NPR

Chilli wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:10 pm

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:06 pm Esterhuizen continuing to show that he's in the top 5 inside centres in world rugby. Cue lots of gnashing of teeth and wailing from a lot of the Sharks haters on this forum. But if they put their prejudice aside and understand that he's a Klerksdorp born plattleland boy they could get behind the campaign to make him the Bok 12. Yes I know DDA is great and has an amazingly stubbled chin but I earnestly think Ysterhuizen has more to offer. He's taller, heavier, faster and has a better passing game.

It's a national shame that Andre has been overlooked. If I could pick a centre pairing post 1994 it would be the two Andre's. Andre Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen.

He has been nothing short of magnificent in the UK.

Sadly as soon as Sards declares his man love for a player, the rest of us distance ourselves from him. :-)

assfly wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:46 am Same old story. He was simply incredible against Gloucester. His defence, turnovers, distribution and ball carrying is another level. Let's just hope he can keep it up for the next 3 months so he'll be back on the Bok radar come selection time.

Not saying he should be picked ahead of DDA, but he's certainly done enough to be in the mix.

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 6:39 am He deserves to be there more than Wazza.

handyman wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:15 am It's difficult to believe that AE is now seen as better as De Allende. I'll watch a few of his games to make up my own mind. If he can sort out his discipline, it will be a nice headache for Rassie and Nienaber.

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:46 am Same situation with Jasper Wiese.

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:46 am In all honesty Ra$$naber are pretty pig headed when it comes to new players.

I can't see them bringing AE into the squad, they would play Jessie, Pollard or Wazza there.

Same situation with Jasper Wiese.

assfly wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:57 am

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:46 am Same situation with Jasper Wiese.

Or Jasper Lavanini as I heard someone call him earlier today

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:05 am

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:46 am In all honesty Ra$$naber are pretty pig headed when it comes to new players.

I can't see them bringing AE into the squad, they would play Jessie, Pollard or Wazza there.

Same situation with Jasper Wiese.

"We trust those guys and know what they have done for us in the past..."

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:48 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:05 am

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:46 am In all honesty Ra$$naber are pretty pig headed when it comes to new players.

I can't see them bringing AE into the squad, they would play Jessie, Pollard or Wazza there.

Same situation with Jasper Wiese.

"We trust those guys and know what they have done for us in the past..."

You know you are right ........................ish.
Yes, we beat the Lions.
Yes we beat Georgia
Yes we beat the Argies
Yes we beat the All Blacks away.
Yes we beat Scotland
Yes we beat Wales
Yes, we only lost by a point to the Poms.

It is the losses against a smart, but underwhelming Ozzie team that I don't like.

Our rugby is dumb...............relentless and dumb.

A smart team will out think us.

Toulon president Bernard Lemaître has labelled Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth as a “handicap” to the club as he is “expensive, is regularly injured and is often away on Test duty”.

In a wide-ranging interview with regional newspaper Var-matin, Lemaître explained the issues the club faces in terms of recruitment for the upcoming 2022-23 season and, in the process, took a swipe at Etzebeth and Argentinian Facundo Isa.

Lemaître said Etzebeth and Isa are injured or away on national duty more than they play for the club and demanded that World Rugby implements a law that “prevents foreign countries from coming to the Top 14 supermarket to take the players they need for their selection” or that national unions at least pay compensation to have their Test players released

assfly wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:13 am Another match-winning performance from AE.

On current form, he is one of the best backline players in the world.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 6:06 am AE was in the Springbok team and surely can play him back again with good performances. There isn't many 12s around.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 3:48 am

Chilli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:48 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:05 am

"We trust those guys and know what they have done for us in the past..."

You know you are right ........................ish.
Yes, we beat the Lions.
Yes we beat Georgia
Yes we beat the Argies
Yes we beat the All Blacks away.
Yes we beat Scotland
Yes we beat Wales
Yes, we only lost by a point to the Poms.

It is the losses against a smart, but underwhelming Ozzie team that I don't like.

Our rugby is dumb...............relentless and dumb.

A smart team will out think us.

Get over it.

Look like Etsebeth going to get sacked at Toulon.
SARugbymag

Toulon president Bernard Lemaître has labelled Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth as a “handicap” to the club as he is “expensive, is regularly injured and is often away on Test duty”.

