The Sapps real ranking of Pollard....not in the top 60

Its only right that I start the year with a squad........316 to go Moz! Happy New Year to all.

Lets see how much it changes by end of 2014?

Fullbacks: Taute, SP Marais, Visser, Andries Coetzee

Wings: JP, Willie, Habana, Rhule, v/d Heever, Jordaan, Mjekevu

Centres: JJ, Serfontein, Frans Steyn, de Allende, Howard Mnisi, Pat Howard, Frans Venter, Stokkies Hanekom

Flyhalves: Goosen, Lambie, Jantjies, Swiel

Scrumhalves: Hougaard, v/Zyl, Reinach, Schrauder, Groom

Props: Beast, Coenie, Malherbe, Kitshoff, Marcel v/d Merwe, Nkanyane, Mellett, Frik Kirsten

Hookers: Bismark, Strauss, Chiliboy, Cooper, Callie Visagie

Locks: Etzebeth, Steph du Toit, de Jager, Willemse, Jacques du Plessis, Quinn Roux, Peet Marais, Jandre Marais, Ruan Botha

Loosies: Vermeulen, CJ Stander, Brussouw, Kolisi, Coetzee, Arno Botha, v/d Walt, Labascagne, Elstadt, Fourie

Ah so Moffie, the fact that we are a whole year in means nothing does it?

I had Willie on the wing at the time.

I would never have Kolbe at 15, he is too small.......I see him as wing

I am not convinced about Hendricks, he cant tackle. I have always been impressed with v/Wyk and said as much throughout the year.....he has made the grade this year. Senatla was not playing the 15 man game in January you moron.

Sithole had, had no game time in 2013, but I had said I was impressed with the guy following his brilliant try in 7's for the Blitzbokke.

Pollard was not in the picture in Jan, he was a great U20's prospect.......but this year has seen him make the Bok 10 spot his own.

I would not select Redlelinghuis, or Dreyer now......rate them but prefer Malherbe, Coenie, Marcel v/d Merwe, Frik Kirsten and Nkanyane. Schalk v/d Merwe ahead of Kitshoff, Beast, Mellett, du Toit........no, but he is on a par

Nope Kriel and Carr have made the waves during the year

There is no way in hell I would EVER pick a 37 year old Matfield, who has proved all year he is long past it. Schalk ahead of all the class young loosies, no way in hell.

My squad has more than enough experience in Habana, JP, Frans, Hougaard, Beast, Bismark, Strauss, Brussouw and Vermeulen......that's 9 players to form the core

Lets look at my broad squad right now:

15. Willie / Jessie Kriel / SP / Coetzee / Visser

14/11. JP / Habana / Rhule / Kolbe / Sithole / Jordaan / Senatla / v/d Heever / Skosan

13/12. JJ / de Allende / Serfontein / Esterhuizen / Frans Steyn / Mnisi / Hanekom / Odendaal / Frans Venter / Pat Howard / Kobus v/Wyk / Taute / Watermeyer / Sadie / Tyler Fisher

10. Pollard / Goosen / Lambie / Jantjies / Swiel / Boshoff

9. Hougaard / Reinach / v/Zyl / Groom / de Klerk / Schrauder

1/3. Coenie  / Beast / du Toit / Malherbe / Marcel v/d Merwe / Nkanyane / Frik Kirsten / Kitshoff / Schalk v/d Merwe / Mellett / Maks v/Dyk / Redlelinghuis / Dreyer

2. Bismark / Strauss / Cooper / Visagie / Scara / Ackers / Coetzee

4/5. Etzebeth / Lood / PSDT / Willemse / Jacques du Plessis / Lewies / Jean Kleyn / Ruan Botha / Jandre Marais / Mostert / Peet Marais

6/7/8. Vermeulen / Kolisi / Carr / Elstadt / Kriel / Mtembu / v/d Walt / Brussouw / Rhodes / Arno Botha / CJ Stander / Oupa / Whiteley / Labascagne / Ettienne Oosthuizen / Coetzee

