This is the question on the lips of many, jus who should play No 8 for the Bokke?
In South Africa the debate is still continuing over who is our premier No 8.
Obviously everyone has their favourite when it comes to the player that should be the link between the forwards and the backs, but let’s compare the candidates.
In the past few months Willem Alberts, Duanne Vermeulen, Ryan Kankowski and Pierre Spies have been mentioned as our best No 8’s. Let’s look at them critically and objectively and consider their weak and strong points, if starting in the current Bokke set-up.
Willem Alberts:
The Lions No 8 has been playing good rugby during the Curry Cup and has performed well over the past 12 months or so. Playing in a struggling Lions team Alberts is often used to get his team over the advantage line.
The old Monnas boykie is a strong, powerfull ball carrier who carries two or three defenders with him over the the advantage line. From 5m out, Alberts is very difficult to stop. Being so big and strong makes Alberts win collisions as well.
However, Alberts might just be too slow to be a modern No 8. At Test level rugby is played at the quickest pace and at least one loose forward needs to be as quick as the backs. With Brussouw and Juan Smith playing at 6 and 7 respectively, the Bokke need a pacy No 8. (Brussouw and Smith are both excellent players and have their own fine qualities, but they are not really known to be the quickest around the park. Yes, they are quick enough to run 15m to the next ruck, but often we see Spies, Bakkies, Matfield or Bekker get to the ball first when when a ball is kicked through).
Thus, Alberts won’t fit in the set-up when Brussouw and Smith plays. Also, Alberts is not competitive enough in the line-outs and our Bokke place huge emphasizes on competing in the line-out, from front to back.
Duanne Vermeulen:
The Western Province loose forward has recently made a move from Bloemfontein to the Cape. At the Cheetahs Vermeulen had often been used as No 8, however, since Vermeulen made the move to WP, he has been playing at blindside flank.
Vermeulen likes his rugby hard and tough. He provides the grunt WP needs since they prefer to play the “fetcher” (Luke Watson) at the back of the scrum. Vermeulen is a strong ball carrier and get through loads of work around the field. He doesn’t mind taking contact and often wins the collisions. He can be used as a strong line-out option at the back of the line-out. He also makes turnovers every now and then.
He has been playing consistently good rugby the past few years, although he has been injured for the first part of the CC.
With Duanne Vermeulen not getting game-time at No 8 it’s difficult to compare him to the other No 8’s objectively. He did well when playing at the back of the scrum at the Cheetahs, but that was almost a year ago. Can we still judge him on that performance?
Although he is a strong line-out option, he doesn’t compete enough on opposing ball. Like Alberts, Vermeulen is not nearly as quick as Kanko or Spies around the field. We need a quick No 8, no question.
Vermeulen is a solid option, and won’t let you down, but he does not seem to have that elusive X-factor.
Ryan Kankowski:
The debate between who is better, between Kanko and Spies have been continuing for years now. This is probably due to the fact that they are the same “type” of player.
Kankowski has been playing behind Spies in the pecking order during the past year and has mostly warmed the Bokke bench.
When he’s had his chance at Test level before, he has done little to prove that he is better than Spies.
He is playing good rugby at the Sharks, during the CC. Kanko is an explosive runner and his speed is his strong point. He often out-runs the backs and has been involved in many tries, running like a wing.
Kanko is a tall, lean and pacy No 8 who can side-step and he is often used as a 8th backline player. He is also a decent line-out option and quick to pick up and make a run from the back of the scrum.
Although Kanko is tall, he is not the strongest No 8 out there. When the game gets tight he often disappears and he definately prefers an open game. When playing against a strong pack of forwards he struggles to cross the advantage line and is often tackled backwards.
In short, he is a poor man’s Spies.
Pierre Spies:
Pierre Spies has all the attributes which it takes to be the best No 8 in the world. His old coach Heyneke Meyer called him a “frats” (freak), due to the fact that he runs as quick as the fastest backline players, bench presses as much as props and jumps a high as locks.
Spies is our current premier No 8 and would’ve had a World Cup medal, had he not missed the tournament through illness.
So what makes Spies the best?
Spies is an explosive runner like Kankowski and as quick as any back out there. In addition, Spies is strong and gets his team over the advantage line with great success. He is a strong and solid line-out option and has stolen many balls from opposing line-outs.
Give Spies enough space and he will run you ragged. What makes Spies better is the way he reacts in broken play. We often see a wing or centre break through our defence or kick a ball through… who’s behind and covering – Spies. He’s often the first or only one there to save the day. We see the same thing on attack when the opponents have to run back to save a try. Spies will often be there first to make the tackle. With Brussouw and Smith not that quick, we need Spies in the Bokke team.
His obvious weak points lie in 2 factors, his defence and his ability to control ball at the back of a scrum. He often misses the first tackle, something he has obviously worked hard on because it seems to be improving. A classic No 8 has “golden hands” and behind the scrum, he is not always up to scratch. In addition, Pierre is rumoured to disappear in tight games, which has lately proved to be a fallacy.
Spies has that elusive X-factor which makes him special. (I’ve included a link at the bottom which proves why he is feared with his X-factor.) Some believe that Spies is as close as we will get to the perfect No 8.
