Weekend learnings...

Some dubious conclusion from the Bok game.

1. Cameron and P Divvy got bundled into the starting lineup and didn't shoot lights out but showed they are both easily starters. Do we still need Kolisi?

2. Jasper carried both the newbies on his back and made sure the glue held. For me, easily the MVP in the Bok pack. My word, he's a terrific rugby player. Here's comes the controversy...I think he's better than Duane. Get your rotten veggies out and chuck em, I don't care. I'll die on that hill.

3. Nortje the enigma continues to leave me on shaky ground. He was fantastic again yesterday. The man looks exhausted in the second minute of the game but just keeps going. Every time I want to say that I'm not sure about him, he makes me look stupid. So I'm just not gonna do it anymore.

4. Apparently DDA is banging the TV producer because he got MOTM ahead of both Willemse and Jasper!? How the F does that happen? Even the noobs I was watching the game with were befuddled by that one.

5. We can stop thinking about scrums as an important part of the game. They have officially been de-powered to the point of struggling for significance. Teams are gaming refs to give free kicks, 9s are rolling balls directly through everybody's legs to the back of the scrum and refs are consistently either calling play the ball when a team is pushing the other backwards and should earn a penalty or they're watching entire front row belly flop and calling for the ball to be play. Scrums are dead.

6. Roos is nowhere. He's been in the squad, and despite the late withdrawals of Eben and Kolisi, Roos didn't crack the nod. However, Rassie had no fear in chucking Hanekom onto the side of the scrum. It just looks to me like Roos is literally always last in the pecking order. Remember last year, with Jasper and Hanekom's injuries, Rassie played Siya at 8. It honestly looks to me like Roos' inclusion in the squad was simply to appease WP fans. But I have to be objective and say that I don't respect Dobson as a coach and that's the only coach Roos has played under since forever. I would honestly like to see how he plays under Rassie and Browne in the Bok setup. Consider this, imagine we'd only seen Eben or Andre playing for this current kak Sharks team. Imagine that was the only team they'd ever played for and Plumtree was the coach. We'd not rate either of them. So I don't think Roos is getting a fair shake and I'd want to see him get a chance to be able to look at how he plays while everybody's big pal Dobson isn't the coach.

It is worth noting that Divvy and Hanekom lacked a little in grunt, but were both everywhere all the time. When Wessels and Marco came on, the Poms were out on their feet and one had the feeling that if the game lasted another ten minutes we may have seen another 20 put past England.

Coincidence or planned?

Also, damn I'm gutted I missed the Irish game. It looked like a cracker.

@Plum - " Do we still need Kolisi"... that a really interesting question and I stand by my word.
Siya Kolisi is a good player and has never ever let us down on the field. His play alone isn't legendary in the mould of Schalk Burger or the like... but he has never been a liability like Pierre Spies.

However - I do feel that his "pull" factor is something that cannot be bought or taught. He has kept this team so unified. Don't underestimate that value.
I'd much rather have that - than a controversial super star.

It isn't his magical game play that helped us win 2 back-to-back world cups - but rather his stewardship.

So - For now i think we'd be completely nuts to replace him in the starting 15 until after the world cup.
That would be like drilling a tiny hole into a vessel.... we all know how that ends up.

Regarding de Villiers and Hanekom - considering the opponents, I felt they were pretty damn good. de Villiers especially - he was up the Poms noses all game long.
Hanekom - He is explosive man! It must be nice to learn from the likes of PSdT on the field.

Our future is in good hands (look at our U20 team - generational talent in that team) - however it can just as easily be derailed.

Over and out!

Agree that Hanekom and De Villiers did not stand out. Paul is not in the same class as Kolisi at this point in time. Neither player made a big impression and should not start vital tests barring injury concerns. Let them grow their games within the Bok structures.
Jasper had a less impactful game and was mostly stopped in his tracks by the big solid England pack. And no he is not better that prime Duane.
Nortje worked extremely hard and had a very good outing. That said he needs an enforcer lock like Eben along side him. I give huge credit though for the performance of Du Toit at lock, the effort was enormous.
I don't think Plumpster saw what Allende did as he was too busy watching the bench to see if AE was coming on! Hahahahahahahahahaha.
But to me the MOM was Willemse who was simply outstanding.
Plumpster of course misunderstands what happened in the scums. We didn't get much out of the scrums against England because Ox went off very early and Wilco wasn't in the team. Plumpster forgets how much benefit we get from our dominant scums!
Roos will get his change in the next two test I would think.
The pack as a whole lacked a little grunt and England imposed themselves for the middle half of the game. Ox, Eben and Kolisi would have improved matters. Snyman/Lood and Wilco on the bench.
Portens with his great mobility could be an excellent loosehead? He is far from peaking
Yes the Poms were feeling the altitude at the end and two yellows sunk them. Pocock was a non entity despite the hype. Hahahahahahahahaha
No Flash Kolisi is no Burger. Burger was a far more powerful and direct player and a World player of the year an all time great. Kolisi is faster around the park. And no the Kolisi's captaincy evaluation is hyped too much The leadership of so many other Boks has proved that. We win without Kolisi's captaincy etc. But he has conducted himself with dignity and has been an important unifying figure respecting and working with th Greta coach Rassie Erasmus. He has had a good international career. Full respect.
Yes Pierre Spies Look like Tarzan fight like Jane.

