Roar Guru
Joined March 2020
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Scotland’s dynamic, shapeshifting, miracle ball attack has dazzled rugby fans, and also has the element of systemic progress that can see them tilt the…
The 10 jersey is an enigma in the modern game. The allure of having a top class 10 to guide a team into a…
The 'sliding quarterback' is a term based on the tactical style of NFL mastermind Tom Brady, a direct player with evasive abilities, varying the…
Manie Libbok gave us a good idea of what he could do in a Bok jersey. He's an exceptional support runner with elite back-three…
Robbie Owen’s words of "Starting to think South Africa’s title hopes may just rest more on their first choice 10 being fit than Ireland’s"…
Japan’s stumbling form looks like an odd development, for a team that came oh-so-close to beating the All Blacks last year. Initially, their All…
The complexity surrounding Ireland’s future in a post-Sexton reality is integral to the future path, and as his career draws to a close-the question…
The figurehead flyhalf is definitely a statement of a team’s personality. However, a certain archetype has increasingly died out in today’s modern game. The…
Playmaker or a proper strike runner? This constant contradiction seems to bamboozle us when it comes to the inexplicable state of the All Blacks’…
There is a fresh point of difference to the Springboks attacking play compared to during the Rugby Championship. In the past they looked to…
At 37 years old, Morne Steyn kicked a winning penalty to secure South Africa’s back-to-back victory over the British Irish Lions. Steyn broke Lions…
Handre Pollard has had gotten a lot of stick after the Springboks had a disastrous Rugby Championship. Some say that the Boks need Elton…
The back three is a place where pace and agility are mixed with the ability to claim the high ball. It is a place…
At the turn of the decade we should start to analyse and appreciate certain tactics that have become trendy recently. Tactical trends come and…
Should Willie Le Roux retain his fullback jersey for the Springboks? Many say Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi are the future. However, few truly…
This is my fourth article in this team of the year series, and I fancied getting on to the big boys – the grinders,…
The backrow are the boys who do the real job. The guys who top the tackle, breakdown, and forward-handling stats. Athletic guys with power…
The midfield is a place where the most versatile skill sets mix and match to fit a variety of utilities. It is a place…
Every year, there will be form players in each position. However, this year, due to the rude interruption of the pandemic, we have a…
I think Dave Rennie has had the Wallabies develop a certain structure to their attack. Barring errors and with proper execution, it is very…
Poor selection making with leaving out Wille. Willemse had a good game but Wille is needed to facilitate the possession-based rugby
REACTION: 'In your head!' - Irish fans celebrate epic win with rousing rendition of 'Zombie' after Boks botch job
Can Pollard deliver the same passes that Libbok does, and step up at the pressure cooker? Does he have the footwork, the vision, the skill to throw creative and precise passes? In theory, yes. But in the expansive and evolving system the Boks use, it appears that Libbok is a better fit.
Pollard was excellent on attack against Sale(Two Indirect Assists, Johnny Sexton Style) and had a off-day of Pollard’s penalties(65%) would have definitely secured a well deserved win
REACTION: 'In your head!' - Irish fans celebrate epic win with rousing rendition of 'Zombie' after Boks botch job
3 9s and one 10 is a worry for most teams. But Wille is a de facto 10, and a Wille/Kolbe axis works just as well
Gregor Townsend's Caledonian cyclone can blow through a Rugby World Cup pool of death
Harris edges Kriel, but Kriel offers a all rounded operation on attack.
DDA beats Tuipolutu.
Pollard and Russell are the best flyhalves of different archetypes.
The Bok back three have the edge.
2021 test, they did edge them through the backs with Wille Le Roux pulling the strings.
Gregor Townsend's Caledonian cyclone can blow through a Rugby World Cup pool of death
Scotland are inside laners for Pool B. 1-1 w France, a french team that apart from ireland, lost to nobody else, putting a vintage one over ENG in 6N. Scotland(much like 2019 Japan) may be so burnt out from group stage heroics that they crash in the quarters in the ultimate tragedy
Gregor Townsend's Caledonian cyclone can blow through a Rugby World Cup pool of death
Dont see the Boks beating them. The flash structure with Libbok dazzles the highlight reels, but as th scoreline goes, gives u max 1-2 tries per game. You only catch them napping so often
Gregor Townsend's Caledonian cyclone can blow through a Rugby World Cup pool of death
Dont get how Cooper is not in the squad. Rebuild is removing aging superfluous elements, not hanging your mvp out to dry. Cooper was a 6 against the Boks, an 8 against Argentina, and a 6.5 against the Wallabies. Still good enough to warrant not being chopped
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Eddie-centric selection often involves taking out a talismanic figurehead, almost in a fengshui manner. Ford was dropped in 2021 and hasnt started since-backfired. Slicing Cipriani and Lozowski in 2018 were the right decisions, finding the winning combos and blooding them durably. Since then the eddie centrics have been a bit misdirected
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
The role of a 13 as being the X-factor is nothing new. France and Scotland are always going forward with Fickou and Huw Jones gliding through the 13 channel. All Blacks are picking up. Ringrose is an excellent playmaking outside centre, but also fulfils the role of slicing through. Does Kriel have that killer instinct? He doesnt have the instincts to be a polar Strike runner Am style. He can serve as a second handler and has a decent catch pass. But he has to be more than the sum of his parts.
