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I have one question for the coach, I was one of the many very surprised and vocal non supporters of the zane kirchner issue,
I'm first going to make a statement, and then ask my question,
I believe that the future of the number 15 jersey is in the hands of Willie Meyer, and sure he had a shaky game in Argentina, but even the best fullbacks in the world have shaky games, I remember quite a few , Andre Joubert against All Blacks in '96, at newlands, Christian Cullen crumbling under the pressure in 98 against the boks, Percy had a few shaky games, the question isn't about skill, or shaky game, isn't it wiser to stick with the one that's going to be there 4 years down the line, rather than plugging a hole with a player like zane who will never let down the team, but doesn't bring anything that any of the other fullback's in this country gives you anyway?
So my question is this, can we really expect to challenge the All Blacks at the top of the summit, if consistently we don't back our players? Doc Craven said it the best, : form is temporary, class lasts forever. Bryan Habana has showed all of his doubters, so did fourie du preez, John Smit in his playing career, Francois Pienaar, Gary Teichmann, Andre Joubert, James Small, quality players and all of them at one point or another considered the best in their positions in the world,
We have pretty much sorted out the first choice in every position, except 15,14, 10, 5, and 2,
15, I'll give you my views, and I hope to hear yours on it,
Willie Meyer should get the game time their, with either Gio Aplon, or Pat Lambie backing up there, size shouldn't matter in Gio's case as our defensive structure is pretty sound,
14, There is NO viable 14 currently in this country, everyone says that flyhalf is our problem position, but since James Small, and to a lesser extent Stefan Terblanche's playing days, we have not had a quality 14 wing, and as good as Habana and J.P pietersen is, they're both 11's, so for continuity, I'd pick Willie Meyer there, and move Gio into the fullback Postion, although, that will leave you with a very green Back 3, and in that case Zane Kirchner is your only Option,
10, Morne Steyn has saved our Asses more than any other flyhalf, but I don't know if he'll have the legs to see another world cup, or even the mental strength needed to believe, when this fickle country turns on him again, so my choice for 10, is Lambie, and hoping Johan Goosen can get through a season uninjured, no 2 choice, and the wild card here, is young Handro Pollard, who has shown at age level he is better than most NZ and Aus will have in the near future, and also young Robert Du Preez, and his brother as well, ( legacy's as we know , blood breeds blood )
5. Again, no clear cut choice at 5, Both Victor matfield, and mark andrews left us spoiled in that area, and I don't know if we're going to fill that void quickly, or even easily, But Peter Steph Du Toit is a step right direction, and he needs game time, you need a quality 4 and 5 combo, and I just think eben and peter will give us that,
Which brings us to no 2. I am glad I don't have to choose like you do about who plays this weekend or not, In both Bismarck and Adriaan, we probably have ther worlds no 1 and no 2 hooker in our team, but if we're going to start hammering the blacks, and the Wallace, and the rest of the world, consistently, the best needs to be on the park, and in this case, the bismarck cracks the nod,
So here's the question Mr bok coach ( yes it's a position I myself would love to fill one day ) we have a chance of winning this rugby championship, only if we make the right selections, and the only one I am really at odds with you right now, is jean de villiers at inside centre, sure, he's done a great service to our country, and will probably go down, as one of our best ever, but, and this is the one blotch on his stunning career, he cannot play his own game, unless Jacques Fourie is next to him, if we could get Fourie du Preez back, why the hell can't we get Jacques back? And so prolong the captains run at inside? I dearly want to see him hold the world cup, after 2003, and 2007's heartbreaks for him due to injury?
I'm first going to make a statement, and then ask my question,
I believe that the future of the number 15 jersey is in the hands of Willie Meyer, and sure he had a shaky game in Argentina, but even the best fullbacks in the world have shaky games, I remember quite a few , Andre Joubert against All Blacks in '96, at newlands, Christian Cullen crumbling under the pressure in 98 against the boks, Percy had a few shaky games, the question isn't about skill, or shaky game, isn't it wiser to stick with the one that's going to be there 4 years down the line, rather than plugging a hole with a player like zane who will never let down the team, but doesn't bring anything that any of the other fullback's in this country gives you anyway?
So my question is this, can we really expect to challenge the All Blacks at the top of the summit, if consistently we don't back our players? Doc Craven said it the best, : form is temporary, class lasts forever. Bryan Habana has showed all of his doubters, so did fourie du preez, John Smit in his playing career, Francois Pienaar, Gary Teichmann, Andre Joubert, James Small, quality players and all of them at one point or another considered the best in their positions in the world,
We have pretty much sorted out the first choice in every position, except 15,14, 10, 5, and 2,
15, I'll give you my views, and I hope to hear yours on it,
Willie Meyer should get the game time their, with either Gio Aplon, or Pat Lambie backing up there, size shouldn't matter in Gio's case as our defensive structure is pretty sound,
14, There is NO viable 14 currently in this country, everyone says that flyhalf is our problem position, but since James Small, and to a lesser extent Stefan Terblanche's playing days, we have not had a quality 14 wing, and as good as Habana and J.P pietersen is, they're both 11's, so for continuity, I'd pick Willie Meyer there, and move Gio into the fullback Postion, although, that will leave you with a very green Back 3, and in that case Zane Kirchner is your only Option,
10, Morne Steyn has saved our Asses more than any other flyhalf, but I don't know if he'll have the legs to see another world cup, or even the mental strength needed to believe, when this fickle country turns on him again, so my choice for 10, is Lambie, and hoping Johan Goosen can get through a season uninjured, no 2 choice, and the wild card here, is young Handro Pollard, who has shown at age level he is better than most NZ and Aus will have in the near future, and also young Robert Du Preez, and his brother as well, ( legacy's as we know , blood breeds blood )
5. Again, no clear cut choice at 5, Both Victor matfield, and mark andrews left us spoiled in that area, and I don't know if we're going to fill that void quickly, or even easily, But Peter Steph Du Toit is a step right direction, and he needs game time, you need a quality 4 and 5 combo, and I just think eben and peter will give us that,
Which brings us to no 2. I am glad I don't have to choose like you do about who plays this weekend or not, In both Bismarck and Adriaan, we probably have ther worlds no 1 and no 2 hooker in our team, but if we're going to start hammering the blacks, and the Wallace, and the rest of the world, consistently, the best needs to be on the park, and in this case, the bismarck cracks the nod,
So here's the question Mr bok coach ( yes it's a position I myself would love to fill one day ) we have a chance of winning this rugby championship, only if we make the right selections, and the only one I am really at odds with you right now, is jean de villiers at inside centre, sure, he's done a great service to our country, and will probably go down, as one of our best ever, but, and this is the one blotch on his stunning career, he cannot play his own game, unless Jacques Fourie is next to him, if we could get Fourie du Preez back, why the hell can't we get Jacques back? And so prolong the captains run at inside? I dearly want to see him hold the world cup, after 2003, and 2007's heartbreaks for him due to injury?
