Provincialism and politics once again spoil the Boks
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Many had high hopes for the Springboks this year. I admit, I was one of them. There was always a sneaking suspicion however, that Heyneke Meyer would favour his old Bulls players, despite form or proven ability on the international stage.
The Bulls played the Stormers in the early hours of the morning in an epic struggle where all guns blazing, all out attack was stunted by once again impeccable defence by the injury ravaged Stormers.
With little ball the Stormers had, Siya Kolisi – a constant and fantastic performer all year – absolutely ripped the Bulls apart with his hulking runs and driving back tackles, eventually leading to him setting up a superb try for Habana by slicing through Bjorn Basson and JJ Engelbrecht’s lame defence – both of whom are apparently deserving of the higher honors. Kolisi was man of the match.
All this unfolding just moments before the Squad Springbok announcement. Kolisi did not make the squad. Neither did Heinrich Brussow. Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the dawn of the Blue Boks.
There is apparently no place for players who have been on fire all season – Joe Pietersen and Aplon are ranked behind the predictable Kirchner. Wynand Olivier is preferred ahead of the promising Juan de Jongh. Olivier has had 34 Test matches.
He has scored one try in his international career. It was against Italy. He is a constant failure on the international scene, yet Meyer will persist.
The Stormers currently sit at the top of the South African conference, beating the Bulls both home and away. There are 3 Stormers in the 32 man squad compared to the 13 of the Bulls.
There are also bizarre choices in Ryan Kankowski making the cut despite only recently coming back from injury and not playing more than 20 minutes of rugby this year and seemingly being out of favour with the Boks.
Sadly, we are being robbed of watching true, world-class players like Brussow instead we have Pierre Spies thrown at our faces, a player who’s only amazing ability is to turn invisible.
If it isn’t politics, it’s provincialism.
Springbok squad: Willem Alberts, Bjorn Basson, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, JJ Engelbrecht, Eben Etzebeth, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Ryan Kankowski, Zane Kirchner, Juandré Kruger, Werner Kruger, Patrick Lambie, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Wynand Olivier, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Pierre Spies, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Jano Vermaak.
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June 4th 2012 @ 8:44am
Rusty said | June 4th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
All hail the Blue Boks!!
Lots of questions on this one, not picking Brussouw is a very big mistake. Understandibly he has gone the route he knows but if he doesnt adjust in the near future then it is going to alienate a considerable number of people
June 4th 2012 @ 8:56am
Brett McKay said | June 4th 2012 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Good one, Joshy. I thought I was reading an incomplete squad when I couldn’t see Brussow and Pietersen, and then Aplon too. Glad to see squad selection debate is not limited to Australia!
June 4th 2012 @ 9:25am
Colin N said | June 4th 2012 @ 9:25am | Report comment
I, too, as an England fan, was hugely surprised. By not picking Brussow, he’s basically allowing England to get away with their greatest weakest, which is not having a natural seven.
In the back five, there’s also seemingly an issue with experience.While the likes of Alberts, Kankowski and Daniel have had Test experience, they’re either not on form, not had a lot of Test experience or not established Test players.
If I was picking on ability and potential I would play Etzebeth and Juandre Kruger in the second-row, but they’re both uncapped and it would be difficult to learn new lineout calls with small preparation time.
Also, Meyer seems like he’s going to stick with the stereotype of kick-chase rugby, so I assume the lineout is somewhere they will want dominance. Without Matfield, I don’t see that, especially when England have Parling, who himself is an excellent lineout exponent, on their side.
Some very, very average players in that squad which has raised my hopes!
June 4th 2012 @ 11:21am
Red Kev said | June 4th 2012 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Agree with that.
I would have thought the Boks coach would be salivating at the thought of a backline of:
Houggard, Lambie, Habana, F Steyn, JP Pieterson, Mvovo, Pieterson
with McLeod and Aplon off the bench (with Goosen injured I suppose Steyn becomes the backup flyhalf).
In the loosies with Burger and Vermuelen out I can certainly see the appeal of Alberts, and Potgieter and Coetzee have definitely deserved their call ups but no Brussow is a clanger.
Agree on Kruger (who for some reason I keep thinking is called Botha) and Etzebeth too.
With Meyer and Hansen being so conservative in their selections, Deans really has a chance to pull a fast one on them and win the inaugural Rugby Championship if they can all remain uninjured.
June 4th 2012 @ 12:15pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Red Kev, I don’t understand your point?
