We have an experienced core to work with

in Habana, JP, Frans Steyn, Pienaar, Hougaard, Beast, Bismark, A.Strauss, Jannie, Bekker, Louw, Brussouw and Alberts - thats 13 experienced players who still have plenty to offer other than maybe Pienaar, Habana, Jannie, Bekker and Alberts - but these players are worth a good look in this year.

Add to this experience, we have youngsters who have already made the test grade in Etzebeth, Coenie, Coetzee and Lambie. To a lesser extent Goosen, Jantjies and Taute have had a taste.

The rest of our Bok squad should be made up of youngsters who represent the future and who will serve us proud. The S15 will be the opportuity for these youngsters to make a mark. 

Saffex

In essence I agree with your experienced player identification - but some of the eperienced players will have to up their game considerably to remain in contention.    have had a good hard look again at the performances of Franois Steyn and Hougaard - they really showed zilch in 2012 and I think that improved performances are really required.   Brussouw was really poor in Super 15 in 2012 and I think he will have to show real form in Super 15 to get anywhere near selection.

Yes the experienced players will have to prove themselves but my list contains the older guys that should remain in contention.

We do not need to see the return of Kirchner, Jean, Morne, Steenkamp, CJ, Jeandre Kruger, Spies or Schalk.

Of the experienced players, JP, Frans, Hougaard, Beast and Bismark are definites to start in my books.

Of the youngsters, Goosen, Lambie, Etzebeth and Coetzee should also be shoe in's to start.

Thats 9 starters sorted. I reckon Habana might be ok to start but time will tell, one of the 13 candidates needs to cement their spot and we need a longterm partner for Etzebeth and more youngsters involved in the loosie mix up.

The side I would like to see would be:

15. Lambie 14. JP 13. Taute 12. Frans 11. Jordaan 10. Goosen 9. Hougaard 1. Beast 2. Bismark 3. Coenie 4. Etzebeth 5. Steph du Toit 6. Kolisi 7. Elstadt 8. Coetzee 16. Reinach 17. Serfontein 18. JJ. Engelbrecht 19. Kitshoff 20. A.Strauss 21. Marcel v/d Merwe 22. Brussouw 23. Arno Botha

As I keep telling you your takes on Hougaard and Frans are complete crap, much like your take on Brussouw who had more turnovers than most SA flankers in the S15 despite missing many games. Good old Meyer got it wrong with Brussouw - just another cock up by Meyer

Saffex

Having little else to do today - I warched the POM tests again and looked specofically at Hougaard and Steyn.   Hougaard during the first test had a brain implosion.   There was a penalty 10 meters out - virtually in front of the posts and since the Springboks were leading by four points the only realistic option was to kick at goal. Hougaard felt otherwise - grabbed the ball - made a short cock and passed the ball to Francois Steyn - who got tackled - but after a maul was formed - Hougaard got back the ball and rolled the ball out to the flyhalf.   Etzebeth dived on the ball trying to retain ownership - but the end resultwas a penalty against the Springboks.  Meter replaced him shortly afterwards and in the end the Springboks managed to score another try and in the end won the game.

The second and third tests were the worst for charge down kicks and his passing was slow and inaacurate.   Matter of fact he buggered up even more in the latter two tests and I think that was the reason why Meyer replaced him with Pienaar.   If you reuse to open your eyes and does not want to see any bugger-ups made by  Hougaard you really are welcome to continue with your statements as infinitum.

Steyn did bugger nothing in all the tests he played in.   He made one line break against the AB;s - but for the rest crashballed with zero off-loads in the process.   If you compare what opposing players achieved compared to what he did - there is something seriously amiss in his performance.   You will prefer not tpo recognize it - but the unsatisfactory performances of De Villiers were better than those of Steyn.

Both these players better start improving or their future may be detrimentally affected.

My take on Taute remains the same - he will be a top full back and a mediocre center.    Both Engelbrecht and Brussouw have cooked their own geese and they will never be near a Springbok jersey again.   I can live with most of your other selections - but will want to see what happens in Super 15 this yearand see which players should be in contention for Springbok selection.

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Good on Hougaard for wanting to run it instead of all that crap kicking. Wrong regarding Frans he was damn good against the Poms.

Yes Taute would be a good fullback, but we dont need him there as we will have Lambie there with Goosen at 10, leaving 13 open for Taute - its that simple and obvious

Saffex

There is a difference between adventurous play and rank stupidity in a ball sense context.   Kicks like the one of Hougaard is only advisable if there are players in the clear who could score a try.   A kick and pass of the ball to a player like Steyn - who plays crashball as a matter of course - is rank stupidity especially in a tight game where the conversion could have been the difference between winning and losing a game.   Worse still if the result is an absolute shit pass after the resultant maul.   Can we afford players witout ball sense in the Springbok backline?   You apparently think we can - so lets leave it at that.

As to your take on Lambie and Taute - willit ever enter your mind that playing players outside of their specialist positions does not work and is notto the advantage of teams?