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Springbok wings . . .

Started by Rooinek12 REPLIES1,512 VIEWS· 01 Jun 2015, 19:46
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RO
Rooinek
Captain18,117 posts
RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
01 Jun 2015, 19:46
#1
01 Jun 2015, 19:46#1

Every day I see posters banging on endlessly about the possible Springbok centres but to me they are ignoring the biggest Springbok weakness right now . . . test quality wings.


I don't really understand why centre is such a big issue with so many posters when we have the likes of Damian de Allende, Jan Serfontein, Lionel Mapoe, Frans Steyn, Juan de Jong, Harold Vorster, Burger Odendaal and a few others (including the great Jean de Villiers if he can get fit in time) all vying for Springbok jerseys. We have plenty of quality at centre but can we say the same about our wings? 
What does our list of quality wingers look like compared to our centres? We have an ageing Bryan Habana whose class and experience still make him an automatic choice but who else? Who do we have who can compare to the likes of Nemani Nadolo, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo, Taqele Naiyarovoro, Anthony Watson, Teddy Thomas, George North and Alex Cuthbert?
Personally I think Ruan Combrinck has been nothing short of sensational this season but I'm not sure Heyneke Meyer has the same view. Combrinck is a player I didn't notice much in previous seasons and I alway thought he was a bit of a journeyman but he's been consistently brilliant all season this year and I'd pick him as my Bok right wing in a heartbeat. 
Seabelo Senatla looked very sharp last weekend but thanks to his Sevens commitments we simply haven't seen enough of him to know whether he can deliver, certainly not on defence. I'm not saying he can't tackle but I just haven't seen enough of him to know for sure if he can.
We know Lwazi Mvovo is also test quality on attack but we also know that his defence and his positioning have let him down in the past. 
I'm still not convinced Francois Hougaard is better at wing than at scrumhalf and he's gone off the boil a bit in recent weeks.
Who else is even close? What happens if we get an injury to Bryan Habana or Ruan Combrinck? Why are we making such a big deal about our lack of centres when we have so few test quality wings? 
SA
Saffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
02 Jun 2015, 10:51
#2
02 Jun 2015, 10:51#2

The wings that really stand out for me are Sithole and Combrink.


The more of Sithole I see, the more I like him. He is really strong, seems to bust tackles with ease and is in great form.


Combrink runs great lines and has good feet on him......another who seems to have the knack of beating defenders.


Senatla has the X factor, we just need to hold onto him in the 15 man game now.


JP and Habana will always be in contention. JP is wasted at 13 at the Sharks.


Given Willie should be our 15, I'd be inclined to consider Jessie Kriel on the wing.


For me Kolbe is better suited to wing given his size, so he would be an option on the wing for me.


Hougaard should be playing 9, is wasted on the wing.


Its a pity we lost Kobus v/Wyk, another with plenty of attacking clout. Rhule looked good early season but the Cheetahs as a whole have lost ground along with Rhule.


We are ok out wide......we can find two from Habana, JP, Sithole, Kriel, Combrink, Kolbe, Senatla and v/Wyk.


Personally Kriel and Senatla would be my starting wings

TT
The_Truth
Club Pro471 posts
TT
The_TruthClub Pro471 posts
02 Jun 2015, 11:25
#3
02 Jun 2015, 11:25#3
 

"The wings that really stand out for me are Sithole and Combrink."

....

"Personally Kriel and Senatla would be my starting wings"


Makes perfect sense.... NOT!

SA
Saffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
02 Jun 2015, 11:26
#4
02 Jun 2015, 11:26#4
You are thick....it goes without saying  
JE
JeromeV
Club Pro492 posts
JE
JeromeVClub Pro492 posts
02 Jun 2015, 12:27
#5
02 Jun 2015, 12:27#5
 Combrinck at 14 wing is a must for the boks, top class player! 
CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Jun 2015, 13:54
#6
02 Jun 2015, 13:54#6
 Rooinek
Habana remains the number 1 choice wing - but for the rest there is a problem.  From what I have seen this year in Super 15 I would say that the following should be included in the wing selection set up:-
Combrinck, Van Wyk, Mapoe, Senatla, Sithole
I have a serious problem with JP.   He is slower than an oxcart and cannot see him being that slow and being an effective wing. 
We can do with the above - but the problem is that Habana is injury-prone, has been in recent tests and is not getting any younger.  
The reason I put Mapoe as a possibility is that he is to my mind physically too small to play at center and he will the touchline to help in defense.     
SA
Saffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
02 Jun 2015, 13:59
#7
02 Jun 2015, 13:59#7
I don't see a problem at all on the wing.....anyone of Habana, JP, Senatla, Kolbe, v/Wyk, Combrink, Kriel or Sithole would do us proud......all quality players  
KI
kingcorn
Pro3,695 posts
KI
kingcornPro3,695 posts
02 Jun 2015, 14:07
#8
02 Jun 2015, 14:07#8
 I think the above mentioned are all valid except for JP Pietersen. The guy has lost pace and have leaked so many tries because of poor tackling. 
I would take a gamble and start with Senatla, Habana and Le Roux. 
Sithole and Combrink would be my either wingers along with Hougaard as dual cover for 9 and wing. 
Kolbe is simply to small. We saw what Ndolo did to him earlier this year. Simply flung him out of the way like a rag doll. I don't see him make any meaningful tackle on a player like Savea or Kuridrani. 
SA
Saffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
02 Jun 2015, 14:51
#9
02 Jun 2015, 14:51#9

Yeah I love what Kolbe brings to the game but reckon test match rugby would be a stretch too far given his size.


