Bok side. Steyn makes way for Goosen

Ex Keo

Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer has dropped flyhalf Morne Steyn in favour of Johan Goosen for the Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

Steyn is left out of the Bok match-day squad, as Elton Jantjies will provide flyhalf cover. This will be Goosen’s first start at Test level.

Frans Steyn (who’s struggling with injury) is bracketed with Jaco Taute in the midfield. The Lions youngster will make his debut in the No 13 jersey if Frans Steyn fails to recover, with skipper Jean de Villiers taking over at inside centre.

More to follow…

Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn/Jaco Taute, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcel Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Jaco Taute/Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.

The incremental improvements continue. Very nice bench re forwards in particular. Taute favoured over De Jongh at center. obviosly Meyer has doubts about de Jongh.

Pity about Lambie not getting  a shot - hope Meyer brings him on ealry in second half. Right call re Coenie rather than CJ.

Hard luck Flip I had thought you had done enough hard graft to get a start.

The team is announced was largely as expected.   There can be serious criticism about the retention of Kirchner.   The issue is that if Francois Steyn cannot play - they would move De Villiers to 12 and Taute will come in at 13.   If Francois can play they would have Taute on the bench.   That would be a vast improvement on having De Jongh play at all.

Really hope there is no need to bring on Jantjies from the bench - that would be a real disaster.

A bit disappointed about Coetzee as well - but if the Australians play a faster game - it is likely that he would replace Willem Alberts early.

A bit surprised that Morne is not on the bench though - but I think he will not fit into the team startegy at present and the strategy cannot be changed in the middle of the game.

Do not like Liebenberg as replacement hooker in this case - would have preferred Burden.

In essence I do believe that the team is an improvement insofar as backline play is concerned and now am happy to forecast a 20+ point win against the Wallabies.

Mind you - I think Saffex would be over the moon about Taute - so we may have less moans on the site this time around.

Well so much for the comments that Meyer will never drop morne.  Kirchner could well be next if he does not shape.

Morne needs a complete  break from the game until next year. Hope those bulle have understood this. The guy has been played into the ground - he is mentally exhausted. mcaaaw is also mentally tired -  imagine the hours spent in finding ways to circumvent the rules. Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

Taute was always going to come into the mix. Meyer likes big, strong skilfful players. How quick is taute. has not got the speed of Jordaan but has nice allround game.

Yes I think even Saffex will moan a bit less now - what a relief!!

 Oh yes Saf will enjoy this one.  Gld for the young guns. some more changes. the team is starting to become heyneke's team, as he said the team will look alot different june next year than the one that started this year. Should be interesting to see who the captain is by next year june.

Very good side...as has already been said, getting better and better each week. Very happy about Goosen, just hope it isn't too soon for him, but I am sure he'll be fine. A break is exactly what Steyn needs. Just take a look at how much rugby he has played the last few years. It is amazing that he has not gotten himself injured. I hope Taute gets a run, so that we can finally see if he has what it takes at this level...all our debates about the guy, and now the time has come to see who knew what they were talking about.

I am not that worried about Kirchner, he has done OK at the back, but De Villiers is a big concern for me. he is past it, end of story. Other than that, this is one of the strongest back lines we have fielded in a long time.

Heyneke Meyer: +1 point

Flip I'm so happy!

Looks much better now.

Now all we need is Schalk back to replace Doooaaaan

Some comments by Meyer ex Supersport

“I’ve maintained from the outset that I won’t rush Johan, but I feel he is now ready to start a test for South Africa and I’m excited to see what he can bring,” said Meyer.

“Morné (Steyn), in the last four seasons, has played close to 140 matches at test, Vodacom Super Rugby and Absa Currie Cup level and probably deserves a break, but this also provides a great opportunity for Johan, a player I rate very highly.

“Morné is a quality player and a fighter and I know he will bounce back.”

Commenting on the changes at lock, Meyer said: “It’s good to have Eben back with us. Flip played very well in Dunedin, but he’s been struggling with an injury this week and that is why we decided to start with him on the bench. I also thought Andries did very well when he came on against New Zealand and he is an excellent jumper in the lineout as well.”

Frans Steyn, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, has been bracketed with Taute in the midfield. Should Steyn not pass a fitness test by Friday, Taute will start and Juan de Jongh will come in on the bench.

The Springbok starting XV, with Frans Steyn at inside centre, boasts a combined total of 468 test caps, with 314 of those belonging to the backs and 154 to the forwards.

Meyer said the Springboks were looking forward to Saturday’s test and realised the importance of the match.

“It’s great to be back home in South Africa after three tough matches on the road. We were not happy with the results in Mendoza, Perth or Dunedin and we know how big the test at Loftus Versfeld is on Saturday,” said Meyer.

“The Australians will be tough opponents on Saturday. We’ve now lost our last five tests against them and need to turn this around

Well I think the tide has turned so lets see what happens.

Chippo I will be surprised if Duanne were to be repalced. I think a configuration of Louw, Vermuelen and Burger at 7 may happen. Alberts is most at threat but can be a very influential player - they need to find ways to use him correctly like that big oz flanger was it O'Finnegan?

I think that the warning lights are out for Kirchner.   One more case of sabotaging a promising backline move by bad passing or crashballing, one more case of being out of position gifting the opposition extra points or one more failure under a high ball - and he would also be out of contention.