The players you mention will be the Bok backline? Who else are you thinking about? Joe Pietersen is injured.
9. Hougaard
10. Morne Steyn
11. Habana
12. Frans Steyn
13. Jean De Villiers
14. Basson / Mvovo
15. Lambie
Let’s see how Hansen and Deans go against this mob?
Remembering that Schalk and Duane will be back for the Four Nations, and that Victor Matfield is coaching the lineout jumpers.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:42pm
Red Kev said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I look at that backline and see positions to try and exploit.
Steyn, de Villiers and Basson.
In the one I posted Mvovo is the only place I would have a potential worry.
M.Steyn may not be Quade Cooper in defense but he is also no Carter or Wilkinson. There are breaks to be had around his channel.
De Villiers doesn’t have it anymore. He’s lost his zip for mine – that is a purely personal opinion and I could well be wrong, but I think JP Pieterson has been the best 13 in the South African teams this year by a good margin and he only played there for half or fewer of the matches.
Basson I have never rated as anything other than express pace. I think he could be caught out by good attack (unlike someone like Habana who seems to always know where he needs to be).
It is also worth noting (in response to posts further down) that Lambie doesn’t lose much in the composure stakes compared to M.Steyn. Although I do concede that you could be right in that Morne is often under-estimated / under-appreciated as one-dimensional.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:46pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
Good Points, I see what you mean. Those three players are all weak links. De Villiers is out of position, but hopefully Meyer can develop someone else in this position long term. Goosen is going to replace Morne, I think everyone knows that. As for Mvovo or Basson, Meyer may still select J.P. Pieterson at either Outside Centre or Wng. Either way, I get your point, we don’t have a Digby Ione or anyone like the New Zealand finnishers. The Bok back three is average at best.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:39pm
steve.h said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
Bismark has made more steals from the base of the ruck than Brussow this year. South African sides typically play their Hooker as an extra loose forward so I don’t see much of a lose there and to be honest, as much as I like Brussow, he just hasn’t had the same form as last year.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:13pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Colin, the Boks have Juandre Kruger, who is pretty good in the line-outs. Ask Ben S? Plus Juandre is being coached by the best in the business, and has been all year. I refer to Victor Matfiled. True it’s an inexperienced lock pairing, but that was always going to happen with the retirement of Victor and Bakkies. I expect the first test at least to very even, possibly a penalty deciding the outcome.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:31pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
Bakkies hasnt retired – expect to see him playing in the green again next year.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:49pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
Unlikely Eben Elzebeth is the new improved Bakkies 2.0.
June 4th 2012 @ 5:14pm
Carnivean said | June 4th 2012 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
He can’t be the new Bakkies. I haven’t seen him headbutt, gouge, punch, knee, shoulder anyone, nor take anyone out off the ball. I haven’t even seen him try to bully someone half his size.
June 4th 2012 @ 11:40pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 11:40pm | Report comment
Etzabeth can play 5 too.
June 4th 2012 @ 8:13pm
Colin N said | June 4th 2012 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
I know Kruger’s a very good lineout exponent, I very much remember his time with Northampton, but that wasn’t my point. You could have Etzebeth (Stormers), du Plessis (Sharks) and Kruger (Bulls) playing together with less than a week’s preparation.
They may get it right straight away, but logic dictates that it will take time and, if that is the case, then it will play into Engand’s hands, especially when much of the game plan is placed around set-piece and disrupting opposition ball.
The other area is the breakdown and, as I said above, I feel not having Brussow weakens that area for South Africa.
I agree with the last point about the First Test match being close, but I thought that would be the case anyway.
However, these selections may have, just possibly, weighted the match slightly in England’s favour.
June 5th 2012 @ 10:16am
Suzy Poison said | June 5th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Probably correct Colin. For what it’s worth, John Smit and Nick Mallet have both come out and said England will win the first test. Meyer has stated he didn’t pick Brussouw specifically against England, he will pick him against Australia and New Zealand, later this year. Weird, so maybe he has some plan, for the English forward onslaught. Be interesting what the match 22 looks like. We find out on Wednesday.
June 6th 2012 @ 8:13pm
Colin N said | June 6th 2012 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
I don’t think Smit said we would win the first Test, but said it was our best opportunity to win one and cited South Africa’s lack of preparation time.
Re: Meyer. He certainly has a plan, but I’m questioning whether it’s the right one. It seems like he’s going for a big team that can over power England.
