Kingcorn
After yesterday you keep BS in place in Esterhuizen - I think after that red card he will be out of the squad whenever Willemse return. He was never proven on test level and never will be.
I do not like playing people out of their position. Willese has much more frequently at 13 frm his under 20 years and is a natural 12 - where physical strength is important.
I will play Fassi at 15 and Willemse at 12.
Personally I do not think Pollard will make it to 2027 and i he does he wills trat be playing from the bench. I have been referring to Feinberg-Ngomezulu at elast a year ago a the future 10 and nobody ever mentioned him but me - maybe I can idenify talent better - I do not pretend to be an expert like yu and some other memebrs think are. Of the real posters on site I prefer Dve - he knows more about the players than I do - so I will go in the main with his selection - but fr the three players I mentioned.
2,926 posts
The board has come alive with so many comments about potential backline and why Rassie should pick them now. Most of the young guns start from 21 to 26 of which some could potentially make two world cups given the oldest would be 34.
This is a really hard pick as some players are very instinctive and excel in open play and where others are good at doing the hard graft. In tight games, when you can't get over the advantage line and defenses are tight or the opposition is equal or better how would they stand up. Can they tackle for 80 min straight?
What if the conditions are against you. Rugby is a winter sport after all and when touring NZ, the went comes at all directions and rain as well with slippery ball, yet the All Blacks still play a very slick game. It is not always about pinging the ball around. It is being able to glide through gaps and know how to use the ball and kick etc. Then you go north in December and it is cold and the fields are heavy. Yes, they have improved the pitch but at 6 degrees on a muddy field, you will not be dancing around players. The only field that comes close to that in SA is the old newlands.
Right, I'll have a stab at my list.
9 van den berg, technically sounds and can move the team around
10 Zulu
11 Arendse
12 Hooker, early days but definitely worth the investment
13 Moodie, proven
14 Fassi, is a 15, but think he can play wing and less expose on defense. Great high ball catcher
15 Willemse, bok preferred 15 today and should stay there
I'll keep the old heads around like
Pollard, Williams, Am, Esterhuizen, Kriel and Kolbe.
Then wonder what happened to Hendrikse, only 23. Maybe poor family form at the sharks?