The popular concensus Bok pack

Bekker was never the best in the world. He was the best in Super rugby for two years, just like Oliver was the best for two years. Neither one ever dominated at test level, though Olivier had many more good tests than Bekker. 

 I do not agree with you about Bekker being over-hyped.  He really was a good lock - and international material.  over-hyped is a term strictly applicable to the present scena rio insofar as Matfield is concerned.   He was 8 years ago a good lock when playing outside of the Tight 5 scenario - 8 years later he has become an embarrassment.      

Who are these talented youngsters better than Vic? Considering he has been King in Super rugby, he has outplayed them all. If he is an embarrassment, what must they be? 

Ou Moronic was the guy who had eight stamps in municipality office...the de Jongh stamp, the Frans stamp, the Jannie stamp, the Alberts stamp, the Steenkamp stamp, the Morne stamp, the Vermeulen stamp......and the big Matfield stamp. 

 Mike if Vermulean gets injured do u have a 2nd choice Number 8?

Schalk, or Spies. both can do the job. With Spies we have an extra jumper and a player that ropes in more defenders, he is explosive off the back of the scrum. He isn't a monster in the tackle but he is very much more mobile and adds alot to of cover tackling. Schalk has that high work rate and excellent distribution skills. He has been a much better player for 8 than flank over the last few years. Not the best off the back of the scrum, but he adds alot there. But with these two we lose that powerful attack on the ground for the ball. Having a Brussow would offset that significantly.

 Spies is abit suspect me thinks

Spies is very solid. But he lacks the offload to free up his game. He never really does anything wrong in any of his tests, but he is a Bull, so will get attacked. He tightened his game up considerable after his illness in 2007. A good generator of quick ball and contributor of linebreaks for the Bulls. A very useful player. 

 I have seen Schalk play number 8 at least once in the later stages of a game

 Scalla can play 8 as a stop gap. Alberts used to play 8 as well. In the same mold as Thor, but he bulked up too much and I just don't see him as an option. Spies is playing good rugy again, but IMO he had too many chances already and did not use it. Bench player at best. Warren Whiteley must surely be next in line behind Thor.

 Can't say I know anything about Warren.

 The Lions 8. Did a cameo for the Boks already. Go check his SR stats for this year.

 Ok I will. Thanks.

 Letsal
The following from you:-
" Spies is very solid. But he lacks the offload to free up his game. He never really does anything wrong in any of his tests. But he is a Bull so will get attacked."
Are you sick in the top storey or something.   I know you make a habit of attacking any player who is not a Bulls player and praise to high heaven the Bulls players - even though some of them are not up to standard - BUT REAL RUGBY SUPPORTERS DO NOT JUDGE PLAYERS BASED ON THE FRANCHISE THEY REPRESENT - THEY EVALUATE THEM ON THEIR ACTUAL PERFORMANCES.
We leave that kind of thing to you and Ceradunce.   In the case of Mozart - he is more or less the same - but his real admiration is reserved for players older than 30 years of age.  For them he makes a special dispensation and provincial franchises do not count.

 Letsal
The following from you:-
" Spies is very solid. But he lacks the offload to free up his game. He never really does anything wrong in any of his tests. But he is a Bull so will get attacked."
Are you sick in the top storey or something.   I know you make a habit of attacking any player who is not a Bulls player and praise to high heaven the Bulls players - even though some of them are not up to standard - BUT REAL RUGBY SUPPORTERS DO NOT JUDGE PLAYERS BASED ON THE FRANCHISE THEY REPRESENT - THEY EVALUATE THEM ON THEIR ACTUAL PERFORMANCES.
We leave that kind of thing to you and Ceradunce.   In the case of Mozart - he is more or less the same - but his real admiration is reserved for players older than 30 years of age.  For them he makes a special dispensation and provincial franchises do not count.

 Ouch