The cupboard of quality Bok open-siders is bare

It has speed, grunt, weight, plenty lineout options and mobility.

Thoughts?

Brussow was wasted. He was an enormous competitive edge that amplified the strengths of our game. We haven't really had that much depth since the days of Jake. We could slot many different players in and it worked. We had Big Joe, Schalk, Wannenburg, Cronje, Venter, Solly, Juan and Wikus. There was even Watson.

I thought Kolisi had a quietly effective game. I think the past two games have been better for him. He may be growing into the role at 6. I think we should give him a little time. I'm still not liking his leadership though. I'd go with Eben. He already looks like the natural, unofficial, leader of the team anyway. 

Correct SB, we don't really go for the traditional role for  our open-side flankers(we even numbers it differently) , but our hooker and 8 normally help with the fetching.

To think of Juan, Andre Venter and Cronje as openside flankers cracks me up. Poepol sure can come up with some doozies!!

It's as bad as assigning the task to Willem Alberts.

Haaaaaaaaaaahahahahahaaaa ... isn't that right, Moffie?

Brussow was outstanding ... but, according to Meyer, he was just too damn small ... and so he replaced him with a blindside flank instead. We all know how that worked out against Japan.

The Kings discovered some form during their last season of SR when they gave the 6 jersey to Chris Cloete, a natural fetcher ... but sadly he too was overlooked ... for Louw and Kolisi. 

Jaco Kriel is the best we've had at 6 since Brussow and took the highly sought after "Players Player" award awhile back. Without doubt our best loosie.

He too was sadly overlooked by the god of all coaches, Heyneke Meyer. In his place ... Flo and Alberts and Kolisi were thought to be better options.

So yes, Chop ... we don't have a lot of stock on the openside. It wouldn't have made a difference anyway, as our coaches don't rate the breakdown as that important ... not until they lose, then it's in with the Kolisi's, the Louw's and the Alberts'.

Sure Chippo

For years now it was impossible for smaller players to become a loosie in the Springbok team and even better fetchers were out.  Meyer believed fervently in Louw being the opensider and equally pace-deficient Alberts a nd Vermeulen being the loosies.   Of those three only Vermeulen is the only fetcher - that is if can get there in time - and Louw used to be to a very limited extent, and making 13 turnovers in the WC series against the weaker teams does not really count for much.   In all the tests he played in this year he made one turnover,

In reality the above flank combination was always a disaster when it came to ball protection and recovery - that is if they could get to breakdowns at all.   The hype had to be created about strong ball  carries - making because of clumsiness on average  only circa 2 meters per carry.    

So what have we know.   Two pace loosies with minimal input in ball protection and recovery.   Du Toit does try - but Whiteley is a bit physically deficient.

I know Kolisi is a given - but in the absence of Vermeulen I would rather play Marcell Coetzee at 8.   The ideal loosie combination I think would be better is 6  Labuschagne, 7  Du Toit, 8 Coetzee.

Let me explain - I do not think Vermeulen would make it through to the 2019 WC.   Labuschagne has been the best loosie we had for 10 years iro of ball protection and recovery - fact is he is a specialist in that with an extremely high work rate. He has the pace and ball sense needed and when Brussow was at his peak for the Cheetahs Labuschagne made as many steals as Brussow did.  He was very good in the Sunwolves  this year and was recognized as their outstanding player this year.

I know it sounds weird and the Mozart idiot will have a seizure because Coetzee and Labuschagne are others of his many pet hates. But that would be a vast improvement on what we have at this time.  

Yes, I agree, Mike.

Replacing Kolisi with Lappies would be a big improvement.

Not so sure about Coetzee though. He's just returned from injury so I'd prefer to give him a little time to gain confidence in the contact ... see how he goes.

He can't be worse than Frans Louw, that's for sure!!  

Well ... ask yourself this, Shezza.

Has Rassie settled on his WC side yet? Does he even know who his starting 15 are? How about his match 23?

Will guys like Lood De Jager and Jan Serfontein be brought into the mix when they return from injury?

How about Marcell Coetzee? I know he's spoken to Marcell.

