Fair enough.
If the Boks make the quarters which they should then winning the WC is going to hang on one man and one thing only.......Rassie and his selections.
If he gets it right we'll win the WC.
Fair enough.
If the Boks make the quarters which they should then winning the WC is going to hang on one man and one thing only.......Rassie and his selections.
If he gets it right we'll win the WC.
It looks like Rassie would prefer Libbok over Pollard- assuming he is kicking well.
So Pollard might be on the bench, and perhaps replace the inside center if Libbok remains on the pitch?
I can live with him starting Pollard, it is a tough call, I can't live with him crippling the attack with dead-end Da Allende and Kriel and to add salt to the injury the embarrassing Willie and useless Mostert.
Also, selecting one of the centre pairing will hemorrhage the backline.
It's time to get real.
The free press. Sell, sell, sell.
SA rugby have kept reducing demands over players (in order to conceal SA rugby were falling behind in terms of training players)
The demand over a ten have been reduced to: kicking (reduction is such that ten is the only position that does the kicking) and secondarily, defend the zone around a ten.
That is all.
The reduction has been such that taking two players all performing as well in the two requirements, one though performing much better in other stuff, the balance would tip towards the guy who is poorer at everything but kicking and defending.
Guy must feed the free press and fabricate a controversy.
SA rugby came to the WC with no starting line up, no team experience, no established half back pairing, no established centre pair, the little that was established had been compromized by injuries...
The benefit of not playing rugby.
yakity yak yak!
18,512 posts
SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus admitted the kicking excellence of Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok's ebullient match-play will pose a significant selection poser should the Boks reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
Pollard started last Sunday's 49-18 win against Tonga in Marseille in what was his first Test in 13 months, while Libbok has been an ever-present figure since his debut against France last year.
Pollard provided the kicking solidity when he goaled all four of the conversions in the 50 minutes he played against Tonga.
Libbok, whose goalkicking has been a topic of constant debate, also didn't miss from the tee with three from three.
Different skills and competencies will be required from them in the event they make the quarter-finals where goalkicking will matter.
The inclusion of the two in the match-day 23 will definitely have an impact on the Boks' bench split, which is often set at six forwards and two backs for big games, and five/three for smaller Tests.
The Boks outrageously went for the seven/one split for the Pool B match against Ireland in Paris on 23 September, which the South Africans lost 13-8.
Erasmus admitted they've got a slight selection headache which they need to navigate carefully should they make the play-offs.
"Unfortunately for Handre, it's only the one game he has played. Manie had proved himself the way he has played in general play for us," Erasmus said.
"Handre made four kicks and Manie three, so we kicked seven out of seven. It's a tough call we will have to make.
"If we go five/three, maybe both can be in the mix. If we go six/two it's a possibility, if we go seven/one then things might look a little different."
Erasmus also acknowledged that Libbok's tactical excellence makes him indispensable to the team and they need him to keep the opposition guessing.
We know it's a nice talking point and (kicking) wins games," Erasmus said.
"But tries also win games and the way we play is to try and score tries.
I really think we have been attacking much better, like the country has asked us to do and the supporters are always wanting us to be more creative and not just have this kicking game.
"Manie brings that to us. It would be nice to have him on the park for that general play and if he is on song and fantastic with his kicking, but somebody else who can back him up if he does have a bad day."