Bok team v Argentina

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Frans Steyn to play in 50th Springbok Test

    August 15, 2012 Springbok centre Frans Steyn will on Saturday play in his 50th Test for South Africa when they take on Argentina in the opening round of The Castle Rugby Championship at DHL Newlands in Cape Town.

The 25-year-old Steyn, who made his Test debut against Ireland in 2006, will become the 23rd player to reach 50 Test caps for South Africa. He is back at inside centre after missing the third England Test in June because of his own wedding.

Apart from Steyn’s return, two Springboks who have yet to feature this year are also back.

They are lock Andries Bekker and Lwazi Mvovo. Mvovo takes over from the injured JP Pietersen at right wing while Bekker replaces Juandré Kruger in the middle row for his first Test in more than two years.

Keegan Daniel will start his first Test for South Africa and comes in at No 8 for the injured Pierre Spies.

In the only other changes from the team that played England in Port Elizabeth, Willem Alberts returns to flank in the place of Jacques Potgieter, who is on the bench, while Zane Kirchner is back at fullback for Gio Aplon.

In total there are five changes from the team that started in Port Elizabeth. The Springbok team has a combined total of 432 Test caps for this Test – 157 amongst the forwards and 275 for the backs.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer decided to stick with combinations for the Test against Argentina – the front row and loose forwards are from The Sharks, the locks play together for the DHL Stormers and the halfbacks are from the Vodacom Bulls.

“We’ve now been together for the June Tests and have had a good week to prepare, but we are still rather new as a team and it’s good that the players know each other,” said Meyer.

“Andries was always in our plans and it was a setback to lose him in June, while Lwazi has been impressive this year and I know he can fill the huge boots of JP. We’re still a young team when it comes to experience, but this is Test rugby and there is no place to hide.

“The players have been working very hard on the training field and we now need to translate that to the Test. Argentina will be fired up as they are making their debut in The Castle Rugby Championship and we know they will be a tough opponent on Saturday.”

There are two players on the bench that will be making their debut should they get game time – prop Pat Cilliers and utility back JJ Engelbrecht. Pat Lambie is also back on the bench after missing the Test in Port Elizabeth because of an ankle injury.

“We decided to go for these two because of their utility value – Pat Cilliers can scrum on both sides and JJ covers outside centre and wing, which JP Pietersen used to do for us,” said Meyer.

The Springbok team to face Argentina in Cape Town is:

15. Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 15 caps 
14. Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks) 4 caps 
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province) 75 caps 
12. Frans Steyn (The Sharks) 49 caps
11. Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province) 77 caps
10. Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 37 caps
9. Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 18 caps
8. Keegan Daniel (The Sharks) 3 caps
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks) 11 caps
6. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks) 3 caps
5. Andries Bekker (DHL Western Province) 24 caps
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) 3 caps
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks) 33 caps
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain, The Sharks) 45 caps
1. Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks) 35 caps
Replacements
16. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) 12 caps
17. Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions) uncapped 
18. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 14 caps
19. Jacques Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 1 cap
20. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, Northern Ireland) 54 caps
21. Pat Lambie (The Sharks) 13 caps
22. JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls) uncapped

Record watch:

• South Africa and Argentina have played against each other in 13 Test matches since 1993, with the Springboks winning all 13.

• The 13 consecutive Test victories over Argentina is a record for Springbok rugby. This record was equalled during last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand when South Africa beat Wales 17-16 in Wellington for their 13th consecutive win against Wales.

• This will be the first Test match for Argentina at DHL Newlands and the Springboks’ 49th. South Africa’s record here is: P 48; W 32; L 14; D 2; Win ratio 67%.

• The biggest win at DHL Newlands was against Namibia in 2007 when the Springboks recorded the second highest score in South African Test rugby history, winning 105-13.

• Bryan Habana is South Africa’s most capped Springbok wing with 76 Tests in this position (he has played one Test at centre) and is also most experienced player in the squad with a total of 77 Test caps. He is the Springbok top try scorer with 40 career tries in Tests (all scored as a wing). 
Bryan is one of 11 players who scored two tries in a Test match against Argentina and needs two tries to equal Jaque Fourie’s Springbok record of nine career tries in The Castle Rugby Championship / Tri-Nations tournament.

