Comments on: Tri-Nations Review: South Africa

By: ThelmaWrites

ThelmaWrites — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:47:11 +0000

Sam

Like Oj, I have been keenly looking forward to the rest.

By: ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:00:51 +0000

Sam, when are you going to do the rest of these? This site has turned into bedlam with no games on.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:58:32 +0000

I only caught the last ten minutes of the game but I noticed O’Brien last season and thought he looked a bit of a rough diamond. Tough and aggressive but lacking finesse. He hasn’t always been a 7 has he?

Indeed, Andy Robinson has departed and Edinburgh has carried on where they left off. They’re a handy side, but perhaps too lightweight to make dents in the European scene. I can’t believe that Paterson missed that kick. Lucky Jamie.

Hodgson has had a really good start to the season, but if I’m being pedantic I should point out that he was just as good last season, so little has changed. He’s a Gregan-esque player (the early years, I mean) in that he guides and harries, but doesn’t make the breaks that Care does. His cover defence is exceptional and he passes and kicks well. I would certainly feel comfortable with him starting for England, but I’m not sure I see much point in him being a bench player.

It’s an added bonus that Irish currently look the best side in England and that he played so much under Brian Smith. Care is playing OK to good, but nothing to write home about. Care rarely plays badly, however. Joe Simpson at Wasps looks very exciting, but then a lot of 9s do in their younger years. Breaking and sniping is only a small part of the 9 role. Thus, I think Hodgson could do a very solid and error-free job with the England pack and Wilkinson.

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:39:30 +0000

True. Rush of blood to the head. Leinster are not looking pretty at the moment – and we were lucky. What did you think of Sean O’Brien last night the Leinster No 7? Was quietly impressed with him and his workrate and hits.

Edinburgh are a good outfit, and should certainly finish top four this season. And depending on how Leinster/Munster are performing in H Cup may well take the League.

Williams was a powerhouse for Munster – Leamy and Wallace have had their cards marked on the No 8 spot. McGahan will be happy with having choices, but may come under ‘pressure’ from Kidney to give Wallace game time.

Without wishing to be pedantic – have Hodgson or Care done enough already this year for consideration or are you predicting stellar play from them in the AIs?

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:06:38 +0000

Williams is a big ol’ unit.

I wouldn’t write off Paul Hodgson or Danny Care just yet, Pothale.

You had a fortunate result last night. What on earth was Heaslip thinking?

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:02:29 +0000

The good news is that while Jean de Villiers had an okay first outing for Munster in their 4 tries to 1 home victory over Dragons – he didn’t disgrace nor distinguish himself – his other SH compatriots were first class for Munster with Mafi and Nick Williams in particular stealing many of the plaudits – Williams got MOTM for his hat-trick of tries. And great to see Tomas O’Leary back to his darting best after a fast recovery from his injury. He and Phillips are going to give de Preez a run for his money as the current best scrum-half in the game this year in the AIs.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:11:50 +0000

Obviously not half as angry as you you silly sausage. Maybe you’d like to drag out all those negative claims from me pertaining to Springbok rugby. As I recall I was quite complimentary toward their style of rugby following their victories – something that a lot of people weren’t. I don’t remember saying that SA would lose every game, more that I thought Australia would take the title due to their three home games. Pothale is spot on. You strike me as an analyst so maybe you could help revise my opinion and inform me why SA – missing three of their key players – will have a good tour and beat France and Ireland – two teams they have struggled against when playing away (and in France’s case in SA).

By: pothale

pothale — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:08:16 +0000

He did say that he might have to revise that once the squads are announced, Loftus.

Since you obviously know a lot about rugby in comparison, who do you say the Boks will lose to?

By: Loftus

Loftus — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:56:38 +0000

Shame Knives Out,you’re at your best when you’re trying to say negative things about the Springboks.So everyone listen up…Knives Out says that the Springboks will lose against Ireland,France and Leicester.(What makes you think the Springboks will beat Italy,Knives Out?)You obviously don t know a lot about rugby because all your predictions this year about the Springboks were wrong.Each and every prediction that the Springboks will lose by you were wrong.And that must make you a very angry man!!!

By: ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:34:52 +0000

Can’t really see them losing three games on tour.

By: van der Merwe

van der Merwe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:58:52 +0000

Well, one of Burger’s best facets of play is the cover he provides his 10 channel, which means that he would actually have to bind on the open side of the scrum, which, if he forgets himself (as he did a few times in Hamilton) could be something of a hindrance to Brussow (obviously).

By: van der Merwe

van der Merwe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:36:27 +0000

I guess that’s what happens when you get messed around like that.

By: van der Merwe

van der Merwe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:34:32 +0000

Jantjes had his moments but strikes me as being a style over substance player. Furthermore, he may not return the same player he was. That was a pretty bad break.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:32:12 +0000

Juan Smith has the domestic relationship with Brussow. How much does Burger’s selection affect the play of Brussow? Also, the French and Irish line outs are very good, so SA will have to rely predominantly on Matfield and Spies, and to a much lesser extent, Botha.

