I read all the articles on the Argentinian tests and came to the conclusion that the inclusion of the following players will be most un likely:-
Backline - Jantjies, Esterhuizen, Am
Forwards - Louw, Mostert, Whiteley.
Pity that Serfontein is not back playing yet - so he is not available. That may cause allow for Esterhuizen's retention.
If we look at the tries, I think it's unfair to blame Louw. He had two attackers coming into his space. Mostert was obstructed and thus prevented from defending inside Louw. You can't blame him for that.
Another instance was the open field tackle he had to make against a speedy back. He had to make that tackle at a very disadvantageous angle anyway. Again, not his fault.
That said, it wasn't great either. I can't think of one forward who bettered their previous performance aside from Kolisi.
I still assert that Rassie was out coached. It was a tactical blunder that he stemmed too late into the game.
AO
Yes he was out-manouvered - but not really out-coached. He as out-manouered since the Opposing coach saw some glaring weaknesses in some players and tried to exploit those to utmost extent. That has a rather perturbing consequence and that is unless those weaknesses are not dealt with in selection - the Aussies and AB's will exploit them even more.
The other observation refers to above is the issue of Etzebeth. And here I want to deal also with Vermeulen and Louw. The latter two had a break in rugby of more than 2 months - Etzebeth was out for circa 9 months due to injury. My comments on those three players are as follows;-
* Etzebeth was incredibly good in the first test after return and played an exceptional game. He was not able to take that form into the second test and raise the immediate concern about match fitness. He hardly played in the away test against Argentina and I am confident about him getting back to his best gradually and not by expecting from him to get performance n the same level as in the first test. He willrecpver and the two week break he has now will help in the process
* Vermeulen was exceptionally good in the first two English test and then was very average to poor in the third test. He then vanished from sight and went off to Japan. The situation in the English third test raise a question about his match fitness. The fact that he went to play soft rugby in Japan raises serious concern about whether by the Wellington test he will be match-fit.
* Louw was in the same situation as Vermeulen - but from a fitness perspective much poorer than Vermeulen in the third test against England. Fact is he was not match-fit in either of the two tests against Argentina. Will he be any better against the Aussies - I would say there is a zero chance of that.
Those are factual and does not help to try and give a different picture to the situation by arguing. I think Eraams knows who will be his loosie and center combination after some experimentation that did not deliver any real alternatives.
