The stocks of the Esterhuizen/Moodie combination dropped today.
Neither got the ball much.

Moodie ruined his best opportunity with white line fever, which was a problem for many players in this game. 

Willie Leroux often popped up in the center area to draw and pass for the wingers.
Willemse also seemed to run the ball a lot himself and did not seem to get his centers into the game. 

It must be difficult playing in a backline with Willie Leroux as his multi-tasking often makes other jobs redundant. 

Willie is usually a link between units. I didn't watch the game so can't be certain about those specifics. They have various arrangements. It's actually usually harder for Willie under Erasputin. Very clunky structures. This was always going to be the kind of game where the Boks got loose. I don't we can draw too many conclusions from it. 

So you just copy and paste your match analysis template, without watching the game...

SB

From postings by Mozart and l'Gande Merdse it si obvious they do not watch matches and when they do they have weird impressions they get from what happened in matches.   

Now lets get back to the Esterhuizen Moodie combination and see why it did not work out well yesterday.   The problem has nothing to do with either Willemse aqnd Le Roux.    It had everything to do with Etserhuizen and the same problems encountered yesterday were present in 2019 as well.

From his junior yreazrs Esterhuizen had one benefit and a few negati ves that will always make him a frnge player when it comes to selection.    The only positive is he is physically very strong and carry balls well in traffic the negatives are as follows:-

*    He is pace-deficient and can be a liability when it comes to defense and  flowing attacking play.   When making a break he often cause ball possession losses like happened yesterday.   If that case where eh broke a tackle he ended up losing ball possession near to the tryline.  In the case ocf De Allendxe he would have sc ored tghat try or c aused the sided to retain possession and score a try.   

*    Esterhuizen from the fcirst time I saw him playing had a problem with ball recipient.   It happened yesterday just beforfe the end of the match again .   He knocked o/n a ball and the attack ended.    This happened against weak opposition - if it happened against stronger opposition it could lead to catastrophic results for his team.

*     he is not good in passing balls either and that neutralize functioning of the no 13 center..

*    Pace-deficiency  has a detrimental impact in his defense ability,   Against weaker teams it is not as evident as it is against stronger teams.   His missed tackle of the AB wing in the warming up test is a typical example of what happens when it com  to defense.  

I think Esterhuizen was left out of the 2019 WC squad for the same reasons as was always evident in him.   He is a fringe player when it comes to international rugby and will always a remain a fringe player. when it com es to international rugby.   He will start in the game against Tonga - but would not be selected in the match against Ireland and in the play-offs,

I am sorry for Moodie after yesterday - he is a star backline player in both the outside center and wing positions.   He did not shine yesterday and the problem in the main was at 12,

Yes unfortunately in a game where they should have shone and pushed for a starting spot they did not

Was disappointing

Willie had a crap game

They pushed for their starting spots against the All Blacks and Wales...good opposition. And they both passed with flying colors.

This game means nothing, to anyone.

Say they each scored a bunch of tries in this game...would it move the meter 1mm? 

No, of course not, it was free-for-all...a nothing game against a sub-club-level side.

The AB forwards collapsed in that game and the backline could th rive in that game.    

Sorry - there were instances yesterday where especially Esterhuizen had opportunities to shine and he fluffed it against a weak team.  In the famous A B  test he missed a tackle badly on the AB wing who ran through the  tackle attempt easily.   - just an example to mention. Against  the A B's  his real perfformance would have been rated as 7/10 yesterday it was less than 6,5 out of 10.   I  do not think the coaching trust him enough to give him game time against  str onger teams  in the WC and think he will not be selected against Ireland and in the  play-offs unless De Allende is injured.   

Personally I think that Willemse will make a better center than Esterhuizen is.   When Kriel was injured in 2019 the coaching staff called up Willemse.  - not Esterhuizen - and I think that situation still prevails .

Duplication

The match against Romania proved nothing.

yes, Mike

We know. You're the objective rugby fan who never changes his mind regardless of new information.

Basically, AE can only play himself into contention in games where our forwards fail and he has to rescue the game singlehandedly.

If he doesn't shine against a shit team, where it's a big free-for-all...then he's not good enough. If he shines against good teams when our forwards are dominant, he's not good enough either. 

Anything that DDA does well, ever, in any game and against any opposition, is undeniable proof that DDA is the man.

We know.

Don't believe Rasneib have any understanding of the backline talent in their hands, also don't believe the pair qualify to coach such an abundance of skill, speed and talent. Eddie Jones would be licking his chops at the prospect of coaching the current Boks.

I agree, Deeny.

It's packed with future stars right now.

Oh we agree?,,,hahaha

My backline is not a lot different to yours the only difference being Williams ahead of Faf.

The Boks have never had as much talent, skill and speed in ALL of their history. Problem is you need someone who's familiar with driving a Ferrari.....not an ox-wagon.

Esterhuizen and Moodie in a nothing game should have ripped the defence to shreds

They did not, which was very disappointing

The truth will dawn on the Esterhuizen fans that he is not any better than Allende. Allende I think is a bit faster, is a better fetcher and has better skills. Not much in it but the edge goes to Allende who of course also is more experienced at test level. 

I thought Willie got better and better as the match wore on. The way he timed his pass to put away Mpimpi was superb. Mpimpi is under rated.

Faf was a revelation at fly half. The way he can riffle out long passes from the fly half position opens up opportunities for our backline. He has a very adequate boot as well. Small as he is his defence is amazing. 

I would like to see Willemse at 13. Moodie on the wing. Willie at 15. 

Backline-

Faf,  Libbok Kolbe, Allende, Willemse, Moodie and Willie. 

Reserves Pollard, Williams, Kriel. 

I have to say I am close to going with Mpimpi. He is a very good all round wing. Adds a bit of grunt as well. 

Wonder why ou Deus didn't watch the game?

One thing I don't get is why some people are down on Willemse.

The guy is in my top 3 at the moment.

I watch him and I see quality...pedigree.

Beeno, Faf reminds of those tumbling midgets in the circus. He makes a tackle and is back on his feet almost instantly. Little legend as far as I'm concerned.

Willemse has grown as a player, still work in progress and is yet to reach maturity but he adds to the dimension of the attack. I'd have him ahead of Willie.

Willemse is pure class - has it all, has amazing feet and is physical

Likes to be in the action, always looking to be involved

I think the backline against the Irish would be asx follows:-

15   Le Roux

14   Kolbe

13   Kriel   -  if I pick th e team he would net be in  it.

12   De  Allende 

11   Arendse

10   Willemse

  0    De Klerrk

Bench    Libbock and Hendriks 

Suroprisingly I may favor moving De Allende to 13, Pick Willemse or Esterhuizedn at 12 and put Libbok in the starting  line-up and iof corcusnmatnces permiot kewep a bench position  opewmn fdor Pollarde.   

Team to play Ireland should be

15. Willemse

14. Kolbe

13. Moodie

12. de Allende

11. Mapimpi

10. Libbok

9. Faf

1. Kitshoff

2. Mbonambi

3. Malherbe

4. Etzebeth

5. RG

6. Kolisi

7. PSDT

8. Wiese

16. Fourie 17. Ox 18. Nyakane 19. Kleyn 20. Kwagga 21. Williams 22. Pollard 23. Esterhuizen

I like that team!!!