More talent there than we have ever had. No need for a bunch of washed up has beens like Kirchner, Jean, Fourie, Olivier, Morne, Pienaar, Vermaak, du Preez, Jannie, Steenkamp, CJ v/d Linde, Heinke v/d Merwe, Bakkies, Matfield, Kruger, Franco v/d Merwe, Louw, Alberts, Schalk, Juan Smith and Spies

As a reminder here is our last Bok team against France, when nearly all the overseas players were available. It's also an NH team which might show a little bit of HM's NH strategy for RWC15.

There really aren't any obvious improvements in the threequarters. Certainly Fury looked like the weak link in November, but are Jordaan, JJ or de Jongh markedly better. Probably not in the aggregate.

At flyhalf there could be arguments for Lambie, Boshoff, Goosen and Fransie. I personally continue to like the Fransie option, but he has been a mixed bag so far. Goosen showed some flickers on Saturday....especially in open field play. The rest are no advance on Morne.

In the pack Jannie for Coenie could be the call, but this is another weak position. And the back row could see challenges to Louw or Alberts....although nobody has made a clear case.

The bench is where most changes are likely: Gurthro, Kolisi (were it not for quota considerations) and Vermaak should be gone.

Players who could force their way into the mix are Schalk, Victor Brussouw, Hendricks and perhaps de Allende. Not many. Much is said about Victor....but he is the best lineout forward in the world, the best kick off receiver a brilliant offloader and a fine open field tackler. You lose some grunt in the tight/loose but if you have a huge set of loosies....Victor adds balance. For this year he still looks potent, next year is another day.

Brilliant Rooi..........typical form from that worthless twat.......Moffie........love it.......

Dive Moffie dive.......cant wait for the response to this one.......bwaahaaaaaaa  

The deep dive.......

Something the last two posters above have perfected the art of

Ladies and gents....... meet your resident experts in the field of deep  diving 

The "deep dive".....how incredibly stupid. Let me explain RooiAAS the Earth rotates, and because the sun is in different positions relative to the planet, there is a time difference.

It is now 7.10 am in Chicago. I think it's fair to say I can't be aware of your comment while I am sleeping. Feeling educated yet?

Now to the post. When I became the first poster to elevate Pollard ahead of Goosen, Lambie etc....it was as the future Bok flyhalf. Not as the present. I said in that post he might play a few games off the bench.....but Frans was my pick for this year. Totally consistent with not naming Pollard in the team for the June internationals.

Sapp by contrast had Swiel in the mix. He wasn't thinking of immediate test play, but who would emerge over the year. He had Swiel ahead of Pollard.....are things becoming clearer? Sapp never ever thought Pollard was ahead of Goosen, Jantjies and Swiel. I did.

I also predicted in that post the rise of the new Victor, the return of Schalk  and the emergence of Hendricks.. And I predicted "Gurthro, Kolisi and Vermaak " should be gone".

All in all a very satisfactory read. Thanks for reminding me of it RooiAAS.

Poor old Moffie, diving deeper and deeper........

Moffie I think you will find I mentioned Pollard as an 18 year old playing for the Baby Boks some years back.......if you want to get into the when's  

Oh Rooi Rooi

Why oh why am I the coward here when you did all the slithering and running away when I had you backed up into that deep and dark corner

Get your facts straight old man

As I said in the other thread, for a toppie of your age, it's amazing how much you still have to learn in life.

But do not fear.... this youngster will show you the way of the world

I'm here to help you

Sup Dumpy? 

Davey, on a more serious note bro.... lose some weight, that picture that was posted of you does you no justice

Provided he avoids serious injury and isn't rushed into pressure situations too soon, Pollard is a great prospect. He has the physique and head for serious rugby and is quite an athlete. 

All the hype about Lambie, Goosen and Jantjies seems so silly in comparison.