The WC final shows why we have to stay in Super Rugby and the RC

The fact that 8 out of 9 WCs have been  won by those playing south of the equator, is a start. But more specifically look at how we handled Vunipola and Tuilagi. These guys who dominated even the ABs were toothless against us. Supposedly our least physical forward defender, Mostert, tackled Vunipola to a standstill. Likewise the slender Am had no difficulties with Manu.

Through the S15 our guys have learned how to handle the big Island backs and forwards. Gone are the days when players like Bryan Williams intimidated our chaps. We play them every week, and handle them effectively.

One of the big trends in rugby is the super charging of teams with Island imports. These players have vastly improved NZ, Oz, France, England and even Ireland. We are the only top country that hasn't benefitted from this trend.

But we have learned how to deal with it. And as we have seen recently our small fast Colored players are an offset......Herschel Jantjies and Kolbe. These small chaps have cut their teeth against the most Island dominated teams, Oz and NZ. They don't fear the big blokes.....look at Kolbe's tackles on Lawes for example.

So stay in the SH contests, and don't fear the size differentials if the talent is there. That seems to be the lesson of the WC.

"And as we have seen recently our small fast Colored players are an offset......Herschel Jantjies and Kolbe. These small chaps have cut their teeth against the most Island dominated teams, Oz and NZ.

You have been propagating this for a few years now and I agree. Kolbe is a weapon. We need these players to counter NZ...we should not always follow the trend, we should look for our own strengths. 

The Boks have always been physical long before those tournaments. Additionally, more and more of the Pacific Islands players are in the Northern Hemisphere tournaments. 

I do favour keeping a few teams in SR, but making the tournament smaller to accommodate the reducing depth of players that are available.  

A 12 team Round Robin with semis and a final. That would also make for a better WC.

Mozart

Have to congratulate you on a good posting.

I am sure that there is a place for top class smaller players in any team, but smaller players have also differences in competency,   Paulse and Kolbe are top class representatives and has shown that on test level - Aplon was not on the same level.

Now as to the Super Rugby issue.   First of all the situation at present is chaotic and I think it will be as Director of Rugby  an immediate task for Erasmus to sort out.   As far as I know of the four SA franchises the -

*   Bulls appointed Pote Human as coach - but there may be changes now that the franchise ownership has been privatized;

*   Lions appointed an inexperienced new coach about a fortnight ago; and

*   the Stormers and Sharks are at present coachless.

Aside from that a large number of key players have departed to  NH clubs.   I do not foresee a major competence and competitive situation this year - they will have to bring on board a large number of newbies in their squads, and that would take time to settle down. 

There is not surprizingly no real information to the SA squads in the SR series,   As soon as that becomes available I will have a look at the squads and try to get some background info on the players and provide same for especially the foreign site members without any real info on especially the newbies..        

“ I am sure that there is a place for top class smaller players in any team, but smaller players have also differences in competency,   Paulse and Kolbe is top class representatives ”

Breytie has started playing again? 

Thanks - correction made.

I remember a lot about Paulse - he was like Kolbe in many ways - and I would not tr y and say which of the two is/was the better player,   

"he was like Kolbe in many ways"

Actually.... no. They are different types of defenders and on attack, Kolbe is more creative than Paulse was, but Paulse was a great finisher. Kolbe can create spaces. Paulse was able to ruthlessly exploit the smallest of spaces and defensive lapses. Kolbe can, of course, do the latter as well but he is also a master at creating spaces where there appear to be none. The way he made Farrell look like a palooka in the RWC final is a prime example. Farrell would probably have stopped any other winger. 

This is what I'm talking about. Look how many times he is not even the try scorer but, most importantly, the one who created the space for the try to be scored. Shit, after watching the clip, I have probably convinced myself that Kolbe is probably way better than Paulse ever was. 

What I have noted over the years is that coloured players generally have more force than many bigger black South Africans. Kolbe, Aplon, Jantjes et al punched far, far higher than they ought to. A 74kg Aplon smashed Nonu, Muliaina and Rocokoco in the same test. The All Blacks targeted him and failed. We have to evaluate these players in isolation though. Determining competence by weight doesn't work. Most of our worst defenders have been big whities. 

Hahahahaha.

My response to Ou Maaikie's post. 

Nov 13, 2019, 13:12

“ I am sure that there is a place for top class smaller players in any team, but smaller players have also differences in competency,   Paulse and Kolbe is top class representatives ”

Breytie has started playing again? 

Ou Maaikie's response.

"Nov 13, 2019, 13:42

Thanks - correction made."

This was the correction that he made. 

"but smaller players have also differences in competency,   Paulse and Kolbe are top class representatives"

I wasn't referring to your grammar, poepol. I was actually talking about the structure of your sentence that made it appear as if Paulse is still playing. Check it again.

Reminds me about a joke. Many moons ago, back in the day when they still had school inspectors in SA, a particular Afrikaans school received a visit by the inspector. Th e inspector walked past an English class and overheard the teacher saying to the kids: "Trees have carrots". Now to be clear for those who don't know, in Afrikaans the word for the root of a plant is a "wortel" but a carrot is also a "wortel". 

In any case, the inspector called in the teacher, whose mother tongue was obviously Afrikaans, and confronted him saying: "How the hell can you say to the kids 'Trees have carrots'." The teacher replies: "Sorry sir but I always get confused by the "has" and the "have". Maybe the teacher's name was Clevermike. 

I think Breyton had more top end, but Kolbe has the better step and perhaps the better acceleration. I still recall Paulse catching Cullen from behind.....that took some doing!

"Determining competence by weight doesn't work. Most of our worst defenders have been big whities. "

Maybe it has something to do with understanding the chains of command. Maybe the whitey and the bigger black chappy thinks "I'd rather not tackle this guy because he'll probably fcuk me up if I do so".

The coloured chappy probably thinks: "I'd better tackle the crap out of this guy otherwise the coach is going to fcuk me up if I don't do so". 

@Moz

"I think Breyton had more top end,"

That's no BS. Breytie was lightning fast. Both at top end and off the mark.

Check this clip and compare it with the one about Kolbe. It illustrates my point about Breytie being the finisher and Kolbe the creator. 

Little bugger got over the line when he had to!

I compare players in terms of their attributes and how those would fare at the highest point in the sport's history. I think that's a perfectly rational means of comparison. 

@Cera : 

Rational if done properly - total BS if the norm is prejudice,   The norm in your case remains prejudice so you never produce anything of substance/value.    

Awww, Damme Freifrau woke up on the wrong side of her crib this morning. 

If you are talking about attacking rugby backlines , a time before the ELVs. If we are talking defence, ten years ago. You get the idea.