Earl had a "pearl"- er by his standards. Time to chill hard for the next year or so...

So we went down 24 – 23 in the Springbok “Dirt Trackers” final game of the tour against  a relatively star studded Saracens team, consisting of quite a number of South African born payers.

The coaches however will be looking at various good aspects of the game itself (yes there were good things that came out of the game) and the way certain individuals played.

Some points I’d like to make about the game:

• I think Earl Rose had possibly the best game of his senior career. He showed glimpses of the deft, “Larkamesque” handling skills that he is capable of, which culminated in the neat pop ball behind his back. What scares me about the fact that he had such a good game by his standards, is that with his erratic play, it only happens every year or two, and PDV will be sure to use Tuesday night’s game as an excuse to keep Earl touring for another year or two
• Heini Adam’s isn’ t the answer, he was like a dear in the headlights for the 1st 20 minutes of the game, and then when the Springbok XV did start getting go forward ball, Adams does a two step before he passes, like George Gregan in old age.
• Francois Hougaard uncharacteristically had a game he’d soon like to forget.
• Although Ashley Johnson gets around the park well, and shows good ball skills, I’m not quite convinced he is up to international standards as of yet. Let’s be honest, there is a massive step between playing a Northern Hemisphere club and playing international rugby. Johnson needs to get more involved at the breakdown areas and vastly improve his scrum technique.
• Once again Wynand Olivier showed how he is nowhere once he pulls the Green and Gold strip over his head. I don’t know what happens to him, but something definately does. Brilliant hit on Derick Hougaard though.
• Juan De Jongh showed some good strength in going over for his try.
• Jongi Nokwe contested very well under the high ball, and generally played quite well.
• Odwa Ndungane on the other hand seems adament to prove how he isn’t up to international standard with each new game he plays.
• Adrian Strauss showed exactly why he should have been picked in the 1st place.
• Jean Deysel was a machine as always.
• The ref was pretty hopeless at the breakdown – both ways.
• I wouldn’t be too worried about the scrum free kicks, it a sign of a team that hasn’t played together much. We know what those boys are really capable of.

The Highlights: