Given the squad my side to play Oz

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Jul 27, 2025, 21:25

15 Fassi


14 Kolbe


13 Moodie


12 Willemse


11 Arendse


10 Sacha


9 Williams


1 Ox


2 Marx


3 Wilco


4 Eben


5 RG


6 Kolisi


7 PSDT


8 Cobus Wiese


16 Wessels 17 Boan Venter 18 Nthlabakanye 19 Lood 20 Kwagga 21 vd Bergh 22 Pollard 23 de Allende


The omission of Roos forces one to select a non specialist 8 which is pathetic really



Jul 27, 2025, 22:06

Is Wessels your bench hooker?

Jul 27, 2025, 22:10

Yes as there is no point going with Bongi aged 34 - time to move on


Two of Dweba, Andre Hugo Venter or Grobelaar should have been in the squad


For the record I rate Wessels both as a hooker and loosehead equally

Jul 27, 2025, 22:28

David, you absolute numbskull...Rassie has to select the team the same team for the next 4 games. Whatever side he'll want to start with in NZ is the side that he HAS TO pick against Oz.


...or do you think he'll be able to lucky packet his way through winning in NZ?



Jul 27, 2025, 23:11

It’s not Rassie’s side it’s the side I’d pick against Oz, NZ and the Argies


We know Rassie will have Willemse at 15, de Allende at 12, Jessie at 13, Bongi starting, Lood or Powder Puff at 5 and probably Kwagga at 8

Jul 27, 2025, 23:45

Come now Dave, admit it….you are selecting Wessels as a hooker.

Jul 28, 2025, 00:16

Nope Moz I’m making the call based on the fact that I’m not continuing to select Bongi given his age


It was either Marnus vd Merwe at 2 with Wessels at 1 or Wessels at 2 with Venter at 1


I prefer Wessels and Venter on the bench


Get it?

Jul 28, 2025, 05:19

Dave


A while ago I posted the team likely to play ahainst Australia at home - nit not necessarily aganst the AB's in the away matches against New Zealand,


15 Fassie. 14 Van der Merwe, 13 Kriel, 12 De Allende, 11 Kolbe, 10 Sacha, 9 Williams. 8 Wiese.

7 Du Toit. 6 Kolisi, 5 De Jager, 4 Etzebeth. 3 Du Toit, 2 Marx. 1 Nche


16 Van der Merwe, 17 Venter, 18 Koch. 19 Snyman. 20 Nortje. 21 Kwagga., 22 Van dn Berg, 23 Willemse.


I can live with your suggestions and believe that goven the squad there may be differences of opinion iro some positions like starting with Willemse at full back - but the Pollard will be on the bench and Fassi will nt be used,

Jul 28, 2025, 08:07

You must have meant Wilco at 3

Jul 28, 2025, 08:54

On the one hand we have this idea that the days of 12s hitting gaps, stepping, offloading and generally doing backline things is over...and this is why DDA is supposedly the best in the world...because he does no backline things.


But then we talk about wanting Willemse at 12.


Outside of the wingers, Willemse is probably the most naturally inclined to step, look for gaps and take chances. You'd struggle to find a player more opposite to DDA.


Welcome to the David logic.


If Dave actually believed his own nonsense, he'd be wanting a like for like swap of DDA.


Now, he's gonna tell us that Willemse is strong and can't defend his channel...blah blah blah. But remember, DDA is the perfect 12, he's exactly what modern 12s should be. He doesn't pass because it's not needed, and he doesn't really get involved in backline moves because it's not needed. He's rarely involved in try scoring plays.


So, if you read between the lines, Dave wants Rassie to take Willemse, a backline superstar of a player, who got to where he is because of his attacking instincts, and his ability to create for others, and turn him into a player that doesn't pass, doesn't create and just puts his head down and runs right at the opposition.


TLDR: Willemse and DDA could not be more opposite. But only one of them is suited to the "modern 12 game"...and it's not Willemse.


Colour me confused.

Jul 28, 2025, 11:02

The below is Willemse, basically doing all the things that are supposedly no longer part of 12 play.


...and yet you want him at 12, Dave?



Jul 28, 2025, 11:22

Do I really have to go over this again?


Listen and take it in this time


DA and AE are in their 30’s we need to look to

the future - we don’t have like for like options coming through, Hooker is about the closest but hardly a wrecking ball


The best younger option at 12 by a country mile is Willemse especially considering we have Fassi at 15


With Willemse at 12 we would have to change the way we attack given his creativity - would it work at test level, hell only knows? But if anyone could make it work it’s Willemse. Are you able to comprehend this logic?


As Shark for a change rightly pointed out, Willemse is a big unit these days so is certainly equipped to take it up in traffic when need be, but his go to would be trying to attack the limited space there is out there


So nothing has changed, there is very little space in test rugby but if one guy can unlock the little that there is, it’s Willemse so I’d be selecting him at 12 and giving him an extended run there to see what he can do


Will it work - who knows

Jul 28, 2025, 11:24

Well playing Willemse at 12 and allowed to play his Natural game, would eventually mean a break away from the crash ball DDA….


And embrace the more running Rugby oriented style. So you should be happy about that Plum?? You sound sceptical and unhappy?

Jul 28, 2025, 12:13

I’d have Hooker on the bench once the Willemse test at 12 has taken place - for now it would be the experienced DA or AE on the bench as security if the Willemse experiment is not working

Jul 28, 2025, 13:28

Not bad team, but I would put Hooker on the bench over Dud.


However, for me Willemse is better at fullback. Has more time to counter and can use is instincts, although, he did really well for the Stormers there a few seasons ago.


What about Marnus as the backup hooker.


I don't see your man Vincent T, he could play 8 or Jean Luc who can also play there and probably will be Rassies pick.


Wiese is a good option on the bench that can cover Lock, 7 and 8

Jul 28, 2025, 13:40

For me it’s about getting the best 15 on the field which means Willemse and Fassi starting - it’s a no brainer


So Fassi at 15 and Willemse at 12


de Allende on the bench for now, Hooker later


Vincent Tsituka stupidly did not make the squad


JL du Preez at would be good but I’ve gone with the younger Cobus Wiese at 8


It points out how stupid that not selecting a specialist 8 is and it’s obvious that that should be Roos - Rassie is really pissing me off with how he is treating Roos


Marnus vd Merwe is an option on the bench - I just don’t get that at 29 he is ahead of Andre Hugo Venter and Grobelaar

 
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