Sacha and PSDT to step up as both have been below par, and it would make a huge difference if they teamed up with the in-form Marx, Weise and Etzebeth to create a Bok offensive. The Boks need to punch holes in the AB defence which in turn would create space for Sacha to inflict his mastery. The absence of the fearless Willemse is a major blow, as he’s a world-class player who would have added to the attack.
Explain to me how Sacha has been out of form?
All he has been trusted to do is kick high balls. Even then, the 9s have been doing most of the kicking.
In the last game, the Boks passed the ball only 90 times and something like 70 of those were to forwards. That means Sacha probably got the ball about 10 times and had to kick the majority of that.
Show me what he is supposed to do, given those conditions, to be regarded as in form.
The ball simply hasn't circulated with any real fluidity or purpose. Sacha increasingly looks like the fall guy for the failings of the unquestionable furor of Springbok rugby, rather than the cause of them.
Added to that, PTSD is not the player I'd want taking on the All Blacks. He had a torrid time chasing shadows last week. Some argue that age has caught up with him, but frankly, it doesn't look markedly different from what I've been watching since 2014. The same limitations have always been there.
What the Boks need, yet again, is for the handful of genuinely worthy Boks to drag the weak links over the line. That, and perhaps a few calls falling our way.
@Deus Ex Lemur "but frankly, it doesn't look markedly different from what I've been watching since 2014. The same limitations have always been there".
Deus is a loon for sure!
@Beeno1 29th-ranked ball carrier out of the top 30 South Africans by volume in 2019. He also logged more missed tackles than any other Bok across 2018 and 2019, while being cleanly beaten most as well — something the missed-tackle column doesn't necessarily capture.
Your emotional bluster reminds me somewhat of Don Quixote's famous charge at the windmills: absolute certainty, tremendous resolve, and ultimately one hundred percent off target.
Be that as it may, do continue at your leisure!
PSDT has been great as usual and Sasha had a fine outing in the second test and wasn't bad in the first test either.
Boks need to keep errors to a minimum and play smart. I would like to have had Pollard on the bench. Pollard has the smarts.
Boks played poorly in the first test squandering possession and try scoring opportunities via dropping balls etc. The team was clearly rusty form not playing together for some time. The ref had a shocker and that didn't help at all.
Second test was better but still feel the Boks haven't hit their straps. Hopefully today they will.
A big factor will be the ref. Will he allow the scrums to operate. will he be competent and fair. We shall see.
