Pierre Spies

[Chip and Chase]

No not a French secret service agent but the Boks number 8.

The other thread about Nonu got me thinking about current rugby forwards that could be a good league prospect and I immediately thought of this guy. An absolute monster (not sure on his stats but he is a big unit) who is quick and extremely mobile. Has good ball skills and a decent defender. I think it'd be a coup if we could nail him down. I was impressed with his efforts in the Super 14 final and the test against the Poms. I know that some rugby forwards don't always work out (D'Arcy and Morgan for instance) but I reckon this guy would kill it because of his athleticism. I don't know what sort of money the Saffies pay their players (Mata might be able to help out here) but he'd be worth a look.

 

[Matabele]

The pay would compare (maybe a bit more in SA Rugby) but a couple of years ago I argued that we could lure some of these blokes over here because of quality of life.

I was howled down at the time but I still think it is valid. Manly beach would probably appeal to blokes a touch more than Razor Wire in one of the most god-forsaken cities in the world - Pretoria.

De Wet Barry would be a sensation in League, though a bit long in the tooth now.

Personally I reckon Schalk Burger would be the one to chase hardest. He is quick and hits like a sledgehammer. would also be able to take on the line and offload.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Burger is another big mobile unit, when he first came on the scene a few years back I thought he could have been anything but I think he really hasn't lived up to that potential. However I reckon Spies is one of the best Rugby forwards going around at the moment. I'll reserve final judgement till after the Tri Nations and I see how he goes against the Ull Blecks pack.

I googled Spies to get his stats. 194 cm (6' 4") and 104 kg. Rumoured to run the 100m in less than 11s and played wing at under 19 level apparently. 22 years old.

 

[Matabele]

All those African boys grow up eating Protein-rich Pronutro for breakfast.

A hell of a lot better for you than the Carbohydrate rich crap the Aussie kids eat.

 

[Duff]

Rugby Union forwards are bad news. He'd cost way too much for a PL player.

 

[Matabele]

Australian union forwards are bad news because Australia's obsession with a running game is bred on the back of soft-cock forwards.

The Springboks play a power game through the forwards that is much closer to League than the Wobblies produce.

 

[willstyles]

It also helps that they have the best second rower in world rugby, which instantly makes their lineout pretty dominant.

 

[Matabele]

The Springboks have played that way for a Century. Victor Matfield has only been around for a few years.

 

[DSM5]

It's always surprised me that the NRL, or whoever controls the international game, haven't seen SA as a fertile field to expand into. They seem to prefer Russia, Lebanon etc which has always seemed crazy to me. Thoughts?

 

[Utility Player]

Personally I reckon Schalk Burger would be the one to chase hardest.

Him and Rose would be mates for life

 

[Matabele]

It's always surprised me that the NRL, or whoever controls the international game, haven't seen SA as a fertile field to expand into. They seem to prefer Russia, Lebanon etc which has always seemed crazy to me. Thoughts?

Rugby is not a game over there. It is a religion ingrained in the psyche of the nation.

 

[willstyles]

The Springboks have played that way for a Century. Victor Matfield has only been around for a few years.

Fair point. Says a lot about Australia and South African rugby that our best (and only...) line-out specialist is a Saffie.

Matfield is awesome though. Vickerman is a gun in lineouts, but around the park Matfield has it all over him. Awesome workrate.

 

[Matabele]

Matfield would be great in maroon and white but we could never afford him. After a kicking five eighth a high workrate secondrower is the highest priced commodity in SA Rugby.

Bobby Skinstadt would go well in League too. Bit old and injured now though.

 

[willstyles]

I was going to mention Skinstad, but as you mention - he's the wrong side of 30 now (only just, but with his knees he's more 35 than 25).

Would've been awesome to bring along five years ago or something.

Bit surprised that you mentioned Barry though. He's the closest thing to Matai in world rugby. Charges out of the line. Pure grub. He'd break the record for most penalties in a match - especially with the ten metre offside rule. He'd either ignore it and get penalised, or he'd lose his crash-tackle ability.

 

[Fro]

Butch James

cleanest player in world rugby, imagine him in the NRL, he'd have his own parking spot at the judiciary car park

 

[Matabele]

The thing about Barry is that what he does is within the rules of Union. He intimidates and has the hitting power to match it (something you can't say about Matai).

Barry reminds me of Craig Innes and we all know how good he was.

Butch James is a monkey. I can't fathom why any SA province would waste a precious number 10 jumper on him.

 

[Fluffy]

Samm Harris

oh wait......

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Jerry Collins would be an awesome league player. Runs the ball hard with no fear, absolutely smashes anything in his way and is as hard as nails. 4-5 years back he broke his leg. Was getting near the end of time in plaster, and he was bored, so he got out the hacksaw and took the cast off so he could go for a run

As for backs, I would love to see Sitiveni Sivuvati at fullback or on the wing. He is freakishly quick and his agility is amazing

 

[Garts]

Totai Kefu would have killed it at league IMO, he is one of the only forwards in world rugby from the last 10 years I would throw money at!!!! Too old now though.

 

[Canteen Worker]

Who was that South African forward that Penrith tried a number of years ago to dismal results. Very different games and there are only a handful of forwards that have come across iin 40 years that have made it. Even backs take time to adjust. Different lines, differing defensive demands and different speed.