Their are now 3 reply buttons. (x2 for replying to a specific comment that do not appear to be post). Sometimes these 2 do not post.

Well, it was almost as bad as I expected…….I thought you’d put 50 on us !!

My sentiment exactly, do we even need Eben and Kolisi. Especially if he only plays 40 min. The real captain was either Vermeulen or Pieter Steph. The latter is our captain for the next year's world cup.

I just saw a clip of that semi where kolis just sits there sipping water. Oblivious of what is going on around him until Steph jumps up and pull the guys together

According to the Irish commentator we got in the States Eben didn’t play because of another concussion. It might be wise for him to stop…already the greatest number 4 lock we have seen.

England's scrum was solid, and the Boks did not dominate this facet of play. However, most games the Boks do.
Not sure where the weakness in the tight five was. Ox went off early, and Steph has not played at lock for ages.

Pakster appears in the dark about how cocky wee Pollock is. The Brits of course love it.
I think Pakster is showing his anti Bok supporter bias. Comparing us supporters to monkeys and ignorant and rage filled etc is almost as bad as Mozzies take on Rassie and Alucards shocking comments.
See your shrink Pakster maybe he can help you. Bwahahahaha.

Pollock is cocky...and who cares!?

Actually, I care. It livens things up a bit.

I'm reminded of the line where Brenden Fraser makes fun of professional sportsmen and keeps answering questions with "You go out there and you give 100%, and wanna play good and you hope you play good..."

I'm so sick of the generic, social media accepted, role model, I'm so humble, I'm such an example, bollocks.

It's crazy to me that a guy showing just a tiny bit of personality is immediately treated like he's fresh off of petrol bombing a village.

It's like we want to insist on the death of personality in sport.

Edit: I'll just add, imagine Warne without the personality. The world would be a worse place for it.

Pakster opines - "didn't fit the colourless image of the obedient conservative Afrikaner". Pakster forgets the Afrikaners fought the Boer war! The Afrikaners are proudly independent. You mistake respectfulness for obedience. What a dummy!
A very revealing comment by Pakster. This dummy clearly has an anti Afrikaner bias which is why he makes these anti Bok comments. Reminds me of Mozzietard. Are we arriving at the reason for the anti Rassie narrative of some on this board?
Pollock has zero impact and certainly didn't look cocky on the field. Appears to do his talking off the field.
That said I give the England pack credit. They gave the Bok pack a difficult time and only folded near the end when two yellows and perhaps altitude got to them.

"didn't fit the colourless image of the obedient conservative Afrikaner." - Like in Pofadder, Pakie?;)

Anycase, the description fits well with these "Fake" Sunday Dominee's. " Broers en Sisters" but the first one in the Bar with a double Brandy and Coke, after the sermon :)

Remember " Lipstick Dipstick" ? " Daar is niks so lelik, soos n Dominee in slet onderklere nie"...Bwahahahaha

Old Beens just finds it difficult to make a a post unless he is motivated by some kind of enemy.

Much like the artist needs a muse, Beeno needs somebody to kak out in his posts.

Beeno, i don't know why you are targeting Pakie and Moz when there are 5 million Kiwis and at least 30 professional referees that are first in line. Hell, old Stavvie also needs some attention too.

Also, need i remind you that Richie is still alive?

Paks, have you rewatched the game and what are your thoughts?

Confirmed, the nomination of DDA as MOTM was a mistake by the production crew.

It was meant to be Willemse.

Apparently, MNET's staff aren't aware that there are two Damians on the team.

Sounds about right, considering the government enforced hiring practices.

There was a telling drop in the quality of the camera work and editing too...our camera work used to be some of the best in the world, but it was poor for this match...