Comments on: Dude, where’s my flyhalf? http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/ Thu, 17 May 2012 13:22:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Justin Lawrence http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5026 Justin Lawrence Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:08:51 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5026 "Brent Russell syndrome" - i like that. Let's give Rose another look at S14 level next season, maybe he will surprise us. As for Meyer Bosman, agreed he's gone very quiet at number 12, I'm hoping he gets another look at number 10 next season. “Brent Russell syndrome” - i like that. Let’s give Rose another look at S14 level next season, maybe he will surprise us.

As for Meyer Bosman, agreed he’s gone very quiet at number 12, I’m hoping he gets another look at number 10 next season.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Siyabonga Ntshingila http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5007 Siyabonga Ntshingila Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:39:58 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5007 Another option is Meyer Bosman.He may not have set the CC alight but when you have Fourie,Ricky,Jean,Adi and Steyn around you maybe what you want in a pivot is a dude that can just keep play moving instead of forcing himself on the game. Too many chefs and all that. Meyer came through as a no10, had a bit of a dip, then was recast as a no12 and he's done alright there I say. Remember also that in NZ, the likes of Carter, McIntyre and even Mehrtens on occasion all alternate comfortably between 10+12 as the Kiwis treat those two as the decision makers as opposed to lumping everything on one mans shoulders. Another option is Meyer Bosman.He may not have set the CC alight but when you have Fourie,Ricky,Jean,Adi and Steyn around you maybe what you want in a pivot is a dude that can just keep play moving instead of forcing himself on the game.

Too many chefs and all that.

Meyer came through as a no10, had a bit of a dip, then was recast as a no12 and he’s done alright there I say. Remember also that in NZ, the likes of Carter, McIntyre and even Mehrtens on occasion all alternate comfortably between 10+12 as the Kiwis treat those two as the decision makers as opposed to lumping everything on one mans shoulders.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Jon http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5006 Jon Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:44:14 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5006 SA hasn't had a true, test-quality flyhalf since Honiball retired. NZ has players much better than Butch et al playing at number 10 in their amateur second division Heartland competition. SA hasn’t had a true, test-quality flyhalf since Honiball retired. NZ has players much better than Butch et al playing at number 10 in their amateur second division Heartland competition.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Gerry http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5005 Gerry Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:20:19 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5005 While I tend to agree with the criticisms of Rose, I take one look at the points-scorer’s log for the 2008 Currie Cup, and I see Earl rose there on 172 points for the season (with 5 tries, nogal), 70 points ahead of the next guy Conrad Barnard and 78 points ahead of 4th place Ruan Pienaar (one try). He is only 20 points behind first-placed Morne Steyn (2 tires but a lot more penalties) – who had an extra game – and if you consider Earl’s two disastrous games against Province and then in the semi’s – he may have ended top of the log. If The Lions gained as many penalties as they conceded, he may have beaten Steyn to the top spot after all. The lauded Peter Grant is only on 8th place, no ties, a couple of penalties, with the bulk of his scoring from conversions. Rose scored three times the amount of points this season than Peter Grant – whom people think rose is taking the place of. As for Fransie Steyn? How does a grand total of 16 points for the season sound? Willie Wepener scored more tries on Hooker than Steyn did playing in a backline! There is merit in Rose’s selection. One swallow does not make a summer – but two bad games does not make a palooka either. Rose has talent – oodles of it – BUT he does need some blooding in the big leagues. This man may yet surprise. Granted - a rugby player is more than a points-machine – but if you look at the job of a fly-half, I think Earl Rose did a lot more this season than any of the other mentioned and lamented names. Remember a lot of people who started out worse than Hoërskool Roodepoort’s 3rd team “back in the day” became legends. Percy Montgomery couldn’t play rugby if you paid him until he came home from Wales, Butch James was all tackle and no finesse until he went to finishing school, and even ol’ Slap Chips had plenty of speed, but the ball-handling skills of a three year old with a plaster-cast until some coach taught him how to play. Even my hero Brendan Venter had to be reigned in and guided from time to time. Raw talent they all had, but they needed to be coached to perfection. Now these four guys are rugby legends. My opinion is Rose has that same talent, has proven it, and while he may crack a bit under pressure, so what – most rookies did, and if we blood him now, and if he can be the points-machine for the Bokke (yes, Bokke, not Blomme!) that he was for the Lions, then we have our World Cup 2011 flyhalf. I think the criticism against Rose is unfair, I think this man will surprise us all! BUT because I’m a Lions supporter (obviously), thereby doomed to eat my words and made to cry every time we play, I will probably be proven wrong. Where is your flyhalf? Dude: Earl Rose – there is your flyhalf. While I tend to agree with the criticisms of Rose, I take one look at the points-scorer’s log for the 2008 Currie Cup, and I see Earl rose there on 172 points for the season (with 5 tries, nogal), 70 points ahead of the next guy Conrad Barnard and 78 points ahead of 4th place Ruan Pienaar (one try). He is only 20 points behind first-placed Morne Steyn (2 tires but a lot more penalties) – who had an extra game – and if you consider Earl’s two disastrous games against Province and then in the semi’s – he may have ended top of the log. If The Lions gained as many penalties as they conceded, he may have beaten Steyn to the top spot after all. The lauded Peter Grant is only on 8th place, no ties, a couple of penalties, with the bulk of his scoring from conversions. Rose scored three times the amount of points this season than Peter Grant – whom people think rose is taking the place of. As for Fransie Steyn? How does a grand total of 16 points for the season sound? Willie Wepener scored more tries on Hooker than Steyn did playing in a backline! There is merit in Rose’s selection.

