The art of off-loading balls

Off-loading in tackle situations is a rarity in SA backline play and was so for years.   Fat Fransie was for some reason or another credited for that - but it was such a rare occurrence in his case that it actually counted for nothing.  For the rest there were very little off-loads in tackle situation by SA backline players - so rare that it borders on the non-existent,  
I was indeed surprised by the expertise EW Viljoen showed on Saturday in off-loading balls and checked his stats thus far this year in off-loading balls.   In four matches played he made 7 successful off-loads (there is no stats for the Sunwolves game on ESPN).
That must be a record for any SA backline players for years and it was a major component in the excellent backline attacks by the Stormers.  
I have always thought that Viljoen is a clever player - a real requirement for the type of game and he proved it again on Saturday.   His replacement by De Jongh would destroy the Stormers backline and should NEVER happen.  

Things are changing on this front Mike. What sets the Lions apart from the rest of the SA teams at the moment is their ability to offload! I even noticed the Bulls trying to get off a few offloads in their game. The execution was not there, but there is definitely a shift in intent from our boys. I guess these things take time to perfect, but at least they are realizing it needs to become part of their skill set.   

Name me one player in the Springbok team over the last six years that was able to make effective off-loads.   I think the Lions also at e good at it - especially Vorster - but I think that Van Rensburg must still improve in that. 

Wrong thread used.  Sorry

 Jantjies....he is a killer off-loader.
Just ask any player who was at center alongside him.

Agreed - nice to see a renewed emphasis on this. Not only ball carriers, but support players expecting the offload and running appropriate lines. Certainly some of the SA teams enjoying more success with it than others, and its a split second decision learning curve knowing when its on and when its not.

Frans has rugby assets Mike but I surmise (I really think so) his mental attitude is lacking, he's a typical over'egoed guy... that is self-centr ed (excused the pun) and thinks he is better than the rest and does not offload because he thinks he can handle it on his own...he is getting on now and still seems to lack the humility of a team player...if he was was a sharing contributor and a team player he would be effective...the real problem is that playing club rugby in France and getting praised has not helped his mindset...he is not fat Mike but he is probably impaired by the good life and good lifestyle and cuisine that prominent well paid sportsmen enjoy in France.

He's not for SA we have too much talent that deserves a chance...he burnt his bridges.

 Seb when  Steyn came back from France in 2012 he weighed 118 kgs.   For a sportsmen  in running games a person of his height should way somewhere between 104 and 107 kgs.  
He then was told by Plumtree in 2013 to get his weight down to that weight range - but never complied with that request and he did not really make an effort.
In 2014 there was a photo of him on TV after an injury and he had his shirt off.   He really was FAT - very Fat.   It does not show ion TV - but he is really severely overweight.   That reduces his playing abilities and his pace as well.
I call him Fat Fransie and there is quite a good reason for that.   However, he is already 29 years of age ad there is no chance that he would come back to SA and play for the Sharks.
I wonder where Johann Goosen is  at present.  The story was that he was going back to Racing Metro - but since then there was dead silence about him.   He is also a very good off-loader of balls,  

Duplicat ion 

 Fat Steyn was 125kg at one stage. That is when Plumtree complained about his condition.