While it’s great to see Springbok coach Peter De Villiers selecting some fantastic offshore talent, it’s hard to hold much hope for this ‘cobbled together’ mob actually beating Wales (ordinary as they have been).
The problem doesn’t lie with the quality of player selected, or their experience – they have about as many Test caps as the victorious 2007 World Cup 15.
In my view, it’s the lack of combinations that’s disturbing.
There are no question marks surrounding the front row. These guys have played together in numerous squads over the last couple of years, however sporadic that may have been.
They’ll find their groove as will Bekker and Russouw. Both these men have been a part of the Bok setup for a while, even if their game time together has been limited.
The trouble begins, however, in the loose forwards.
Big Joe has been out of the fold for a couple of years and I doubt he’s ever met Potgieter or Louw, who have one cap and no caps respectively. How they are going to gel into an effective unit with only one weeks training is beyond me.
I approve all the selections as I believe they’re fantastic players who deserve a Bok callup – it’s just using them all at once that seems crazy.
Januarie and Pienaar together seems like a nightmare: Ruan is short on confidence at flyhalf and Ricky is fat, undisciplined (on-field and off) and must be totally demoralized at being dropped by the Stormers but still miraculously selected by the Boks.
The centers are an interesting pick.
James and De Villiers are old hands who have played many games together, but both one step closer to the scrum (likewise James and Pienaar). It will be interesting to see if they can find any sort of chemistry in this bizarre mash-up, with no training time, the answer has to be no.
Steyn and Ndungane were national and provincial partners and should add some reassurance to new cap Aplon (who is a fantastic selection, in my opinion, even if he is too small for international rugby).
Bringing Bosman, De Jongh and Basson on at any time will compound the issues even further – though one can’t help but feel that a 2nd half with Ruan at 9, James at 10, De Villiers 12 and De Jongh 13 looks far more stable and convincing.
I’d like to pass comment comment on Chiliboy’s inclusion, but the fact of the matter is, I’ve never seen the guy play (and I watch a lot of rugby). He might be Spies and Bismarck combined, but how would we know?
He’s been in senior rugby for four years without ever getting a game. I’ve seen him run on for about a minute every now and then, but how can a player be expected to find any form without regular game time?
It’s a travesty of mismanagement.
Hanyani Shimange springs to mind – the poor guy warmed the Bok and Stormers bench for years before packing it in and moving to Boland just so he could feel the grass under his feet. But, by then, his career was in ruins.
No doubt Chiliboy is headed for the same fate having only one start in eighteen Super 14 Games and eight tests.
It’s sad and an incredible disservice to a reportedly talented player.
Wales would have to be monumentally awful to lose at home to this crew, but then again, they are just that.
Springboks: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Butch James, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 CJ van der Linde. Subs: Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Bjorn Basson.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Van der Linde hurtling around the 400 metre bend in his athletic shorts and vests is not a thought I need before lunch...
Lee
Guest
In Jake whites auto biography he said that cj was a 4x100m relay champ at high school...not too shabby for a big lad. John smit also raved about his athleticism in his book.
Colin N
Guest
If you had watched the whole of the Wales-France game, you should have seen that Wales were by far the most inventive side, and played the best rugby against a negative French side. What you are effectively saying is that they are rubbish because they finished fourth, without offering any insight to why. If we analyse their performances individually, Wales had more brightspots than England and I would possibly argue, Ireland. (certainly they played with a more vibrant style) France were undoubtedly the best side in the tournament, but they only really played well twice, against Italy and Ireland. They were average against Scotland and poor against Wales and England
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
'You must be on Gatland’s payroll, the way you talk up the 4th placed team in the Six Nations (2 years running). You’d think the world’s best sides played in it… oh wait… that’d be the new expanded 4 nations. Have fun supporting your collection of also rans. I watched every minute, and only France was ever impressive' You are seriously stating that you watched every minute of the 6N? That's impressive. I would have thought that it would have been hard to get such a good TV reception in your cave, Mr Troll. Troll off, eh.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I'm surprised by Human's absence too. Perhaps Van der Linde is part of PdV's long-term plans and so he wanted him involved asap? I don't doubt that Van der Linde is a good athlete. He has an impressive turn of pace for such a big man, but technically he is lacking.
