Smit, Jacobs feel the heat
21 Nov 2009
John Smit and Adi Jacobs were the big losers in keo.co.za’s Bok player ratings.
15. Zane Kirchner (6)
Continues to blow hot and cold at Test level, but kicked well out of hand.
14. JP Pietersen (5)
Was all but anonymous apart from one kick-and-chase in the last minute of the game.
13. Jaque Fourie (8)
Named the official Man of the Match. Made a couple of strong runs in the first quarter before scoring a simple try after good work from Bryan Habana. Solid on defence.
12. Adi Jacobs (4)
Got over the advantage line a couple of times early on, but was embarrassed on defence when Sergio Parisse ran straight over him. His failure to hold his line also resulted in Italy’s try and he threw a poor pass behind Fourie that allowed Italy to get back inside Bok territory.
11. Bryan Habana (8)
Scored an easy try after Ryan Kankowksi’s break, and played a key role in both Fourie and Fourie du Preez’s tries. Looked for work when the ball didn’t come his way and was good defensively.
10. Morné Steyn (5)
Had an average day with the boot, missing two first-half penalties and a conversion before finding his radar in the second half. His pin-point up-and-unders put Italy under pressure but he missed one kick for touch.
9. Fourie du Preez (8)
Rounded off a good Bok try in the second half that all but sealed the win and then sent Wynand Olivier over late in the game. His tactical kicking was, as usual, superb.
8. Ryan Kankowski (7)
Made the step inside and offload that sent Habana away for his try and was good in the loose, although he could have made more of a contribution at scrum time.
7. Danie Rossouw (7)
Had a quiet first half, knocking on inside Italy’s 22 when the Boks were on the attack. Made far more of an impact in the second, giving a brilliant under-the-arm pass that led to Du Preez’s try. Like Kankowski, he could have scrummed a bit harder rather than hanging off on occasion.
6. Heinrich Brüssow (8)
Was his usual self at the breakdown, making a crucial steal in the second quarter when Alessandro Zanni broke away from a scrum and was tackled just short of the Bok tryline.
5. Andries Bekker (7)
A solid lineout option for the Boks and competed well on Italy’s ball, stealing one against the throw. Made his presence felt in the loose, too.
4. Bakkies Botha (6)
A quiet game by his high standards.
3. John Smit (4)
Was outscrummed badly on four occasions (he popped out twice) and was mercifully moved to hooker when BJ Botha came on in the second half.
2. Adriaan Strauss (7)
Threw accurately at the lineouts and made a good contribution in the loose, but struggled at scrum time along with Smit and Wian du Preez.
1. Wian du Preez (6)
The Test debutant held his own against the highly-rated Martin Castrogiovanni (who was replaced at half-time) apart from one poor scrum, but went backwards twice in the second half.
Substitutes:
16. Beast Mtawarira (6)
The Bok scrum looked solid when he was on the park, although his arrival did coincide with that of BJ Botha.
17. BJ Botha (8)
Made an immediate impact when he was brought on in the second half, with the Bok scrum walking Italy backwards on one occasion. Surely he has to be a regular part of the Bok squad in 2010?
18. Victor Matfield (7)
Did well at lineout time after coming on for Botha, but nothing special.
19. Jean Deysel (7)
Gave a strong performance after replacing Kankowski.
20. Francois Hougaard (-)
Not on long enough to be rated.
21. Ruan Pienaar (6)
Made a good run with his first touch, but didn’t do much after that.
22. Wynand Olivier (7)
Scored his first Test try and did enough to put pressure on Jacobs.
By Simon Borchardt
157 Comments
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21 Nov 2009, 17:59 pm
Jeepers, Simon… did Adi Jacobs steal your boyfriend or something?
21 Nov 2009, 18:02 pm
Jacobs was ****.
Will Snor finally understand that you need a tighthead prop on the field?
