The JJ Englebrecht defensive problem

I had to laugh when I came across this gem: - clevermike Status: Rugby Legend Posts: 6371 JJ Engelbrecht as a player September 12, 2012, 10:27:46 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I cannot help writing this thread - as Engelbrecht has been punted as the future 13 great hope. I have always had some reservations about him in defence - since he really plays and defends like a wing. However, after watching him play at both center and wing this year on CC level I was in fact shocked by what I saw in the recent games. Lets take for an example the WP - Bulls game. In a break-out from their own 22 Du Plessis carried the ball and the defeneder was Engelbrecht. He completely missed the tackle and was lieing on the grass afterwards. That happened whilst he was on the wing. When he was moved to center - the situation was much worse. Both Brache and Du Plessis scored tries with Engelbrecht missing tackles completely. The Brache try he could be forgiven for - the Du Plessis one inexcusable. There were problems in other games as well - especially against the Sharks and the Lions. This guy has speed - but lacks the insight to play at center. His future is as a wing - bad news otherwise - very bad news.

Mozart Lets get a couple of things straight. First of all - I said the Smith's strong point is attack - he is weaker in defence than attack. I never said he is a weak defender as implied by you. Problem is I saw a number of games he played in where he made no attempt to tackle players and they actually score tries. That is not reflected in stats. But leave it be - he is a very good player - but his performances in this years Super 15 was like a yo-yo. He in fact had only two really good games this year for the rest he was average at best. However, he was good against the French and very good on Saturday. Maybe he leaves his best plays for test level - something like Habana. Secondly - I saw the game you are referring to and Engelbrecht - just after his return from he Springbok squad played a shocker. I commented on that game on the site and Saffex wanted to have a seizure about what I said. I still have some worries about the defence of JJ - but his attacking play is outstanding and maybe for that reason I am prepared to give him some leeway on the defence issue. Thirdly - I have been consistent in advocating that Engelbrecht should play on the wing - especially since Pietersen is not available and Basson is weak in that position - hence my frequent comments on that issue. That seems to be giving Saffex some further seizures. Fourthly - the only real alternative is to play Serfontein and De Villiers either at 12 or 13. We have no other 13 option - since De Jongh is atrocious in his tackling this year - even though you do not agree on that one - and his attacking skills is miniscule to the point of non-existing. He also can go AWOL like he did in the Twickenham test and to my mind will not fit into the backline at all.

 

Oopsie!!!! Reckon that's kinda upset the applecart. How does one refute that?

 

With great difficulty me thinks.

 

To be quite honest ... I've never really grasped what all the fuss over JJ is about..

 

Is he something special? ... if he is I can't see it.

 

All I see is a youngster with a lot of gas. Nothing special like a Gerber or a Muller. 

 

The talented youngster we have at center is Serfontein. Not JJ. We should be finding ways of getting Serfontein into the starting 15.

 

Either at 12 with Jean to 13 or as Sas suggested ... leaving Jean at 12 with Serfontein going to 13.

 

Serfontein is one for the future. He's destined to be an all time great ... not JJ. He's just a lad with a lot of gas!!!

 

 

 

That might not be a KO but it is definitely a standing 8 count.

 JJ has the makings of a very good test center and his defence has got better with time - he maybe a great test center - time will tell. Our trouble right now is who to replace JP - who will not be available for a couple of years. 

Who are the wing candidates. JJ certainly could play there with Jan and Jean at center. Apart from JP and Habana do we have any other wings of that quality. Who could we try. Jordaan comes to mind. Volmink maybe. Van Der Heever has the talent but is too passive. Mvovo is good but not great. Rhule has nose dived and is simply another microlight destined to flop at the top levels like Chavanga did.

Who are the wings who could take over from JP. If there are none maybe JJ has to go to the wing?

Beeno We have an immediate problem on the wing - and you are correct in what you say. Basson to my mind does not meet requirements - but whether Meyer think so is another question. However, lets assume that is indeed a problem and that Meyer changes his mind. In the immediate fiuture - I would move JJ to the wing - he can always be brought back to center - in which event the ideal would be to use De Villiers and Serfontein at center. I would then use De Allende as back up center. The other back up center can be Stokkies Hanekom of the Lions. In the longer term there are Saffex favourites also, namely Van Rensburg and Swanepoel, but they also need Super 15 experience. Now look at the longer term and the future is not as rosy as it seems. I think that there are the longer term situation - when Habana would also be gone and the shorter version. I would say that Mvovo could yet make it - but have my doubts about it. So I think there are very few prospects around. Volmink could make the grade - but I believe at least a year on Super 15 level would be necessary to see whether he can make it. Jordaan has the speed and he is a very clever player - he did not do well this year - but that could have been due to the players inside of him. Definitely has the speed and is sound on defence. Despite Mozart's and Saffex's ravings he has had the best defensive stats of all 13's this year in Super 15. In the longer term - ie in two years time we are going to hear a lot about Duhan van der Merwe - a potential successor for Habana Jordaan is still off injured and there is no sign when he would play again - I expect he would start in middle September. He will definitely not be in the EOYT squad - but we will see how he is going in Super 15 next year. If I was to pick a backline for the June tests next year - it would look something like the following:- 15 Le Roux, 14 Engelbrecht/Jordaan, 13 Engelbrecht/Serfomtein, 12 De Villiers/Serfontein, 11 Habana, 10 Goosen/Lambie I am lo0oking at two issues - the one is how long is De Villiers going to keep performing on his present level and what if he get injured - hence my comments. The same applies to Habana. The above would be my core group of players to select the backline from. but it obviously depend on how the players perform over the next nine months. The other problem is obviously the racial issue - the above backline players are all White and that could have ramifications from a politi9cal perspective - however, that is something else to consider - especially since there is not really any value players coming through at present - we may have to look at next years JWC squad to see whether there really is anything in evidence.. . .