What happens if Pollard is seriously injured. Every significant test we have won since WC 2015 has had Pollard starting. And the English loss demonstrated again, Jantjies simply doesn’t have the bottle for a really big occasion. Young Smith does.
So who is there. Is there even a semblance of a plan here?
Young Chamberlain of the Sharks look very promising.
Pollard was average this season. Janjties at times looked better, especially as a playmaker getting the backline running.
Jantjies was hesitant and missed the crucial Mapimpi try conversion….which got Frans the next kick, even though it was well within Jantjies’ range.
His well known weakness on defence may have influenced Dud Allende’s disastrous decision to come inside opening the barn door for the winning Pom try.
He is never going to lead us to a WC or RC win. At best a ‘hope and pray’ sub.
Must agree that we need to bring in some young talented players to back up Pollard.
I do like the look of the three Saffex has named while at the same time concerned about the loss of form of Willemse who was originally selected to backup #10 but has been used a #15 in recent tests.
Yes the young men named have played well this season but injuries are taking their toll unfortunately.
But they do have what is needed talent and balls.
I agree Dave, I have long thought we should try Willemse at 12. He doesn’t have the brains for 10 or the patience for 15 and he appears to like the contact. With his elusiveness he could be very effective at 12.
But Jean had the pace to play 13. A Frans/Jean combination could have been terrific.
The problem is that Steyn matured early as a full back and was moved o center by white where he had good performances against weaker teams - but was a defense liability against stronger teams. He then went to play in France for three years and was useless playing for Racing Metro.
When he came back to SA he was contracted by SARU and delegated to play for the Sharks. in the tests in 2013 in which he played his performances and that of Jean at 13 was so-so - nothing to talk about. He got injured in September 2012 and did not play for the Springboks after that until 2017.
When playing for the Sharks at center he was a dead duck - grossly overweight and slow he was rated as the worst centers in Super Rugby, since his defense were also poor. Fact is Plumtree said he was no center at all. In 2018 Steyn was called back into the Springbok squad as a utility player from the bench - but in all key games was coming from the bench to play at full back - never at center.
Steyn at center would have been a disaster for the Springboks similar to the Super Rugby series in 2013 to 2015 hen he played at center for the Sharks. .
He was when he played at center or flyhalf for the Sharks and he was a liability because of his whacky knee making tackling difficult unless players ran straight at him Any player running between flyhalf and inside center or between inside center and outside center went through without difficulty unless tackled by the flyhalf ort outside center.
Even in recent media reports there are mention that unless defensive cover is from other players his pace-deficiency is the reason why he is a real problem in the team. I did a statistical evaluation when Steyn played at inside center and flyhalf when player for the sharks and his mtr was in the high twenties. That is not acceptable. Erasmus would not play him at center in crucial tests against strong opposition - why would that be?
As to Willemse - when he played in the Under 19 WC series he played at 12 and was the talk of the tournament.
I honestly don't see any challengers to Pollard right now in any of our Super Rugby team. None of them are putting their name up in lights at the moment.
We had Goosen of the bulls, but week knees. Morne Steyn is still taking up all the first class games which is robbing our younger talent from stamping their authority.
Hendrikse looks really good but need more first class games.
Bosh has completely been messed around and no longer the starting 10 for the sharks. Not sure if he is even at the right union. He is 23 so should have played himself into the bok team but never really stepped up
That said, Manie Libbok is the the Stormers 10 now but really shit and just another stepper like Willemse.