21 Nov 2009, 18:02 pm
WO 7. Come on that was not even a legal try
21 Nov 2009, 18:03 pm
i recall parisse running over fourie in the opening quarter too…no mention of that, but as expected highlighted when it happened to adi
21 Nov 2009, 18:03 pm
#3 Charlie: remember WO started with 6 points for not being Adi Jacobs. Just like Adi started with -5 and had to work his way up.
So actually it was Jacobs 9, Olivier 1
21 Nov 2009, 18:04 pm
So how many times was WO **** as a test 12. I would say 25 tests
21 Nov 2009, 18:06 pm
and how does bakkies get a 6?????? he was more anonymous than pietersen and played for 50 minutes! but i suppose he’s “bakkies the enforcer” so he’s never allowed to have a bad game right
21 Nov 2009, 18:08 pm
Simon got it just about right.
21 Nov 2009, 18:10 pm
and it’s amateur rugby journalism of the worst kind to take anything away from smit at 2 and beast at 1 when BJ came on…a scrum involves 8 men working as a COMBINATION and granted BJ made the difference but thats coz they jelled. rather have beasts workrate round the field combined with smit and BJ as wian didn’t do anything special in the setpiece and certainly is nowhere near beast in terms of the loose.
21 Nov 2009, 18:12 pm
Jacobs was poor, but Smit was nowhere near as bad as a 4!
I hope Deysel starts at 7 against the Irish; with Brussouw at 6 and Roussouw at 8.
My side for next weekend, provided Burger and du Plessis are fit would be:
1.Mtawarira
2.Smit
3.Botha
4.Botha
5.Matfield
6.Brussouw
7.Deysel
8.Roussouw
9.du Preez
10.Steyn
11.Habana
12.Olivier
13.Fourie
14.Pietersen
15.Kirchener
16.Strauss/du Plessis
17.du Preez
18.Bekker
19.Burger
20.Kankowski
21.Pienaar
22.Jacobs
Tempted to leave Strauss there anyway, whether Bis is fit or not – he definitely needs a break…
21 Nov 2009, 18:13 pm
#8 Kronung: I’m back. Want to chat about Adi?
21 Nov 2009, 18:14 pm
I’m a big fan of Jacobs, but his confidence is shot at the moment. Meisiekind was good, so for now we should start with him.
Bissie’s injury has definitely opened the door for Smit to make a comepback at hooker. BJ’s return was impressive.
Steyn and FdP weren’t great and kicked too much, but they are still miles ahead of the alternatives.
21 Nov 2009, 18:14 pm
#5 robdylan: I like Adi and I back him, but he did have a poor game today.
21 Nov 2009, 18:14 pm
Adi was off his game and has been for some time. I think WO is a shoe in for the Ireland game. Smit (at 2), BJ and Beast looked as close to a front 3 I have seen this year.
21 Nov 2009, 18:15 pm
#10 SimiJan: Very nice team. Maybe Deysel on the planks?
21 Nov 2009, 18:16 pm
D u think Smit wil have a problem at 2?
21 Nov 2009, 18:17 pm
#11 kwas: Not particularity. But go for it. I’ll stick around.
Share with us your incredible insight, please do.
21 Nov 2009, 18:19 pm
#4 flanka: True. Smit will get pressure for saying that people criticising PdV are just racist. Effectively he will now be viewed as a “darkie lover” And Adi who never gets support from his slower team mates must take the blame as the other players of colour performed too good to criticise… “Got to criticise someone” God-forbid its the “All white” pack that went back so badly against Italy
21 Nov 2009, 18:20 pm
#9 flanka: Agreed. They were a very good front row for the Sharks in recent seasons.
I have a feeling Cobus Visagie may have been right about Bismarck du Plessis at scrum time. If we’re really desperate to keep Bis on the field, maybe put him at 7 while Juan Smith is out? Good ball carrier, good on the ground… Just a thought.
21 Nov 2009, 18:20 pm
#12 siener: Mesiekind is a great player.
But in truth he came on with a major turnaround in the scrum and after the Azzuri had played their heart out for 70 minutes.
Would have liked to see him on earlier.
Adi doesn’t deserve to be dropped yet.
