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Yep, I think over the last season Read has overtaken both McCaw and Carter as our best player. The scary thing is he still seems to be getting better! I have to say I was really impressed by Hore this match, particularly his work at the breakdown. He has been pretty quiet for the AB's this season, so it was great to see him playing his best rugby again.

On South Africa - I thought Strauss had one of his best games in the Boks jersey in the weekend, though his is still no du Plessis. I think Oosthuizen, despite his promise, showed he is not ready for test level yet. I'm sure he set a new record though by conceding 3/4 of the Boks penalties (despite only being on the field for 25 minutes!). I'm still not convinced with Bekker at test level. He was dominant in the lineout as always, but he doesn't really bring much physicality to his play. I think the Boks forward pack looks far more dangerous when they are all hitting the breakdown at full speed (e.g. the AB's test in Dunedin), and having a lock that doesn't seem capable/willing to do the dirty work in the tight is a bit of an issue (in contrast Etzebeth is a complete beast!). The loose trio was pretty good again - I still am not 100% convinced by Alberts, but he hasn't really had a poor game at test level this season.

Pienaar had some nice touches, though I still think he needs to use his (very effective) running game a bit more. Goosen looked solid while he was on, while I was actually quite impressed with Jantjies when he came on. When I first saw Jantjies a few years ago I thought he was a talented young player, but didn't think he would be a test player due to his lack of composure, but I thought he looked very composed and comfortable this match. South Africa's midfield was pretty quiet throughout the match, and there were a couple of wee defensive lapses that proved costly. Habana had a bit of a mixed game - he took his try well and made a couple of good runs, but his defense let him down a couple of times. Gear ran straight over top of him at one stage, while A Smith's try happened after he ran out of the line and missed the intercept. He seems to have been heavily criticized for this, but in fact running out of the line was his only option, as the AB's had a 4-1 overlap. His error was going for the intercept, rather than making the hit on Dan Carter which would have killed the attack. Hougaard was a bit disappointing yet again, and I'm really starting to reconsider my opinion that he is a better wing than a halfback. He hasn't been near as threatening on attack as I thought he would be, while he seems completely lost at times on defense. If he is going to stay on the wing for South Africa I think he clearly needs a full season of Super Rugby in the position to refine his wing skills, as over recent weeks he has really looked like a halfback playing on the wing! Kirchner was Kirchner - ok but I'm sure South Africa has better options.

<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 529478" data-attributes="member: 24910">Yep, I think over the last season Read has overtaken both McCaw and Carter as our best player.&nbsp; The scary thing is he still seems to be getting better!&nbsp; I have to say I was really impressed by Hore this match, particularly his work at the breakdown.&nbsp; He has been pretty quiet for the AB&#039;s this season, so it was great to see him playing his best rugby again.On South Africa - I thought Strauss had one of his best games in the Boks jersey in the weekend, though his is still no du Plessis.&nbsp; I think Oosthuizen, despite his promise, showed he is not ready for test level yet.&nbsp; I&#039;m sure he set a new record though by conceding 3/4 of the Boks penalties (despite only being on the field for 25 minutes!).&nbsp; I&#039;m still not convinced with Bekker at test level.&nbsp; He was dominant in the lineout as always, but he doesn&#039;t really bring much physicality to his play.&nbsp; I think the Boks forward pack looks far more dangerous when they are all hitting the breakdown at full speed (e.g. the AB&#039;s test in Dunedin), and having a lock that doesn&#039;t seem capable/willing to do the dirty work in the tight is a bit of an issue (in contrast Etzebeth is a complete beast!).&nbsp; The loose trio was pretty good again - I still am not 100% convinced by Alberts, but he hasn&#039;t really had a poor game at test level this season.Pienaar had some nice touches, though I still think he needs to use his (very effective) running game a bit more.&nbsp; Goosen looked solid while he was on, while I was actually quite impressed with Jantjies when he came on.&nbsp; When I first saw Jantjies a few years ago I thought he was a talented young player, but didn&#039;t think he would be a test player due to his lack of composure, but I thought he looked very composed and comfortable this match.&nbsp; South Africa&#039;s midfield was pretty quiet throughout the match, and there were a couple of wee defensive lapses that proved costly.&nbsp; Habana had a bit of a mixed game - he took his try well and made a couple of good runs, but his defense let him down a couple of times.&nbsp; Gear ran straight over top of him at one stage, while A Smith&#039;s try happened after he ran out of the line and missed the intercept.&nbsp; He seems to have been heavily criticized for this, but in fact running out of the line was his only option, as the AB&#039;s had a 4-1 overlap.&nbsp; His error was going for the intercept, rather than making the hit on Dan Carter which would have killed the attack.&nbsp; Hougaard was a bit disappointing yet again, and I&#039;m really starting to reconsider my opinion that he is a better wing than a halfback.&nbsp; He hasn&#039;t been near as threatening on attack as I thought he would be, while he seems completely lost at times on defense.&nbsp; If he is going to stay on the wing for South Africa I think he clearly needs a full season of Super Rugby in the position to refine his wing skills, as over recent weeks he has really looked like a halfback playing on the wing!&nbsp; Kirchner was Kirchner - ok but I&#039;m sure South Africa has better options.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 529478, member: 24910"] Yep, I think over the last season Read has overtaken both McCaw and Carter as our best player. The scary thing is he still seems to be getting better! I have to say I was really impressed by Hore this match, particularly his work at the breakdown. He has been pretty quiet for the AB's this season, so it was great to see him playing his best rugby again. On South Africa - I thought Strauss had one of his best games in the Boks jersey in the weekend, though his is still no du Plessis. I think Oosthuizen, despite his promise, showed he is not ready for test level yet. I'm sure he set a new record though by conceding 3/4 of the Boks penalties (despite only being on the field for 25 minutes!). I'm still not convinced with Bekker at test level. He was dominant in the lineout as always, but he doesn't really bring much physicality to his play. I think the Boks forward pack looks far more dangerous when they are all hitting the breakdown at full speed (e.g. the AB's test in Dunedin), and having a lock that doesn't seem capable/willing to do the dirty work in the tight is a bit of an issue (in contrast Etzebeth is a complete beast!). The loose trio was pretty good again - I still am not 100% convinced by Alberts, but he hasn't really had a poor game at test level this season. Pienaar had some nice touches, though I still think he needs to use his (very effective) running game a bit more. Goosen looked solid while he was on, while I was actually quite impressed with Jantjies when he came on. When I first saw Jantjies a few years ago I thought he was a talented young player, but didn't think he would be a test player due to his lack of composure, but I thought he looked very composed and comfortable this match. South Africa's midfield was pretty quiet throughout the match, and there were a couple of wee defensive lapses that proved costly. Habana had a bit of a mixed game - he took his try well and made a couple of good runs, but his defense let him down a couple of times. Gear ran straight over top of him at one stage, while A Smith's try happened after he ran out of the line and missed the intercept. He seems to have been heavily criticized for this, but in fact running out of the line was his only option, as the AB's had a 4-1 overlap. His error was going for the intercept, rather than making the hit on Dan Carter which would have killed the attack. Hougaard was a bit disappointing yet again, and I'm really starting to reconsider my opinion that he is a better wing than a halfback. He hasn't been near as threatening on attack as I thought he would be, while he seems completely lost at times on defense. If he is going to stay on the wing for South Africa I think he clearly needs a full season of Super Rugby in the position to refine his wing skills, as over recent weeks he has really looked like a halfback playing on the wing! Kirchner was Kirchner - ok but I'm sure South Africa has better options. [/QUOTE]