By: van der Merwe

van der Merwe — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:29:35 +0000

Burger didn’t play too badly at 7 (6) on short notice. Mind you, he pretty much just did his usual thing. I’ve heard people refer to Deysel as a one dimensional thug but it’s just so fun to watch him put his shoulder in and go over multiple tacklers. Potgieter is another loose-forward that de Villiers should blood sooner rather than later. His versatility (he can play anywhere in the backrow) stands him in good stead.

I agree Olivier is not in the same class as Jean de Villiers.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:03:27 +0000

Yeah, I don’t think he’s a good fullback, and he’s very error prone, but his kicking (when on song) is phenomenal. He’s gathered a lot of caps for such a young man but his talent hasn’t yet flourished in the way his 07 WC form suggested it could.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:34:56 +0000

There’s no point in being fresh against a battle hardened side, Katzilla. As we saw with France v New Zealand.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:30:03 +0000

Agree about Steyn Katz, I thought Kirshner was the best 15 in SA this year but didnt get much of a crack from memory.

By: katzilla

katzilla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:18:40 +0000

I think F Steyn is over rated and a one dimensional player.
Can’t wait till Jantjes comes back.

By: katzilla

katzilla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:14:59 +0000

Cold? or Fresh Knives?
There are pros and cons to being both at the end of a long season and the begining of a new one.

By: katzilla

katzilla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:13:01 +0000

Lol its no win for either side Pot,
The old ‘We are at the begining of our season and you are coming out of a hard competition’ line shows up every year at the 606.
And if a loss to a SH team then the ‘We are at the end of a very hard season and your fresh’ line comes out.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:20:12 +0000

I think Smith’s loss will be a worry for the Springboks. It’s unlikely that Deysel is anywhere near ready and neither Rossouw or Burger have played/play 6 regularly. Smith is the unsung hero of the SA pack. His loss removes a big line out option and affects the composition of the back five.

Olivier is your typical SA centre. Big and strong but limited. Make no mistake – SA have lost two big tactical players and a kicking machine.

By: USRugbyFan

USRugbyFan — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:11:29 +0000

Smith can be replaced with Burger, Rossouw, or Jean Deysel so I don’t think that will be a worry for the Springboks. De Villiers might try to slot Pienaar in at 15 again, and at 12 they can use Olivier, who is capable but no JDV.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:22:25 +0000

I think they’ll struggle without JDV and Frans Steyn. Now they need a new 12 and a new 15, plus Juan Smith is absent. I’d wager that France, Ireland AND Leicester will beat them. However, I reserve the right to remedy that judgement when the appropriate squads are released.

By: ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:43:23 +0000

The South Africans don’t really have anything to prove on their end of year tour, so I don’t expect them to steamroll their way through the tour. If they do, it will be a sign that they’re getting better, which doesn’t bode well for the rest of us, but it just doesn’t seem like the South African way. I imagine we’ll see a repeat of last year’s tour, where the performances are scrappy but they’ll blow out their final opponent. I think they’ll go undefeated.

By: ThelmaWrites

ThelmaWrites — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:57:49 +0000

The Australians in Brisbane showed how to beat the Springboks – run at them all day. They expected the Wallabies to engage them in a kicking contest, and the latter didn’t. Consider the potential try in the corner saved by Habana (was it Lachlan Turner? I don’t have the tape with me here in Kuala Lumpur). I had never seen the Boks look so flustered. They were standing in little clumps, looking stumped.

The Springboks have elevated the line-out to an art-form. Many times they will release the ball to their half-back while they are still at the top of their jump. At one time, the jumper punched the ball to the half-back. Regardless, their opponent must contest the line-out as if to question their superiority. Then the rush defence must take out the backline.

On this basis, I think the competitive NH teams will be France, for their abillity to change their points of attack, and Walesfor their rush defence (mainly). Also both can gain ground without the pick and drive. I have not seen Ireland play, therefore I have no way of judging them.

Umm, maybe I’m just saying what everyone else knows? But I greatly respect your efforts to get us Roarers to think deeply about the game.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:13:57 +0000

Sort of how you guys (and Australian fans) come up with excuses as well?

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:10:32 +0000

Yes, because, for example, before the tour the Australian team will have been in camp for months. That sort of group work just isn’t available to the NH teams. Also, the 3N teams have just experienced the 3N whereas the NH teams are cold, so to speak.

By: Photon

Photon — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:51:20 +0000

Yeah pothale, sort of like how you guys came up with any number of excuses for the succeses during last years end of year tour, not to mention the lions tour. From England are a developing side, to the boks were just lucky at cardiff and murrayfield. Anyway it should be am interesting tour regardless, France and to a lesser extent ireland have proven to be bogey sides for the boks, so it will probably be a difficult tour, would love to win all the games, but I suspect the boks may come unstuck at croke park, after a tight win in france and a good win in Italy.

By: Willem

Willem — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:34:07 +0000

France has been a bit of a bogyteam for the springboks over the last few years, ithink the springboks lost their last few games against them. Lets hope the trend does not continue.