Springbok squad for end of year tour

[sand_man]

10 Ruan Pienaar:
Goal-kicking erratic again. In first half more assured and fewer errors than against Leicester, more judicious decision-making, better distribution, kicking out of hand better. Kicked 22 drop-out straight into touch; could commit defenders more; ineffective in stopping Brad Barritt's momentum for his try.
5/10

Against Saracens, Ruan not fairing much better and that against a club side...

10 Ruan Pienaar: Three times kicked into touch-in-goal, once passed into touch, dropped one high ball. His misdirected kick led to Leicester’s counter-attack try. Cut the defence once nicely but overall an unhappy game for him.
5/10

Against Leicester...

 

[sand_man]

Must confess I enjoy Jacobs. If only he were 10cm taller and 12kgs heavier. His slight demeanor is his handicap, nothing else... he has heart, talent and a good understanding of the game and how to read it...

 

[Zenbaas]

Must confess I enjoy Jacobs. If only he were 10cm taller and 12kgs heavier. His slight demeanor is his handicap, nothing else... he has heart, talent and a good understanding of the game and how to read it...

He is a good player but his poor defense has just become a little too much to bear, we need a solid mid-field.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

yeah, I like him too but he's not good for our midfield unfortunately ......... man, are we missing Jean now eh.

 

[LancelotSA]

Against Saracens, Ruan not fairing much better and that against a club side...

Against Leicester...

I see you conveniently added "against a club side" to your argument as 5 and 5 is better than 4 and 3 in my eyes. Add to this the fact that he was not being served by the world's greatest scrum half and it negates your argument of who the opposition was.

Bottom line is Morne was supposed to be a god. When Ruan "failed" the comparison between the two was dredged up repeatedly by some parties. Morne has now failed twice. I think it is only fair that this gets the same "exposure". He cost us a test match...

EDIT : Actually in reading those reviews, especially the Saracens one, it is like chalk and cheese. Ruan's rating may also be low but the words said are actually a lot more positive, besides his goal kicking, which I have always noted as a short coming when compared to Morne.

 

[Ou grote]

Ok, that game actually made me feel good.

PdV is clearly using this tour to try various things. And in my view that is exactly what this end of year tour should be about. We have this tendency to want to win at all costs, which is probably fair, but then the coaches tend to just keep using the tried and tested without trying new things.

We are blooding new players. We are trying new combinations. And then at the end we had a glimpse of what our future front row could look like going forward.

Well done Boks.

I don't mind the coach trying out new things.

I'd just like to be warned in advance, just in case I went to spend R500+ on a ticket for the match.

 

[sand_man]

Bottom line is Morne was supposed to be a god. When Ruan "failed" the comparison between the two was dredged up repeatedly by some parties. Morne has now failed twice. I think it is only fair that this gets the same "exposure". He cost us a test match...

Bit unfair to claim he cost us the test match same way it would be unfair to say Ruan cost us defeats to club sides. 15 man game, rugby...

EDIT : Actually in reading those reviews, especially the Saracens one, it is like chalk and cheese. Ruan's rating may also be low but the words said are actually a lot more positive, besides his goal kicking, which I have always noted as a short coming when compared to Morne.

Chalk and cheese is also an apt description for the disparity in strength and class between France and Saracens. One would expect the dirt trackers to have out performed the rumble and tumble has been ex pats that are Saracens, Ruan included. There is no shame in losing to France. They've beaten NZ in NZ after all but there is a certain amount of embarrassment in losing to English club sides.... twice...

 

[LancelotSA]

Bit unfair to claim he cost us the test match same way it would be unfair to say Ruan cost us defeats to club sides. 15 man game, rugby...

Ruan was not sent off for a trip resulting in rugby being a 14 man game....

Chalk and cheese is also an apt description for the disparity in strength and class between France and Saracens. One would expect the dirt trackers to have out performed the rumble and tumble has been ex pats that are Saracens, Ruan included. There is no shame in losing to France. They've beaten NZ in NZ after all but there is a certain amount of embarrassment in losing to English club sides.... twice...

Yes, it boils down to individual performances. The Ruan reviews are better than Morne's. You were so kind as to remind us that it is a 15 man game and a player can only play as well as those around him. Morne was surrounded by the best and failed. Ruan was surrounded by the dirt trackers and got a better review!

Perhaps it would be worthwhile posting the review of Ruan from the Italian match. Unfortunately they did not rate him as he was not on long enough but it still makes better reading than Morne's:

21 Ruan Pienaar (on for Steyn, 67th min):
Sound performance, despite a kick that didn't find touch. Just not enough time to be rated.

And again I will reiterate that I initially refrained from bringing up the topic until someone else mentioned his performance. However, it has been noted by me that when Ruan does something wrong someone is bound to make a big deal out of it. Morne has had two shockers in a row now...

