The amazing absence of new wings

 Hougaard has been enterprising there for the Bulls, really impressed with him and he packs a huge punch for his size which is quite reminiscent of Digby Ioane.

I would be comfortable with that....he has a big work rate.  

 I like the idea of Hougaard too. He's lost a bit in attack but JP is pretty sound defensively. We really need Senatla to improve defensively as he could be a huge weapon at the WC. I actually rate Van Wyk too.

APD
I think that the issue of development of new wings have been neglected for years.  It has had to do to a large extend because of the kick-orientated game of the past seven years - wings were not important - they were virtually only used for defense.
Habana developed during a period when the same principle applied - but he is an extremely clever player looking for work and creating opportunities which lesser players are unable to do.
Because the wing positions were regarded as mainly there for defense purposes and very little else - the norm became very simplistic and the position became designated for fast players of colour.   There were very little allowance made for development of wings outside of that environment.   It became a position where light weight players were concentrated - the only emphasis was speed.   
The game has moved on in the rest of the world - and wings became very muscular and bigger players - causing serious problems from a defense perspective for our wings.   The only player other than Habana in that category remaining as a wing in SA is JP Pietersen.   However, he has lost so much pace - his inclusion in the Springbok team became questionable.
The stronger and more acceptable wings like Van Wyk, Kotze and Jones are only coming through now - they are young and inexperienced.   The other alternative is Hougaard - in fact the only wing option of value available.  Van Wyk, Kotze and Jones are developing nicely - but they are young and inexperienced.  All three has the physicality and speed required.  
Until such time as the idea that the wing positions are reserved for BEE selection purposes are forgotten about - the situation will remain the nightmare  it is at present.        

 All of Van Wyk, Kotze and Jones are centers who don't have that necessary amount of pace needed to be a winger. Just go back to when Van Wyk got tackled before the try line against the Chiefs, after De Allende played the fool with SBW. Kotze and Van Wyk will shine at outside center as that is the position most suited to them and Jones is an inside center.  

 Kotze did extremely well in the wing position when playing in the previous match of the Stormers and I believe that Van Wyk has also been proved to be pacy enough to play on the wing.
However, I agree with you about Van Wyk at 13 in partnership with De Allende.  

 How do you all feel JJ would fair if he was given a chance again on the wing? He's fairly solid defensively and a lot of a pace, and a bit of strength.

 NO problem with JJ on the wing either.   Should have mentioned him when I wrote the above.   Dave will have a seizure though.  

 In my opinion moving to wing is JJ's only hope of playing for the Boks again, he just doesn't fit the bill at outside center. He's got pace to burn and a decent step but he just isn't a strong defender and doesn't have the correct mindset of a 13. 
Kotze is the quickest out of the bunch and the most likely to succeed at wing but he will never become a Bok level wing, unless he truly works hard at it and has some luck going for him. Stormers need to get rid of De Jong, I'm hoping beyond hope that some French club lure him away.

 Look Shezza
Let me be blunt - French clubs has agents who provide advice to their principles of worthwhile candidates and conduct subsequent negotiations with the players - should the Club Management is in agreement.
The clubs also make studies of potential players and will only accept a player if they are convinced that a player can contribute positively to the strengthening of the team of the club.
De Jongh has been around for years and the Clubs are fully aware of his deficiencies - so the chances that a French Club would lure him away is as slim as a unprofessional person running the 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.   Meaning unfortunately there is a z ero chance of that happening  

 Look Shezza
Let me be blunt - French clubs has agents who provide advice to their principles of worthwhile candidates and conduct subsequent negotiations with the players - should the Club Management is in agreement.
The clubs also make studies of potential players and will only accept a player if they are convinced that a player can contribute positively to the strengthening of the team of the club.
De Jongh has been around for years and the Clubs are fully aware of his deficiencies - so the chances that a French Club would lure him away is as slim as a unprofessional person running the 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.   Meaning unfortunately there is a z ero chance of that happening  

 Look Shezza
Let me be blunt - French clubs have agents who provide advice to their principles of worthwhile candidates and conduct subsequent negotiations with the players - should the Club Management is in agreement.
The clubs also studies potential players and will only accept a player if they are convinced that a player can contribute positively to the strengthening of the team of the club.
De Jongh has been around for years and the Clubs are fully aware of his deficiencies - so the chances that a French Club would lure him away is as slim as a unprofessional person running the 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.   Meaning unfortunately there is a zero chance of that happening  

 They took Ricky Januarie and Morne Steyn so one can hope.

