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JP
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Etzebeth
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Now when you guys moan about Meyer, understand if anybody on this Board were appointed Bok selector....everybody else would have as big, or bigger a problem with the team selected. A coach has to be judged on results, not fans' ideas of who he should select.
We only ask that the national coach select the best 15 players. That is certainly not the case when we see Kirchner at 15 or Guthro Steenkamp at loosehead, to name but some.
As for the notion that we are going to dominate the world with a kick and chance game plan, begs the question as to whether he is in touch with the requirements of the modern game, given how long he has been away from hands on coaching.
Incorrect Moz, the bok team as agreed by all fans is the following:
Ek
Ek
Ek
Ek
Ek
JP
Ek
Ek
Ek
Ek
Etzebeth
Ek
Ek
Ek
Ek se laaitie
Mozart
You are being very naughty here. Nobody on the site disagrees about -
* Strauss as the hooker - mention is amde of Bismarck - but that was not really an issue
* Beast as prop
* Vermeulen at 8 - but we know Meyer will pick Spies
* Habana
* Willie le Roux at full back
That makes it 7 out of the 15 players in the team. Of some of the other positions there are broad agreement on a number of players for those positions to be considered.
The contentious selections are basically limted to a few positions on the field of play - namely -
* The Centers - where most members favours De Villiers - but the rest is wide open - since Serfontein will play in the Under 20 WC and will not be available for the June tests.
* The scrumalf - where there is no cleacut favourite between members;
* The flank forwards - where both Meyer and you lost the plot completely by ignoring the form players.
For the rest the differences are on semantics only and Meyer's absurd selections for the EOYT and for the training camp was in some cases a joke in bad taste according to the majority of the members of this Board..
Haha Moz - point well made and taken. Beast and Habana are probably also shoo-ins. Strauss is my choice for hooker but he is only the consensus until Bissie comes back and starts dominating Super rugby games, then all will be clamoring for his inclusion.
On the contrary Oom Maaik, I see some here saying they would , for example, still pick Strauss even when Bismarck is back. There is no consensus. There are no best 15 players, Dave would at various points have picked Taute at centre, most others wouldn't. You would pick Labuschagne ahead of Louw or Alberts, many wouldn't. Some would never pick Morne....others would. So if EK is unavailable there is no consensus team.
Asking Meyer to produce the "best 15 players' is asking him to do the impossible. He can only produce "his best 15 players" and those can only be judged on results.
Without Ek we are stuffed
Agreed Saf. I was thinking the exact same thing.
One wonders what sort of consensus would be achieved if 30 players were selected. Then take the guy in each postion with the most votes. Assume everyone were fit and available.
I am guessing about 11 players would have fairly solid support. Eg Front row:
Beast , Kitshoff, Bissie, Strauss, Malherbe and Coenie.
Locks Bekker, Etzebeth, Du Toit and Flip
That selection would probably have about 85% support?
You would think so Beeno. And while Meyer might not get all 15 correct, if we saw a squad made up of the list you provide, I'd be happy with any of those players starting as they are all Bok material.
If for instance he preferred Malherbe at 3 over Coenie, who would be my choice, I could live with that as Malherbe is worthy.
The issue I have is when I see the likes of Kirchner selected at 15 or Fanco v/d Merwe selected at 5......these are the kind of Meyer selections which are just not in tune with reality. Therein lies the issue with Meyer. I can't live with these kind of selections
Meyer may want Spies at eight and the rest of you Vermeulen.
I 'd prefer neither.. Louw, Alberts, Engelbrecht would be my picks.
I also don't rate Ek much .... however "Ek se laaitie" has potential coming out his ears. The sooner he's bleed in the better.
Bottom line is Meyer has had one camp so far this year ... he has spoken of being much better prepared this time round and it looks as if he's made a study of the modern game re "the breakdown".
We know Meyer as conservative and that his blood runs blue more so than it does green ... however ... the man is not stupid ... he is an excellent coach and has the ability to inspire his team to achieve great things.
I doubt he'll be foolish enough to select the likes of Spies and Kirschner when so much talent has shown itself this super rugby season.
I'll give him a shot this test season and then decide.
Capone, i like Engelbrecht, he is very physical and can bust a tackle really effectively, but there is one huge drawback to his game. I noticed that he can't catch a ball really well, watch next time. So yes I understand the pick of cornell du Preez above him.
Regarding Ek......He might be a bit on the unfit side......and Ek se laaitie may have alot of potential however it seems he is a bit on the light side for some punters :) So maybe rethinking that team until Ek hits fitness again.
Ek, I haven't noticed him struggling there but will look carefully at him this weekend.
I enjoy him across the board. Such a power house, super fit, tremdous work rate, gets over the advantage line at will and gives his team go forward because of it. Also has an excellent turn of speed and easily makes the cross cover defense his own.
Catching is a simple skill and can be corrected easily.
How many times have we not seen a skilled catcher drop the ball by taking his eyes off of it at the last moment.
Your just pissed at me cause I prefer Ek se Laaitie ... isn't it?
:-)
:) Maybe Capone...
I have really been trying to figure out why the sharks didn't want him. the ball skills thing might be it. However it might also have been a once off. i remember Danie Roussouw going through that stage when his catching skills were a bit "off". Maybe... not sure. He is a monster on the attack but there has to be a reason Corenll du Preez and Luke Watson are starting before him and he is only played off the bench as well as the fact that he never got far from the sharks academy.
BTW, catching is not neceserily a simple skill. It can be corrected with alot of patience but some people just don't have it :)