However, if there’s one thing that doesn’t worry me is teams trying to bully England, more as a mentality thing than anything else.
I wouldn’t say this is a big England pack at all and South Africa could completely over power us, but I would like to think that this England team isn’t one to take a backwards step and be overawed by the whole experience of visiting a place like SA.
In fact, I hope they will relish it. Chris Robshaw seems like an excellent leader and someone who likes the big occasion (see his performance in the Aviva Premiership final as an example).
Therefore, I would have thought that going for Brussow, who provides something that neither side has now, would be the better option. But we will see I guess.
June 7th 2012 @ 10:12am
Suzy Poison said | June 7th 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
From Meyer: (it makes sense) “Rugby is changing all the time, and sometimes the specialist openside flanker has a massive role to play and at other times the role becomes obsolete. At the moment we are in one of those periods when the specialist fetcher (can be become a liability) in that the referees are penalising them. You can’t have the entire back row playing the same way, you still need someone to play to the ball, but at the moment the way the game is being played and refereed it makes more sense to have an allrounder………..Looks like Meyer has put a lot of thought into this issue. Let’s see how it goes on Saturday.
June 4th 2012 @ 2:27pm
Joshy said | June 4th 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Thanks Brett.
It’s gotten to the point where you can’t judge the strength of South African rugby on the Boks. So many undeserving players are in this squad, so many talented in form players are ignored.
Meyer is not Peter de Villiers – he is white. He won’t be shown the same leniancy.
June 4th 2012 @ 3:41pm
Brett McKay said | June 4th 2012 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
If Pietersen is injured (and I perhaps didn’t realise it was a numerous weeks injury), then looking elsewhere probably does make sense. I’m still scratching my head about Brussow, though..
June 4th 2012 @ 10:03am
Tigranes said | June 4th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Would have thought Willie Le Roux might have had s shot given the tries hes scored for the Cheetahs this season.
June 4th 2012 @ 11:04am
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I am a Stormers fan, sure we, Stormers, beat, and young and up and coming Bulls team. So what, the result is not important in the context of the next four years? You have to remember Meyer is choosing for the future. His team is based on the next four years, not last Saturday night. This young Bulls team will only get better, not sure I can say the same about the Stormers. Grant is 32, Jean Div the same, Gio is nearly 30. These guys have been around a long time, and Meyer is looking at the future, to guys he can develop. What exactly have the Stormers ever achieved? The trophy cabinet is bare. They can’t even win the Currie Cup. At least the Bulls have won three Super titles, and I don’t know how many Currie Cups? Siya Kolisi has been chosen to train with the Boks all week, and has been ear-marked as a future Bok, so it’s not like he has been ignored. He is only 20years old, plenty of time, for him to come on.
I too would select Juan De Jong over Wynand Olivier every day, but I doubt Wynand will make the 22. Meyer obviously has a particular game-plan, in mind when has selected a big physical team. There are some monster forwards and big backs. There is no place for little blokes likes, Gio Aplon, or even Juan. The non selection of Heinrich Brussouw is puzzling, but potentially Meyer feels he is a penalty magnet. I am prepared to give Meyer the benefit of the doubt, after I see how the Boks go against England.
June 4th 2012 @ 5:40pm
Makutu said | June 4th 2012 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Peter Grant is 27 (Turning 28 in August), Jean de Villiers is 31 this year.
The Stomres or Western Province just won the Vodacon Cup.
June 6th 2012 @ 1:15am
Loftus said | June 6th 2012 @ 1:15am | Report comment
Hahahaha!! Congratulations.Griquas won that cup the most of all the teams!
June 4th 2012 @ 11:35am
KiwiDave said | June 4th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
This comes as no real surprise. One of the first things I read about Meyer was that he wanted to bring Matfield out of retirement and Fourie Du Preez back from Japan to be caption/vice captain. Only 3 Stormers is a real surprise. I think this is a clear message the Springboks are going to go for a more expansive game style rather than a tight defensive one.
June 5th 2012 @ 7:18am
mania said | June 5th 2012 @ 7:18am | Report comment
how can u say that with 13 bulls being selected. their entire game plan is based on out kicking the opposition
June 4th 2012 @ 11:54am
Carnivean said | June 4th 2012 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Isn’t Joe Pietersen still injured? He didn’t play on the weekend.
Lambie can’t even push Michalak out of 10 at the Sharks, how is he going to push Morne Steyn out of 10 for the Boks? He’d be a good bench player though, with his ability to cover 10 and 15, and presumably 12, and he could come on when the Poms are tired and run the ball more than Morne.