One swallow does not make a summer – but two bad games does not make a palooka either. Rose has talent – oodles of it – BUT he does need some blooding in the big leagues. This man may yet surprise.

Granted - a rugby player is more than a points-machine – but if you look at the job of a fly-half, I think Earl Rose did a lot more this season than any of the other mentioned and lamented names.

Remember a lot of people who started out worse than Hoërskool Roodepoort’s 3rd team “back in the day” became legends. Percy Montgomery couldn’t play rugby if you paid him until he came home from Wales, Butch James was all tackle and no finesse until he went to finishing school, and even ol’ Slap Chips had plenty of speed, but the ball-handling skills of a three year old with a plaster-cast until some coach taught him how to play. Even my hero Brendan Venter had to be reigned in and guided from time to time. Raw talent they all had, but they needed to be coached to perfection. Now these four guys are rugby legends. My opinion is Rose has that same talent, has proven it, and while he may crack a bit under pressure, so what – most rookies did, and if we blood him now, and if he can be the points-machine for the Bokke (yes, Bokke, not Blomme!) that he was for the Lions, then we have our World Cup 2011 flyhalf.

I think the criticism against Rose is unfair, I think this man will surprise us all! BUT because I’m a Lions supporter (obviously), thereby doomed to eat my words and made to cry every time we play, I will probably be proven wrong.

Where is your flyhalf? Dude: Earl Rose – there is your flyhalf.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Alan http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5004 Alan Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:55:25 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5004 Rose meeds another full season at 10 before being considered for national call-up, one hot day doesn't make a summer. Ruan on the other hand is all class, has the X-factor, and should grab the 10 jersey with both hands. Rose meeds another full season at 10 before being considered for national call-up, one hot day doesn’t make a summer. Ruan on the other hand is all class, has the X-factor, and should grab the 10 jersey with both hands.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Siyabonga Ntshingila http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5003 Siyabonga Ntshingila Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:11:23 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/justinlawrence/2008/10/27/dude-wheres-my-flyhalf/#comment-5003 Earl suffers from Brent Russel syndrome.because he is small and unorthodox, values anathemic to SA Rugby people tend to remember his mistakes more to justify their unease. Watch him fly. for the record I reckon Ruan would be a legendary flyhalf, and his kicking will get to 80% with time, remember Butch wasn't that hot a kicker when he came through. Peter Grant is simply too one dimensional, currently. Earl suffers from Brent Russel syndrome.because he is small and unorthodox, values anathemic to SA Rugby people tend to remember his mistakes more to justify their unease.

Watch him fly.

for the record I reckon Ruan would be a legendary flyhalf, and his kicking will get to 80% with time, remember Butch wasn’t that hot a kicker when he came through.

Peter Grant is simply too one dimensional, currently.

(Report abuse)

]]>