I think everything that could be said about Bakkies has been said, so i say no more other than good riddance and to be honest i dont think he has done anything positive in the last year or so to warrant a recall!!

The only difference between the 2 sides on the weekend in my mind was desire and hunger i think the Boks fell into the trap of believing the hype and just thought they would just pitch up and do the job, but they have learnt i am sure. I read Rugby365 and some of those idiots really anger me no end. The boks lose one game and its PdVs fault, but when they win its the teams fault, go figure...

I am not much a fan of Meisiekind, but i dont think he did anything wrong to warrant being dropped. i do like the combo of Jean and Jacques as i said last week. What i like about PdV is he has shown faith in the same team that didnt deliver last week, I think Jean will be better this weekend. The only thing against both him and Brian, is the fact that they both come in for the intercept and as a result they will get exposed by a team with half a brain. I have said this many times. John Smit is pretty toilet as a hooker. Cant question his captaincy or interviewing skills, but as a mobile hooker he is lacking. I say bring on Chiliboy and Tiaan Liebenberg, but it wont happen, shame Chiliboy, hes going to get the Hanyani treatment and its not fair. If John gets busted now, Gary Botha will step over him or someone.

Danie at lock is perfect, he has been doing the business for the Bulls and the Boks this year and why he didnt start i guess the powers that be have learnt...its life. He gives away the odd yellow card but its through enthusiasm more than ill intent.

The pack may be stronger now with big man CJ in for the deck of cards Du Plessis, cos man he was folded more than origamist folds a flower. CJ is a big guy and i am sure they are using him to negate the loss of push power that Bakkies provided, but i think his scrummaging ability is second to BJs, but time will tell.

Pierre was nowhere, why because he was not part of a dominant pack and that meant Ricky also struggled and Steyn was also pretty random.

For the Blacks i was really impressed with the effort from the players who have hardly played this year, Donnelly, Mills and Ma'a. I guess the latter had points to prove and prove it they did. i wasnt impressed with Jimmy at all. He did ok in the early stages but started to fall off in the second half. The selectors have given Piri the reigns ahead of him. Another change is Ranger on the wing. i like him but i fear that he may try and be too much of a hero at the wrong time and not pass but we'll see.

The game on saturday will be a much tighter affair. The Boks wont be so dozy and i doubt the Blacks can bring the same intensity and execution.

There really isnt much to be said about the game on the weekend, its part one of a 3 battle war, there is much work to be done so i wont be going off on a tangent if i was a supporter of either country, well not at this stage. it was a home game for the Blacks and good money should have been on them winning, but their form of late particularly against the Boks has been woeful at best. Some might argue that it was the boks that were better, others might argue that it was the Blacks that were toilet either way there are 2 more games to be played and after that we shall see...Shame pooor Australia, its like the world has forgotten that it is the TRI nations.

Happy viewing boys and girls

Y