Which would you rather have…

Dud Allende, 5 runs for 5 metres….no clean breaks, no offloads, 2 defenders beaten while apparently standing still

Or…Willemse 9 runs for 64 metres, 2 clean breaks, 4 defenders beaten and 2 offloads.

If we we’re relying on Dud it would have been an arm wrestle. We broke the game open by finding space. I’d love to see:

Willie

Arendse

Am

Willemse

Kolbe

And Libbok

Perhaps we would need one power back like Esterhozen to distribute and gum up the channel, but those have to be some of the most lethal open field runners in the game.

Willemse is more effective in open space, as he has a step. However, this backline is being assembled on another false dawn. If we face a passive defence, a defence with inside leverage, or free space, then they can run. If not, they are doomed. It is a lightweight attack of limited utility that is not capable of operating in unison to create against a serious defensive effort. 

I take your point, but do you beat a stacked physical defense by being a physical offense….or do you beat them with pace and elusiveness. Paulse, Kolbe, Am and now Arendse have left the big guys grasping air. The more vexing question is defense, their open field tackling is par or better, it’s the tight channel defense that is less clear.

The players you cited are window dressing atop something more substantial. Moving on from Damian is 9 years overdue, but we have the talent to do so much more. Test rugby is at a low ebb, and instead of dominating and building a future into the next ten years and beyond we are accepting pitiful rugby. I'm not seeing anything that I would consider to be great or sustainable. I know it's not all bad, and I get what you are saying, I'm just not happy with what I'm seeing. We need a real coach and an entire overhaul of Bok rugby. Erasmus is the Gareth Southgate of South African rugby. 

L'Merde Grande and the shit on the brain Mozart iare all over in rugby again.   Mostert may have been mentioned by the Commentators on the service Mozart watched - he was no where to be seen 95% of the match and was useless as per normal.   He makes zero contribution at breakdowns where he is just pushed out of the way.   His tackling is weak and very questionable and his line-out performances are weak as well.

By the way a strong carry to virtually on the try-line by De Allende taking three players with him and ending a meter out from the tryline set up the try of Etzebeth.  As per normnal the shit-brained 2 never saw that.           

The Bok pack looked blunt against France and were overpowered by Australia in the first test, average against Ireland, for the longest time blunt and cumbersome against Italy (Kwagga cracked the game open), heavily overpowered by New Zealand in both tests. England are a good match up for us, more so than any other 6 nations side. Eben needs a partner, Kwagga needs to start, Kolisi must go, the front needs a rethink. Some of our players look less fit than they did several years ago. When put under pressure our structures look laboured and start to disintegrate, we don't seem to be able to sustain our shape when on the front foot. Fitness needs to be corrected. We need more mobility and skills in the pack. Modern attacking rugby is a 15 man effort. That's how space is created, not by lumping bodies of players in dull sequences out wide. We haven't taken one step forward this season. 

But Dud doesn’t.. ..yesterday in 5 runs he made 5 metres. Hardly ‘forward’.

In that 5 meters were included a move ended less than a meter out carrying 3 defenders with him.     It was that carry that led to the scoring of the Etzebeth try.    Of course you preferred not to see what really happened in that case - same as you normally do in all test matches.        

In that 5 meters were included a move ended less than a meter out carrying 3 defenders with him.     It was that carry that led to the scoring of the Etzebeth try.    Of course you preferred not to see what really happened in that case - same as you normally do in all test matches.        

So you're saying that he fell forward a metre or less with three people touching him. Anyone can do that. You need to raise the bar Mr Clever. 

Is it? Slow, stodgy carries give the opposition valuable reset time. That's the hallmark of a Damian or Steph carry. 

I’m afraid much as I’d like  to support Dud Allende….the tractoring hardly ever produces anything. It certainly didn’t yesterday. But the hype is entertaining. Take the bit that Kriel was great in defence when he was easily brushed off by Noll in a missed tackle reminiscent of his Japanese match losing flub.

I do, however, accept your point Dave that we have to have some bulk in the backline. I think if that had been Esterhozen he would by now have been making huge contributions.

In that 5 meters were included a move ended less than a meter out carrying 3 defenders with him.  

No, he was tackled and brought down by Farrell alone. Watch again. Marcus Smith attempted to assist but was already moving backwards to do so. Etzebeth then joined to add a little extra momentum towards his own try.