 Habana and JJ look good bets. 

Kobus v/Wyk is average....bwhaaahaaaaa  

Average is pretty good....a functional S15 wing. Not test calibre though.  

Watching the Chiefs backline on Saturday - big, strong, fast but creative and great finesse with the ball certainly makes you question where our wings are like that.
Heem  - 1.93m, 103 kg. Chased down Lleyds  Lowe - 1.87m, 101kg
and then of course the bogey man Savea - 1.93, 108 kg
Six Nations teams also have big fast wings that are difficult to tackle but our wings still seem to fit into that shifty, stepper mold when the space just isn't there as much as it has been in the past as defenses continue to improve and take it away.
One wonders how many of our athletic loose forwards would have made good wings if they had been groomed as such. Breakaway speed is not as vital a quality as it once ways for a wing. Ball movement and offloads unlock defenses.

I still think our biggest problem is at outside centre. On the wing we aren't spoiled for choice, but we have adequate players, but a t outside centre the cupboard is empty.

Agree bluebok. I think what happens there will depend on whether JDV is fit and available for selection at IC and to me he has a lot to prove with the serious emergence of DDA at 12.
DDA has to be the front runner at either position.

 We have a problem on the wing despite Dave's protestations to the contrary.   You cannot play lightweight players on the wing anymore, unless they can handle the defense against heavier and physically stronger opponents.
Habana is not really a lightweight player - but of the rest Dave mentioned the ffollowing are all below 92 kgs in weight - some by a long way:-
   Senatla (79 kgs), Kolbe (76 kgs)  and Rhule (83 kgs)
We saw clearly what the Chiefs players did to Kolbe this past weekend - they pushed him out of the way with the greatest of ease.   That 25 kgs difference is way to big to handle.   The same will apply to Senatla and to Rhule.   Senatla and Kolbe are good Sevens prospects - but has no future in the 15 man game, they are just physically too small.
There is not normally not a problem if the difference is 5 to 8 kilos - anything more is just looking for trouble insofar as defense is concerned.
It is for that reason I believe that most people would rather suggest other options with players with the necessary physique to handle defense situations.  Obviously speed is an essential element as well - hence the suggestion of JJ as a wing - a position where he used to play  - until his move to the graveyard of all centers - the Bulls.   He never really adjusted to the center position and if he wants to be considered for future Springbok selection his only option would be to play on the wing.  
The other player Dave mentioned is Sithole - physically the right size (94 kgs) - but not really performing well enough this past six months.  
At 13 - I have a lot of sympathy with his view on Kriel or Van Wyk as options - but the real consideration should be to play Serfontein in that position.   The Allende is physically by far the best 12 we have and he is proving that week-after-week.   Played the fool with Francois Steyn and over-shadowed S-B Williams in the game last week - says a lot about the guy.  He creates space for others - which give them opportunities - something Serfontein cannot achieve to a similar extent.
So lets take it that the backline should be the following:
9   The jury is out on that position 10   Pollard11   Habana12   De Allende13   Serfontein14   JJ/Van Wyk15   Le Roux.
I would definitely have the following on the bench:-
Lambie, Kriel, and a scrummie of your choice.
I do not rate Hougaard as a scrummie in NH conditions - he was bad on the EOYT last year.   The choice will probably be Reinach in the end - since Du Preez will not last three matches without a further injury.  Japanese club rugby is not a sound preparation for any international player and since they are physically not up to standard injuries are common-place.      Lets look at that unhappy list of present and previous Springboks  -  Du Preez himself, Jacque Fourie and Peter Grant - just to name three examples.  In any event - they are good for one week and the next week they are poor to average - they are not used to play two weeks in succession.
I would not have a problem with JP on the wing - but he is again back to where he was when eh came back from Japan - slow carthorse speed is all he can manage and I mean very, very slow carthorse speed.  At 13 he looked lost in the two games I watched over the past weekend. Another player that needs to get himself into gear if he is to be a successful Springbok of the future.  Just see what he looked like just before Kotze score that Stormers try in Round 4.      
                               
    

Those stats are rubbish......Rhule weighs 90kg odd as does Senatla these days......Kolbe is small