Picking my ideal ‘Boks World Cup squad
Roar Pro By kynang, 24 Aug 2011 kynang is a Roar Pro
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- 2011 Rugby World Cup, Peter de Villiers, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, South Africa rugby, Springboks
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South Africa's Bakkies Botha, left, Victor Matfield and Bismarck du Plessis celebrate winning the Tri Nations Cup. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Rowland)
With the World Cup rapidly approaching, I have gone ahead and selected the team I feel would best carry the Springboks to World Cup glory.
Most players select themselves, but I have gone ahead and made some notable exclusions, beginning with the captain himself, John Smit.
As expressed in my earlier article, he has become a liability on the field, and should be included in the squad as a non-playing Manager. He can sit on the sidelines and cheer the team on.
I also went with a risky 17/13 split in favor of the forwards. Given the style of South Africa’s play, the forwards are likely to suffer more injuries, and I’d rather have an extra loose-forward than a non-playing wing. The Boks have enough versatility in Francois Steyn, Pienaar, Hougard and Lambie to cover any injury contingency.
In the front row, options are pretty short on the tighthead side with BJ Botha injuring himself and the SA government making Brian Mujati unavailable in a sudden surge of xenophobia. CJ van der Linde is the experienced man, but his form has been awful all year. So Werner Kruger is left to fly the flag, though he’s not exactly electrifying.
At hooker, Adrian Strauss is the beneficiary of my sacking of Smit. He is a tough player who does all the basics well, and brings some needed mongrel to the equation.
At lock we have the standard Bulls contingent (I nearly included Flip vd Merwe too!), but in the end decided on Mostert for his strong performances in the otherwise mediocre SA “B” squad. The injury to Bekker leaves a big while… SA is not as flush with experienced locks as they like to pretend – I suddenly find myself looking enviously at New Zealand’s stocks…
Amongst the loosies, the extra spot makes way for Keegan Daniel to enter the side. I think cover for Brussow is essential, and while Schalk can do the job, Daniel is the most lively loosie in the country and should be rewarded for his stellar efforts.
The half-backs all pick themselves – the only real decision being whether to start Butch or Morne. As mentioned earlier, Pienaar and Hougard also cover every other backline position, except center, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Hougard there either.
With Francois Steyn and Lambie in the mix, only three centers are required – the all WP trio.
And the wings and fullbacks are SA’s only options… again, I look with envy towards New Zealand.
For all SA’s talk of depth, the back-up beyond this 30 is not that flush – but these 30 are all pretty great. They have what it takes to defend the Cup.
Props:
Jannie Du Plessis
Guthro Steenkamp
Beast Mtawarira
Werner Kruger
Hookers:
Bismarck Du Plessis
Chilliboy Ralapele
Adrian Strauss
Locks:
Victor Matfield (Captain)
Bakkies Botha
Danie Russouw
Gerhard Mostert
Loosies:
Schalk Burger
Heinrich Brussow
Pierre Spies
Willem Alberts
Keegan Daniels
Ashley Johnson
Scrum halves:
Fourie Du Preez
Francois Hougaard
Ruan Pienaar
Fly halves:
Butch James
Morne Steyn
Centers:
Jean de Villiers
Jacque Fourie
Juan De Jongh
Wings:
Bryan Habana
JP Pieterson
Gio Aplon
Fullbacks:
Patrick Lambie
Francois Steyn
On more change: Peter De Villiers to makes way for Rassie Erasmus as coach.
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August 24th 2011 @ 1:53am
bokgat1 said | August 24th 2011 @ 1:53am | Report comment
step into my office you are fired!
August 24th 2011 @ 5:57am
Rusty said | August 24th 2011 @ 5:57am | Report comment
Here it is:
Backs: Pat Lambie, Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Butch James, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Pierre Spies , Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, John Muller, Danie Rossouw, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Tendai Mtawarira, Gurthro Steenkamp
August 24th 2011 @ 7:20am
Moaman said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:20am | Report comment
You beat me to it Rusty. Are you happy with the squad?
August 24th 2011 @ 7:43am
Lee said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:43am | Report comment
Odwa is an interesting choice…
I think I’d be a lot more confident if Juan Smith and Bekker weren’t injured – also would love Vermuelen to be there too.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:04am
thurl said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:04am | Report comment
No change in the captain
August 24th 2011 @ 7:04am
Loftus said | August 24th 2011 @ 7:04am | Report comment
I think you have chosen a decent squad,and thank goodness no John Smit.He should coach the team, officially.I honestly can’t see everyone’s fascination with Butch James.He is a has been and when exactly has he ever sent a Springbok backline away – as so many want to believe? In a World cup you play your deadliest weapon – and,sorry to say to Butch James fans,that weapon is Morne Steyn. Ruan Pienaar is also very lucky to be in the squad and hopefully he and Butch will only play against Namibia.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:35am
Bokke2011 said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:35am | Report comment
The team as listed by Rusty is the actual official team & it includes JS. I cannot undestand the need for 3 hookers, unless they bank on using him at prop again too – ouch.
August 24th 2011 @ 8:39am
kingplaymaker said | August 24th 2011 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Morne Steyn will start and so there will be almost no running: can the Boks get away with no running at all?
With the current laws you would have to say they can’t. But they have one trick up their sleeves: rain. New Zealand is supposed to rain non-stop during these months and so that may disarm the running sides as it will be impossible to hold onto the ball, and re-arm the kicking ones.
August 24th 2011 @ 11:02am
Moaman said | August 24th 2011 @ 11:02am | Report comment
That’s bs about it raining non-stop KPM. Auckland has on average—–7 rainy days in the month of October I read on some met site.
August 24th 2011 @ 9:51am
stuff happens said | August 24th 2011 @ 9:51am | Report comment
KPM agreed about the rain & they’re in Wellington! Steyn may run the backs more that we expect – he has for the Bulls. But the real issue for them will be how well Fourie d.P plays. He’s the talisman & is still short of his best, well so far.
Louw is a good choice I think, he had a great start to the S15 but was injured. Smit could be their nemesis since I assume he’ll have to play.
August 24th 2011 @ 10:03am
tubby said | August 24th 2011 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Very dissappointing to see spies continues to make the squad, he’s been poor for a long time now. There’s no real lively number 8 in the squad. vermuelen will be badly missed.
steyne at #10 – again we look at his kicking for goal, only the 2nd best in SA, and ignore his shortcomings in attack and defense. If plan A doesn’t work there’s simply no plan B with steyne in the team. butch james was making up the numbers at the lions, he must have been outstanding in europe to justify his place.
August 24th 2011 @ 11:58am
mattamkII said | August 24th 2011 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Agree – Vermuelen is your best number 8.
August 24th 2011 @ 11:18am
Hoy said | August 24th 2011 @ 11:18am | Report comment
The South Africans would do well to find a creative 5/8 to unleash their backline. They have not had one since… Honiball? Maybe not. But you get the picture.
Their play would be so much more dangerous if they had a 5/8 who could run, and pass well enough to create something for his outside men.
August 24th 2011 @ 11:27am
AdamS said | August 24th 2011 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Why is Habana in the side as a Wing?
August 24th 2011 @ 12:47pm
Ralph said | August 24th 2011 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
There’s a lot of talent in that list.
August 24th 2011 @ 1:04pm
chocie said | August 24th 2011 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
personally i think Habana is better suited to the No.8 position…his running style would siut best there…bring Patrick lambie to No. 9 and give 10 to fourie du preez…..and then noone will stop the boks….