• Morné Steyn will surpass Butch James as South Africa’s most capped flyhalf when he plays on Saturday. It will be his 38th Test cap and 27th consecutive Test. Morné holds the Springbok record for most career tries in Tests as a flyhalf – 7. He is also the Springbok record holder for most career penalty goals in this tournament – 49.

• Morné needs 12 points to equal Percy Montgomery’s Springbok career record of 210 points in this tournament. He needs one drop goal to become the sole record holder for most career drop goals in the tournament. Currently he shares the record of four career drop goals with André Pretorius.

• His first penalty goal will be Morné’s 50th career penalty goal in this tournament. He needs five penalty goals to reach 100 career penalty goals and also needs 11 points to reach 50 career points at DHL Newlands.

• Bismarck du Plessis holds the Springbok record for most tries in Tests as a hooker – 6. He is one of nine Springboks who have scored three career tries at DHL Newlands and will play together with his older brother, Jannie du Plessis, in their record 24th Test as brothers.

• Jean de Villiers is South Africa’s most capped centre with 60 appearances in this position.

• Frans Steyn is one of only three Springboks who have scored two career drop goals at DHL Newlands and together with Naas Botha the only Springboks who achieved this in one Test match.

• Springbok career record holders at DHL Newlands are: 
Percy Montgomery – 108 points, 17 conversions and 23 penalty goals; Nine players have scored three tries; Dawie Snyman, Naas Botha and Frans Steyn – 2 drop goals each.

• Springbok Test match record holders at DHL Newlands are: Percy Montgomery – 35 points; 12 conversions and 7 penalty goals; Four players have scored three tries each; Morné Steyn also scored seven penalty goals; Naas Botha and Frans Steyn – 2 drop goals each.

• Ruan Pienaar will become joint second most capped substitute (34 caps) with CJ van der Linde should he take the field on Saturday. Ollie le Roux played in 43 Tests as a substitute.

• Frans Steyn needs one drop goal to become the sole Springbok record holder for most career drop goals at DHL Newlands – 3.

 What is it with Meyer and Kirchner ahead of Lambie. I rate Kirchner, but Lambie is better. What the hell is useless Morne still doing in the side?

Daniel at 8 is a stupid move, he is not big enough for a test 8. Logic would have had Daniel at 6 and Coetzee at 8.

What the hell is Cilliers doing as our bench prop - give me strength Meyer

Good to see JJ in the mix, give him at run at 13, he is a far better bet than hasbeen Jean.

The side is ok, but for the inclusion of Kirchner, Jean and Morne. Playing Daniel at 8 is also stupid but will work against the Argies. Cilliers on the bench is his worst selection, there are 10 better prop options out there

Some comments by Meyer:

Coach Heyneke Meyer said this was Daniels’ chance to prove he could play international rugby.

“It is a step up for Keegan but he has really been playing well and I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level,” said Meyer.

“There are now six loose-forwards not available, so it looks like that is the position that is taking over from fullback as the problematic one. (Hence the Moz suggestion re Frans at 15)

There is only one forward who started in the World Cup in the team that plays on Saturday, so it is useful to have a pack that is dominated by Sharks players. The Sharks did really well towards the end of Super Rugby, and they have six players in the starting pack on Saturday.

“I did consider moving Willem Alberts to No 8 so that Jacques Potgieter could come in on the blindside flank. That would have given us more ball carriers. However, Marcell Coetzee is not a specialist openside flanker and he carries the ball a lot, so I think we are covered when it comes to big ball-carriers. I have been honest with Keegan and told him this is his chance to make it.”

Meyer said that Daniel would bring X-factor to the loose-trio.

“It’s going to be a hard, physical game on Saturday and we will be looking to Keegan to bring that little bit extra that can make a difference. He’s got to run from the back as the No 8 covers from the back, so it’s going to be a big challenge, but this is his chance to prove he can do it.

"He was good against a physical team like the Chiefs and also against the top defensive team, the Stormers.”

Daniel, who has played off the side of the scrum for the Sharks since Ryan Kankowski’s return, comes in for Spies and Alberts returns for Potgieter, with the one other change to the forward unit that last took the field coming at No 5 lock, where Meyer faced the difficult decision of leaving out Juandre Kruger for Andries Bekker. (Difficult!)

Meyer’s respect for what Flip van der Merwe can do as a replacement sees Kruger drop right out of the match 22.

