Long season taking its toll

This long Super rugby season is taking its toll on the squads in the competition. The Stormers for example are plagued with injuries of late, Schalk Burger, Jean Deviliers and Dwayne Vermeulen to name a few who are Springbok hopefulls for the upcoming season. The questions arise about the competition where there are more games between teams of the same conference and the intensity with which the SA derbys are played also comes into question. The lions are another team who have been plagued with injuries from day one and it has just got worse. The coaches may need to rest their international prospects which could weaken the competition overall and depleat the appeal of the competition.

New bok coach bringing Bulls coaches in

New Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has appointed four members of the bulls coaching staff as his assistent coaches in the national side, he also has appointed former Western province director of rugby Rassi Erasmus. This move for the bulls coaches, could it re-inforce the previous blog of the new coach wanting to change the playing style of the Springboks to that of the bulls. He has denied allegations of the team becoming the "blue boks" but only time will tell as to what will happen. A very good sign is the structures they are bringing in, they seem very efficient and will hopefully improve our rugby, not only at national but provincial too.

Could new bok coach change plying style?

New Springbok coach Keyneke Meyer formally from the Blue Bulls has started preparing for the upcoming international season and has already organised training camps. Could he bring a change of style to the boks? The Blue Bulls style of rugby is focused around the flyhalf who kicks and the wings chase. This is deemed to be an outdated style of rugby formally used in the time of Naas Botha. Rugby is progressing and the game is becoming more flowing, teams are running the ball more and bringing flair to the game. Could the Boks be moving backward instead of forward?

New super rugby log discussion

The new Super rugby log gives each team who are at the top of their respective conference logs to be in the top 3 on the combined log, even though teams may have more points than them. This disadvantages especially the South African and New Zealand teams as their derbys are more physical than those of the Australian teams. This year the brumbies are a full 5 points behind the teams below them but yet stay on third, is that fair on those teams who have more points?

Wonder boy Johan Goosen

The cheetahs flyhalf a 19 year star who has exploded onto the Super rugby scene. Making his debut in the 2012 season due to the injury of regular flyhalf Sias Ebersohn. He has made a huge impact on the Cheetahs team, with a near perfect kicking record and being able to slot them from almost 60 metres away, he gives a huge advantage to his team. It is not only his kicking ability that makes him good, his ability to carry the ball into contact and to break over the advantage line or even break tackles. These atributes make him the complete flyhalf. He has also recently reached 100 points in this season so far. He has recently picked up a shoulder injury, hopefully he can recover and perform the rest of the season. Could he stand a chance for a Springbok place due to the poor performances thus far from the likes of Morne Steyn and Co.

(picture from Supersport.com)