Highlanders suffer midfield blow as centre Tomkinson to undergo surgery

Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.

As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

6 or 7 max!!

They have beaten the worst Welsh side ever and pipped England in OT

They do look attractive to watch I admit but got smashed by the Welsh scrum last week

Look at the areas of focus for Razor and Ryan

Huge player development in the ABs and ABs XV

One might argue that the only scrum more dominant is the Boks? And that wasn’t clear in SA until the bomb squad came on

The bench has been somewhat rectified since then

Can’t compare that Italy team at the World Cup to this

New coach and a very good 6N since then

Frustrating ABs display nevertheless

A number of issues including 10 and midfield attack but we now have 6 quality props

Aumua and Vaai in form when those were major areas of concern

Holland and Taukei’aho to come in

ABs XV played on this tour so I don’t know where the slide is

Perhaps refer?

Not excusing the ABs but massive credit to Italy

If they bring that defensive effort again they will do ok in the 6N

Nothing to stew son.

ALB is equally effective at 12 and 13, so why not have him or Tupaea at 12, and Proctor at 13? God forbid you’d have two midfielders playing at their natural positions! There must be a law in New Zealand, that prohibits that. Small sample size, but Proctor walked on water in his international debut at 13.

But the kiwi selectors seem to love Rieko’s speed, so as long as the horse is fast enough, they decided they’ll teach him to climb trees anyway.

You don’t have a better 10 than BB and Mo’unga. DMac is a more instinctive attacker (almost as good as Mo’unga … almost), but doesn’t have BB’s game-controlling skills. You have and will lose games due to his aimless kicking and spur-of-the-moment inventions none of his team mates are able to read at the international pace. Works okay at Super Rugby level, doesn’t mean it’s transferable to test matches. But hey, suit yourself.

He’s the unintentionally entertaining author of multiple self-immolations, including a legendary article during 2023 RWC, the headline of which was literally: “Sorry, South Africa. Handré Pollard will not save you”, which aged about as well as fine milk on a hot summer day.

Anyway. I rate Barrett, and I’m one of those who think no one else but him and Mo’unga should have ever dressed the ABs’ 10 jersey as long as both are still active, but he wasn’t a 9.5. Barrett is the best game controller of all contemporary ABs’ first fives. Kiwi fans are obsessed with ball running 10s and many don’t realize, that there are other boxes a “first five” needs to tick, than instinctive genius attacking rugby. The DMac lovers don’t seem to notice, that his poor tactical decisions costed ABs some games this year, granting tries to both Pumas and Springboks. As for BB, just review the miniseries against England earlier this year. In one of the games, Barrett came on the field, and literally turned the tables by putting immense pressure on the English through clever kicking. It’s not sexy, but it wins games and championships. Ask Handré Pollard, who started his international career as a ball running 10/12, and then turned himself into a game controller.

Anyway x2. 10 is a perfect performance, that couldn’t have been better. 10 is Dusautoir in the 2011 RWC finals. Barrett wasn’t next door to a performance, that couldn’t have been better as much as I rate him.

At least the line-out is getting better. A good tour but a soft finish in H2 in this game I think

And Ireland lost to the ABs at home so not so impressive