“It was a difficult one as Juandre is a good player and he did not let us down against England so he is a bit unlucky. But Andries is an extremely talented player and this game is at his home ground of Newlands so that swayed it,” said the coach.

As anticipated, Zane Kirchner returns for Gio Aplon at fullback, while Bryan Habana has been moved to the right wing from the left in place of the injured JP Pietersen.

Although the team list included Lwazi Mvovo on the right wing and Habana on the left, Meyer said that was a mistake.

“Bryan has the experience and we thought he would be able to make the switch to No 14 for this game. He is a world-class player so he should be able to adapt,” said Meyer.

The best news for Bok fans at the back is the return of Frans Steyn after he took the Port Elizabeth test off to get married. This will be his 50th test match for the Springboks.

There are two newcomers to the match 22 in the form of reserve prop Pat Cilliers and Bulls centre/wing JJ Engelbrecht.

“It’s been a while in coming but they have both earned their places with good performances and I am looking forward to seeing what Pat can do when called upon to play against a great pack like the Pumas have.”

Well Cilliers will certainly be tested if he has a decent run as will our scrumming. Also Daniels. Personally I do not think he is an international class loose forward but if the pack has enough clout and he can play a loose game it may work.

So the sifting begins.

Interesting back trio in my opinion. The dilemma will be - if they go well against the Argies, would HM run the risk of taking a running and lightish back 3 into the games against the AB's and Wallabies. Particuarly that we will face to the two best fetchers in the world in MaC-cheat and PoC-cheat

 

Coetzee and Alberts bring speed, running and carrying skills and do this for 80 minutes but they will no doubt face different beasts from OZ and NZ. 

 

My heart says that Daniel will have the passion and desire to prove himself and do it well - whether he can fill the gap we need him to do only time will tell.

 

Probably the biggest questionwe need to ask is "why the hell are so many of our players getting injured". OZ and NZ go through the same gruelling tests series and super series as our top players do yet we seem to be losing key players at the most critical time of the year?

 

Are we not conditioning our players correctly or is our style of play e.g. strong forward play actually playing against us?

Im not sure guys but one thing I am sure about is that to beat the best we need our best players!!!

"The position that is taking over from fullback as the problematic one. (Hence the Moz suggestion re Frans at 15"- 

The worst possibale selection-moving Frans away from inside center to fullback. Frans is probably the player most assured of his position in the backline. His influence is needed as an inside back for decision making. Playing him at fullback is a waist of his ability- and like cutting of your leg to replace a toe

He is by far the best inside center in South Africa. He is 110 kg of power and speed. His crash ball runs pull in half of the opposition backline- and the ball is allways recycled quickly when he is tackled to create space for 2nd phase. His passing is also much better than Jean et all- (When he does pass that is). He even has a Sunny Bill offload.

Frans revolutionized the Springbok backline for the 2007 Wolrdcup when Jean got injured- and moved to inside center. The same goes for the 2011 world cup and things could have been a different story if Frans had not injured. 

So much credit is given to Eddie Jones for the change in Backline play of the boks- however if Jean was playing at 12 instead of Frans would this still have happened? 

Frans Steyn needs to be an inside back. He can play flyhalf but with his size, power and speed inside center is ideal for him.

Lambie would be my starting flyhalf with Aplon at fullback. Aplon positional play at the back is excellant- and his counter attacking skills are brilliant.

Saffex

I agree with you about the Kirchner issue - he definitely is not up to standard insofar as positional play and defence is concerned.   He is particularly vulnerable under high balls when under pressure and in competition for such balls.

Insofar as De Villiers and Morne Steyn is concerned I am sure at this stage you are barking up the wrong tree - neither you or anybody else would be able to change Meyer's mind about those two players - they will be around for the next year or so - unless they are injured.

From the bench perspective I believe that especially over the last few games in Super 15 Jordaan was much better than Engelbrecht and it was again proven last Saturday in the Sharks  -   Province CC game.   I would much rather see him as an alternative - he definitely is both a stronger runner and speedier than Engelbrecht with substantially more ball sense.   

The other issue that is particularly pleasing is the fact that Jantjies is not on the bench.   His "silky" ball handling skills is never effective and his defence in the channell non-existent - so he was a defnite no-no in any event.   If something goes wrong and Morne Steyn has to go off - I believe that the change would be to teither move Francois Steyn to flyhalf or play Ruan Pienaaar there.   The ultimate objective would likely be to get Goosen asap back into the squad.