Boks vs Scotland selections

With news breaking that the European Boks are not permitted to play next weekend (falls outside the IRB's test window) I thought it would be an interesting exercise to predict what Meyer might want to do with his selections next weekend (assuming no injuries this weekend). 15. Willie is an obvious starter as he will be the only fullback left in the squad. With Zane unavailable Meyer has no temptation to start with him. If Willie is injured this week the fun really starts. Will he look within the squad and start either Mvovo or Boshoff or pull someone in from the outside. Taute's familiarity would put him in contention. 11/14. Hendricks should get another opportunity to cement his place. I expect JP to move to the wing, Meyer is big on experience and that would cover for Habana. Given injuries we should see Mvovo get an opportunity. Another injury would complicate things, either one of Hougie/JJ/Sithole/Jordaan could be drafted in, Basson's familiarity could also bring him into contention. 13. I cant see with the view of the RC coming up that Meyer wouldnt give one of the 13s a chance against the Scots (given JP is unavailable for the RC). Personally I would like to see Jordaan but JJ/Sithole were above him in the queue and between those 2 JJ's experience and familiarity gives him the inside lane. 12. Another opportunity for Serfontein to grow and develop. If injured then Olivier will come in. 10. Steyn is unavailable. If Goosen has recovered he should start, if not then Boshoff. I hope Meyer would resist selecting Pollard but he is certainly in contention. 9. Assuming Japanese based players are available then FdP will continue getting match fit. Pienaar is unavailable and Hougie will be on the bench. If FdP gets injured I would expect Reinach in the squad. 8. Duane is due a rest but with all the changes expected for this match I think Meyer will resist resting him. Trouble has been upon us if he gets injured for a while. Schalk is probably the backup. 7. I expect Alberts to start. I have been wondering whether Meyer will rotate him with Schalk but I dont see it happening except through injury. 6. Schalk will probably start here if he isnt needed at 7 or 8. Coetzee would be next inline and on the bench. Further injury to the backrow this weekend could bring Kolisi into contention. 4/5. Flip and Matfield should start again with Lood making an impact. If either gets injured this weekend then Lood will start. If both get injured the reinforcement are necessary. Lewies and J Dup are in contention. 1/3. Surely Jannie needs a rest but I dont see it happening. Coenie and Marcel on the bench except if Meyer springs a surprise with Nyakane. If both get injured this weekend Nyakane may start next week and we would need to call up a prop for cover. I would expect that to be either Adriaanse or Redelinghuys. 2. I expect Strauss to start, if Bissie survives this week he will be on the bench otherwise it will be Visagie. Expected, not prefered, team assuming no serious injuries against Wales: 15. Willie 14. Hendricks 13. JJ 12. Serfontein 11. JP 10. Goosen 9. FdP 8. Duane 7. Alberts/Burger 6. Burger/Coetzee 5. Matfield 4. Flip 3. Jannie/Coenie 2. Strauss 1. Beast 16. Nyakane/Marcel 17. Bissie 18. Coenie/Jannie 19. Lood 20. Coetzee/Alberts 21. Hougie 22. Boshoff/Pollard 23. Olivier/Mvovo

Saffex, you must be a windup merchant. So many of those guys you propose arent even in the squad. Your squad might be what you want but it isnt happening. 

Good write-up Xtra. I think Mvovo gets a start on the wing somewhere though.
Scotland has had a brutal tour. US - Canada - Argentina - South Africa, all in consecutive weeks

If I have to make a selection from the guys in the squad it would be the following:-
15   Le Roux ,  14   Pietersen,  13   Jordaan,  12   Serfontein,  11   Habana,  10   Goosen,   9    Du Preez,   8    Vermeulen,   7    Coetzee,   6    Louw,   5    Matfield,  4    De Jager,   3    Oosthuizen,   2    Bismarck,  1    Mtawarire 
Replacements :
16   Brits,  17   Nyakane,  18   Van der Merwe,  19  Van der Merwe,  20  Kolisi,  21 Pienaar,  22  Boshoff,  23  Mvovo
Reasons :
*   The Scots have a side weakened by injuries*   It is time for some of the Sharks players to be rested eg Jannie*   It is an excellent opportunity to get some of the fringe players on the field of play to see what they can produce against an international side - even a weakened one.     
   

Mike I see you kept the British based players, are only the french players unavailable? I didnt try to bait you to select Matfield so I hope nobody uses that against you. As much as I wish Jordaan would start I dont see it happening. A rest in the bok setup is normally just a switch to the bench. 

 Don't see much of a contest whatever players are selected...I'm fond of the Scots but Canada nearly over hauled them.

A late penalty from Greig Laidlaw helped Scotland beat Canada in Toronto

Last updated: 14th June 2014  

Greig Laidlaw's late penalty helped Scotland overcome Canada in Toronto

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A Greig Laidlaw penalty eight minutes from time helped Scotland to a 19-17 victory over Canada in Toronto.

Vern Cotter's second match in charge of the Dark Blues was a nervy affair, but ended in triumph thanks to Laidlaw's 11-point match haul and a first-half try from Grant Gilchrist.

Canadian flanker Jeb Sinclair saw red late in the game for a dangerous tackle on Scotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson as the home side fell just short of a famous upset.

For Scotland though, they made it two wins from two on tour as they backed up last week's victory over the USA with this tight triumph.

The first points of the game were scored by scrum-half Laidlaw with two minutes gone before Canada half-back Phil Mack was denied a score when Jeff Hassler was deemed to have knocked on when looking to collect the ball.

