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would like to hear your opinion(s) on the Bok game, coming from a neutral who knows his stuff it would be highly appreciated.

As for my own, my celerbrations are cautioned by the fact that we played a depleted Ozzie side at Fortress Versveld. That said there were aspects of the the new Bok game I enjoyed, for one there wasn't any aimless kicking, Goosen brightened up the backline and credit must also go to Meyer for timing the kid's introduction to perfection. The service from Pienaar was crisp and Goosen's decision making was awesome. Our loose trio as well as  Bekker and Elzebeth all made great contributions. Louw's pass that led to Habana's try was top shelf. There was one try in particular that stood out when the Boks firstly compressed the Oz defence before sending it out wide....a show of intelligence in my book.

On the downside, I'm still not comfortable will some of Meyer's Bull's selections although woolibulli Kirchner did have a good game. Frans is still my pick as fullback. FlipFlop Van Der Merwe is no Bok. Jean De Villiers once again showed that he has poor hands but redeems himself with good individual play, I wish that one day it would lead to a try. I also thought the Boks were a little bit better at the breakdown in the first half but not in the second and they will need to quicksmart fix that aspect of their game against a Kiwi strengh. Our defence also fell away in the second half as the Ozzies frequently got over the gain line.

Im summation without getting carried away I believe the Boks are finally on the road to somewhere, there is still a long way to go though, play at the breakdown needs a helluva lot more improvement, just running with ball in hand is better than aimless kicking but aimless running is almost as bad as aimless kicking as we witnessed in the WC. I guess what I'm saying is that the Boks are a long way off perfotming  as a cohesive, skillful and smart attack. And lastly, there was a huge improvement in our discipline and here I want to congratulate Meyer for his firmness and direction.

Your thoughts?

 Louw's "top shelf" pass as you call it was about 4 metres forward. Check on the slow mo!

moodaa

To late to cry about that one - the try was awarded.   In any event it really made no difference to the eventual outcome of the game.

 I dont think the Try was forward. It looks like habana is behind Louw when he takes the pass. 
If it was by chance forward- no way it was 4 metres. 

 @ Sharkbok.

Take a look at the replay! Louw passes the ball at least 4 metres from the Oz 22 metre line and Habana catches it right on the 22! A glaring forward pass if you ask me and totally ignored by the linesman and conveniently not mentioned by your commentators.

It doesn't matter where Habana came from.....you can not propel the ball forward!

I'm certainly not decrying Habana's efforts but let's get that "top shelf" pass in perspective shall we?

I agree with Sharkbok here, Habana was indeed behind Louw as the pass was made. It was truly Habana's speed which made it look like a relatively forward pass. It looks very much like a flat pass to me, or very close from it.

 I'm not getting through to you guys am I? Freeze the frame when Louw passes it and then again when Habana catches it and you'll see! (That's if you open the other eye mind!).

I repeat, it doesn't matter if Habana was behind him; the bloody pass was FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's against the rules.

Oh pleaeeease moooooooo la - how about the read pass to carol jane who scored in the corner against the Pumas - that was forward and the first ab try looked forward to me. The abs have specialised in the forward pass. High priority stuff for them.

As far as I know a forward pass depends on the direction of the ball as it leaves the passers hands.

Windpomp is a master on the subject so its a pity he is not here to comment.

Moolaa, go do some research regarding forward passes, you clearly do not understand the concept yet. The speed of the player passing the ball will result in the ball moving "forward", although it was passed backwards. The way you want to apply it now would make almost all backline passes forward.

Draad am I correct in saying its the angle that it leaves the passers  hands? That rule makes sense to me.

Of course if two playersa are running together the one passes and then stops the ball will reach the second player well ahead of the first player.

 @ Draad & Beeno.

Direct quote from IRB's rule book:

"A throw forward occurs when a player throws or PASSES the ball forward. 'Forward' means towards the opposition team's dead ball line".

Is that clear enough for you boys or would you like to attend a lecture on the subject from that doyen of referees, Brycey "get rid of the Boks" Lawrence?