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Cape Town - Sport24 readers say Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer should pick Gio Aplon for the Boks' November tour after sublime form from the WP wing.
The fullback won rave reviews from former national team coach Nick Mallett and flyhalf Naas Botha after his try triggered a 33-16 victory over the Golden Lions in Cape Town.
"Gio is a fantastic player who has great feet and constantly breaks the line," 1999 Springboks Rugby World Cup coach Mallett said post-match.
Botha also lavished praise on the 31-year-old who scored five tries in 17 Test appearances, but has been constantly overlooked by current coach Meyer.
"I cannot understand why Gio is not in the national squad - he is such a consistently good performer at Super Rugby and Currie Cup levels."
Here's what Sport24 readers had to say:
"APLON IS A SUPERSTAR!" - Alicia Louise
"As long as we have a Bulls oriented Bok coach he will always be leaning towards them, going blind to the 'real talented' players down south. Think how the last test at Ellis Park against the AB's would have turned out of he picked the on form and skilled players like Gio. In that test match Kirschner as full back was shown up as under cooked and simply had no other tricks up his sleeve. At this level you need to galvanize a team and let them have plenty of game time together. Continuity is the key, and the AB's are showing the way." - Kiwi
"Can you imagine Aplon and Le Roux in the same backline.....devastating." - Rudie Wessie Wessels
"Yes, Aplon is a tad short. But he more than makes up for it with his heart, speed, elusiveness and ability to think on his feet. Heyneke Meyer, wake up and restore Aplon to the starting number 15 in the Bok squad!" - Rocco de Wet
"Every time Gio has received Bok honors its been under a very structured game plan that didnt allow him to play his naturally loose game. Now that HM has relaxed a little and has seen the benefits of allowing X factor players some space its a perfect time to try Gio again." - Jason
"suddenly Gio is good enough cause naas and nick raved about him. oh please who are they????? the rugby gods? oh hell no!!!! he has been something special from the day he first set his feet on newlands or in rugby boots for that matter. And with an apprentice like Cheslin Kolbe............... I predict fireworks for the future and a huge loss for the boks. These guys are rugby GOLD!!!!!!" - Randall Kennedy
"The consistent and massive contributions made to the fortunes of the WP team by players like Deon Fourie, Scarra Ntobeni and Gio Aplon, serve to prove that anyone still rating a player's physical stature higher than he's footballing skill and flair, is an idiot." - Shen Taro
"It would be fitting to see Aplon's good form rewarded with a Bok squad inclusion. With the roof closed at the Millenium Stadium against Wales the conditions will be perfect for a dangerous attacker like him. His defensive game is also up to scratch to face any team." - Gary Doyle
"Have to agree with naas an nick." - John van Vuuren
"I couldn't agree more with Nick Mallet and Naas Botha. Every time Gio Aplon had the ball in hand, he look dangerous. He has that x-factor on attack that will have any opposition quiver in their boots. He has exceptional feet, agility, vision, can kick and believe it or not, can defend." - Beau Schoeman
"I say give Aplon a go end of year." - Cecil September
"He is a good player and deserves our respect." - Sharks Bitesu
"End of year tour is the opportunity for Heynecke to give players who were consistent throughout the year a run. That includes Super Rugby and Currie Cup. Aplon is a constant performer, I dont think anyome is gonna scream bloody murder if he gets another crack at the Bok jersey." - Ledzepkid Zn
"He's brilliant. The best fullback in SA at the moment. That's not overrating him. That's underrating him, because he's also one of the best 3 wingers in SA at the moment." - Chris in Oz
"Suggest Gio go earn pounds or euros !!!" - Oh Snap
Gio Aplon has been in brilliant form for WP. (Gallo Images)
The fullback won rave reviews from former national team coach Nick Mallett and flyhalf Naas Botha after his try triggered a 33-16 victory over the Golden Lions in Cape Town.
"Gio is a fantastic player who has great feet and constantly breaks the line," 1999 Springboks Rugby World Cup coach Mallett said post-match.
Botha also lavished praise on the 31-year-old who scored five tries in 17 Test appearances, but has been constantly overlooked by current coach Meyer.
"I cannot understand why Gio is not in the national squad - he is such a consistently good performer at Super Rugby and Currie Cup levels."
Here's what Sport24 readers had to say:
"APLON IS A SUPERSTAR!" - Alicia Louise
"As long as we have a Bulls oriented Bok coach he will always be leaning towards them, going blind to the 'real talented' players down south. Think how the last test at Ellis Park against the AB's would have turned out of he picked the on form and skilled players like Gio. In that test match Kirschner as full back was shown up as under cooked and simply had no other tricks up his sleeve. At this level you need to galvanize a team and let them have plenty of game time together. Continuity is the key, and the AB's are showing the way." - Kiwi
"Can you imagine Aplon and Le Roux in the same backline.....devastating." - Rudie Wessie Wessels
"Yes, Aplon is a tad short. But he more than makes up for it with his heart, speed, elusiveness and ability to think on his feet. Heyneke Meyer, wake up and restore Aplon to the starting number 15 in the Bok squad!" - Rocco de Wet
"Every time Gio has received Bok honors its been under a very structured game plan that didnt allow him to play his naturally loose game. Now that HM has relaxed a little and has seen the benefits of allowing X factor players some space its a perfect time to try Gio again." - Jason
"suddenly Gio is good enough cause naas and nick raved about him. oh please who are they????? the rugby gods? oh hell no!!!! he has been something special from the day he first set his feet on newlands or in rugby boots for that matter. And with an apprentice like Cheslin Kolbe............... I predict fireworks for the future and a huge loss for the boks. These guys are rugby GOLD!!!!!!" - Randall Kennedy
"The consistent and massive contributions made to the fortunes of the WP team by players like Deon Fourie, Scarra Ntobeni and Gio Aplon, serve to prove that anyone still rating a player's physical stature higher than he's footballing skill and flair, is an idiot." - Shen Taro
"It would be fitting to see Aplon's good form rewarded with a Bok squad inclusion. With the roof closed at the Millenium Stadium against Wales the conditions will be perfect for a dangerous attacker like him. His defensive game is also up to scratch to face any team." - Gary Doyle
"Have to agree with naas an nick." - John van Vuuren
"I couldn't agree more with Nick Mallet and Naas Botha. Every time Gio Aplon had the ball in hand, he look dangerous. He has that x-factor on attack that will have any opposition quiver in their boots. He has exceptional feet, agility, vision, can kick and believe it or not, can defend." - Beau Schoeman
"I say give Aplon a go end of year." - Cecil September
"He is a good player and deserves our respect." - Sharks Bitesu
"End of year tour is the opportunity for Heynecke to give players who were consistent throughout the year a run. That includes Super Rugby and Currie Cup. Aplon is a constant performer, I dont think anyome is gonna scream bloody murder if he gets another crack at the Bok jersey." - Ledzepkid Zn
"He's brilliant. The best fullback in SA at the moment. That's not overrating him. That's underrating him, because he's also one of the best 3 wingers in SA at the moment." - Chris in Oz
"Suggest Gio go earn pounds or euros !!!" - Oh Snap
Gio Aplon has been in brilliant form for WP. (Gallo Images)
