PaarlBok said:
Disco to be honest and in my opinion Kaino was kak all S14 season for the Blues and the tests against the Bokke had zero influense or impact.
Yeah, agree.
I'd even put Schalk in his one performance last week in front of him. Myself think Elsom was pretty good in the last test. I'll go so far and predict he'll have just an important role to play for you boys this week.
Disagree. Burger only played one full game, and I thought he went OK, not great. He stunk in his cameo off the bench. To be honest, I've lost a lot of respect for Burger on the park over the last few years.
I'll agree Juan Smith was solid but like I said I prefer two TO the ball flankers like Smit & PoCock or Schalk & Brussouw. Seems these days if you rule the breakdowns you win the test.
I don't agree with your selections. Smith and Elsom are hard toilers. Brussouw and Pocock are fetchers with high workrates. Any combination of Brussouw/Pocock + Smith/Elsom I think will work well. Schalk is not a fetcher like Brussouw or Pocock, I think that he is probably more similar to Smith that Brussouw really. I really like the balance the Boks have with Brussouw and Smith, and think there's no room for Burger in the starting side.
And I'd pick Juan Smith just ahead of Elsom in my 3N team. Elsom's workrate has been huge in the games he's been back, but Juan Smith's workrate has been huge in every game he's played.
I have plenty of time for both of them as players (now) - the change in Elsom since he has come back from the NH is very noticeable. Elsom used to look a little soft around the edges, but has hardened up. My one criticism of him is that he struggles to link with the backs - outside of that, he's a very good player. Elsom will not put on a huge hit, but he's not that type of player.
