insult or blame players in - but said he is looking for new playes in the team on a contunous basis and he will find new players to play in squads as time goes by.   The failed plaers will just vanish from site quietly.

By the end of 2026 he would have the squad  to go to WC 2027 - same as he had the core decided on  at the start of 2019.    An exmple is Esterhuizen who played in a number of tests in 2018 wih rather dubious peformances - so when the WC squad for 2019 was announcd Esterhuizen was in the squad - but hsi rputation was not destroyed by Erasmus,   When Kriel had to be replaced  due to injury he called up  Willemse - after warning him he is on the standby for njury replacments in the 2019 squad.

There is one thing that people should realize - he will never replace top performers irrespetive of age.   In that regard at present there are  probably Etzebeth, Du Toit and De Allende that a long as they maintain their present performance levels will not be replaced,   Erasmus has already announced that he is going to try and use Le Roux to reach the 100 test  mark - he is already on test 95 - in the words no future ests afer rachin the 100 test objective, .

The other thing that Erasmus does is to move  players he believes would be good coaches in future into his coaching team  - Vermeulen is already there and Kolisi joined him on  Saturday - while Pollard is stil playing, but will move into the coaching set-up by 2026.   What Eramus will never do is to ask retired players to return to playing like Meyer did in the period 2012 nad 2013.   He knows that the Meyer strategy had disastrous consequences for the Sprngboks in 2015.

In esensse all I can say the chances of having Etzebeth,  Du Tot and De Allende in the 2027 squad is reasnably good - the rest is pure guessing.  

Of the younger players I thnk Wessels, Nche, Roos, Shaca and Willemse have top chances of making the  2027 squad with Shaca being the captain. .

I think Rassie is just being nice/diplomatic. 

Manie is a below-par defender too, and that certainly doesn't help his cause. 

He is a great distributor, that's his best trait. His game management is about par and his defence and goal-kicking are below par(not on average but under pressure).

Agree with Dave, I'd probably go for Hendrikse as a straight like-for-like swap. The positive is that Hendrikse is a very solid defender and a busy player, similar to Sacha. 

Before Manie took that kick on the weekend I was telling the people watching the game with me how sorry I felt for him. It's like, once that cloud is over you...it may never dissipate. And then he misses the kick. It honestly felt like the final nail in Manie's test career coffin. 

Rassie can say what he likes, but I don't think anyone on this board would feel comfortable selecting him to start important games, or to close our tight games, right?

So when would you feel comfortable using him? Like when the team is ahead and gonna win anyway? Perhaps Manie may find the answer to his problem and then shine if given more chances...and in three years we've all forgotten about this. 

But it's also true that the inconsistency and failure to perform under pressure is now a longstanding issue that he has been working on...and his efforts appear to have been unsuccessful. 

Sucks, but not everybody has what it takes.

This is the game I wish we would return to our roots and pick a 7/1 and just go out there to destroy Argentina physically. Like actually break them, spiritually, mentally, physically. Humble them!

Well, tell us what you really think, Xavi  

I’d settle for a nice win and a ban of the Bargie anthem. Even Kolisi couldn’t feign enthususiam for that piece of aural porridge. I’d extend the same sort of deal to Aus and their welcome to home boreathons.

It is all about handling pressure. Hendrikse managed to win the sharks the currie cup by nailing a 60 meter kick. Time was up on the clock and Hendrikse kept his cool and just stroked it over. 

He had a decent game at 15. Would like to see him featuring at 10 with his brother. 

We still have Willemse knocking about too. I think we have enough 10s. 

We don't need Manie. He lost the URC last year. Only lasted 27 min in a play-off match and he was completely important this year. 

I don't think he'll make it back 

Agree. The anthem is awful

It’s so long as well !