Two quick impressions after reviewing the game

1. I don't understand the criticism against Vermeulen and Mostert. They were involved in everything. Vermeulen had one bad error with the lost possession that set off the NZ try. He was also hard done by in a penalty when for all money he had full rights to the ball at the breakdown (the NZ commentators agreed). For the rest the guy popped up everywhere, tackling, competing, as did Mostert. I don't get why Steph (who is often hanging around out on the wing while these guys are grafting) is talked up but these guys are shot down as not contributing. Madness. And by that I'm not saying Steph isn't contributing - I'm saying there's a huge imbalance in the amount of hype and attention Steph generates in relation to the bad press the rest of the engine room is getting.

2. Am was sensational in pressure defense. Look at his work in a 2 minute period between 40:50 and 42:50. Here are his involvements:

40:52 rush out of the line to tackle Barrett - shuts down the move

41:11 tackle on Barrett running onto the line

42:12 rush on SBW forcing a rushed pass behind Ioane's (pressured by Kolbe ) back, setting the Abs into retreat

42:19 another tackle on AB7 as Ioane feeds him after the above sequence - the ABs have now lost 10m

42:43 rush tackle on Ioane shutting down the move

That's some hustle. He was so much better than he got credit for, if a little tentative on attack.

I agree with you on all counts. The call is that Kriel cemented his place as the better defender, I disagree. Not much going on attack for Am to really showcase his superior ability either. 

I particularly agree about Steph. He made some strong independent tackles, but the hype does not match the production, and the errors he does commit are never called out. This makes the criticism of players like Thor, Louw, Am,  Mostert et al even more egregious. 

The fact is that one an always rely on excuses from the "experts from foul ups of players who made serious mistakes and attacks on others,    The BS about Du Toit on the wing was discerned by Mozart when t happened in one match  and then started  to become a fact.  I have in the past three times that it happened in matches  and it did not happen on Saturday.   The problem with the "experts" is that they do not realize that Du Toit is an active and pacey player performing in places where they do not expect him to be - like following up kicks - ad that upsets their ego.  

The funny part is that Du Toit remined me of what Burger did in the earlier times  of his test career - but lost that ability totally in his later years.  be assured - if that ball was knocked on by Du Toit and not Vermeulen - there would be zero excuses for him and the attacks on his would be even more vicious than they already are.  

Sorry - but Mostert is still physically deficient as a lock and Am's defense was atrocious and his attacking play non-existent.   What the "experts" never looked at is not only the tackles made and missed - but where the players make no attempt to tackle or where they do what Steyn did last week - too pace-deficient and the Aussies made a joke of his effort.    W hat abut the two missed tackles - did they never happen?  .      

I understand exactly how he is used Lügnerin. 

I suppose in your twisted little world a player must be pace deficient if they cannot dart 30m in a fraction of a second and return to their prior position. 

Yet the oil tanker being baited and exposed around the fringes is never an issue. 

And now of course to debunk ou Mike's thumbsuck:

De Allende never missed the tackle and neutralized SBW off=load game - Steyn allowed the players he tried to tackle to off\load accurately and with ease - hence the improvement in the AB ball  carries when Steyn came on.

Claim 1: DA neutralized SBW's offload game
The facts: DA made only one tackle on SBW at 51:46 - just minutes before he left the field . His other 4 tackles were on Ioane, Goodhue, Barrett and Retallick.

Claim 2: Steyn allowed the players he tried to tackle to offload accurately and with ease
The facts: The only player that offloaded out of a Steyn tackle was the prop Angus Ta'avao, who had a guy running off him just before he went to ground at 68:58. No one else offloaded out of a Steyn tackle, thus his defense was not responsible for the "improvement in AB ball carries".

Dr Mike Goebbels trying to indoctrinate the masses.

The BS about Du Toit on the wing was discerned by Mozart when t happened in one match  and then started  to become a fact.  I have in the past three times that it happened in matches  and it did not happen on Saturday.  

A few quick spots:

No my name is not Goebbels - I can think Idiot Speak is practiced by the normal three,   Sick descriptions.    Steyn's tackles were poor and weak 0 De Allende's strong and effective.   Was Steyn not the tackler to hang onto the foot of one player while he stood erect - and then went down slowly after passing the ball?   Not sure about that one - but I think it was him. 

Steyn was piss poor in the game last week and equally so this week.   Let me quote his assessment on Rugby 365 again:-

22 Frans Steyn (On for Damian de Allende, 56th minute)
He offered nothing on attack and just made up the numbers in the last 20 minutes.
3/10

So you are the only three who saw things differently - based on WHAT?     

Mozart is a committed liar when it comes to his pet hate players so what he and the other iiot Speakers write is total BS.  

I don't read South African journalism for good reason: they are lacking between the ears. 

Your stance has been buried under a ton of bricks. Have the good sense to relent. 

Not sure about that one - but I think it was him.

Nope, sorry.

Have a good evening lads, I have company.

So as per normal De Allende tackled everybody bar his direct  opponent - Steyn tackled his direct opponent brilliantly.  This is the normal twaddle we have on site,   Am was brilliant - De Allende BS.   Tis is the normal one by the Idiot Speakers.

And the continuous attack on Du Toit is  continuous.  Mozart started the BS as to the following:-

"I don't get why Steph (who is often hanging around out on the wing while these guys are grafting) is talked up but these guys are shot down as not contributing."   

When did that happen on Saturday,  BSter  

So as per normal De Allende tackled everybody bar his direct  opponent

No, he tackled his direct opponent once.

Steyn tackled his direct opponent brilliantly

No one said Steyn only tackled his direct opponent.

And the continuous attack on Du Toit is  continuous.

Read what I said above: "And by that I'm not saying Steph isn't contributing - I'm saying there's a huge imbalance in the amount of hype and attention Steph generates in relation to the bad press the rest of the engine room is getting."

Ou Mike, these hysterical responses in which you deliberately misconstrue or exaggerate other people's arguments don't contribute in any positive way to the discussions on the board. Stick to responding to what is actually being said, check the hysterics at the door.