And it is great bringing up stats when you know that finding stats on Saracens vs NZ is going to be tough to come by...

 

[Devill]

two shockers in a row Steyn ....... hmmm. I also think Jacobs has been given enough chances now and needs to be replaced. Kirchner is also not living up to anything. Rest of the guys had decent game but I agree Smit should go back to hooker .... maybe make Bissie a prop

Brussouw .... man, that chap just plays his heart out week after week, what a player. Kanko was also a bit better .... and Deysel did the job.

Kirschner did nothing wrong imo. Could you please give me an example or two of why you think he failed?

Smit's problem is that as soon as bismarck is healthy again there must be a place in the team. Bismarck has 10-1 been one of the two best hookers in world rugby this year. Thats why John was moved to prop, because they could no longer exclude bismarck.

Jacobs look a lot better but not great yet. I say let Olivier start and see what happens.

Kanko had a nice run and also improved a lot from last week. Still will not lift spies from the nr 8 spot.

Fourie and Brussouw were great... but then again they always are...

Habanna must really stop his s@#$@#t on defence. he almost cost us a try when he was out of position.

Yip, and not one person has dug up the Morne vs Ruan thread. I wonder why?

From Rugby365 for the Italian game:
From Rugby365 for the French game :

Oh, I see why things have been so quiet now...

I see you conveniently added "against a club side" to your argument as 5 and 5 is better than 4 and 3 in my eyes. Add to this the fact that he was not being served by the world's greatest scrum half and it negates your argument of who the opposition was.

Bottom line is Morne was supposed to be a god. When Ruan "failed" the comparison between the two was dredged up repeatedly by some parties. Morne has now failed twice. I think it is only fair that this gets the same "exposure". He cost us a test match...

EDIT : Actually in reading those reviews, especially the Saracens one, it is like chalk and cheese. Ruan's rating may also be low but the words said are actually a lot more positive, besides his goal kicking, which I have always noted as a short coming when compared to Morne.

Thanks for the great giggle Lance, I am on my way to go write a test and I really needed it.

Did you see how RP spread the ball better than morne? Did you see RP have some great runs?

Ps against Italy they used a new ball... Remember how we always use to struggle when kicking for goal in Aus? Its because they used a Mitre ball and we used a Gilbert.... But I must say ruan missing with the same ball that they practice with is the same as Morne missing with a ball he has kicked very little with

So Lance can you tell us about the glorious rugby RP has been playing?

The experiment with Ruan failed. That was the clear message when he was not picked as flyhalf by his provincial team.

Maybe one day when he first plays a season or two to shape into a fly half he will be great. Now he is struggling against a club team....

Morne has had two shltty games, but RP has done nothing to even suggest that he is a better flyhalf.

 

[Kabraal]

However, it has been noted by me that when Ruan does something wrong someone is bound to make a big deal out of it. Morne has had two shockers in a row now...

Did you just make a big deal about Morne doing something wrong.

Are you seriously comparing media review scores? **** you're desperate for Morne to fail aren't you? Lulz some random media writer gave Morne 3/10 and Pienaar 4/10. Lulzlulzlulz.

You are quick to point out that Morne soley cost us the game against France. Don't really know how you came to that conclusion. Yet you completely forget the season he's had. You judge him on two miss kicks. Yet you won't judge him on kicks that won the lions tour and tri nations?

You are EXACTLY the same as the "provintialists" you point fingers too. EXACTLY.

**** seriously. They should just play Pienaar to keep the Shark boys happy.

And again I will reiterate that I initially refrained from bringing up the topic until someone else mentioned his performance.

Why the **** bring it up then? We all know Morne is not having the best tour. There's a lot of players not having the blinders that had this season. We know.

 

[Ou grote]

...

Thanks for the great giggle Lance, I am on my way to go write a test and I really needed it.

Did you see how RP spread the ball better than morne? Did you see RP have some great runs?

Ps against Italy they used a new ball... Remember how we always use to struggle when kicking for goal in Aus? Its because they used a Mitre ball and we used a Gilbert.... But I must say ruan missing with the same ball that they practice with is the same as Morne missing with a ball he has kicked very little with

So Lance can you tell us about the glorious rugby RP has been playing?

The experiment with Ruan failed. That was the clear message when he was not picked as flyhalf by his provincial team.

Maybe one day when he first plays a season or two to shape into a fly half he will be great. Now he is struggling against a club team....

Morne has had two shltty games, but RP has done nothing to even suggest that he is a better flyhalf.

I almost died of shock when I saw Steyn miss a 2nd kick.
But then I noticed that the Italian guys were kicking even worse.
Must be a reason for that.

 

[APoc184]

Unfortunately I missed the whole game due to a wedding and have not had the chance to watch it on the PVR yet.
How did Brussow play?
Scrums okay?
How did Kanko play?
and
Will we klap the Irish with a performance like that?