My back 3 would be Willie, Kriel and Senatla.....with the likes of Sithole as cover for both wing and 13.


Yep JP might be done as much as Habana might be. Hence going with the in form and special Jessie Kriel as my one wing and Senatla to provide the X factor on the other wing.


My centre mix would be Serfontein, de Allende and Vorster, with Pollard, Jantjies and Lambie covering 10 and Hougaard, Faf and Reinach as my options at 9


Add Frans Steyn, JP and Habana for the experience factor and you probably have your backs for the WC.


Although it would be tough to leave the likes of Combrink, v/Wyk, Kolbe, Mapoe, Frans Venter, Odendaal and Goosen out.

DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
02 Jun 2015, 16:04
#10
02 Jun 2015, 16:04#10
You make some interesting points Rooi, but the issue is this: Your centres are the power of your attack. Damian cannot create. There are those who vehemently disagree, some to the point of drawing comparisons between him and Sonny Bill. They could scarcely be more different. Sonny straightens the attack. Damian does not. The Stormers try to put Damian into space, Sonny puts others into space. Damian wants to beat you on the outside, natural inside centres will work inside. The centres are supposed to bring the back three into the game. 12 is supposed to be a key decision maker and organiser. Damian can't do these things. 10 relies on information from 12. Without a 12 who can straighten the attack we end up with a lateral attack. This is exactly what the Stormers have been suffering from. Mallett and a few other people have commented on this. Poor centres severely limit what we can do ball-in-hand. This is where we rely so heavily on Willie. He is an extension of 10, and brings the centres and wings into the game. There are few players in our backline that can distribute. Damian and Kriel and a few other choices are dead ends. So we need more creative ways of attacking. Schalk is another outlet as he is a very intelligent distributor. We brings players into the game. He is also a good lead runner in PODs. I know fans don't like the thought of a forward using the ball, but this is modern rugby. Forwards must be bale to handle the ball. 
W ings? Mvovo has never impressed me. Senatla and Lleyds have. Hougaard is our #2 scrumhalf and Habana is still our most complete wing, much more intelligent than the others. I think we are covered on the wing and can take more liberties. If we want to attack, I think Damian could be our 13, if he proves that he can defend. He needs space, and if he is ever to thrive at centre it will be at 13, not 12.
CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Jun 2015, 16:23
#11
02 Jun 2015, 16:23#11
 Letsal
You have the wrong end of the stick again.  The whole backline strategy of the Stormers is built around De Allende and he provides the key to their performances.   Ask any expert and they will tell you that.
You imply the exact opposite and have no real basis other than prejudice to support your extremely questionable statement.   How funny can you be?      
SH
Shezza
Pro2,471 posts
SH
ShezzaPro2,471 posts
02 Jun 2015, 19:06
#12
02 Jun 2015, 19:06#12
Hougaard is a must for 14 with his experience outside a new center combination and has a great work rate that is matched by his attacking capability. 
JP on ability shouldn't be considered but he'll most likely get selected. Mvovo is another that should be forgotten.
Combrink, Senatla and Kobus van Wyk are others that deserve to be considered at wing but Senatla has committed to 7's during this RWC apparently. Kolbe and Kriel should stick to fullback where they're familiar and Sithole is being played out of position at wing IMO. 
Oh and Alex Cuthbert is crap.
OI
oimatey
Pro1,870 posts
OI
oimateyPro1,870 posts
02 Jun 2015, 21:48
#13
02 Jun 2015, 21:48#13
Quotas, quotas, quotas. That is what will dictate our wings. SARU has already said 7 non-white players in 23-man match squads in the run up to the RWC. That commitment may not extend into the RWC, but it is there for the rest of the tests this year and wing is the position where Meyer can most reliably find non-white Test quality options. 
As a result I don't think Combrink or van Wyk even get a look-in and Kriel may be hard pressed too without being a straight substitute for another white players "spot". Hougaard may make the team due to his versatility.

Pathetic even talking this way, but its the reality of the situation.
Pietersen, Mvovo and Hendricks are the most likely beneficiaries at wing and I expect to see a lot of Paige and Jantjies on the bench to meet the quota.
i think Senatla is held back with a view towards the Olympics. Sithole feels like a long shot.



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