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FORUM / RUGBY /  Willie and Rudolph

Willie and Rudolph

Started by Plum13 REPLIES100 VIEWS· 16 Aug 2026, 10:15
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Plum
PlumCaptain21,810 posts
16 Aug 2026, 10:15
#1
16 Aug 2026, 10:15#1

Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum.

Willie made costly mistakes. Even more costly when you consider when they were made. The Bulls had suffered adrenaline dumps from disallowed tries, and in amongst that we had Willie making mistakes and taking poor options when the team needed a pick-me-up. And to compound matters, the ABs were never gonna be caught once they got away. And then you factor in that Willie is there to provide a sense "follow my lead" aura in the team. Instead, you have the most experienced guy in the side doing brainless things at moments when his side could least afford it.

He needs to retire. He was awful this season for the Bulls and this game was simply a continuation of that horrendous form.

I was one of the few that never complained too much about him for the Boks and have in general not had too many complaints about his career. But it really is time now. He needs to hang up the boots.

Now, Rudolph.

Talk about a stand-out performance. He was good all year for the Bulls. A real grafting momentum shifter of a player. Steals, tackles, offloads, backtracking...he did all last night, again.

He's 32 now so has a year or two left in the tank. One feels, on form, he does seem deserving of a call up and a little run. If he can performs like he did last night, how would it not be a benefit having him the WC squad next year?

Two totally contrasting performances by the old boys. One is clearly past it and the other just proved to us that Mike wasn't really watching the Bulls this season.

lol the Mampras Union calls it again.

You need to join us Beeno.

Pakie
PakieCaptain18,095 posts
16 Aug 2026, 10:42
#2
16 Aug 2026, 10:42#2

Most impressive about Rudolph is how he gets around the park. See how many mentions he got in the live thread. Then look at Elrigh for example, only mentioned by me when I was looking for him and not finding him. I see he made 10 tackles in his 40 minutes so maybe I'm just blind, but when there was a guy tracking back to save the day, it was Rudolph. When there was a forward crossing open field as the ball went wide to cover the opposition outside backs, it was Rudolph. Menaced the breakdowns. And this was for a losing side against the All Blacks. Love me an honest player that makes his presence known and leaves nothing out there.

Willie is Willie. A coach that doesn't know what he's going to get by now, well, good luck.

Pakie
Captain18,095 posts
Pakie16 Aug 2026, 17:25

@Plum the worst is we thought that was the game the planets were aligning for him.

Plum
Captain21,810 posts
Plum17 Aug 2026, 07:01

@Pakie worse even. The stars were done aligning. He was playing like a beast, had almost effortlessly shown that he can play at lock too, Rassie had his spot in the Boks booked and I think of the three noobs(Cam, Divvy and Venter) he was probably right at the front of the queue...and then the injury.

BE
Beeno1Captain40,287 posts
16 Aug 2026, 10:54
#3
16 Aug 2026, 10:54#3

Plumpster the surest way for an erring person to evolve and escape from being a hapless Mampara Union member is to agree and follow the sound views of Beeno!!!
Just like you have done with Rudolf. BWAHAHAHAHA
Rudolf is unlucky to not have made a Bok squad for some years now. Yes he should go the the RWC.
Willie is at the end now. Great career and servant of Bok rugby.
To be honest I have been really annoyed by these Franchise matches and them fielding second string sides. Damages the South African brand and is an humiliation.

Plum
PlumCaptain21,810 posts
16 Aug 2026, 11:19
#4
16 Aug 2026, 11:19#4

lol Beeno, you might even be the Mampara King.

Ja, Elrigh was good before that horrific knee injury. And then he came back more quickly then I thought he would, and he did okay'ish after he came back at the Bulls but then hasn't really grabbed his chances.

I'm not giving up on him though. I feel there is an element of pedigree there and it's just whether he can kick on with it or not.

BE
Beeno1Captain40,287 posts
16 Aug 2026, 14:34
#5
16 Aug 2026, 14:34#5

I don't see Louw as an exceptional athlete. He is not a powerful guy like Wiese and he lacks pace. Its only at the back of a lineout I could imagine him doing well. Meanwhile he is keeping out a guy like Rudolf who would shine even more in a dominant pack like the Boks usually field?
Plumpster the Kingship regarding the Mamparas Union is set in stone. I cant see anybody taking over from Dud Mozzie. He has spent years achieving his currently unassailable position. Bwahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

Plum
Captain21,810 posts
Plum17 Aug 2026, 07:08

Admit it, Beeno, you covet the crown. You have made yourself a polystyrene one and sprayed it gold.

I know you put it on and imagine the Mamparas bowing before you.

KI
kingcornPro3,828 posts
17 Aug 2026, 17:49
#6
17 Aug 2026, 17:49#6

Didn't watch the game, on paper the team looked great, thought it will be very entertaining, but the bools imploded since their Semi in the URC and then completely destruction by Leinster.

The usual culprits, Papier was a paper tiger then and was again, Willie made things worse and despite some good loose forward play from Roedolph and Marcel, that was about it.

Ackers has a ceiling, he can play fancy rugby during the league, but come knockouts, his team can never play tight and make calculated decisions, using percentage rugby.

Test teams which Leinster is, are a different animal, Ackers teams are not

I was rooting for this guy, but now have seen the errors of my ways

Plum
Captain21,810 posts
Plum18 Aug 2026, 03:07

Too early to call, KC

He played last season with a team that he didn't pick. And it was his first season at the Bulls.

I'm a bit bummed that he didn't get himself a burly twelve for next season but he's added a few interesting players to his mix.

Let's see how he goes.

And remember, we don't really have many good coaches anyway. Like who would one replace him with?

— END OF THREAD —

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