Official Tri-Nations 2009 Thread

Who will take it? SA or NZ?

  • SA

    Votes: 71 89.9%

  • NZ

    Votes: 7 8.9%

  • Unsure

    Votes: 1 1.3%
  • Total voters
    79
killadoob said:
Lance sadly he has not had a chance like this, rain or no rain he is starting in our best team, something that has never happened.

Sure he started against the lions in our second team, so how can you take anything from that game. Today will settle the question for me anyways.
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Unfortunately rain would mean we are not able to see his general play and distribution skills tested as it will in all likelihood be a kicking game. I do not think one game will settle it, as much as we would like to think so.... Ruan has still not done enough (anything in my eyes) wrong to lose his position.

But I have no issue with us now having two people fighting for the flyhalf position. A year back we were battling to find one.
 
Well if morne can prove he can distribute as well then it's an obvious choice due to his sublime kicking ability :)

Anyways as you say it does not matter who is better at least we have 2 very talented players going for the position :).
 
LancelotSA said:
Ruan has still not done enough (anything in my eyes) wrong to lose his position.
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What? 2 Shocking kicking performances not enough for you? He needs to be more consistent with his goal kicking in the big games and he will cement his place in the team but so long as he is picked as the flyhalf and 1st choice goal kicker his place will be in jeopardy if he kicks as he has done on his last 2 outings.

Personally I think Francois Steyn should have taken over the goal kicking duties when/if Ruan starts...
 
sandmanm34 said:
What? 2 Shocking kicking performances not enough for you? He needs to be more consistent with his goal kicking in the big games and he will cement his place in the team but so long as he is picked as the flyhalf and 1st choice goal kicker his place will be in jeopardy if he kicks as he has done on his last 2 outings.

Personally I think Francois Steyn should have taken over the goal kicking duties when/if Ruan starts...
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You'll notice that my words were "enough wrong to lose his position". His position is flyhalf. Nowhere in the rules of rugby does it state the flyhalf has to take penalty and conversion kicks!
 
killadoob said:
Lance sadly he has not had a chance like this, rain or no rain he is starting in our best team, something that has never happened.

Sure he started against the lions in our second team, so how can you take anything from that game. Today will settle the question for me anyways.
Click to expand...

Jup will like to see steyn get the chance to use his backline but else its all good. Today will be a big test for him.

BLIXEMPIE said:
Du Preez has proven a solid player in wet conditions.
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He is awesome! He can play any type of game in any conditions. No wonder he is rated as the best scrummie in world rugby atm.
 
Its not raining by me, and i'm fairly close, maybe the game will just be overcast.
 
LancelotSA said:
You'll notice that my words were "enough wrong to lose his position". His position is flyhalf. Nowhere in the rules of rugby does it state the flyhalf has to take penalty and conversion kicks!
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He's been picked at flyhalf and is the teams designated 1st choice kicker. If, after he missed a kick or 2 the kicking duties were successfully taken over by Francois Steyn it wouldn't be an issue and Ruan would probably still be in the side but clearly tactically the coaching staff only see's Steyn as good with the long range goal kicks, therefore, Ruan's primary functions are flyhalf and goal kicker. While his play at flyhalf has been more than adequate his goal kicking at 6/14 this season in test matches it atrocious so unless his job excludes goal kicking he is not doing it effectively...
 
jak3 said:
Its not raining by me, and i'm fairly close, maybe the game will just be overcast.
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Where are you? I'm in Pinetown and although the clouds are heavier there is still no rain. And they are talking at the stadium now and also no rain.

sandmanm34 said:
He's been picked at flyhalf and is the teams designated 1st choice kicker. If, after he missed a kick or 2 the kicking duties were successfully taken over by Francois Steyn it wouldn't be an issue and Ruan would probably still be in the side but clearly tactically the coaching staff only see's Steyn as good with the long range goal kicks, therefore, Ruan's primary functions are flyhalf and goal kicker. While his play at flyhalf has been more than adequate his goal kicking at 6/14 this season in test matches it atrocious so unless his job excludes goal kicking he is not doing it effectively...
Click to expand...

So none of this is the fault of Ruan and in fact all this "hatred" should be aimed at the tactician/s in the team? Would that be Smit or would the orders come from the coaching staff? Either one probably has a better understanding of Ruan's kicking ability, relative to Frans Steyn's, than any of us sitting at home do.

Also interesting to just hear Naas saying that as a kicker the perfect kick in one that hits the pole. That is apparently what they aim for. So after all of that it appears that Ruan is in fact the most accurate kicker in the team! The simple solution is to get him to aim for the centre of the poles... but being as accurate as he is he will no doubt end up hitting the middle of the crossbar.
 
yeah it's raining here in Cowies now too ...... hope that it's heading any other way but the Kings Park :o:D
 
Yellow card?!?!?!

A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent’s neck or head is dangerous play.

A 'stiff-arm tackle’ is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff arm to strike an opponent.

Penalty: Penalty Kick
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No mention of yellow card there!

Well at least we both have 14 now! ;)
 
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