Announcing of Springbok squad for EOYT

Normally the Springbok squad for the EOYT is announced after the CC final, but this year it ill be problematic to wait that long.   After all the frst test wil be the week after the CC final - and of equal importance is that the relevant test will fall outside of the tet window for election of club players.

I do not think there will be too many surprises in the test squad.   Unless there are injuries in training the squad members not released after the AB test - will be in the squad.   Le Roux and De Klerk will not be available for the 3 November test against England.

Most of the released players after the AB test may be back - there could well be some not being brought back because of sub-standard performance.  I think there may also be some changes like -

*   Serfontein at center; and if he is recovered from his injury

*   De Jager at lock

The Koch experiment did not work - so it is likely that Coenie Oosthuizen and even Thomas du Toit will be brought back into the squad.

Does anyone know when the squad is to b announced??????????      

The squad announcement time frame from News 24:-

"A Springbok training squad, which will assemble in Stellenbosch for a camp in preparation for the upcoming end of year tour to the UK and France, will be named on Sunday, October 21 at 13:30.

The training squad, which will exclude players based overseas and those involved in next Saturday's Currie Cup final, will assemble on Sunday afternoon.

That confirmation from SA Rugby will rule out all Western Province and Sharks players as those two sides will contest the 2018 Currie Cup final at Newlands.

The final is due to start at 16:00.

Coach Rassie Erasmus will confirm the final Springbok tour squad at 18:30, literally minutes after the final whistle sounds.

The squad will travel to London in two groups next Saturday, the second group a few hours after the final.

The Springboks will play four matches on their tour, against England (November 3), France (November 10), Scotland (November 17) and Wales (November 24)."

I'm not sure which players from the Sharks and WP will end up in the Springbok squad.   I am pretty sure that the Bulls players joining the squad on Monday will include Van  Zyl and Papier.   There is a slight chance that Van Staden may also return to the squad. 

When it comes to Jantjies and Whiteley I would rather not see them being back.   My own recent impression was that both are not up to standard on test level and even on CC level there were deficiencies yesterday.  Jantjies always had some deficiencies which were clear yesterday on CC level namely -

*   a questionable passing game, with some question as to why he ran with the ball a few steps towards recipients before passing; 

*    never really attacking the gain line and creating space for recipients; and

*   one good cross-kick leading to a try  was the sum-total of the positive part of his kicking game - the rest was aimless and poorly directed - allowing the Sharks to counter-attack. 

With the RWC less than a year away the squad should meet the transformation requirements that will be enforced next year ....... therefore the squad of 32 must include 16 transformer-fellas.

The challenge, name the 16 ....... I got stuck on 9, deciding that Jantjies Bok days are verby.

Gelant Willemse Nkosi Am Dyantyi Nyakane Beast Kolisi  Notshe           plus ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I cannot see how the set results will be achieved.   I think the target would be about the day playing squad and not the total number of squad selection.  

Gelant is a no-no - he was not even playing for the Bulls yesterday,  I would say Mapimpi and Mbonambi could be added and possibly Augustus, Ramutlalle and Papier. 

They normally take three hookers (Marx, Mbonambi and Ramutlalle and three scrummies (De Klerk, Van Zyl and Papier) to thee WC .  

To my mind players should deserve selection and not be just quota selections.   Just a few of the above will make the squad are in that category,

I would say SARU will be \very careful not to rock the boat too much by making race-based selections - there are more and more allegations by foreigners that race-based selections weaken SA competitiveness.   If they are too blatant they may have repercussions from World Rugby on that score and that would probably be used to make the Government more silent on the issue.

The SA Government has a new hobby horse anyway - Bafana Bafana is under their view at his stage.   They cannot afford an early exit from the Rugby WC either,   And the elections is likely to be in May and what will happen in that case?   The ANC is badly divided and  could be mauled  badly - will they have enough energy to take any action in future when the economy is sill in a tailspin?

So lets rather wait till the RC next year and see what is developing.       

Ok - now a real discussion topic - who made claims for retention and inclusion in the Springbok squad yesterday.

I would say the following:-

Thomas du Toit, Marcell Coetzee (in the Ulster game), Dan du Preez,  Kobus van Dyk, Ivan van Zyl, Willemse and Nkosi.

I would also say that the following actually damaged their chances to remain in the squad:-

Wilco Louw, Francois Louw (in the Bath game) and Jantjies.     

Forgot about Mbonambi ...... 50% at RWC .... non-negotiable.

Mbonambi is no quota. He has been very good for the Boks. 

May I add the name of Duhan van der Merwe in the Glasgow game - one try scored and one try assist already and the game is still on the go. 

His stats reads as follows:-

Try                    =      1

Try assists         =     1

Passes made      =     3  

Ball carries        =     7

Meters made     =     91

Line breaks       =       2

Defends beaten  =      4

Off-loads           =       1

Possession loss  =       1

Tackles  made    =      4

Tackles missed   =      1

We do not need to lose this extremely talented player for the future to Scotland and I think that Erasmus should call him up and give him some game time to prevent him from playing for any other country.      

It's not Meyer's responsibility to keep him in contention for national selection. If Rassie thinks he has anything to offer, he'll bring him in. However, there is a great "need" to have players of color and wing is a stronghold for non-white players. To add insult to injury, Duhan plays in Scotland, so he can be justifiably looked over. Dyantyi, Mapimpi, Nkosi, Kolbe, Mapoe are all ahead of him. Even Kriel will be ahead in a pinch. There are lots of other options already mentioned. I wonder if Rassie has ever seen Duhan. 

Sorry - that idiot coach Meyer has been a  constant nightmare and I think of him regularly - hence the mix-up.  Thanks - I have corrected what I wrote.    So have another heap of laughter.

By the way unlike you Erasmus knows his rugby and he would recognize a good player - which both Mozart and you are incapable to do. .   I hope he gets a call-up.   He is a decent player - which your favorite Louw is not anymore.

Lets wait and see what Erasmus comes up with.          

You think of him regularly? I'd never have imagined. 

A recurring nightmare is a terrible thing.  

I suppose the repetitions will iron out the errors of recollection.