Springboks coach praises Du Preez

Charging rhino makes a good point so on that basis FDP should be given every chance. Georgs Smith I've actually admired more now than I ever did as a W 7- just never thought he could cut it when playing the AB's- generally..he was more 'nuisance' value than anything else. But his comeback at sxv was a revelation I thought. Is FDP capable of the same- unlikely at best given he's tried it before. But he must be given the chance now hes selected. The other thing about his selection is the influence he'll have on the newer players. Will he and the old hands- JDV, Morne etc combine to place the older, albeit winning facets on this side. Is looking back to go forward still part of meyers thinking, even though its not been working. Interesting conundrem is FDP's selection, but all in all, be good to see him up against say TJP- looking forward to that!

Does anyone not know? However, what I can tell you, is that run is over. ;)

Felix, I can't remember if Gurthro ever did play at tight head. Even in John Smit's era , Gurthro was never moved to tight head. Felix, Agree that Habana is without doubt still the best South African winger.

And how have the boks been doing against the Aussies the last few years ?

Agree, we will have to wait and see. I'm a fan and hope he does well, as long as he's not playing the wallabies. Cyclists tend to peak when they're getting the good stuff, if history is anything to go by.

Ja I don't know hey... Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin are both 31. Asafa Powell is 30 turning 31 at the end of year. All these dudes are running faster times this year and in 2012 than when they were younger. Bryan Habana has not slowed down at 30. And apparently Jean De Villiers stats say he is still as quick if not quicker than his early rugby career (I'd still prefer Serfontein though). If differs from person to person so we will just have to wait and see with FDP. Some triathletes and many cyclists only peak in their mid 30's, Bradley Wiggins is 33, Chris Froome is starting to peak at 28 and who knows how long he will be at the top for. I know many 35 year olds who play Touch Rugby who will out sprint a 22 year old backline rugby player any day of the week too. I agree with you on him being one of the great 9's of all time though :-) My point is 31 is not old and doesn't mean you've slowed down or would be out of form. We will just have to wait and see with FDP but you can't simply write off a talent like him based on a hunch that you think he may be too old or out of form. I seldom agree with HM but I think it's a smart move bringing him back into the fold.

FDP is one of the great 9's of all time. Losing half a yard of pace as you get older effects a back more than a forward. Interesting to see how he copes with it.

At 33 years old is George Smith better than he has ever been? It's debatable but I'd maybe say yes, he is still one heck of a good player who you wouldn't want to leave out of the Wallabies squad. The same goes for FDP in my opinion. Both have played in Japan these past 2 years. Does that matter? Other than adding to the length of their careers. Who knows we'll see.... but the man has got one of the best rugby brains. Hey if my mum (who doesn't watch rugby too often) can say.... "Now that Fourie fella is a good rugby player, wow" then it should be obvious to us more enlightened fans. This year will prove whether he can come back from where he left off before his injury. There's no reason why he can't imo

Biltong has Guthro ever played 3 prop position,maybe its converting Coenie & guthro,why not Mujati rather?,he's solid in England,HM will play all the 30+ overseas & old players in the 2015 WC & there isnt anything anybody can say to convince a ''bull'' what to do.watch this space Biltong FDP,JDV,Guthro,Pienaar,Habana,Flo,Steyn & Kirchner when in my & many people's opinion only Flo & Habana are the only unreplaceable for now

Agreed.

FDP came back two years ago and was terrible. If he plays RC he'll struggle. For one at 31 he can't possibly be better than he has ever been. Given that Meyer is now wanting him to play a levels he used to play at, and will perhaps accept worse? You have to wonder what Meyers standards for Bok rugby actually are.

TKB is not a nippy halfback and Piri has been a part of NZ for years and is not nippy either. Best halfbacks in the world imo. Genia Kahn Pienaar Phillips 2 are nippy, 2 are not. Now you can say you prefer a nippy halfback as much as you like but there is no doubt that the top coaches pick halfbacks that are not nippy. Mike Phillips was considered the best option over Youngs, Care, Laidlaw and Murray and yet he is the slowest of them all. Why? Are the last 2 Lions coaches stupid? Do they not know that speed is the key? Likewise Weepu was selected last year over more nippy options and had been for years. Why? The answer is that speed isnt the most important factor in halfback play and never has been. Decision making, composure, physicality, kicking, passing, ball carry, speed, control and x factor all play a part. I shouldnt even have to argue this. Its obvious through selections by the worlds best coaches that your opinions may be a little close minded. Does anyone seriously think they know better than Gatland, Mcgeechan, G.Henry, J.Kirwan, S.Hansen, W.Smith and H.Meyer? S.Hansen has opted for A.Smith, a nippy half that has speed to burn but poor physicality and defence, TKB, a physical improvising half that isnt nippy but a good defender with a good pass, and TJ Perenara who is part physical and part nippy, the most well rounded of the 3. His dropping of Weepu was because the ABs are trying to play a fast game now. However he had been chosen over faster halves in the past. If you want a fast half then yes you select a fast half but thats like any position. If you want a big winger you select a 110 kg winger but that does not mean a 110 kg winger is the only wing that should be selected.

No ways he would be benched,King Messam would burn him in almost everything ;-) haha

Form schmorm. FDP is a Transvaaler and that's all that matters. Ask BBB!

Its is all and fine to be the smartest scrum half in the country, but currently we have no idea of the form Fourie du Preez is in, since his shoulder injury in 2009, he has not been in good form for the Boks, nothing close to what he was pre injury. I think thi is a huge risk, and apart from that, it clearly indicates the game plan to be employed by the Boks. If they mix it up with some innovative attack, then great, but if we fall back to 2009, I am going to do my nut.

I have always rated Jerome to be DA MAN.

Those three Ab boys may all be faster then Piri but he has the best rugby brain of the lot and he is the only one of them who can control a game from halfback. The All Blacks game plan is obviously going to be up tempo run from side to side like headless chooks. Weepu struggles to get to the rucks fast enough for this style.

fourie du preez was a freak with unbelievable game management and i hope he is still as good because he was an unbelievable competitor. i don't know about quick ball being 10% of a halfback's job though, i would say that its the first thing you need to get right before you start worrying about anything else... in other big news, anyone else heard that kaino might be coming back? that guy is a freak and would be scary again with read and mccaw at the all blacks. he was my player of the tournament in 2011

Disagree mate, quick ruck ball after offloads in the tackle is the best way to keep defences on the back foot. Considering that we only do one pass to channel one and then bash it up, quick ball is even more vital for us.

tane, the ABs do. That's why Weepu's playing ITM Cup now and he's come out and said it too -- blokes like TJ and KWB are killing it with their speed at training and he needs to step up to the bat that they raised.