Life is not always fair! But I do agree Deon Stegmann is a fine player.

Whilst Stegmaan started the season brilliantly, (I thought he adapted to the new law interpretations better than anyone other flanker), I have been surprised how his form has fallen away slightly. He hasn’t had the same impact and is now starting to give away penalties (sometimes unfairly) but some for silly little things like early tackles and head high tackles.

You make a great point about how he has been rotated. I made the point that in 2009 I felt his form suffered after he got suspended against the Hurricanes. Prehaps he has lost momentum again. I still think he’d be a fine Bok, but Francois Louw now comes into the picture and what about Wickus van Heerden? Also Schalk Burger (in my view a better blind side flank) may be in the mix as he is playing well and it’s so tough to drop Juan Smith who in my view is an unsung hero.

He may have given away a couple of penalties on the Bulls’ Australasian tour and attracted some unfair criticism, but his penalty count is no greater than say, those of the Stormers’ flanks. Besides, it is exactly in the position of openside flank that most teams concede penalties as it is the responsibility of these players to aggressively constest the ball at the breakdown.

Stegmann is a very hard and honest worker on and off the field, and has certainly outplayed Heinrich Brussow in their last 4 encounters.

Stegmann has the perfect size, speed and physical and psychological toughness, as well as the same fighting spirit as Heinrich Brussow to be ideally complimentary to the Springbok loose trio combinations that we currently have. Heinrich Brussow has caused quite a sensation in the media during 2009, but as any rugby fan can see, Deon Stegmann is in no means behind Brussow when it comes to being clinical at the breakdown.

Victor Matfield himself has come out and said he believes Stegmann is an ideal option to be awarded the Springbok number 6 jersey, and although the Springbok legend may have a slight Bulls bias, he certainly would know better than most what he is talking about in this regard.

Schalk Burger is on very good form at the moment, but he is quite a different player compared to the Brussow/Stegmann type with his own strengths and weaknesses, and he certainly has and will continue to make his great contribution to Springbok rugby, although many are of the opinion that the former type (of opensider, perhaps almost regardless of the ELVs) would be more benefitting to the Springboks as they head into the 2010 season.