I can only hope that Etzebeth and Kolisi are given some game time this year. They are stars of the future.
June 4th 2012 @ 12:07pm
Red Kev said | June 4th 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Ahh of course, Joe Pieterson is injured.
Lambie has in fact been the 10 for the Sharks for most of the year keeping Michalak on the bench (he got his first start when Lambie was out sick). Plumtree realising that Lambie is the incumbent Springboks fullback has given him a couple of games there before the mid-season break, I can only assume at Meyer’s request (or he was just impressed with Michalak and wanted to play them both). He is a far better attacking and defending flyhalf than Steyn who can do only two things – shovel the ball wide and kick.
June 4th 2012 @ 12:13pm
Carnivean said | June 4th 2012 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
They went better with Michalak at 10 than they did with Lambie there, IMO.
Morne Steyn gets a bad rap, but against the Stormers he was very physical. He was in at least half a dozen breakdowns. He is significantly bigger than Lambie, and it helped on the weekend. He also is about the most composed person on the planet. Goosen has a much bigger upside, and Lambie plays more attacking, but Morne is about the best kicker on the planet at the moment, and until the younger guys stand up and show the world that they must play 10 for the Boks, then Morne will continue to rule the position.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:34pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Actually, Mornes kicking stats this season are at best, 4th best in SA.
June 4th 2012 @ 5:16pm
Carnivean said | June 4th 2012 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Stats don’t tell you about quality, and I’m not talking about goal kicking. His general play kicking is excellent, and is the cornerstone of both his and the Bok’s game.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:09pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I don’t like Morne Styen, but until Goosen returns from injury, he a better bet than Lambie at 10. This is probably the weakest link in the Bok backline, unfortunately it’s the most important position. However I do feel that Morne is probably little under-rated, and to be honest, I would rather have him in my team, than Quade Cooper, on current form, As Quade is still not the player he was last year. Morne is a bit boring with his constant kicking (normally under the instruction from his coaches) but he can surprise too. I remember a beautifully weighted cross kick for JJ Elebrecht to score under the posts against Rebels.
June 4th 2012 @ 12:01pm
Rusty said | June 4th 2012 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
Ok so we are all a bit surprised. At a guess the game plan will be to bash our way with a heavy forward lean. Coetzee wont let us down at 6 but I would prefer him as a foil to Brussouw but that by the by now. At a guess the team will look a bit like the following
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis,
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Eben Etzebeth,
5. Juandré Kruger
6. Marcell Coetzee
7. Jacques Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9.Francois Hougaard
10. Morné Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Frans Steyn
13. Jean de Villiers
14. Bjorn Basson
15. Patrick Lambie
16. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Werner Kruger, 17. Adriaan Strauss, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Franco van der Merwe, 21. Ruan Pienaar , 22. JP Pietersen
Discards
Keegan Daniel, ,JJ Engelbrecht, Elton Jantjies, Ryan Kankowski, Zane Kirchner, Lwazi Mvovo, Wynand Olivier, ,Chiliboy Ralepelle, Flip van der Merwe,
June 4th 2012 @ 1:19pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
That’s a good team, Rusty, But who’s your Captain? I have feeling Meyer will surprise again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see JJ Elebretch in as ouside centre, and a surprise choice for Captain like either Chilli-boy or Adriaan Struass. Seeing as to how Meyer doesn’t like players who give away too many penelties, like Heinrich, he could drop Bismark to the bench again?
June 4th 2012 @ 1:46pm
Rusty said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
The problem with not playing a fetcher like Brussouw is that we will need Bismarcks pilfering skills. Optimum mix would be Oosthuizen, Bismark and Brussouw in tandem but thats not going to happen in this match.
If he chooses JJ then he probably didnt notice Habana running straight past him to score this weekend
June 4th 2012 @ 4:38pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
I can see Heyneke moving Biz to flank second half, and bringing on Strauss with Coenie to replace Beast
A great impact that would make.
second half – Coenie (also a good ball pincher), Strauss, Jannie, Eben , Juandre, Bismarck, Willem, Pierre.
Thats a beefy pack.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:54pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Agree! At least the pack will be solid. Pity about Spies.
June 5th 2012 @ 2:49pm
Suzy Poison said | June 5th 2012 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
It seems Meyer is smarter than us Roarers…he dropped Brusouw after carefully studying the current laws and the trend of penalising fetchers.