After what happened to Morne - he must certainly realize that he is not indespensible and that Meyer would not hesitate in getting rid of him if his performance is below par.   Meyer was very patient with Morne - but in the end Morne had to go.   The same can be said of Kirchner.   The latter did not kick badly at goal - but he cost the team more points than those lost by missed goal kicks on the part of Morne.   Another similar performance will not be forgiven easily.

Now we do have a problem on this site.   There is only one player left that the Cat can fawn over.   Without Morne he would be lost and is unlikely to return soon.   He failed to read the signs and posted a ridiculously inaccurate account of Kirchner's performance in the Dunedin test - so in the unlikely event of his return to the Board - another one will be forthcoming.  

Now if Meyer could just see through Kirchners sexy locks...

he'd see that Taute is a far more superior player than Zane

More meyer comments ex keo

Meyer said he had contemplated including Steyn’s on the bench but was dissuaded from this course of action because of the potential to expose an already under pressure player. ‘It isn’t going to help him to bring him on with 20 minutes and he ends up having to kick the game-winning or game-losing goal. I either back him 100% or not. That’s the decision I had to take,’ Meyer said.

Meyer also dispelled the perception that Goosen’s natural attacking instinct would be reigned in to come in line with a game plan that is widely perceived as conservative. He explained that a sharp assessment of the state of the defensive line was key in determining what action to take.

‘There’s a misconception that Goosen must fit into a rigid structure. He has the freedom to play the situation as he sees it,’ he said. ‘But this is not Currie Cup rugby (Please note Mike) where you have space and time. I’ve said to him to go out and express himself, that’s why I picked him. He must determine when it is on to go wide or take the safer option.’

He added: ‘People have to be realistic though, you can’t expect a 20-year-old to win the game on his own.’

Elsewhere Frans Steyn (who’s struggling with an ankle injury) is bracketed with Jaco Taute in the midfield. The Lions youngster will make his debut in the No 13 jersey if Frans Steyn fails to recover, with skipper Jean de Villiers taking over at inside centre.

‘I want two experienced guys on either side of Johan. Jaco was very good at 13 in Super Rugby,’ Meyer said in explaining this move.

The medical staff were highly optimistic about Steyn’s availability on Tuesday evening but he rolled the same ankle in Wednesday’s training session. A call on his availability will be made after the captain’s practice on Friday afternoon. (Looks like he could be out? Rolling it a second time is NOT good at all)

In other changes Andries Bekker and Eben Etzebeth unseat Juandre Kruger and Flip van der Merwe in the second row. ‘There is great competition at lock now,’ Meyer said. ‘Flip played his best Test ever against the All Blacks and Juandre was very good as well.

‘It was a horses for courses change there. Australia are very good at lineout time and we want to exert pressure on them there. I feel that Eben, Andries and Duane is a good combination to achieve that, as well as a little more mobile which is crucial as Australia will play expansively. Also Andries is a little more experienced and in 50-50 calls like this I always go with the more experienced guy.

Nice to hear a coach talking some sense as we have hada drought of this for some time. Loks to me as if Taute has a fair chance of starting.

 Good move by Meyer, perhaps it was in his plans all along to debut the kids at home rather in NZ. We have a glimmmer of hope to win the championship but it may be all done and dusted by Sunday. All we have left to play for is pride. 

I hope that we can win the rest of our games this season and come back really strong next year. 

Interesting to see that Meyer has opted to use Taute at 13 and not 15. The team is starting to look better, but it would be great if we can get rid of side show. 

What I really would like to see is a fullback with genuine pace. 

Beeno, you are getting on my tits!

Why do you keep posting comments from KEO?

Just post your own stuff brother...

You always post like 100 lines at a time ands its impossible to keep reading your stuff.

I don't mind Beeno's postings from KEO.

I would'ver made on change Lambie in for Kirchner, but not a bad team at all. Hopefully Goose will control the game and let his outside backs run riot, I hope Eben put Sharpie on his O ring (legally though).

Come on Boks stamp hulle hard!!!

@Bok

Yeah it is almost spot on (the team)

Questions are still abuzz regarding Meyers tactics and ability to adapt.

Lets hope Goose doesnt adopt the kick and hope tactics that Morne kept using...

If he does... then we'll all know that it wasnt Morne's decision to Skop 100% of the time.

Yeah I also hope that we will see a different game plan.

Chippo

I am not sure what the game plan is - bearing in mind that Morne Steyn's first reaction was to kick and only afterwards he would consider a different option.   Goosen is not that type of player - I believe he can read games better than Morne - from what I have seen of him in Super 15 and Junior rugby - and that he would have a better idea of when to personally  attack the opposition defences, when to kick and when to pass quickly and effectively.  

Don't believe he would not kick at times - but that would be more effective kicks than those ever used by Morne.

However, the problem that the oposition would have is that they with Morne knew precisely what would happen  and the wings could fall back early to cover the kicks.    Goosen is a much more complicated player and that strategy will not be possible as it would leave wide open spaces in defence.   The same problem would be encountered by loosie defenders - they knew what to expect from Morne - and they could be ready in the rare cases where he did pass the ball to no 12 - forcing him to crashball.   With Goosen they will have to change their defensive lines - again leaving gaps to be exploited.

Personally I think we will see a much better and more interesting game on Saturday and will be severely disappointed if it does not happen..

Sorry - this was a duplication