Our much heralded next gen players are being dominated week in and week out by their Oceanian counterparts. Players such as Damian, Steph , Lambie and those props and locks are not delivering. Meyer has always gone for youth ahead of age and experience and has given many fan favourites a clean shot at a starting spot. It just isn't working. Now, in a World Cup year, our front row is looking jaded and beaten by father time... we just don't have the talent to replace them. We are in that stage in our personnel cycle where the old guard are being phased out and we are awaiting those precious few gems to complete the spine of the new team. It's the most vulnerable point for all teams... even New Zealand who are entering that same stage - though they always negotiate that vulnerability with greater foresight and caution.
Another problem for our rugby is the affect of Super rugby itself. A game based on speed, lack of line integrity, a lower regard for set piece quality and frantic running. The net result is that we are producing a new type of player in response to these demands. A weaker player with greater mobility and better base skills but with no clear position of specialization. Take Damian for instance, is he a wing, a 12, a 13? He doesn't quite fit anywhere. Serfontein is a better bet for 12 and then 13, but has been physically dominated by the big boys. The multidude of generic runners like Reinach, Hougaard et al who are more track runners than rugby players. Our players are becoming less intelligent and selected purely for speedand mobility, and reactive rather than proactive in-game play style.