“That was a tough call because Heinrich is still up with the best opensides in the game, but the game has changed. They’re being penalised more and hookers are stealing more ball now,” said Meyer.
“Heinrich Brüssow is a brilliant player and I just think it’s a matter of time before he is selected again. The game keeps on changing and you need to pick horses for courses. I really feel sorry that he’s not in the team, but I also feel happy for the youngsters that have been picked.”
Let’s see how the Boks go, against England, I still think Meyer has picked a solid team.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:20pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
That is because I am fearing the worst, yep Pierre Spies for Captain, oh no!!!
June 4th 2012 @ 1:33pm
tubby said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
anything but spies, it would keep him in the team no matter how much worse his form gets. Strauss would be my pick for captain, the JdV will probably get it. Solid performer, well spoken to the refereees.
steyne remains the week link, somehow he keeps a reputation as the best kicker in rugby despite all the statistics that others are better. mvovo is a bit of a surprise to be there, sure he’s fast but he rarely creates anything. basson, aplon (wther full back or on the wing), habana all bring a lot more.
Kolisi would have been a good inclusion but he’s still got more to do to earn a call up to the full squad. Kirschoff is another youngster whose time will come soon enough.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:34pm
Rusty said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
in that team lineup there is realistically only 2 people with the experience and thats JdV and Spies. Given the choice I would choose the former
June 4th 2012 @ 4:41pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Everyone forgets, Spies played his best Rugby under Meyer – Heyneke always said that time already, that Pierre needs special attention to get him right mentally. Heyneke knows exactly how to work with Pierre, and im predicting you will see him return to his best. With his speed, you shouldnt expect the usual 8th man role from him. If 1 to 7 can dominate, and Pierre is given space to run – thats where his abilities are best utilized. If the pack cant dominate, i would rather play Duane Vermeulen who adds quite a bit of ‘bliksem’ to the pack.
June 5th 2012 @ 10:19am
mania said | June 5th 2012 @ 10:19am | Report comment
“Pierre is given space to run” provided its in a straight line with no decent tacklers in front of him
June 4th 2012 @ 4:54pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
So would I, but c”mon it’s the Heyenke Meyer’s Blue Boks…they can only be one captain…… Pierre Spies.
June 5th 2012 @ 10:17am
Suzy Poison said | June 5th 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Sanity prevailed, it’s Jean De Villiers
June 5th 2012 @ 10:37am
Suzy Poison said | June 5th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Your team was pretty spot on, Rusty.
This is the team that trained on Monday:
Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers (capt), Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.
Only real surprise is Zane Kirchner ahead of Lambie….stil a strong team.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:02pm
nickoldschool said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
In a country with a strong and tumultuous history such as SA, politics, provincialism, racialism etc will always be cited when someone’s player isn’t in the squad. If Kolisi (“ohhh, politics again’!) or du Preez (“ohh, provincialism again!”), had been selected, we would read the same comments as today.
All this makes South Africa such an interesting country. Unique.
June 4th 2012 @ 1:57pm
Jiggles said | June 4th 2012 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Don’t really see to much to be fearful of in this Bok Squad, and a likely match day 22.
The Wallabies pack will out muscle them in the scrum, again, and be too mobile for them around the park, again. I am shocked that Kolisi isn’t in the team. He is ready for test rugby, IMO.
South African backlines play the ball and make their movements behind the gain line. Rarely do they attack it. You can get away with it at Super Rugby level, but Test defensive systems will eat it up.
Its going to be business as usual for the Boks this year, I think. The only new thing will be the excuse used with no Snor to blame things on.
June 4th 2012 @ 2:20pm
Rusty said | June 4th 2012 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
I am not overally impressed with the team myself but then we have lost a significant part of what could be considered a golden generation. There are also a lot of unkowns across the board and mixes of the plain ordinary…will reserve judgement but not exactly thrilled either at this point either
As for excuses, save your own for when you go down to the ABs every match, again, playing whats in front of you, again, being outmuscled and out flanked, again.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:46pm
Ivan said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
Clearly you dont know much about SA Rugby. Beast and Coenie are stronger than anything Oz has, Bismarck and Strauss – better hookers than anything Aus has, Etzabeth and Kruger – will be just as good as Matfield/Botha. Alberts is muscle, When Schalk and duane return id expect to see Schalk, Willem and Duane pushing the back of the pack – With pinchers like Coenie, Bismarck – really…. its the wallabies that will be outmuscled this year.
