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FORUM / RUGBY /  So much for squad depth.. players that got excluded from the AB Series

So much for squad depth.. players that got excluded from the AB Series

Started by kingcorn0 REPLIES9 VIEWS· 08 Sept 2026, 13:29
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kingcornPro3,841 posts
08 Sept 2026, 13:29
#1
08 Sept 2026, 13:29#1

It was always going to be very tricky to get every squad member to have a crack over the 4 match series. Some players that can feel hard done by is probably

Pollard, Manie, Paul De Villiers

Sasha by some miracle is holding onto his spot even though he made two glaring infringements in the last test, one yellow for a hand out and could have been another red had the ball not gone fortunately into Ardie path when he raked it back with hands in the ruck. He made on kick, our backline started to function once Manie came on and we showed that we can strike wide, his passing is still going behind players.

Paul De Villiers had to play sub to Fourie and Kolisi. Jury is out on Kolisi, he did get a crucial try in the 2nd test and did actually make his tackles, but as Sasha, key moments are over looked and to me the first try in the 3rd test is all Kolisi being pap in the tackle

Overlooked Springboks

Pollard is not alone, as there is a plethora of players who didn’t get the opportunity to feature in the Test series against the All Blacks, namely:

Pollard - Injured but got sideline by Sasha and Manie, Sasha being fortunate because he was dropped and then made it back

Carlu Sadie - Still early days, good backup

Boan Venter - 2nd Season for the boks, but didn't perform that well for the lions against the ABs

Johan Grobbelaar - Probably the most unluckiest player where Deon is take up space of a very good hooker. Don't think Deon is adding any value to me.

Ben-Jason Dixon - Never got why he is in the team, doesn't offer much to me, so nothing missed.

Elrigh Louw - Not on top form and didn't perform against the Argies

Franco Mostert - Good that he never got a start

Vincent Tshituka - Didn't feature for the Sharks and probably just their to carry bags.

Herschel Jantjies - Why they brought him back is beyond me. So nothing missed

Vusi Moyo - I'm not convince he deserves his spot, definitely a DEI spot

Aphelele Fassi - Hopelessly out of form for the past two season, awful on defence, should have been released to play for the sharks.

Quan Horn - Most unluckiest players, was on fire for the boks against the AB, look slow but some reason just never make a mistake. I would even opt for him over Willemse erratic play

Canan Moodie - Been Injured, but would love to see the Manie, AE and Moodie combo. They have destroyed the all blacks twice and was part of the record score against them

Edwill van der Merwe - Most unluckiest, always score, Arendse been out of form, but seem to regain his form in the 3rd test. Both are similar, Arendse retains his space due to proven record and more caps

— END OF THREAD —

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