The mythical Bismarck dom Plessis

We keep hearing how this is the best hooker in the world. I don't need go over those highly exaggerated plaudits. The loss to the Bulls yet again exposed this pretender. His lack of composure, discipline and leadership were all evident as he was for the third consecutive encounter outplayed by his much more wholesome opposite in Chiliboy. Can the Boks get by the next four years with this clown as a starter? He is not the best hooker in South Africa, much less the world. It's uncertain whether he would actually crack the top ten at test level. There is too little substance to his game, and the important fundamentals are not done accurately enough consistently enough for him to be relied upon. For all the criticism that was levelled at Smit, nobody can deny how often he stood tallest in very dark times. His leadership and all-round game was a cornerstone for the Boks. I fear that if this mythical Bismarck continues to be overblown/overhyped that the boks could be in a spot of bother.

I agree to an extent. He concedes a lot of dumb penalties, and certainly did so on Friday. But there is no denying the impact Bismarck made on the last 15 minutes in the QF, with the charge down of the drop out , for example. He is a very strong and aggressive chap.....he  needs to channel those qualities to be an establishment player.

I would very much like to see Chiliboy start. His impact is not as well noted, but for the Boks last year he was rock solid. He had a very good S15 and looks on course to follow that up this year. He is finally starting to deliver and with that comes genuine leadership credentials. Just a thought. Bismarck is best used as an impact player. His physicality has a more noteworthy impact on a tiring opponent, like the Aus example you pointed out.

DA, I have asked somebody recently to give me one example, just since the beginning of last season, where Chilly has let his side down, or not have at least a solid game. I haven't had a reply yet.

I feel for Chiliboy. He is much in the same boat as Steenkamp; a genuinely good player who was dogged by injuries for many years. I recall Heyneke saying he was rushed ahead of time and that his plans to develop him were ruined by imbecile politicians. As of course, they wanted him to captain the side. But now he is really starting to build some steam. I am not interested in glitz and glam. I like my forwards to do their job, do it hard and to be consistent. One or two big carries amongst the backs with one showmanship tackle that has no significance doe not interest me, and that's primarily the issue with Bismarck. Watch Chiliboy and Smit's tests and you'll see a hooker in heavy traffic doing the hard yards well. That's what we need. And as I say, with Chiliboy comes real leadership quality. He just adds so much more to the team. Hopefully he'll continue to stay fit and Heyneke will see through the media hype surrounding Bismarck.

Pleae guys show a little more acumen re Bissie - the best hooker in the world. I see Alberts is returning for the sharkies - a huge boost for them.  Apart from Bissie not much physicality in the pack.

Did chilli boy play last Saturday?

ou windpomp wants chilli boy as the next Bok captain. Hahahhahahahahahahaha "maak al die bulle bokke"

No we do no twant such an ordinary player in the Bok side. Ahead of Bissie - Bwahahahahahahahahaha hilarious stuff.

Three players I believe to be underrated......Adriaan Strauss/ Chilliboy and Aplon. Bismark is red card material, he always gives the impression of a straight right about to explode. I  think he was great in the RWC Q/F but I would have no problem with him being replaced by Strauss or Chilliboy. South Africa is fortunate to have three world class hookers.

Nope SA has one world class hooker and thats Bissie.

Well, please tell me where this best in the world Bismarck is because I haven't seen him! He has not excelled at Super level since at least 2007, I have been monitoring him sense 2008 and the stats do not support the view of him as being the best in that competition. At test level he is again a very shallow performer.

Dumb-Ou...please do not let yourself fall in with the Bismark hype. I, as a Sharks fan, have seen through him. I will take Chilliboy before him anytime. I hope Plumtree drops him for Burden.

Sorry um shark and Card but you are both way out here. It has been widely mentioned that Bissie is the best.

As I said was Chilli boy on the field last Saturday. Very average hooker. Liebenburg far better and also Stauss.

Please consider you cred before mentioning the superb Bismaark and ou chilli boy (who plods along most of the time) in the same breath.

Heheheehhehehehe very very funny!

Liebenberg is a wannabe if there ever was one.

C'mon chaps Bismarck has far more explosiveness than Chilli. He is an opponent teams fear. In the QF he was one of our few potential match winners. In the YE tour in 2010 he was our very best player. He had a massive test against England that time round.

Bismarck clearly lacks discipline and gets frustrated quickly, as we saw last week. But I'd rather coach out a bit of over initiative, than try to instill fighting spirit in a player that doesn't have it. Under Meyer, a strict disciplinarian, du Plessis could emerge as a great player.

And your hookers are key in general play.....witness Keith Woods, the young Mealamu, even the bald Aussie. Hookers are extra loosies, and there may be no better fetcher in the game than Bismarck.

For the rest I believe Strauss is absolutely test material.....a very solid player. Chilli is fine and coming off the bench he looks very good, but frankly I doubt he can maintain that level as a starter. We will see in this S15. Liebenburg is a mess.....conceding penalties and making heaps of mistakes.

Liebenburg was a bit rusty like a good many other players but he is a goer and right up there with only Bissie keeping him out.

Watch and see Dr Mozzzzz!.

On the 2010 YET Bismarck was lost, at best against an England pack that was very weak. His big challenge was against Scotland, but failed spectacularly. He is not simply over enthusiastic, he is inaccurate. Bismarck has NEVER performed adequately in ANY test where the Bok pack was dominating. When the chips are down Bismarck is exposed. He doesn't do the fundamentals well enough. Chiliboy has been more productive making contributions that actually matter. It's been five years since Bismarck came onto the scene, and just like Bekker and Olivier, he hasn't made the grade.

Week two of the dom Plessis show. Really, are you guys seriously backing this pretender? Sharks look rudderless, oh the irony; O Smittie! O Smittie! Wherefor art thou Smittie?

Bismarck gets Rugby 365's MOM award, for his heroic turnovers. Liebenburg gets Moz's penalty machine of the week award. Pretty much the way I described things after last week.

Rugby 365 are simply slow on the up-take. I remember how long it took them (like some others) to wise up about Watson. Bismarck was a  big liability today.