Jasper MVP

As I've mentioned in previous posts and spoken about prior to this game, filling Jasper's boots is a mammoth task.

Think about how easily he filled the Duane sized hole in the pack when Duane retired.

Have any of you noticed how, despite us all agreeing that Duane was great, we've never bemoaned his absence? I actually can't recall a single poster that has ever said, "If only Duane was still playing."

And that's because Jasper took over, barely missed a beat and, in my opinion, improved on what Duane was doing.

Last year, during Jasper's ban, the Bok pack were all at sea. Tonight, they were rattled by Scotland. The common denominator, Jasper's absence.

I don't think that guys like Hanekom are "worse" rugby players than Jasper but for how the Boks want to play, nobody touches Jasper in terms of making that possible. Is that too bold a statement?

I wasn't convinced by Roos tonight. Was anybody? Elrigh was a huge improvement when he came on.

Dunno, it just seems to me like the Boks simply aren't set up to run a lighter less powerful 8. Assume for a moment that is the case. Who else is there that can do what Jasper does and how he does it?

It could also be that I'm too harsh because this team was sort of an experimental one and perhaps even with Jasper they may still have struggled.

Still, until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm forced to belive that Jasper is pretty irreplaceable at this point.

Side note - Porthen is coming on damn nicely. Super excited to see him continue to rise.

Nobody does "Hulk Smash" better than Jasper, but Roos should be in the mix...Starting 8 for the Bokke is locked down.

Kobus Worse did his chances little good.
I don't thing we were seeing tries being scored down the middle when Roos was on the field.
Right now Elrich Louw doesn't look like a genuine 8 to me. Neither am I convinced yet be Paul De Villiets but it's early days.

In the words of our mate @Saffolk
"He is just dumb muscle".

However I disagree. Yasper is an Yster. he is our #1 #8.
He has grown so nicely into his role and offers so much more that "dumb muscle".

@Saffolk

His game has improved. He has become an effective all-rounder. However, I would not put him in the same bracket as a Vermuelen in his prime. By the last World Cup, Vermulen was way past it and no longer had the physicality or the athleticism to keep up at test level.

Vermuelen played for about 4 years past his prime, maybe even longer.
During his prime years,
Started as a loose forward with all-out pace. A game breaker. Very good runner of the ball. Good in space and in the tight phases.
He was a good linking number 8, who could connect the forwards and backline on attack.
Then he became very good at playing the ball on the ground. When he lost pace, he played a tighter game, but could still alternate as a linking player as the game required.
He was always very physical.

Jasper started out as a muscle without a brain. He proved his detractors wrong, as he has become a much more all-around player over time. He has become more effective at the breakdown, perhaps down to Vermuelen's coaching.
I would stull put Wiese as more of a ball carrier, not really a play maker like Vermuelen.