Wade van Niekerk runs a 43.2 second leg….

…in the World 400 meters final. I finally got the time which I had been looking for. It had to be fast, he closed a huge gap on the leaders to bring SA in 3rd. Only one other runner cracked 44 and the run was in pouring rain. Wayde’s record of 43.02 achieved in winning Rio gold still stands, a pinnacle in modern athletics.

No I didn’t put this in the rugby section by accident, because it has a rugby message, about making smart decisions about hyper talent. Wayde is arguably the most talented sportsman we have produced since Ernie Els, another under achiever given his talent.

One can forgive the soccer injury, this was a young man who had a right to enjoy life. But the switch to the 100/200 meters was criminally stupid. Wayde is a magnificent runner, but a gliding type, able to maintain full speed over long distances. He is not explosive, he simply doesn’t have the muscle of a Noah Lyles. It was a fantasy.

Now a word on the rugby. Great players make a position their own. Move them and they aren’t the same player in most cases. It’s a world of specialists. So when I see suggestions to move Sacha, who oddly has some of that Wayde elegance running with the ball, to 15, I cringe. This is the most talented young flyhalf I have ever seen. Don’t confuse his career.

The same applies to Hooker, Moody and others. We have not done well with these mega talents….Gaffie du Toit, Bobby Skinstad, Snyman. Snyman, don’t get me started on the stupidity of this man on the bench when the greatest lock combination ever is within our grasp.

And so Wayde leaves the stage, memories of his run in Rio will stay with us for the duration. A magnificent, aesthetic moment in athletics and sport.

Awesome

Two Saffa’s in the 100m final as well

Mozart

I agree with you - but am afraid I differ from you on Etzebeth;s presemt ahndling as a special player - but if we want to make sure he si still available in 2027 in the RWC he is being sparingly used - especially snce earlier this year he was out of rugby for months with concussion and injury problems. The same applies to Pollard as well. With age some players becaome injuy prone with age beng a factor and as to Etzebeth it seems to be a primary ohjective of Erasmus,

but if we want to make sure he si still available in 2027 in the RWC he is being sparingly used

Correct.....it would be dumb if he's not.

Except Eben is the one playing and Snyman is the one on the bench.., do try to keep up

That's not the point..... yeah right, do try to keep up, you go first.

Whoosh.

Sabbaticus ... at the end of the year tell Eben to take his beautiful missis on holiday & return in Jan '27.

Fully agree Moz.

...Dobbo playing him at 12 is probably one of the stupidest moments from an SA coach this past URC season. That really ticked me off!

I could stomach having Sacha playing 15 in a pinch. But any actual plan to play him there irks me as well.

Fassi had an op last week. So, I think he won't be back for the EOYT. Meaning we'll likely have Willemse at 15 consistently.

The thing is Sacha can’t stop himself, he’s a competitor, put him at 12 and he’ll be trying to put a huge tackle on some 120kg loosie. Agreed, 12 is the worst place to put him.

Hey Motsart

Its Wade by the way

Noted…thanks

"The thing is Sacha can’t stop himself, he’s a competitor, put him at 12 and he’ll be trying to put a huge tackle on some 120kg loosie. Agreed, 12 is the worst place to put him."

I was watching them talk about him on the Rugby Magazine podcast and that's exactly what they were saying.

They said that the biggest problem with his game is probably that he just needs to choose his battles a little better. Because it doesn't matter how good he is if he's constantly injured.

Unlike the open barn doors that is Manie.

Our Manie…..one day he’ll make a real tackle