APV1 says...

Anyone seen any posts from gazzabok recently? I'd like to know if he's paid up, or whether he's a charity-cheating scumbag...

"gazzabok says...

The English are delusional. That was't a competition once the Boks settled into the game.

Boks will win by 20+ tomorrow. If not, note this comment and I will donate 10 quid to Wooden Spoon.

Posted 13:12 15th June 2012"

I'm going to keep harassing the threads until they pay up. Firstly one shouldn't make such statements if you're not willing to put your money where your mouth is.

Then there's the matter of doing a (very worthwhile) charity out of promised funds. Added to which, another poster and I have agreed to match the £10 pledge once it's been paid, so gazzabok is potentially doing them out of even more, based on a flippant comment.

I have no doubt that gazzabok can afford to spare £10 and I'd like to know that they've paid up.

Ed - can you help track down the elusive gazzabok, as I've not seen any posts from them since their pledge? Thanks!

Posted 10:08 27th June 2012

Dylbull says...

Meyer has said all along, that he wanted to win the series against England, first and foremost, and because of the little time he had to prepare he went with with players and a style that they all knew.

This Provincialism nonsense needs to stop, stats show he hasn't used any more bulls than previous teams, and if you're talking about the Bulls style when he was coach, was that the bulls style that one 2 Super Rugby titles, currie cups and a team that put 60 points past the reds, 30 points past the chiefs in a final?

having said all that, there need to be some changes or adjustments....

I think the following positions are secure 1. Beast 2. Biz 3. J Du Plessis 4. Etzebeth 7. Alberts 8. Spies 9. Hougaard 11. Habana 12. Steyn 13. De Villiers 14. Pietersen

Where we need to look carefully at changes 5.... I'm not sure Kruger is good enough, we need Bekker. 6. Coetzee was superb, but was he better than Schalk or Brussow could be? 10.... the biggest head ache, Morne improved in his attacking play, especially in the 2nd test and had his backline moving, but with the emerging talent of Goosen and the impressive displays of Lambie is he safe?

15..... if Lambie is in at 10, who plays 15? for me it should be Pieterson from the Stormers.

Posted 18:29 26th June 2012

bloemboy says...

@Dubull, a change to your suggested lineup, and a suggested real bench:

1. Beast 2. Biz 3. J Du Plessis 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Brussow 7. Burger 8. Alberts 9. Hougaard 10. Goosen 11. Habana 12. F Steyn 13. De Villiers 14. Pietersen 15. Lambie

16. Oosthuisen 17. Strauss 18. Juandre Kruger 19. Ashley Johnston 20. any one of Charl McLeod, Sarel Pretorius or Piet van Zyl 21. Peter Grant 22. Gio Aplon

I wish I had space for Kolisi, Vermeulen, de Jongh, Mvovo, Basson and Joe Pieterson, but there are only 22 in a match day. If Pieterson can play 10, then I would select him and de Jongh on the bench. As far as Ashley Johnston goes, I rate him as the best impact player around at the moment. For Ruan Pienaar, I have always been a fan, though it is time to consider the next generation to back Hougaard up and Piet van Zyl is making a strong case while Pretorius seems to have been forgotten.

Posted 06:19 26th June 2012

boksmashoffice says...

As John Smit said in a press conference ' excuses are for losers'. I hope this is the last time I will be hearing excuses. Time HM fronted up and backed up all the talk about pride in the jersey. He has to pick the best players(not just the ones who play for the bulls) and develop them into world cup winners. He is at a better starting point than Jake in 2007. There are better players available. They just have to be picked. Hopefully there will be midweek games when the Autumn tours come around to develop the like of Elton Jaantjies.

Posted 22:41 25th June 2012

Dylbull says...

My Bok team for The Championship...

1. Beast 2. Biz 3. J Du Plessis 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Burger/ Brussow 7. Alberts 8. Spies 9. Hougaard 10. Goosen 11. Habana 12. F Steyn 13. De Villiers 14. Pietersen 15. Lambie

Posted 13:20 25th June 2012

rugby_lord says...

Where is Brussow? Pocock is gonna kill SA at the break down. 6. Brussow, 7 Alberts, 8 Duane V. Spies and Burger as the lossie cover. Locks and front row is fine. Hougaard needs more game time at 9. Goosen/Lambie @ 10. Lambie/Taute @ 15. Move JPP to 13 and Aplon to 14. Keep JDV on the bench. Or JDV @ 13 but he needs to play 13 for the Stormers, not 12 to develop his game.

Posted 09:21 25th June 2012

Dingbat32 says...

@sandal, I think Meyer is referring to the retirement of some world class players, new captain, injuries, and a new coaching regime. That is obviously a challenge. It is telling that he is feeling the heat, yet the press in England is talking about tYhe draw as being a positive. I am happy to give Meyer time to settle in and set up a 15 man, yes 15 man, game for Boks.

Posted 22:33 24th June 2012

JayStarr says...

@ FISH: Agree 100%. HM has said many times that he'll only pick the players who are in form... but then he contradicts himself with his selections. Kirchner, Steyn, Olivier and Potgieter are not even the THIRD best in their positions in SA - yet they got starting spots!

I was not surprised at all that we didn't do well in this test. I mean, what do you expect if you have Spies, Hougaard, Steyn and Olivier as your 8,9,10 and 12? Do you think they're going to do anything other than play like the Bulls? (The Bulls who lost their last 3 games by the way...)

HM needs to be weaned off the comforting Bulls-flavoured dummy he reaches for every time he has to make a difficult decision... Because when he eventually starts picking the best players, we'll be very tough to beat.

@ sandal: I also noticed that comment - it sounded to me like he implied that the Springboks have fallen behind the rest of the world, i.e. during the PdV era. So besides it being nonsense (PdV had a similar winning ratio as Jake White), it sounded like a veiled excuse - as in "I've done well with the mess I've been handed". It's absurd, because HE picked this team! These are the players HE thought were the best players! You can't blame THIS on PdV as well! Lol...

Besides, if the Sharks win their remaining games, SA teams will make up 3 of the 6 teams in the Super Rugby qualifiers! So who we have fallen behind I'm not sure.

@ philipjfry: Lol! Good one...

@ BokkeJ: Agree with your list, only think Grant has been better than Jantjies this season. Grant has the best kicking % in Super Rugby I think. Everyone always says what a "cool head" Steyn has - but I don't think there is anyone cooler than Grant!

@ ManWarrior: Lol... "that Morné Steyn - Olivier link worked perfectly... if compared to a cul de sac" Good one...

@ bloemboy: Lol - you forgot Hugh Bladen..!

Posted 21:26 24th June 2012

Saffastormer says...

I look forward to the return of

Andries Bekker

Duane Vermeulen

Schalk Burger

And hope for the inclusion of:

Siya Kolisi

Peter Grant

Juane De Jonge

And hope for the retention of:

Gio Aplon

Elton Jaantjies

Yes I know they're all Stormers bar 1, but surely better than whats currently on display?

Posted 19:47 24th June 2012

BillyMutt2 says...

@bloemboy: really funny, I enjoyed that! Coenie Oosthuizen, I had a good chuckle. And I agree, don't know why they keep Morne Steyn around, the guy just plods along most of the time.

Posted 17:27 24th June 2012