21 Nov 2009, 18:25 pm
#10 SimiJan: Good team! Only problem I wouldn’t even have Jacobs on the bench. His defense is a joke. Put De Jonge on the bench.
21 Nov 2009, 18:25 pm
#5 robdylan: You cannot, without biased or favouritism, respectfully say you believe Jacobs performance deserved a “9″. Yes, he did one or two things well, but he is not the answer at 12. He is not strong defensively. He is not strong at taking up a crash ball. He has his moments of creativity, but is not as effective at 12, as he was last year at 13.
21 Nov 2009, 18:26 pm
#16 Q: No.
#18 RaynoG: He didn’t say all criticism of PdV was racist, he just said a lot of the unfounded stuff was merely racism. I’m not a PdV fan, based on what I’ve heard him say and what I’ve read in certain interview’s in Keo’s magazine. I don’t think he’s incompetent as a coach – he appears to be a very good man manager – but a lot of the stuff he says is frustrating and I don’t think he’s the BEST man for the job. Not because of his skin colour…
21 Nov 2009, 18:27 pm
#19 SimiJan: Not a bad thought actually…i’ve always thought bissie doesnt have the optimum body shape of a 2….and playing him as an extra looseforward in the danie roussouw mould isnt a bad idea
21 Nov 2009, 18:29 pm
#21 U.R. Soles: I think de Jongh has the potential to be better than Jacobs, he’s definitely more solid. But there is a pecking order, and you don’t just throw and untested guy into the fire against Ireland (unless that guy is Frans Steyn).
21 Nov 2009, 18:31 pm
Adi is like Kanko….if the game is loose and we on the front foot he’s brilliant. We miss JDV. BIG TIME.
21 Nov 2009, 18:32 pm
Adi is simply not the physical presence needed at international level
He would be a good choice as sub IF we are dominating but you cant choose a sub on the basis of IFS
He has to go, he’s our weak link (not our only one though) and he passes against teams like Italy (didn’t pass today though) but won’t against Ireland
21 Nov 2009, 18:32 pm
#24 flanka:
Bismark on the flank. Not a bad idea. And he can obviously cover hooker.
Maybe the Sharks should give it a go.
21 Nov 2009, 18:32 pm
So a few good minutes for WO makes him the incumbent Bok 12 ?
21 Nov 2009, 18:33 pm
#27 The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine:
Spot on.
21 Nov 2009, 18:33 pm
#18 RaynoG: Honestly guys, to say that people critisising Jacobs is purely motivated by racism is uncalled for. Your comments shows more racist intend than others opinions on Jacobs play.
21 Nov 2009, 18:35 pm
#29 Charlie:
Defs not… but at least he is a 12. Adi is an outside center through and through.
21 Nov 2009, 18:38 pm
#28 CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): it’s worth a try…in a perfect world imagine a sharks pack with beast, smit and BJ plus bissie, deysel and kankowski completing a looseforward trio…one can only dream
21 Nov 2009, 18:40 pm
#31 fsjakes: def think adi had an average game….but i think the point being made is wynand came on when the momentum had drastically changed and only had 1 or 2 touches one of which was an easy run in after du preez did all the hard yards….
21 Nov 2009, 18:41 pm
#31 fsjakes: Hear hear!
#28 CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): Thank you
Haha, sorry, I’m a credit hog :$
21 Nov 2009, 18:50 pm
#34 flanka: Wynand didn’t completely oust Jacobs from the starting lineup based on that performance, but Jacobs is not the answer at 12. I was hoping he would be, for the Sharks’ sake – but he truly isn’t.
I’m a bit biased here, but I’d love to have seen Barritt start at 12 today. He’s exactly what we need at 12; a great defender and defensive organiser, big, solid, strong and the perfect instrument to put Habana and Fourie into space. Maybe give Peter Grant a shot there if Barritt doesn’t want to come back – adds another kicker in absence of Francois Steyn too…
21 Nov 2009, 18:52 pm
Gunther…rangerman…ratel Brussow…sharks lover….sharks girl….any damn shark….