Derm
Roar Guru
You watched every minute of the 6 Nations? Impressive. Can't have been that bad then, can it? But as you say, "only France was ever impressive." A bit like last years 3 Nations really - only one side was ever impressive. They're not much different really. Let's see how the also rans do in June.
kynang
Roar Pro
You must be on Gatland's payroll, the way you talk up the 4th placed team in the Six Nations (2 years running). You'd think the world's best sides played in it... oh wait... that'd be the new expanded 4 nations. Have fun supporting your collection of also rans. I watched every minute, and only France was ever impressive.
counterruck
Guest
jake white always used to go on about what a phenomenal althete CJ is, never saw it myself. i guess he was selected because beast is not allowed to play. but what happened to all the talk about human from toulouse? strange.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I was waiting and hope for such a response. Award winning material. Take that CJ you fatty boom boom!
Derm
Roar Guru
Expand??!!! How about explode? If there were an award for a player who set a record for number of euros earned in inverse proportion to time spent on the pitch, CJVDL would have it for a lifetime. Several lifetimes. He has kept toe doctors and specialists in clover for the last four years. Rumour has it Leinster groundsmen were given special instructions to remove any blade of grass over 50mm in case he fell over it. He managed to make Sicknotes look respectable. Darren Anderton led an exemplary playing career on the pitch in comparison. More pints of beer were spilled and choked upon by Leinster fans every time he arrived on the pitch and left it - about 8 minutes later - - nursing some part of his anatomy. I really, really, really hope that P d Villiers picks him - my schadenfreude would be unbounded and undiluted.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
With regards to the *unnoficial quota* there is no difference if De Jongh plays 12 and Pienaar plays 9 than if James plays 12 and Januarie plays 9. I'm sure Pothale can expand on this statement, but yes - Van der Linde has been utterly woeful, but let's be honest, he was never more than a very average Springbok in the first place. Goodness knows how he has accumulated so many test caps.
counterruck
Guest
it would have been far more prefereable for pienaar to play scrum half, with butch james at 10 and de jongh at 12. but lets face it the coach has (unofficial) quota's to fulfil and to do that he has picked some players he is comfortable with, nothing new there, all bok coaches have plucked favorites from obscurity otherwise team looks ok although reportedly vd linde has been woeful in ireland.
Derm
Roar Guru
Kynang - I watched this year's Six Nations and last year's. In 2009, Wales were slaughtered by England by beating them 23-15. In 2010, Wales were beaten by England 30-17. They conceeded 17 points in the first half when Wyn-Jones was binned, but then staged another fightback in the second half to make it 20-17 with 5 minutes to go. Too much attack led to an intercept try in the last couple of minutes to put England out of sight, but slaughtered is not a word I'd use to describe the Welsh performance. What you describe as 'scraped through against Scotland' is a fairly poor summation of what most people viewed as the match of the tournament. Did you actually see it? To come from 21-9 down and win it 31-24 with a magic last minute try from a never say die performance is hardly a poor performance. And Scotland performed a lot better than expected in the tournament, including beating Ireland in the last match. Monumentally awful is a bit careless as a description. Try watching the matches in full rather than just highlights.
kynang
Roar Pro
That being said, I do acknowledge a very distinct possibility of them beating this mish-mash Bok team... but only because the Januarie/Pienaar axis should give every Bok fan nightmares...
kynang
Roar Pro
Did you guys watch this years Six Nations? And last year's for that matter? They were SLAUGHTERED by a very mediocre England, scraped through against Scotland (only because Scotland were in shock that they might actually win a game!), were poor against France and Ireland, and didn't exactly light up the world against wooden spooners Italy. They talk up a good game, but they've been lousy for 2 years. Year 1 with Gatland was great, but he has been in danger of getting the sack ever since after a diabolical run. Coming in 4th for 2 years running for a team claiming to challenge Southern Hemisphere dominance is a joke.
Seiran
Roar Guru
Agreed.
USARugbyFan
Guest
Wales may not have had the greatest of years so far, but they are far from "monumentally awful". A rather ignorant comment from one who claims to watch a lot of rugby.
Brian
Guest
Jean De Villiers has an injured shoulder - position to be taken by Jacques Fourie
mmax
Guest
Snor has moved a scrunhalf to flyhalf, a flyhalf to center, all to accommodate a scrumhalf who is literally outside of the top five available. Januarie's career has fallen off the rails purely due to his own stupidity, laziness and unprofessionalism. Sadly, he is being rewarded for it! There was a time when he was legitimately in the top two of the country and no one complained when he was selected. But now, at his age, I really don't see the point. Regarding Chili, even when fit he is not at the same level as Smit, Bismark, Botha, S Brits, Liebenberg etc I'm glad Joe's back but i'd rather a long term view was taken and one of the younger up and comers in the super 14 be chosen. I think F Steyn and J de Jongh will make an awesome centre pairing for the future.