My post was tongue in cheek. I have no problem with the guys representing other countries, especially if there was no way that they would play for the Boks. Spedding, the newest to the list, was a rather mediocre player when he was in SA, so I could understand him going there.
I'm more pointing it to the selectors, they have an entire league to pick guys from, but instead they go for the imports.
no it wasn't...
I like the depth coming through...
is nothing but real (and very inaccurate/ignorant) criticism. There is nothing tongue in cheek there, it can only be literal.
Not that this deserves an answer, but here it comes anyways: France staff and FFR aren't interested in local products depth, which we ironically backs and forwards mixed probably have the most of in the world. They're interested in picking whoever can take them out of the shhiit hole they're in, and if that means selecting almost 30yo "foreigners" who are playing well in our championship within our borders, then that's exactly what they'll do.
About Spedding, I've now changed my opinion about his inclusion. Seeing how passionately emotional he got, how he came to France at 21yo and how he himself calls France his home (while not forgetting SA) and played (almost) all his pro ball here...
Spedding, the newest to the list, was a rather mediocre player when he was in SA, so I could understand him going there.
I'm more pointing it to the selectors, they have an entire league to pick guys from, but instead they go for the imports.
for the record, Spedding had more than just chances to make the Boks based on merit (not based on the stubborn Bok staff's methods). I've got him over your present Le Roux easily. He was "mediocre", yeah, when he was 20-21 ? Strong statement.
I don't know how he'll do internationally, especially with this shiitty coaching staff, but he's huge (for a 15) yet mobile, communicates fantastically with the other back three in Bayonne, loves to counter and beats defenders on the regular, is strong AND elusive in contact, is very good at FB security duties and he's got a huge SA boot on him. Oh, also he doesn't throw a SHOCKER of a pass every 3 or 4 passes like other int'l FB's (well, one int'l FB...).
Because you're so typically South African,
heineken, you won't even look into anything that isn't in SA or SRugby. Wtvr isn't in those things doesn't exist, or isn't worthy really of looking into. You've spoken just now with absolutely no idea whatsoever on the current level and ability of Scott Spedding, and you're totally fine with that. I've seen Le Roux, I've seen Spedding. So I can talk. You've just made two unnecessary posts with literally no idea about the grounds you were on, just floating in the dark pretending to hold objects firm. Just underlining that for you.
It's insanity the Boks haven't picked Kockott at least, at so very very least as a backup on the bench - in stead of going for dinosaurs it's too bad they haven't tried a very interesting lock specimen in Juandré Kruger, who btw has expressed his all-time dream to play and win the WC with the Springboks. Picking a Heinke van der Merwe at LH may've prevented the Boks from getting pushed around lately in the scrum, and Scott Spedding right now was a very good idea going into the next WC: a guy with all the qualities I mentioned, so consistent and mature and just the right age at 28...
EDIT: watch this video
http://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/34337-Scott-Spedding-s-reaction-to-being-selected-for-France