June 5th 2012 @ 12:02am
Jiggles said | June 5th 2012 @ 12:02am | Report comment
Yep, because they have bullied those wussy Wallabies so much over the last few years…
June 4th 2012 @ 5:02pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
Can’t argue with you Jiggles, or though I’d like to. Word of warning, the Wallabies look an even worse team? That forward pack has got to be the softest pack ever selected in a Wallaby jumper. Higgers at 8, now that’s funny. Possibly even worse than Spies?
Also while the team Deans picked against Scotland has some potential in the backline, Barnes, however, doesn’t exactly fill me confidence, especially after his horror year with the Tahs. The Wallabies will be hoping that Beale and O’Conner come back from injury real quick, to save their blushes. The Wallaby forward pack, apart from Pocock, doesn’t really strike fear into anyone. There are simply no bruisers. I expect Scotland will be targeting the set piece, and I would be surprised if Scotland, the Six Nations, whipping boys even give the Wallabies a scare?
June 4th 2012 @ 5:20pm
Jiggles said | June 4th 2012 @ 5:20pm | Report comment
To be honest, I think Scotland will beat Australia on Tuesday. Its daft to play Slipper at LHP after he has been excelling at THP. Timani has no work rate to speak of and his mind goes to mush in big games. He simply isnt up to it. Dennis is unproven at test level and hasn’t been going as well as the fan boys down south think. Higgers is ok. He plays like Spies but not a pussy. He has been doing good hard work this year.
The back line will be a mess. Harris was a key reason why the Reds backline was not firing for the first 5 games or so. Genius Deans decides he would make the ideal 12 to the most incompetent 10 in Australia right now, Barnes. Good thinking. Deans then thinks its a great idea to stick two rookies on the end of that backline in Morahan and Tomane. I wont comment on Tomane, but Morahan is mentally weak right now and is a confidence player. he is going to be ruined sitting outside the bozos at 10 and 12. He isn’t ready for test rugby.
June 4th 2012 @ 8:16pm
Dasher said | June 4th 2012 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
Strongly agree.
June 4th 2012 @ 3:24pm
Ziggy said | June 4th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
Meyer did not grasp the opportunity to go for the form players and so build a great Bok team. If he makes Spies Captain I fear the worst. Spies is simply not a quality international calibre No 8. He looks and promises better then he delivers. As Captain they will have to play him and that weakens the team. Brussow gives away too many penalties so I don’t have much complaint about him.Bismarck will always give too many as well but he plays like an additional loosie so on balance should be in the side.Kolisi should have been a walk in.Meyer has chosen a very big side – they had better be fast and skilful as well!
June 4th 2012 @ 4:39pm
Joshy said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Brussow has one of the fewest penalty counts for a fetcher. Whistle happy ref Wayne Barnes made a comment on him, saying that he is always looking, and listening to the ref as he latches onto the ball and is one of the easiest players to ref at the breakdown.
I’ll admit Brussow hasn’t had as good a season as in 2009/11 but there is absolutely no excuse when Meyer selected Kankowski who has been injured the entire season and hasn’t done anything of value on the international scene in his chances. People also mentioning that Joe Pietersen is injured (mild back strain…) are overlooking that Jaque Potgieter has a dislocated knee – yet makes it. Meyer is going for a big side? Basson hardly towers over Aplon. Aplon tackles and hits harder than players double his size.
What is the reasoning behind selecting Jano Vermaak? Maybe 3-4 years ago he deserved a shot ahead of something like Januarie, but now? What has he done? When he comes on in the final 20 minutes for the Bulls, they lose any direction they had, they go backwards, they concede 3-4 tries (Brumbies, Crusaders)
Honestly, this squad has a Peter de Villiers 2011 away Tri-Nations dirt track feel about it.
June 4th 2012 @ 4:57pm
Suzy Poison said | June 4th 2012 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Good points Joshy, but Kankowski and Jano Vermark won’t even be in the 22. So don’t stress until you see the team.
June 4th 2012 @ 9:15pm
Colin N said | June 4th 2012 @ 9:15pm | Report comment
“Good points Joshy, but Kankowski and Jano Vermark won’t even be in the 22. So don’t stress until you see the team.”
So why not give younger players a chance to get experience and see what it’s like to be in an international squad? I believe they’ve called up Kolisi to train with the squad, so you would assume Kankowski and Vermark are there as injury cover.
However, it sounds like you don’t want them near the team, so why not give players who deserve it on form to be in the 32!?