Just a shot in the dark but without Pollard, Kriel is best as an impact player off the bench, to use his pace in the closing stages.
10. Libbok
12. Esterhuzien
13. Wille Le Roux
15. Kolbe
Esterhuzien will have to pick up the slack and use his handling a lot more, with Le Roux at 13 to organise their defence. Only issue is Le Roux’s defence-he’s a good tackler and has good tracking, but can get run over and fail to make positive contacts.
The Pros are obvious
Kolbe gives you a >25m pacey long pass, so his sidestepping can be used to open up the wings, and does not have to be an integrated organiser, can act as a strike playmaker.
13, Wille, means that we can havve a lot more interchangeability, and see him bringing the back three into the game a lot more. Am is always a better option, but Le Roux can function in a Ringrose/Slade capacity in this regard.
Your thoughts, JN?
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
really? Thought Carter Gordon was polished in Bledisloe. Cooper in my opinion was not well rated after Argies and Saffa, but would have been at least a solid 7 in both games as all the attacking play came from him. I particularly like Carter’s balance between runnin and passing, with a good spiral bomb.
McKenzie was sublime against the wallabies, but basic things crumble time after time
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
wanted to put Carter, Handre, Biggar, ahead of him. But then again, the seeming one trick pony skips by everybody.
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Wanted to put Healy and Crowley, but then again two little tests, havent shown the phaseplay development. Very very good 10s. Mo’unga is good but like i said is more of a cog rather than a lynchpin.
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Why not? Cooper has been the best avg form 10 for the past 2 years. 21/22.Carter has been masterful-and was excellent in Super Rugby. There are 2 Boks, 2 All Blacks, two English. Dont see how Two aussies is an exception
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Goosen would be the closest. Or even :
9. Hendrikse
10. Le roux
12. Esterhuzien
13. Kriel
15. Willemse
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Isn’t kriel a line break merchant. Was thinking in a Leicester tigers style system hw would top the line break charts running a hard line off pollard
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
The boks are headed for the first pool exit ever. Russell will eat up their rush defence, Scotland are my favorites to top the group(beat a not so second choice French team). Libbok and le roux must give vintage performances to carry the boks out of the group. It is likely to see France and Scotland advancing, meeting again in the finals
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Well, here’s a rethought list based on the slot of the draw
1. Russell
2.Libbok
3. Biggar
4. Sexton
5. Mo’unga
6. Carter Gordon
7. Cooper
8. Farrell
9. Ford
10. Garbisi
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
It’s funny how the puristic ideal of a 10 that builds the system rank at the bottom of the list. Cooper-not enough game time Ford-class in premiership but does not have the game time either. Garnish is interesting. Has an innate rugby iq and drives the most intricate set ups, yet does not have the consistent execution and calm to pull the stringa
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Pollard varies between field marshal and sniper. Finn’s nonchalant miracle balls are designed to play off 9 to create that gap between. Libbok, Mo’unga , Beauden are not generals, unlike cooper, bigger, carter and in default play are basically a wide button
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Feel the more direct, crisp passing of Pollard is necessary at test level. But certainly the 1-3-3-1 in the rugby championship will aid libbok. Manie has a good boot but temperament issues. A future bok backline will be pollard 10 libbok 15
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Not really.
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
Whoops submitted this article a little earlier. Shame abt pollard/am lynchpin and best player out
Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup
2021 was peak Highlanders. Mitch Hunt/Aaron Smith became a thing of beauty
Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?
typically third phase strike play
The 'sliding pivot' - the style revolutionising rugby's attacking strategies
Hot Take
Boks beat Scots(
Ireland beat Boks
Scots beat Ireland
No Bonus Points in these clashes makes for a three way tie akin to 2015 Japan-Boks-Scots.
REACTION: 'In your head!' - Irish fans celebrate epic win with rousing rendition of 'Zombie' after Boks botch job