Some takeaways from the French game

1) Du Preez should be starting.
2) Jantjies can play at test level.
3) Coetzee wasted a year by not recognising the need to transplant a core of Lions players into the Boks post the 2015 Bok retirements and coaching change.
4) Marx has Bok legend written all over him. 
5) Whitely is by a country mile the best possible skipper the Boks could have right now.
6) Jack Kriel and JSVR would strengthen this Bok side further. A lot further.
7) Has Andries Coetzee laid a claim to the 15 jersey that few others will match? 
For me, the game yesterday was a total surprise.
I never for one moment expected the Boks to play adventurously or even semi cohesively. Aside from taking the basic exit options, the Boks really took it to the French on attack. 
Someone in the Bok camp has seen the light. There seems to be game plan as well as some fire. 
Bye bye Adrian Strauss. Hope to see you...never.

 Addrain Struss served the Boks with distinction Plum so no cheap shots please!
I agree things looked better and it gives some hope. Some selections are still not right. Although the coach is poor he is now underpinned by quality like Venter.One will have to wait to see how the Boks go against better opposition.Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Harold Vorster, Combrinck will all add value to the backline as would Faf. Invest in both Du Preez twins. I am wondering if Wilco Louw is the strongest tighthead we have. If the scrum gets into problems he may get a call up. He play out side the scrum is reasonable but not great.

 I think a lot of credit should go to Smith.   The backline last year was totally dysfunctional and this year was miles better.   I do not think that the center combination is the answer and Rhule did not meet requirements.  
There needs to be an improvement in the backrow and the of ball player was Mohoje.
I like what I saw of Coetzee - a thinking player who has been excellent.

 Mike I'd have loved to see Nkosi get 10 minutes yesterday. 
If we build on this Lions core by adding players that compliment it then the Boks will look totally different this year.
This is why I hope that Du Preez starts the next game. His movement, work rate and offload fit the Lion's style very well. There is unfortunately no place for Lood in that type of setup. RG Snyman will be better suited. 
I do forsee issues with all this though. Pollard for example. When he returns will he be preferred to Jantjies? How is that gonna play out?

 I must admit that Jantjies perhaps had his best performance in test rugby thus far.
Irrespective of his performance in this test Pollard would still be the #1 fly-half in my books.
The French side was not at full strength but hopefully, they will be a better side come the Durban test.
But as can be seen from the crowd that attended the test......rugby supporters are not prepared to pay up to support the rest but will once the best are selected they will be back.
This is the first time that I can recall seeing such a small crowd at a Test rugby game in the Capital.

 Hey AJ
That's exactly the problem. All round, Pollard is probably a better 10 than Jantjies. But if the Boks are gonna run with a Lions core, how long is Pollard going to take to combine as well with the rest of the Lions/Boks...especially considering that JSVR is probably gonna slot into 12 aS soon as he's back. 
Bosche probably seems more suited to that task than Pollard. Cronje? Maybe Goosen? Lambie won't get a look in since he's about as contrary to a Lions type 10 as one could get.
Then what about other players, in the pack for example?
Will be interesting to see what direction is taken. I still have zero faith in Coetzee btw.

I think we should wait a week before drawing any conclusions.

 Indeed Moz.
Regardless though, the Leo_Boks do present a good few dilemmas.

Exactly my thoughts Moz. We love to get all excited after one good performance. But lets not forget, this is an under strength French side, playing away from home, on the Highveld. If we can keep it up for the rest of the tour then maybe we can be a little more positive. Still, I predict the second test is going to be a lot tougher. Also, the real benchmark for the Boks will be the Rugby Champs

 
Well. from all the reviews I've read it seems we've become world beaters.

It seems we've got our side sorted now and it's all systems go. Bring on the All Blacks.

Jantjies is the man and Jesse Kriel is a legend in the making ... and to add to that Coach Coetzee is a keeper.

Funny how I don't feel the same excitement as all of you do.

Did anyone notice the strange positional play of Whitely? He was playing on the side of the scrum, instead of at the back like a traditional 8, and spent a lot of time on the wings. 

 Plum you're making some strong calls....don't you want to wait a week or two? BTW I agree with the Lions making up the core of the team, said so in an earlier post which is still hanging around.

 After last years disaster it is understandable to get excited about a win, even ifit is against a French B side. Congrats to the Boks you can only play what is put in front of you.I however will reserve judgement on digging ourselves out of this huge hole untilafter the Rugby Championship. If we want to regain first tier status that is the only measure.   

 Funny how I don't feel the same excitement as all of you do.Hey CC don' t sound so disappointed the Boks won. You are giving ou rooitwitterbug a run for the biggest turncoat on they board!

This French side was weak, no doubt about that.

But even if they had beaten us, the question remains.

How is the Lions/Boks system going to affect player selections form here on out?

Is Coetzee and co gonna go with system over individual or is he gonna go with the best possible in each spot...like he tried to do last year? 

That's all i'm trying to say. Dunno if i am making myself clear.

Even if we beat the Frenchies 3-0...its no big deal and only against better teams will we know more about where we stand. I get that, and i i believe it myself.

 Lol CC

Coetzee is about as much of a keeper as the turd i dropped this morning which should be well on it's way to the Vaal by now

The notion that the Bok team should have a spine of Lions and that the 50/50 calls should go to the Lions player seems to have helped. It was such a simple idea and many on thie Board got it.......you need a critical mass of players the establish the playing style. ... The selection of Cronje is a classic case. He wouldn't have been first choice, except for his partnership with Jantjies. .. But there are still many weak links that can be improved.....the centres, tighthead, blindside flank and right wing being the most obvious. And none of those weak points are Lions,

Actually Moz, they might be Lions...at least some of them...

Johan Janse Van Rensburg would be an improvment at 12 for sure, plus that brings into play the Janties/JJVR axis from the Lions. 

Ruan Combrinck could give us what we need at right wing, not a speed demon by any means but the ability to make metres plus another boot in the back line. Maybe a bit early for Sbu Nkosi, but we'll see.

The biggest shame has been Lukhanyo Am's injury, think he could have made a mark on that 13 jersey.

I'd absolutely love a fetcher in the team, or at least someone who is good at the breakdown....who though? Kriel? Cloete? Louw?