Springbok squad players sent back to play CC Rugby

Sharks - Lions game

The top player and MOM of the game was Sbu Nkosi.   I would rate the squad players as follows based on actual performances.

Sbu Nkosi           =    8/10

Dyantyi              =    6/10

Warren Whiteley =    6/10

Jantjies              =    4,5/10

Dyantyi got very few real opportunities - since the Lions backline misfired.   Still dangerous when given the slightest space.

Whiteley was comprehensively outplayed by Dan du Preez and did not do much in the game.

Jantjies has two recurring problems -

*   he too often ran towards the inside center before he passes balls; and

*   his out-of-hand kicking was mostly possession turnover mechanisms

He made one good cross-kicks leading to a try - but the other kicks were really sub-standard.   

Don't think Jantjies should be called up again and frankly I would rather see Dan du Preez - who scored two tries - being called up instead of Whiteley.

The WP-Bulls game

Willemse        -       7/10

Van Zyl          -        6/10   

Van Staden     -        5,5/10

Louw               -       5,5/10

Willemse was always dangerous and was the plaer who assisted WP to score their second try.

Van Zyl did his job vey well and on the day in both games he was good.

Van  Staden was solid - nothing s pecial 

I wrote about Louw below.   Still worried about his fitness,

Wilco Louw is killing Nyakani.

2nd Half just started.

Wow 32-32 ... now how does one compare this to last week?

Well done Problems. 

We needed that. First match this season the team was really tested...the Sharkies almost got there a few weeks ago 

Blikkies

Louw worries me.   Louw dominated the scrums until about minute 30 and thereafter the scrums became stagnant and after another 30 minutes he became the poor link in scrumming,

Is the guy fit enough to p lay for 60 minutes without giving ground?  Anyway he is not up to standard outside from scrumming.  

I gave the ratings on the squad returnees above.

The best performing loosies today was Du Preez at 8 and Van Dyk of the Stormers today,   

Ruhan Nel    -     6/10

Augustus       -    6,5/10

Schickerling   -      6/10

Squad returnees 

I was very unhappy with Jantjies and Whiteley and to a lesser extent with Louw. 

I think Dan du Preez was far better than Whiteley and at 7 Van Dyk was magical for WP,   Very good in defense with a huge tackle count and brilliant in line-outs.  

Game Plan 

I believe that the game plan of WP today reminded me of what Coetzee tried in his era there.   Disastrous - the game with a plan of all-out attack by the Bulls , WP with nothing,     

Mike, I gave up on Wilco Louw. I remember that earlier in the season I was so impressed with Louw that I said he could be our next Boy Louw of yesteryear. He is however playing very inconsistently and I would not be surprised if Rassie selects Thomas du Toit tomorrow for the 2018 EOY tour.

Lack of fitness could very well be his problem. 

Mozart

I was watching out for some players specifically.  Mbonambi did play - but showed near to zero in the game.   Akker was better than him.  

I rated him as 7/10.   His performance was in respect of ball carries, passing and attacking play was very good and he is still showing more positive development traits as he gains more experience.    

I'll watch the game later. I've been following the Mitre 10 Cup more closely, where we have a South African playing well at fullback. Wes Goosen. 

Balls as per normal from Mozart - he saw two tries being scored and blamed Augustus and Willemse for both.  The poor old machine got stuck again.       

I'll have a look at these and see. Mozart has yet to be to proven a liar, so unless I see otherwise I'd take his word.

The critics on the otherhand, are routinely found errant. 

Did I call Mozart a liar in any of the posts I made since Friday?   I told you I will not make personal attacks and will try to refrain from using that mechanism - leave it entirely to you.

My niceness seems not to get any  reasonable response from you two, but I will keep it up and give you a free reign for a while.    I think I know what to expect and have seen plenty evidence today already.   So keep it up - you will only prove that the two of you are the personal attacks specialists on site and my part is only to respond in kind.        

Oops in the poo-e again - I have been extra nice to everyone since Friday - and what was your response?  Complaining about anything I write - even comical responses would have helped.    

Personal attack specialists? Are you serious? We'll see how long you can keep this thin veil up. As for me, I'll continue talking rugby. If you join me some time, that'd be nice.