The Bulls Centers

I am still not at all impressed with the Center pair of the Bulls and this time they cannot blame the Flyhalf for their performances - Potgieter had a reasonable game at flyhalf.

First of all between the two of them they managed to botch a try scoring opportunity early in the game.   At least Serfontein scored a try later on when he ran a good supporting line and got the ball when completely in the clear.

For the rest in the game they really showed zilch in attacking play - but this time around their defence was solid.   

The question arises is this what one really expect from a potential Springbok center pair?   They were really questionable in their previous two matches and I must say I am not over the moon with their performances this time around as well.   Saffex will go lyrical about how good especially Serfontein were and he would nominate him for SA 12 of the week - but that just will not wash.

Looking at the performances this week - De Allende was by some distance the best SA Center on display and he is the guy one really must watch out in future.    

 It is not the final word - but gives an indication of the work rate and performance of the players  in the Center position - but there are in fact some reasonably accurate indicators of the contribution of players in the center positions:-

*   ESPN Scrum

*   Foxsport

*   Test Rugby

ESPNscrum

I have quoted these stats vefore and am not going to repeat it again:-

Foxsport

No 13's

Johann Sadie

Round 1        =      9

Round 2        =     20

Round 3        =     22       =     51 points

Average per game            =     17 points

Paul Jordaan

Round 1        =     37

Round 2        =       9       =     46 points

Average per game            =     23 points

JJ Engelbrecht

Round 1        =     14

Round 2        =       8

Round 3        =       3       =     25 points

Average per game            =       8,6 points

Jordaan only had two games and he was effectively kept out of the game by the ball hogging of Witless Steyn  -  if that produced positive results fir Steyn - it would be understandable - but it did not,

No12's  

Damian de Allende

Round 2        =      22

Round 3        =      30       =     52  points

Average per game            =      26 points

Francois Venter

Round 1        =     22

Round 2        =     10

Round 3        =     15       =      47 points

Average per game            =      15,6 points

Jan Serfontein

Round 1        =     13

Round 2        =       7

Round 3        =     23       =      43 points

Average per game            =      13,3 points

Francois Steyn

Round 2        =       9

Round 3        =      15       =      24 points

Average per game            =      12 points

Jean de Villiers

Round 2        =     10

Round 3        =       2       =      12 points

Average per game            =        6 points

Se Villiers was extremely poor/disappointing in both games,

An average score of 20 and above is about what one should expect from an international player.   Thus far only two players average above 20 - namely Jordaan and de Allende.  

The rest are bloody far from intenational level and even poor on Super 15 level.

Test Rugby

No 13's

Johann Sadie

Total points                      =    350 points 

Average per game            =     113,3 points

Paul Jordaan

Total points                     =     340 points

Average per game            =     170 points

JJ Engelbrecht

Total points                      =     325 points

Average per game            =      108,3 points

Jordaan only had two games and he was effectively kept out of the game by the ball hogging of Witless Steyn  -  if that produced positive results fir Steyn - it would be understandable - but it did not,

No12's  

Damian de Allende

Total points                      =     620 points

pAverage per game            =    310 points

Francois Venter

Total points                     =       480 points

Average per game            =      160 points

Jan Serfontein

Total points                     =       400 points

Average per game            =      133,3 points

Francois Steyn

Total points                      =     310 points

Average per game            =      155 points

Jean de Villiers

Total points                     =       125 points

Average per game            =        62,5 points

170 to 180 points is the bare minimum to be expected from an international center.  Once again only Jordaan and De  Allende met  with that minimum requirement.  

SUMMARY

OTHER THAN DE ALLENDE AND TO A LESSER EXTENT JORDAAN (WHO WERE EFFECTIVELY SABOTAGED BY WITLRDD HOG IN HIS LAST GAME)- OUR CENTERS THUS FAR RANGE FROM POOR TO PISS POOR  IN SUPER 15.

THUS FAR OUR SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN - JEAN DE VILLIERS - WAS THE WORST PERFORMER AT CENTER OF ALL THS STARTING PLAYERS IN THE SERIES.