Before last weekend, I'd have said Vermeulen tops the list....but Schalk demonstrated he can be a good alternative. So calling a player indispensable can be misleading. But this would be my list:
Willie....nobody else in South Africa is close in sparking the backline from deep.
Pollard....there isn't another flyhalf in the country with his balance of attributes.
Bismarck....once again our best hooker...and best fetcher....by a mile
Jannie...they come, they go....but Jannie is the only Bok tighthead who we know can do the business.
Etzebeth...he projects so much force, so widely.....every other 4 is a step down.
Schalk....we have loosies that try hard, but with Vermeulen gone, we have no other warrior with nous.
Other players may be important...Habana, Jean, the Beast and Matfield come to mind. But right now that list looks irreplaceable. So I would be very happy to see them avoid the Bargies. I' m not that concerned this week. But when the Bargies get home they are going to be loaded for Bear in the Big Apple.
