I know the rugby experts are going to take issue with me on this one…but bear with me and just consider something for one second.

I know everyone says John is not a tighthead prop. But damn, we did some good work when both John and Bismarck was on the park together!

In all 11 Test Matches that John Smit and Bismarck Du Plessis started together since 2008, we have lost two.  That includes wins over the British and Irish Lions x2, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand x3 and Australia x 2. We lost only to France in Toulousse and to Australia in Brisbane.

Ja ja, I know, some of you feel stats mean nothing, but the IRB rankings and the quality of the All Blacks are measured on exactly that…stats! So if you don’t care about stats, then don’t concern yourself with who is the best team in World rugby.

Now, we could argue that we should do better with a real tighthead. Maybe we will. Personally, I don’t like Victor too much as a leader in the Bok squad. He is great for the Bulls though, and it is nothing personal against him, its just my feeling. I think Victor is a brilliant player for the Boks, as long as he isn’t captain.

So, do I reason like Divvie and keep John at all costs? Or do we play Bismarck at hooker where he belongs and John Smit gets a “Gary Teichman” ?

Interestingly, of the 4 tests in this period where Bismarck replaced John Smit, we lost 2 (NZ and Ireland) and won 2 (both Wales).

And seeing as the game is now more about the breakdown than the fixed phases, why not?

Maybe we should not be too short sighted about who plays where, but look at what is best for the team…I know its unconventional, and whenever the coaches try something different they get lambasted, but what if it is not mere co-incidence?

John and Bismarck, most successful front row?

46 Responses to Best Bok Front Row?

  • 31

    What I said about Lambie could also hold for Elton Jantjies…but this is also a prodigious talent. Only problem with Jantjies, Aplon and Basson is that they are light and small, whereas you can get away with that with one player, to have 3 together would be disastrous, our centre defense will suffer and we’ll get pushed off the ball a lot, Mossie and Jean do a lot of work at the breakdown.

  • 32

    ek stem saam, los hom op loskop, daar is genoeg jong manne vir die toekoms op vaskop

  • 33

    31@ 4man:
    That’s why I would prefer Mvovo at left wing… bigger, stronger… great defender… very hungry.. good hands.

  • 34

    @ grootblousmile:
    Ja I agree, but Basson deserves the nod….Movovo could be the answer for quite aq few years to come…also incredible ball skills.
    I havent seen, is Stegmann still injured?

  • 35

    34@ 4man:
    Stegmann will be back in the Bulls next week…

  • 36

    @gbs calldo het nogals bietjie vorm gekry die laaste paar games ek skat dat draka snotske reken nel maak n groter impak op sub as caldo, ek persoonlik dink dat coenie adriaan en wp n m@erse goeie voorry is maar dis nou net ek ek sal caldo op die bank hou,aloewel hy en coenie het vir brok en blaaw lelik verniel, hy is nogals sterk

  • 37

    Watching Boobs & All now… a few babers there…. Johan Prinsloo (SARU), Snorrie, Regan Hoskins

  • 38

    @ grootblousmile:
    Give the news, I dont get it here…thought I did, but it was football (soccer)

  • 39

    They have La Vuvuzela’s 3 girls on…

  • 40

    Previewing the 2011 World Cup which is exactly 1 year away… 8 September 2011

  • 41

    @ grootblousmile:
    I bumped into a Kiwi in Rome….and of course the talk turned to rugby, you know what he said to me?…..we have peaked too soon again.
    23 years and waiting….watch this space….I dont think we have lost a game against NZ in the world cup, I may be wrong.
    OK time to eat.
    Enjoy the evening guys.

  • 42

    41@ 4man:
    Cheers

    Man, I do not think this time they’ll choke…. we’ll have to beat them playing better rugby…

  • 43

    Bokke based in Wellington on the North Island… then playing in Auckland, back to Wellington and back to Auckland…

    So only 2 Cities in New Zealand for us….

  • 44

    @ grootblousmile:43 – gbs, Yip not bad for our Boks where they have to play. For once not that much travel. Though is Wellington not a very windy wet place to play? Not too sure just remember when the Sharks played there this year, it was said that about Wellington. We just have to adapt and play in all conditions.

  • 45

    Catch up tomorrow. Been one hectic busy week for me. Not much blogging this week.

    Good luck Sharks for tomorrow night.

  • 46

    I just cannot get the timings right here these days………

    I will wait till match time….trouble is then it is just serious rugby stuff!

    Ho Humm!!

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