Scotland knew they were in a Test match from then on and following defending on their own line, the hosts then put their foot to the floor as former Glasgow back Taylor Paris' step and speed on halfway sparked a good passage in the 22 which resulted in James Pritchard knocking over three points.

Opening try

And things would improve further for the Canadians when a break from outside centre Ciaran Hearn saw him feed Ospreys wing Hassler for the game's opening try.

Hassler, who made the RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team this season, finished well but Pritchard's conversion wasn't of the same ilk.

Scotland did reply five minutes later though when second-row Grant Gilchrist went over for a converted try that pushed the Scots back into the lead.

Laidlaw would extend the scoreline to 13-8 two minutes before the break as again Canada were penalised at scrum time in what was an area of concern.

Canada took control of the early exchanges after the restart as Pritchard landed two penalties to put the hosts back in the lead.

Stuart Hogg and Pritchard kicked penalties for their sides as the lead exchanged hands twice going into the final quarter of the match.

Pritchard's third penalty attempt of the second half struck the post before Laidlaw stepped up in the 71st minute to land his third three-pointer of the game and give Scotland the lead once again - one they would not relinquish.

Sinclair was then given his marching orders for a forearm smash on Jackson and the Dark Blues held on for a narrow victory.

a SA based Boks team only, about freaking time.

but geez, what about some of the folks that have been playing almost non stop??? like the sharks front row, i doubt white is going to implement a rest clause now that the business end of the spXV is upon us.

my SA based Boks team would be,,,

1 c oosthuizen, 2 c visage, 3 m van der mewe

4 l de jager, 5 f van der mewe

6 m coetzee, 7 s kolisi, 8 s burger

9 f hougaard, 10 j goosen

12 j serfontein, 13 jj englebrechett

11 l mvovo, 15 w le roux, 14 c hendricks

16 k cooper, 17 t nyakane, 18 f malherbe, 19 v matfield, 20 o mohoje, 21 c reianch, 22 m boshoff, 23 jp pieterson

 Mick
I kept Louw and I think that Brits is only an interim selection - he will not feature in teh RC squad in any event.  I would probably also like to see Beast send home to rest - but we are struggling a bit with looseheads.
Not sure what Meyer is going to do - if he calls up other players - we may get some clarity on the squad to be used for selection purposes.  I think he might - and tha t would help in finding a team we would like to see playing the Scots.  We should know by Sunday what he intends to do. 

At least it should be an opportunity for some guys to get a bit of exposure. My feeling is that he selected his squad with the knowledge that the european players wont be available, therefore this huge squad he assembled. 

 @saf, why no habana?
DOn't think he has done much wrong to warrent him being dropped.... for sithole.

Unless your criteria is based on giving guys some exporuse against a poorer team?

 Habana is not available for the last test.

I thought the French and UK season was over? Did Toulon not just win the European League and their national championship- but they players are not available.

Sharkbok, the test falls outside the IRB window for internationals. Clubs are therefore not compelled to release their players 

 From the blogs I have read on the selections to play the Scots I am amazes to see that some of you pundits have selected guys like Cooper for instance.
Shocked and relieved to know that you are not the selectors that count.

Saffex has about the most sensible selection if all players were available.
Get the young blood into play now, not at the WC.

 The RC is also outside the IRB test window, why were Flo and a cuple of others able to play last year? I think it depends on their individual contracts. There is no way Meyer would have played the overseas player against Wales if theu won't be available for the RC. I think the Scotland game is a trade off. 

 Dddraad
The issue of the RC is a recognized Tests series by the IRB and has nothing to do with the "test window" ha nothing to do with that series- clubs are obliged to release players for the CR.  I think this was discussed in some details last year already -  The issue must be dealt with reading the full IRB regulations - not only the one issue relating to the so-called "test window".   The issue relating to contracts are that the Japanese clubs can sign contracts like you mentioned - but they still cannot refuse to release players.   As I understand t the players themselves then refuse to expose themselves to contract problems if they do play outside of contract and they refuse themselves to be considered for selection.
Be it as it may - the issue with Meyer to my mind is not the selection or not of foreign-based for the RC - it is rather who he selects - since some players are really not up to standard and there are better locals that should be considered.  Some players acan b selected based on performance - others are just not up to standard anymore.    

Looking ta the Argentina - Scottish test this evening - I was surprised to see the Argentinian team.  It is not much more than the Pampas team that played in the recent Vodacom Cup competition.
Yet the Scots struggled to beat that team - as Scotland has a series absentee list of injured players = so I think Meyer should use the opportunity to try out younger fringe players to see how they perform in a test environment.  
 

Thankfully HM will take none of the suggestions in this string....who wants to go back to Destroyli tactics....flavor of the day Boks. There is a  Bok team, HM will use Scotland to refine that team and work on execution. But then again, he is a pro not a fantasy rugby nerd.

 

 Mozart
What is there to gain from refining of a team against a team that struggled to beat the equivalent of the Pampas team playing in the local Vodacom Cup team competition.    That is not even remotely related to refining - it would produce nothing of value and will only give a false indication of player capacities.
Would you want to see JJ being a champion against Sc otland and ending up in the RC squad again???
  
 

Mozart, my proposed selections arent flavour of the week based. It is based on us losing our european players next week. It is obvious that the team will have to change under those circumstances. I think Meyer is compelled by this specific scenario to refine his options.