To answer your question with a question ... can Rassie afford not to keep looking for the better players ... especially if they come in an make an immediate improvement? We cannot compete with this lot, that much is clear.

In my opinion ... Jaco Kriel would make an immediate improvement to our back row and should already be a part of the mix. Thing is though ... Kolisi is here to stay, as useless as he is, he's guaranteed of his place, no matter what ... baring injury of course. 

Rassie had better use the little time he has to sort this rabble out.  

Shezza

Etzebeth and De Jager was always Erasmus first choice locks - he said so a number of times even before the June tests.  I do not think De Jager will have any difficulty in getting into the team.  I think the real question is whom of Snyman or Mostert will be on the bench.  I believe it may even be Schickerling who may be preferred as a back-up.  

I cannot see that Du Toit will revert back to the lock position.  He is a very good lock - but we have to have him on the field of play and the no 7 position is a top priority of Erasmus as a support for the line-outs as well. 

As I stated before - I doubt whether Vermeulen would make it to the WC.   I think in the slower NH conditions Marcell Coetzee will be a  better proposition at 8 than Whiteley.

We cannot play a modern game with Lood at lock. He is too slow and has very poor hands. His tackle range is also poor. He also has trouble listing the distance, he runs out of steam early. 

Shezza, I agree that Serf would be a good option. It's really between him and Esterhuizen. We need both in the squad. I like Serf's game management and not reading of play more. Without Willie, he'd offset the loss somewhat. 

Organhuffer Lood in not slow!!!

Would Like to see how M arcell is going - a true warrior

How Gast was he during that New Zealand QF? 

His hands of stone blew two try scoring opportunities in the Welsh 22. 

No, the only race Lood ever won was beating an oak tree in setting his roots. To tackle Lood is to fell a tree. 

We need a 5 lock specialist and whether we want to admit it or not, Lood De Jager has had a cracker of a season this year. Of course he'll be considered for the coming world cup. He should by rights walk the 5 jersey.

Our best locks are Etzebeth, Lood, Snyman, Mostert, Du Toit and of course Schickerling. As far as I know 4 will be selected. We have great depth here.

Du Toit will more than likely be selected at blindside flank.

Slow? Yeah right!! I'm starting to wonder what it is you're sucking on?

Kwotalisi will not come near my bok team. I watched him on Saturdays game and he was absolutely useless through out the entire game. 

He made one or 2 good hits, but most often he was the second tackler with help from the props to know the players back. 

On one of the tries, he got bumped off easily. 

He seem to be really tired after 40 min and struggled to get into position. He didn't organise the defence once during general play. 

He didn't steel a single ball as an open sider , considering he was 2nd player to the ruck and often a tackle assist. 

I would keep PSDT at 7 or even bring in Jean Luke once fit for 7

Marcell is making his way back, but where is Kriel and Kwagga? 

AO

Please for once show some intelligence in rugby discussion and stop your BS.    It is unbelievable what BS you dream up insofar as  players like De Jager and Coetzee is concerned.

One has to wonder what caused such prejudice.   It is probably the influence of the Mozart BSter - it cannot be anything else that cause such negativity.   

Louw is a blob who really cant do much outside the scrum. Ma lherbe has moved ahead of Him

Do not agree here - we need three physical players in the lock and 7 positiosn and although Du Preez is certainly physical his utter-fingers are letting in down and his work rate is low.   Was tried against Wales and went out of the squad subsequently.

As to Kolisi he was substandard in all tests played and nothing better for the Stormers,   He is definitely not a world class loosie and no amount of hype can cure that. 

I think Etzebeth and De Jager are the first choice locks and Du To it the first choice 7.  

Dave

Sorry my friend - Louw was not really top class in the last few games and Super Rugby and in the Wales test.   

I think that Erasmus prefers Malherbe in view of his solidity in scrumming and hos hard work outside of scrumming.   

At this stage Louw is likely to be the bench player as was the case in the last few games.  

Mozart

Stop your bloody lunacy - it is causing me problems stopping laughing at how you manage to get ever lower in the BS spreading level.  

@chippo

why fairweather Dave?

@flash

He's usually around when the "weather is good".

IE: if Boks win, we see Dave.