So where will Rassie alight

Mozart

The first try was really enlightening on your thinking as to rugby selections and I thank you for this posting:-

I have a few observations iro the players mentioned by you:-

*   Rassie will not even consider Lleyds - he was not invited to his alignment camps at all

*   Steyn will not fit into any game plan involving backline players and is not even in the starting team of Montpellier anymore -  Serfontein is their preferred inside center.   I believe there is really no chance this player - once described by his coach as no center at all, would be in the squad.

*     I do not believe Willemse will be in the squad at all.   There is no indication that Willemse will fit into the team  and he rarely showed any substance in playing rugby for his club.  Often on the bench for his club as well.   Unlike Meyer I do not think Rassie will use club bench players for the Springbok team.  I hope that Etzebeth will be back from injury prior to the start of the June test season.

*     Same with Marx - but we may only know by tomorrow what will happen.    I think Strauss will have the inside track in that case.

*     There is a problem with both Vermeulen. Louw  and Bismarck -they are unlikely to make the WC in 2019 and their performances for their clubs are really not of the class expected from international players.  In the end the 8 position is likely to be filled by Whiteley or Du Preez

*      Just a question - is Louw still playing rugby for Bath?  He may be injured, but he was not in the Bath team for months.  

I looked at the teams of Bath over a number of months and his name never appeared on the team list.   However, I must admit I have not checked the latest teams.  

I id now check and he did play for Bath against Saracans and statistically he was utterly useless.

Mozart ... your team looks a lot more likely than the rubbish Tokkie produced ... BUT ... you only have 8 dark skinned fellas in the mix.

I agree with your 9 & 10. Rassie has made it rather obvious that Faff will be the starting scrummie and Pollard will be a definite with his experience.

I also agree with your front row, except for Bismarck. I think Rassie will bring in another quota as cover.

It would be a great day if Paul Willemse were included in the mix. Somehow I doubt it.

Rassie has shown interest in the age ing Vermeulen so I wouldn't be surprised to see him there.

It also seems rather obvious that Du Toit has been earmarked for the 7 jersey instead of at lock. Sadly that means that the weedy Lomp steps in at 5.

Heaven help us if Louw and Kolisi are our only options at 6.

"*      Just a question - is Louw still playing rugby for Bath?  He may be injured, but he was not in the Bath team for months.  "

Wrong. He has been playing for the last month

and then...

"However, I must admit I have not checked the latest teams."  

Always the back door open to soften the blow in case you have been making an arse of yourself again.

and then this......

"I id now check and he did play for Bath against Saracans and statistically he was utterly useless."

First of all. This coming from someone who claims that he never judges a player based on stats alone. Someone who claims that he always only use stats to confirm what he has actually witnessed

Secondly, The Saracens game took place three weeks ago. Since then they have also played Gloucester and London Irish. Prior to that he also started the game against Leicester Tigers a month ago on 7 April.

CC

Since you are so wise - where is your squad you favour?    Also you make a remark about rubbish - come out and proof it.   At least what I wrote is based on performance and not the rubbish like prejudice and  provincial preference the way you seem to think.     .  

Yep. Just as expected. The normal ducking and diving. Why should I assist you in directing the focus away from your blunders?

Listen dofdoos - I have not seen the games and hav nothing else to use.  However, since you are so stupid I hesitate to ask you to give us your opinion on Louw's performance in the games he played in.      

So you did not see the games involved.    Lets leave it there - I dio not think louw last year was a weak link when h played for the Sprigboks and to my mind there are better loosies around.  

1. I think it is not the purpose/duty of this board to make political selections for the Bok-team. So, I think we should select the best team, even if that turns out to be a lily white squad. Let SARU then play the political card by adding some colour to this team.

2. I don't know enough of the technical requirements for each position in the backline. I do however believe that aspects like proven combinations like 9, 10 and 12, 13 should play a role in the selection process.

My front row would be Kitschoff, Marx and Louw.

Locks: P S du Toit and ............ (Lood/Etsebeth or Snyman. Etsebeth did not had a too fantastic year in 2017 and nobody know what his condition will be when he returns. If I had to choose now, it will be Snyman). 

Eightman: Vermeulen (if fit, and not like Juan Smith!) otherwise Whiteley which I feel is a bit too light, but a great captain.

Flank: 7. Du Preez and 6. Philip van der Walt..... knowing very well nobody will select him, but here is my reason:

Many of you will not remember WP Nel when he played for the Cheetahs. He was initially worthless but then he all of a sudden started to do very well at tighthead. I discovered the reason for this improvement when I noticed that Heinrich Brussow and Van der Walt swapped position on the scrum with Philip supporting WP Nel.

The sudden success of Du Toit (tighthead) at the Sharks made me looking at bit closer and I noticed that it was Philip van der Walt again supporting Du Toit this time.

A Louw / Van der Walt could be a lethal Bok combination.

Spot on Blikkies, I'm a huge Van der Walt fan, but as you say, sadly, he won't get a look. I can't rwally fault the rest of your pack. It's basically my picks, except for Lood. He had one of his better games on Saturday, but I still won't pick him. Personal bias I suppose, but I see him as a glory hound and not really a team man.

PS, Warren not really in contention yet?

Blikkies 

I always was an admirer of Van der Walt - he was one of the three loosies who turned the Cheetahs into match winners in the 2013 Super Rugby series - the other 2 was Labuschagne  and Brussow.  

The three f them had a great ability to  join up with the backline in attacking moves and was excellent in ball protection and recovery at breakdowns..

However, when I mentioned Van der Walt as the best 6 playing in the SA teams CC had a seizure and the same happen when I mentioned Labuschange - leading the Sunwolves to competitive performances  the result was even worse.   

I think you are write about Van der Walt and I am about Labuschagne as an option - but Mozart is strongly opposed since none of the two funcions at necessary when it comes ti the duds Mozart always supported.

You will be crucified about what you say about Etsebeth - his mere  turning up at the field of play is enough to lead to raving complements by Mozart - he does not need to anything  at all.    

I rate Vander Walt, he is a mammoth. He seems like Frankenstein's half-brother on steroids that runs all over the place, and has never once not made it over the advantage line. 

He is the traditional SA forward like a Vermeulen- before he lost his hammer. 

And end up seeing Fat Fransie and Louw - that smoke must be excessively thick.