Springbok team:
Gio Aplon
JP Pietersen
Jean de Villiers (c)
Wynand Olivier
Bryan Habana
Morne Steyn
Francois Hougaard
Pierre Spies
Jacques Potgieter
Marcell Coetzee
Juandre Kruger
Eben Etzebeth
Jannie du Plessis
Bismarck du Plessis
Tendai Mtwarira
Replacements:
Adriaan Strauss
Werner Kruger
Flip van der Merwe
Ryan Kankowski
Ruan Pienaar
Elton Jantjies
Bjorn Basson
I thought I would be the first to deal with the team - but you beat me to it. Why did they elect a specialist flyhalf for the bench - if they have real faith in Steyn?
I do not think that the backline needs to worry about ball handling. With Steyn and Olivier around - there would be no passing of the ball - other than hospital passes - to them and they will have to defend only. That combination is bad news.
Delighted about Potgieter - but the bench - other than Pienaar - is going to be a headache. Why Werner Kruger - he was buried by the POMS. Kankowski is potentially better than Daniel - but he has played very little this year. Basson was on the bench earlier - but not played and remains there. What will hapepen if one of the centers gt injured - it will cause a major disruption to replace them.
Flip van der Merwe, Ryan Kankowski and Ruan Pienaar are all capable of a good showing. WIll they bring it.. who knows.
I am also confused by the benching Jantjies, maybe it will be a HT switch?
Basson does appear to be the bench warmer at this point and with little showing outside of practice, can't see him making a massive impact off the bench.
Adriaan Strauss and Werner Kruger, is still baffling. Is our 2nd scrum going to be as crap as last week?
I am very sad that Alberts is out, but I think he has made a clear statement of his true value already. As for Potgieter going straight into the starting line-up, very glad about that, because he was the one forward at the Bulls this year that really put his hand up. I just hope he isn't rusty coming of a relatively long injury break. The bench is not our strongest bench ever, but it certainly has game breakers in it, Kanko, Basson and Jantjies, could well cause a few headaches when they come on, if given a little space. I just hope we don't see the same implosion in the forwards that we have in the last two games. The first test we were nowhere in the first half, and in the second test we were completely outplayed in the second half. If we can put the two good halves together....we good luck Pom's!
Just on the loosies, what will the selectors do if Schalk, Duane, J Potgieter, Alberts, Spies, Coetzee, Brussouw, Juan Smith and just under them, Daniels, D Potgieter, Deysel, Koster and a few others I can't think of, are all fit? A nice problem, but still a problem...what would you guys do?
I am not a fan of Playing someone straight off an injury layoff. Then again there is no real other contender in the Squad.
Yeah Ek, I am also weary of that. And not only is he coming off an injury layoff, but it is his debut too! Anyway, if he can hold it together, then we obviously have ANOTHER good loosie in the mix. No shortage of talent there....just wish our situation looked the same in the centres.
I just wish Meisiekind wasn't in the squad, doesn't offer much but Meyer knows what he is doing so I will wait till Saturday to cast my judgement on this selection.
I still think that De Jongh should have been in the squad, he basically covers both center positions and can have a great impact on the game.
For me Aplon is more of a winger than a fullback, he seemed very vunreble when playing at 15. Digby Iona ran circles around him last year. He is not a great last line defender, but at least has the help of the touchline when playing on the wing. Aplon also benefits from playing alongside big ball carrying backline players that can off-load to him.
But for one thing that I'm happy about is that Meyer is not giving away the jersey cheaply and want a series whitewash.
My final point is that perhaps we should be entertaining the idea of moving JP back to 15. That is where he first played for the sharks but got shifted to wing by Jake White because Monty was holding on to the jumper. I think he would make a better 15 than a 13 and has the size, speed and defence. Just need to work on his positional play and tactical kicking.
This is looking very much a second string match 22. Out are Coenie, Bekker, Schalk, Vermuelen, Alberts, Frans and Lambie. That is very significant.
If these Boks can beat England a full match 22 would given them a hiding. Jaque Potgieter is worthy of a shot although not in indeal circumstances for him. Pity Elstadt was banned for this week as he would have been the obvious replacement.
If a center gets injured JP will play outside center and Basson wing.
lolololol
Garethedwards..... orange peeler!!!
Classic sarugby! fukinhahahahhahaha crying here!
In SA rugby that postion is more imporatant then the physio!
Now where is that brandy bottle and syringe?
Chippo, I am having a lekker chuckle at your last post, not only cos I find the orange peeler funny, but also the way you discribed your laughter....well done china!
Orange peeler - wahahahahahahaha hilarious. These orange peelers should call all Senior Players sir methinks!! Cant have them getting uppity!
ah see gareth has been upgraded..
So a poster with lss than 20 posts is an orange peeler!
So bloody funny!
Good to see an ed with a sense of humor!
Goodonya!
