Bad news for some players still in the Springbok squad

The following from rugby365:-

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus may want Damian Willemse at fullback, but Western Province coach John Dobson believes he could be more effective in another position.

Willemse, 21, is close to making a return after undergoing knee surgery back in June, and he is likely to play at flyhalf when he makes his comeback.

Dobson, speaking in the build-up to Province’s Currie Cup crunch match with the Pumas at Newlands on Friday, admitted his thought process differs from that of the Bok coach.

He said Willemse could be available to face the Free State Cheetahs in a fortnight.

“Obviously the World Cup plan [for him] is at No.15, but I can’t see us making that change now,” Dobson told a media scrum at the WP team’s training base in Bellville – when asked about the five-times capped Bok.

“Dillyn Leyds means so much to this team [at fullback].

“Wing is very competitive – with Seabelo [Senatla], Sergeal [Petersen], Edwill [van der Merwe] is doing well and is one for the future and SP [Marais is there].

So who in the Springbok squad is on the way out - since it is clear that Wilemse is still fa voured to be in the WC squad.   The following are likely departures:-

Gelant, Steyn, Eterhuizen, 

Elton Jantiies may also be in trouble should Willemse join the squad.

Steyn has to start a test match before one can conclude on him and actually the backline licks. 

If for example Steyn shines Estehuizen might not be picked and ditto Willemse. 

Rassie has some hard call to make with the backs and of course the forwards. 

For a long tournament like the RWC  they should up the number of players to 36.

No Beeno there ae squad restriction to the WC squad and the figure arrived at is 31 players.  The normal practice is that players are put on standby in the event of injuries.   Erasmus has changed some things already and he may take some of the standby players with the squad rather than  to let them go home.   The official list of 31 players must be registered with World Rugby by the end of this month.   Steyn cannot start at flyhalf and he has done squat insofar as proven performance is concerned when he came from the bench.  

Steyn may give him a chance in the game on 17 August 2019 - but my feeling is that Willemse will be a real opportunity to see what he can produce - which is likely to be much more than Steyn is capable of.         

Willemse is not good enough to play for the Boks. There is a lot of hype surrounding this kid, yet very little returns on that hype. He looks passive and hesitant. When given the keys to the Lamborghini on tour last year in place of Willie, he floundered. When at 10? Error after error. He is supposed to be an x-factor player, but it never translates at test level. The basics are not there and doesn't have a feel for flyhalf. It would be an unjustifiable risk to include him in the WC squad. If he is going to amount to anything, it will be in a couple of years time. 

Steyn is not good enough to play for the Springboks period.   I would rather have a back-up flyhalf in the squad than a serious flop like Fat Fransie.   .    

Willemse is no flyhalf. 

Steyn is no flyhalf and no center either. 

Rooineek 

Don't bother - the "experts"  have decided on Steyn - the failure they rate so highly.   Nothing will change their twisted minds.    

Rooine k 

Don't bother - the "experts"  have decided on Steyn - the failure they rate so highly.   Nothing will change their twisted minds. 

Significant how Willemse and De Allende - him with the weak upper body strength - tackled players backwards,   Love to see how they played the fool with Andre Esterhuizen in the Sharks game shown.

He did things that  Frans Steyn could never do.  Too slow and non-thinking to do what Willemse did in that clip.  Would rather have him than Steyn in the squad..  If Steyn was a capable player why did Montpellier not renew his contract and stopped using him as a flyhalf and center?.