In a wide-ranging interview with regional newspaper Var-matin, Lemaître explained the issues the club faces in terms of recruitment for the upcoming 2022-23 season and, in the process, took a swipe at Etzebeth and Argentinian Facundo Isa.

Lemaître said Etzebeth and Isa are injured or away on national duty more than they play for the club and demanded that World Rugby implements a law that “prevents foreign countries from coming to the Top 14 supermarket to take the players they need for their selection” or that national unions at least pay compensation to have their Test players released

Springbok behemoth Andre Esterhuizen isn't a forgotten man after all.

The Harlequins No 12, who has scooped three successive man-of-the-match performances, says he got a message from the Springbok camp that coach Jacques Nienaber thought he was playing well.


Esterhuizen sat down with the studio panel of SuperSport's First XV programme, where he told former Springboks Joel Stransky, Hanyani Shimange and Gcobani Bobo about life in the UK.




The former Sharks centre, who has set the English Premiership alight since moving there in 2020, recently told media he'd love to hear from the Springbok head coach.

It seems the message got to Nienaber.

"I didn't have any conversation with them for quite a while, I think, since the camps just before the British & Irish Lions series," said Esterhuizen.

"Just after this last game, I got a message that he (Nienaber) is saying that I played well.

"It's [great news]."

It seems, amid reports that the Boks could be forced to field an all-local match 23 for England later this year because of the calendar, Harlequins have encouraged Esterhuizen to covet an international recall.


Esterhuizen earned the last of his eight Test caps against Argentina at Loftus in 2019, the year he missed out on a place in Rassie Erasmus' Rugby World Cup squad.

"There are a lot of teams overseas who want to keep their players, obviously, but they want you to get into international sides as well," said Esterhuizen.

"I've gotten massive support from the coaching staff, and everyone tries to make everyone better, so we can all maybe get into an international side.

"It's everyone's dream to play for their country, and I'd love to for them again. Let's wait and see."

Things haven't always gone swimmingly for Esterhuizen up north despite his irrefutable talent.

Esterhuizen was suspended in December 2020 for four weeks after he dropped an elbow into the face of Gloucester's Lloyd Evans.

The following April, he copped a six-week ban for striking an opponent with an elbow during a scuffle in Quins' game against London Irish.

A tip-tackle on Michael Rhodes in 2015 also saw him suspended for four weeks while playing for the Sharks against the Stormers in Super Rugby.

"It was obviously a tough time," said Esterhuizen.

"The second one came towards the end of the season, and that's when we were picking up a lot of momentum, and it looked like we could make the playoffs.

"Those six weeks, I knew that if I was going to come back for the season, it was [only] for the final. I just kept on believing and trained hard for those six weeks.

"I gave inputs in training, fines meetings and stuff like that.

"I was watching the semi-final, sitting there at half-time, and it was 28-5 (to Northampton), and one of the fans came up, and he said: 'We're going to Twickenham.'

"I was thinking, what game are you watching, mate? Shortly after the second half, Harlequins started scoring tries and the more tries they scored, the more excited I got.

"We actually had a great time in that game and the next week, I didn't expect to start. I thought, hopefully I'd get a spot on the bench.

"Luckily I started the game and it [worked] out well for us."




Despite the infringements, Esterhuizen played a part in Harlequins beating Exeter 40-38 in the final to claim the Premiership last year.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

Chilli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:32 am

Springbok behemoth Andre Esterhuizen isn't a forgotten man after all.

The Harlequins No 12, who has scooped three successive man-of-the-match performances, says he got a message from the Springbok camp that coach Jacques Nienaber thought he was playing well.


Esterhuizen sat down with the studio panel of SuperSport's First XV programme, where he told former Springboks Joel Stransky, Hanyani Shimange and Gcobani Bobo about life in the UK.




The former Sharks centre, who has set the English Premiership alight since moving there in 2020, recently told media he'd love to hear from the Springbok head coach.

It seems the message got to Nienaber.

"I didn't have any conversation with them for quite a while, I think, since the camps just before the British & Irish Lions series," said Esterhuizen.

"Just after this last game, I got a message that he (Nienaber) is saying that I played well.