Grant 10 rests his case
21 Nov 2009, 18:55 pm
#25 Simijan
I watched Fransie in his club game vs Stade France. Not bad although fluffed a penalty. Easy to spot on as he is the size of their forwards only taller .Looks like a wild animal with beard and moustache and untidy hair. Not far from Chabal..
And I got the impresion he has put a bit on weight ( too much French chocolate perhaps) or maybe it,s because of that awful Racing kit ( sort of pyjama).
21 Nov 2009, 18:56 pm
#23 SimiJan: Not sure what more “the right man for the job” has to do. I’ve always supported Jake (even when Oz hammered us 49-0) because Im a rugby supporter not a colour supporter.
As for Adi’s rating my comments refers to keo’s small-mindedness. Our scrum when back fast against Italy but no mention because it was an “all white” pack. Beast would’ve got a 2 out of 10 and all the blame (according to keo) had he started the match… But thats the way life goes. I reckon we’ll smash Ireland next weekend
21 Nov 2009, 18:58 pm
#34 flanka: I will agree with you that one can’t say WO had a better game than Jacobs (the one played 60 minutes and the one 20).
But, I think people’s critism of Adi’s play in the two tests is fair. I think it has been shown that he is limited as a 12. He will not make the same impact at 12, as he did at 13. He has the creative ability, but not the defensive and ball carrying ability. I also think some of his dicision making has been bad, especially the moments he had decided to run into two three defenders with the ball under one arm.
I think people’s critism of Wynand on this tour has been fair. In honesty he hasn’t had the greatest of games for the dirst trackers. He is however a regular 12 and I think giving him an opportunity (seeing that he is the only other option at 12 on tour) in starting 15 will be good. Then this debate can be put to rest once and for all.
All I want to ask is, can we please not make this a debate on RACISM! Wether for or against WO or AJ. Some people rate the one player, some the other.
21 Nov 2009, 18:58 pm
#10 SimiJan: Agree 100%
21 Nov 2009, 18:59 pm
#37 grant10: Grant, I think you can finally rest your case! Your point has been proven!
21 Nov 2009, 19:00 pm
Simple question:
If Adi was white….would he have been a Bok on current form?
21 Nov 2009, 19:01 pm
#42 fsjakes: Thanks mate
21 Nov 2009, 19:03 pm
If you were going to replace Adi, and we shouldn’t yet, then why would you not bring Mesiekind in. Doesn’t make sense.
Adi is keeping him out and in replacing Adi you don’t even look at him?
21 Nov 2009, 19:10 pm
#43 The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine: No. But he would have made it based on his past form. He is a very good player indeed.
One swallow does not the summer make. You don’t toss players out after one or two average games.
Adi has earned our respect and support, even in the bad times!!
To top it all he is a real gentleman.
21 Nov 2009, 19:12 pm
Heinrich da little napoleon brussow da form player at da moment. Nd guys stop dis racism, quota, whose better or nt.WE WON DAMMIT.WE WON.NXA.
21 Nov 2009, 19:14 pm
Congratulations Bokke. Not too convincing but a win at last.
Just a question on the front row. Did the fact that the two props were fresh against a tired Italy front row maybe play a role in SA’s good scrummaging in the last 20 min?
#43 The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine:
Simple answer: Yes.
PdV does not like to discard players he believes in. See Jannie Dup. He would have been in the match 22 but for his injury. Don’t make it about race as somebody already asked.
21 Nov 2009, 19:15 pm
I didn’t see Adi do anything that weak that he deserves being dropped for WO, Wo got the benefit of a perfect situation with Matfield getting up at back of line out to feed FdP who offloaded to WO, anyone running that line would have found the try line after that move.
Jacobs is reading the play more like a 13 than a 12 because its his natural game so he gets into isolationist situations, otherwise I didn’t see him have such a poor game that he deserves being dropped for WO, its still the better way to go to start M.Steyn and Jacobs, and finish with Pienaar and WO.
21 Nov 2009, 19:23 pm
Jacobs will be @ 12 against Ireland
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