Playing with Fourie Du Preez regularly at the Bulls, they have a good understanding. Spies, du Preez and Steyn has proved themselves as a winning combination.
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Chap hulle het Kroonstad se rooi span gestamp daai dag.Net meriete en dis wit beer belly boere wat hulle coach.
@Fern –
Anyone born there will give up their nationality. Ooops five too many…
At least they hold the Ashes.
234@KingPaul –
Sorry Tokkelos…hehe…my fout…my broer het dieselfde naam as jy en toe kry ek n sms van hom af. Vir n oomblik gedink dis jy oor jy vroeer gesms he.
@trupisero – 238
Het dit ook vanmiddag gemis. Vanoggend 11:00 hier weg om my bakkie op Stellenbosch te gaan kry en toe eers 4:30 terug by die huis gekom nadat ons o.a. in Gordonsbaai gaan draai het.
@Irish Devil –
Carol I’m sorry but you know what I mean.
235@Irish Devil –
I think they will call for a public flogging…hehehe
Gives us some more ammo with which to irritate the shackledraggers with…
One guess who said this on voldy, dont go and peep.
.
.
Hows all… My view on Habana coming going to the stormers: Nothing to do with rugby…Its all about making space for Van der Heever at the bulls. Habana is all about the money and will sell his place for the right price. PLayer agents are also making secret deals which should be illegal as it is in football. SA coaches are never worried about results… They are rewarded for mediocrity. Its all about setting up springbok selections. Van der heever is being fast tracked into the springbok team and part of the process is to give him game time in the S14. With Habana gone he guaranteed selection.
@trupisero –
Must say I’m putting a few Euros on the Boks chaining the shacklegraggers mate on Saturday mate
Cheers I’m outta here.
Good week to all
@superBul – who cares really???
Irish,gotta run mate – time to drop the kids at the pool and then get organised for the week.
cheers all.
@Irish Devil – Yes let me also go everyone is out already.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Nee, heelwat jonger maar ek het borshare 🙂
@SA Barbarians –
Kan nie HEELWAT jonger wees nie…dalk net-net.
@sharky_forever – Still love KZN, the climate, vegetation, golf courses, laid back atmosphere, and will always have a soft(ish) spot for (Natal) Sharks.
Been in CT for many years now and like to support the team where I live
Hier volg ‘n lys van die top 20 try scorers in die Bok trui.
Let op hoe baie van hulle het al vir die WP gespeel of gaan in die volgende jaar vir die WP speel!
TRY SCORERS
PLAYER Tries
Joost Van der Westhuizen 38
Bryan Habana-WP 33
Jaque Fourie-WP 24
Breyton Paulse-WP 24
Percy Montgomery-WP 23
Pieter Rossouw-WP 21
James Small-WP 20
Danie Gerber-WP 19
Jean de Villiers-WP 17
Stefan Terblanche 15
Chester Williams-WP 14
Gerrie Germishuys 12
Ray Mordt 12
Mark Andrews 11
Bob Skinstad-WP 11
Schalk Burger-WP 10
Fourie du Preez 10
André Joubert 10
JP Pietersen 10
André Snyman 10
Joe van Niekerk-WP 10
Marius Joubert-WP 9
Juan Smith 9
André Venter 9
Jannie Engelbrecht-WP 8
Supa
Ek lees nou weer hierdie post van jou oor Spies. Hoekom noem jy nie dat hy wegraak in tight games nie?
@KingPaul – Wel wel wel……..
Dankie vir die bevestigende stats
Geen verdere vrae nie edelagbare. Die bakermat van SA rugby
🙂
@SA Barbarians –
Did you support the Sharks when you lived in Natal?
@KingPaul – Want die Bulle speel deesdae helter skelter rugby 🙂
@KingPaul – Goeie donner ek was amper weg toe sien ek die stront. Top drie spelers daar het nog NOOIT ooit vir WP gespeel nie, daarom is hul spel en drie druk vermoe nog nie opgedons nie. Hou daai lysie want kyk van nou af hoe staan daai stats stil. 😆
Dit was nou n LAM poging daai KP. Clutching for straws.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Yes I did. To this day I still believe that Tommy Bedford was way better than Albie Bates of NTVL
@KingPaul –
Interesting! Top three try scores are from Bulls and Lions (North unions)
@SA Barbarians –
So you change your team as you move around the country? I support the Bulls, even in England and when I lived in Natal.
@superBul – KP, jy moet nou tog nie dat harde onweerlegbare feite stoere blou bevoordeeldheid bederf nie man. Wees nou mooi 🙂
256@KingPaul –
Ek het. Gaan lees net n slag.
@SA Barbarians –
WPTID did the same thing. He supported the Lions at first and then changed to Province.
Wel
Top 20 is 9 rasegte WP spelers!
@Supa Die Bloubul – 25+ years residence, and the maturity gained, qualifies me to support my team. You will learn as you grow more mature, don’t fret 🙂
@Supa Die Bloubul – lol supa same for me
ill always support SA teams against the outsiders , but in SA theres only 1 for me and thats the sharks , and i have been out of natal for many years
@KingPaul –
Die TOP 2 het al hulle Bok driee gedruk toe hulle onder kontrak by die Bulle was.
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