"It's [great news]."

It seems, amid reports that the Boks could be forced to field an all-local match 23 for England later this year because of the calendar, Harlequins have encouraged Esterhuizen to covet an international recall.


Esterhuizen earned the last of his eight Test caps against Argentina at Loftus in 2019, the year he missed out on a place in Rassie Erasmus' Rugby World Cup squad.

"There are a lot of teams overseas who want to keep their players, obviously, but they want you to get into international sides as well," said Esterhuizen.

"I've gotten massive support from the coaching staff, and everyone tries to make everyone better, so we can all maybe get into an international side.

"It's everyone's dream to play for their country, and I'd love to for them again. Let's wait and see."

Things haven't always gone swimmingly for Esterhuizen up north despite his irrefutable talent.

Esterhuizen was suspended in December 2020 for four weeks after he dropped an elbow into the face of Gloucester's Lloyd Evans.

The following April, he copped a six-week ban for striking an opponent with an elbow during a scuffle in Quins' game against London Irish.

A tip-tackle on Michael Rhodes in 2015 also saw him suspended for four weeks while playing for the Sharks against the Stormers in Super Rugby.

"It was obviously a tough time," said Esterhuizen.

"The second one came towards the end of the season, and that's when we were picking up a lot of momentum, and it looked like we could make the playoffs.

"Those six weeks, I knew that if I was going to come back for the season, it was [only] for the final. I just kept on believing and trained hard for those six weeks.

"I gave inputs in training, fines meetings and stuff like that.

"I was watching the semi-final, sitting there at half-time, and it was 28-5 (to Northampton), and one of the fans came up, and he said: 'We're going to Twickenham.'

"I was thinking, what game are you watching, mate? Shortly after the second half, Harlequins started scoring tries and the more tries they scored, the more excited I got.

"We actually had a great time in that game and the next week, I didn't expect to start. I thought, hopefully I'd get a spot on the bench.

"Luckily I started the game and it [worked] out well for us."




Despite the infringements, Esterhuizen played a part in Harlequins beating Exeter 40-38 in the final to claim the Premiership last year.

Sards porn.

handyman wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:02 am From that article it seems his discipline is still a problem. Same as Wiese.

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:01 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

He's certainly not the player he once was but I think calling him rubbish is a bit much. I was one of the Ulster fans that was initially very sceptical of his signing having watched him dander about during the RC, making little impact.

But he has carried well for us and won many crucial turnovers. He certainly doesn't have the energy Coetzee had but I don't think many Ulster supporters expected that when he signed. What he lacks in work-rate his experience, stability and big moments make up for, plus Timoney and Rea have enough energy to cover the blades of grass that he doesn't.

It seems to be working relatively well at the moment but I fear he might get found out in the knockout stages of the Europe.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

Chilli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

Is he not still recovering from the effects of Irish Covid?

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:36 pm

Chilli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

Is he not still recovering from the effects of Irish Covid?

Never buy an old bull. Get a youngster like CJ Stander. Even better, buy local. You're Ireland. Only NZ and SA produce better loose forwards. Importing a skilled dude like Ruaan Pienaar or Percy Montgomery makes sense but Duane is a rubbish buy.

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:36 pm

Chilli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 7:37 am Thor has been rubbish for Ulster so far.
Walks about the pitch most of the time.

Is he not still recovering from the effects of Irish Covid?

Never buy an old bull. Get a youngster like CJ Stander. Even better, buy local. You're Ireland. Only NZ and SA produce better loose forwards. Importing a skilled dude like Ruaan Pienaar or Percy Montgomery makes sense but Duane is a rubbish buy.

SaintK wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 5:24 pm

FalseBayFC wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:36 pm

Chilli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 am

Is he not still recovering from the effects of Irish Covid?

Never buy an old bull. Get a youngster like CJ Stander. Even better, buy local. You're Ireland. Only NZ and SA produce better loose forwards. Importing a skilled dude like Ruaan Pienaar or Percy Montgomery makes sense but Duane is a rubbish buy.

Young Augustus certainly looks the part at No8 for Saints

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 3:39 pm Watched Sale vs Quins. Lots of Saffers. Robert du Preez had a good game