 

[Devill]

Unfortunately I missed the whole game due to a wedding and have not had the chance to watch it on the PVR yet.
How did Brussow play?
Scrums okay?
How did Kanko play?
and
Will we klap the Irish with a performance like that?

Great.
No we struggled till BJ and Beast came on and Smit moved to hooker
Better than last week, had one very good run, but nowhere near spies' calliber yet.
No, we wont playing like that. But if we scrum better from the start and we continue to improve we will beat them.

 

[GreGorGy]

Steyn: Fighting the whole year as a key play maker for any team that fields him. S14 Glory. B&I Glory. Tri-Nations Glory. Currie Cup Glory.
RP: I believe he played some rugby this year, though not anywhere near as much. No S14 glory. No B&I Glory (shame, maybe). No Tri-Nations glory. No CC Glory.

I wonder which of the two will suffer the most fatigue by now? One should be fresh and wild and rearing to go. The other should be slumped over a chair crying from sore joints and muscles.

I see neither happening: Morné has indeed finally shown signs of fatigue while Ruan has simply failed to step up to the plate. This end of year tour is a joke that never should have been inflicted on the "A" team. Rather, the likes of RP and his B-grade companions should have been fielded from the beginning, giving them game time and the chance to showcase their abilities. This has not happened. Instead, France and a couple of club sides are boasting how they defeated the best damn team in the world.

It would have been a far less impressive boast if they were forced to tell the truth - they pipped the B side at the post...

 

[LancelotSA]

**** you're desperate for Morne to fail aren't you? Lulz some random media writer gave Morne 3/10 and Pienaar 4/10. Lulzlulzlulz.

You are quick to point out that Morne soley cost us the game against France. Don't really know how you came to that conclusion. Yet you completely forget the season he's had. You judge him on two miss kicks. Yet you won't judge him on kicks that won the lions tour and tri nations?

You are EXACTLY the same as the "provintialists" you point fingers too. EXACTLY.

**** seriously. They should just play Pienaar to keep the Shark boys happy.

Why the **** bring it up then? We all know Morne is not having the best tour. There's a lot of players not having the blinders that had this season. We know.

Ha ha ha. Now that was a funny post. Did someone once tell you that the more you swear the more likely you are to get your point across. You do realise it makes your post look like a Christmas tree with tall the stars in it?

Anyway, as already stated someone else brought up Morne's performance, I then posted the ratings and then all your Morne fan boys came flying out of the woodwork. In previous matches when he has kicked well you have all been very quick to comment. I really felt it was only fair that we provide balance on this forum. But it appears clear that some of you do not like the negative games he has to be discussed.

I'll be sure to continue to provide balance and point out every error he makes in future. You can continue singing his praises. As a result we will have a forum which provides a balance view! Thank you

 

[LancelotSA]

Steyn: Fighting the whole year as a key play maker for any team that fields him. S14 Glory. B&I Glory. Tri-Nations Glory. Currie Cup Glory.
RP: I believe he played some rugby this year, though not anywhere near as much. No S14 glory. No B&I Glory (shame, maybe). No Tri-Nations glory. No CC Glory.

There we go, I was waiting for that. The usual "maak die Bulle almal Bokke" crap.

 

[Devill]

There we go, I was waiting for that. The usual "maak die Bulle almal Bokke" crap.

Still waiting for those great RP moments that would see him replace MS...

Care to answer my previous posts' questions?

You and MH both just conv. do not answer my questions and that makes me think you can not.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Bru, wtf are these questions I'm supposed to be answering? Are you the Inquisition now, that I have to be on the lookout for when you ask questions so that I have to answer?

Ffs, I made my observations about people that weren't playing well on Saturday ...... do I grill everyone when they make their observations, no, so lay the fsck off. Geezuz

 

[Devill]

Bru, wtf are these questions I'm supposed to be answering? Are you the Inquisition now, that I have to be on the lookout for when you ask questions so that I have to answer?

Ffs, I made my observations about people that weren't playing well on Saturday ...... do I grill everyone when they make their observations, no, so lay the fsck off. Geezuz

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=3329483&postcount=98

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=3366350&postcount=189

Mmmm just those two. Next time I will pm you after a day of non-response, does that sound fair?

Sorry if you missed my posts but I know you are a pretty active poster in this thread and also the fact that the post was made in the last two pages I just thought you would see it and reply.

So now is your chance.

EDIT: @ Gregory: Lance is kind of like Julius. It is only wrong when others that do not agree with him do it. Don't get to excited about lances opinion as IMO he knows either very little about rugby or he just likes to give anyone that does not agree with him a go, no matter how silly his argument.

But hay thats just my opinion.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

^^ Post reported


^ - Still with the Kirchner thing ........ "he has failed to impress me" - his all round game is lacking so if he catches a high ball instead of dropping means squat. Answered?