posted Oct 27, 2008

i thought england scrummaging against nz wasnt that bad... i thought are back row was very good,
but, sheridan and stevens have to be the props!
ive never rated vicker to be honest

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posted Oct 27, 2008

I don't think they'll miss the 3 players left in Europe that much: all the others went home - I wonder why? Cake and eat it, I guess.

I've never heard of this Earl Rose. They need Smit as a leader but I can understand why du Plessis is in as #1 hooker - he's simply very much better than Smit. I bet Andrew Sheridan can hardly wait to see Smiity boy again playing as a prop - it'll be like a large pork pie for lunch for him!! Yum yum!!!

Al last we will get to see if Steyn is any good or not - but I think they may miss Percy's steady boot.

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posted Oct 27, 2008

i hope Steyn runs the ball well, i know he has a massive boot and they will want him to kick but it would be good if he run the ball as well, hes got some pace and if he can get the likes of habana and nokwe moving SA should do well. as for the whole scrummaging debate, the sports becoming more like league by the day, the importance of the scrum has become devalued and many teams find ways around having a weaker scrum, by basically cheating. given the new ELVs perhaps they PDV and his team chose good ball carriers, which would really get the team going. look forward to seeing them in action, dont think they should be underated though. only good thing for england is we have a front row that can scrummage all day and run, apart from that i dont think we have many advantages of SA. wouldnt be at all surprised to see a SH sweep of the autumn internationals, minus pacific islands obviously.

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posted Oct 27, 2008

For the first time in years I am quite pleased with our selection, it has a vaguely deserving look to it for once.

Peter Grant and Morne Steyn must be wondering where to next when they see Earl Rose playing in the Green & Gold.

I agree scrummaging may be an issue, although not sure you can put Smit in the Matt Dunning Pie Eating League! At least he's played prop before, which is more than Dunning's accomplished. We are struggling to find another "Os" at the moment, but there are a few pretenders. If you can't scrummage at Twickenham, it's a very long afternoon.

Great time to blood Pienaar or Steyn at 10 if they are seen as the future, although I still think Grant is the best of the lot.

I really hope we don't discard James too quickly (hope he's just getting a well earned break). We've made mistakes like that in the past about ditching past world cup winners (e.g. Francois Pienaar). These guys have so much to offer the team, just look at what Monty brought to the team in terms of experience over the past 2+ years prior to retiring.

I am looking very forward to the Autumn tests!

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posted Oct 29, 2008

Having watched the Boks in the Tri Nations, it's very hard to make any predictions about how well they will play. Which Bok team will turn up? The one that beat the All Blacks in Dunedin with 14 men, or the one that meekly capitulated to the same side in Cape Town a few weeks later?

There is no doubt that the Boks missed Smit's leadership in the Tri Nations, and contrary to what other people think, I think his return is a big boost to the squad, as is the return of Bakkies Botha. I have also been impressed by what I've seen of the "beast" but would like to see how he gets on in Europe.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that the Boks will miss Montgomery. Not picking James is a big gamble as they could end up without a decent kicker. Can anyone tell me what happened to Andre Pretorius? Has he fallen out of form, or injured? Thought he had a few good games for the Boks and could be given another chance.

England also are an unknown quantity. Will they fall apart as they did against Wales and in NZ? Or will they play as they did when they beat France in Paris?

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posted Oct 29, 2008

I think Steyn at fullback would be a great plan. Use Piennar and himself alternating 10/15 like Beauxis and Hernandez do at Stade Francais. Hitting drop goals from 30 or 40 yards.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

I think the comments that England will beat South Africa is a joke, they imploded in the 5 nations, South Africa even without their two best props will be too powerful for England,England has Andrew Sheridan, that;s it, the backs are not great,lack penetration,depth etc.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

the boks will most certainly win all 3 tests. don't know what all the fuss about our scrum is? we'll bash all 3 teams in the scrums with the "Beast" there. Bakkies Botha,Matfield, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, John Smith,du Plessis are all in the scrum. If I were england, i'd be very afraid. Steyn will come off the bench as cover for no. 12 & 13. Pienaar will start at 10, with Rose covering him and the no. 15 position.

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posted Oct 31, 2008

Sheridans overated, he got pasted by Greg Somerville . I mean who has he destroyed in the scrummage, other than Matt Dunning who is part of one of the worst scrummaging units in the world.

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posted Nov 1, 2008

England or Wales to beat the Boks??!! Is it April Fools Day already?

The Bok squad is a strong one, no doubt. Smit at prop is not such a big fuss - I remember him covering at prop for the Boks before now, and if there is an injury to the hooker it just means they can bring on another prop instead. Remember too, the game has shifted away from endless scrums, and Smit is a handful in the loose. As a tactic, him playing prop will either be a disaster or a stroke of genius - I suspect and hope the latter.

Francois Steyn is another issue - but not for me. The guy is pure class, and a gifted player. Biggest boot I've ever seen, a mighty tackler, and has the pace to worry Habana (check out the past few Bulls v Sharks games). But England have Cips... so that's another point in the Boks favour.

But the biggest surprise that the home nations will get is with the back row. SA are so spoilt for choice here, it's incredible. Pierre Spies will, in the next couple of years, be the world's best no. 8. Big, frighteningly strong, and freakishly fast... the only one who could dislodge him is Ryan Kankowski, who has the speed and ball-handling skills that a lot of baks would envy. Strong too - seeing him swat McCaw like an irritating bug was hilarious.

Clean sweep for the Boks.

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