Simnikiwe Xabanisa said in his article in Sunday Times a Lot of teams, players and coaches have much to prove in this year’s Super rugby season. He picked the 15 he feels who have the most to play for. Go ahead name your players.
Here is Simnikiwe Xabanisa list
15 Pat Lambie: Having already played at this level, Lambie doesn’t have to prove that he belongs. Rather he has a new position at which to do it (flyhalf), not to mention having to contend with the second-season blues.
14 Lionel Mapoe: He was allegedly earning R100000 a month at Sharks, hoping to be freed from his contract at the Cheetahs, so one can only imagine how much the Lions paid him to betray the Durban team. One hopes his recent injuries don’t mean he’s injury-prone.
13 Waylon Murray: His fall from grace after a Super14 season which saw him nearly make the 2007 World Cup side has been rapid. He showed glimpses of that form in the Currie Cup. Now he must show he still has it at this level.
12 Meyer Bosman: For years the most underrated inside centre in South Africa, Bosman is now part of a great team at the Sharks and has to perform like a top dog.
11 Bryan Habana: It should be a shock that a man who has won as much as he has has to prove himself all over again. But this is South Africa, where rugby supporters have goldfish memories. Bet on him to prove a few people wrong – again.
10 Elton Jantjies: John Mitchell, an unimpressable Kiwi, has installed the 20-year-old as his No1 flyhalf despite him having no experience at this level. Jantjies has bigger obstacles to climb than getting his driver’s licence this year.
9 Fourie du Preez: It’s not stretching things to suggest the success of the Boks’ World Cup defence hinges almost entirely on Du Preez. The world’s best scrumhalf doesn’t have to prove he can jol in Super rugby, rather that his shoulder – which has been a problem since 2007 – can hold until the World Cup.
8 Duane Vermeulen: Vermeulen knows more than most how soul-destroying being a loosie in this country is, having watched his blockbuster tackles fail to unhinge the Bok selection door. Once more unto the breach, big fella .
7 Dewald Potgieter: Once seen as a future Bok captain, Pottie’s prospects have gone to pot. Nothing less than a massive Super rugby season will get him back into the Bok frame.
6 Heinrich Brussow: Not only does the scrum-capped cat burglar have to prove he’s still a thieving bastard, he’s got to do it under the unforgiving new law interpretations.
5 Ross Skeate: There’s something wrong when a man of Skeate’s talent has never once looked like making the Bok squad. It’s time to ditch being an under-achiever already.
4 Alistair Hargreaves: If Skeate has to stop under-achieving, Hargreaves has to step up to the plate. There were encouraging signs in the Currie Cup semifinal and final.
3 Werner Kruger, Brok Harris, WP Nel: Jannie du Plessis is the only decent Bok tighthead. It’s time for our props to start acting like strongmen.
2 John Smit: The trimmer Bok captain has an unsinkable ship to sink (Bismarck du Plessis). Enough said.
1 Gurthro Steenkamp: A bit harsh on the current player of the year, but the Beast (Mtawarira) did some damage in his absence.
Simnikiwe’s view on Habana is typical the selectors view. He was piss poor last year mate and YES he must prove himself again. Not by one freak try but consistent good play.
Take a leaf out of New Zealand’s book, no one is above the game, not even Christian Cullum , Joe Rokokoco…… You name them there are many shock exclusions in their history and the newly chosen players just took their chances and made the position their own.
Meyer Bosman underrated? Nie ‘n kans nie, in teen deel dat hy soveel games in die Super 14 gespeel het as wat hy het, is ‘n grap. Hy is skaars goed genoeg om Vodacom Cup te speel.
Ja nee meyer bosman is overated.john smit moet sy stewels ophang,n boek skrywe oor hoe om pap gescrum te word.
Meyer Bosman seems to fit in well at the Sharks and don’t be surprised if the Sharks midfield is considerably better this year.
I would go even further, Meyer Bosman is a better kicker at goal than Lambie, who is severely limited as goal kicker due to wrong kicking technique… so in view of the fact that Jacques-Louis Potgieter will be warming the bench, I would make Meyer Bosman the prime goal kicker.
Take it as you wish.
ons sal maar moet wag en sien of bosman minder tackels slip by die sharks.dalk kan mr 100 000 mapoe 2 games speel die jaar voor hy weer beseer word.
bosman het die beste skip pass in die land tackle goed en versprei die bal seepglad hy gaan n aanwins wees vir die guppies
beste skip pass in bloem.wel teminste kan hy pale toe skop.
“But this is South Africa, where rugby supporters have goldfish memories”
..
hahahaha, well said!!
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