Du Plessi set to start

This is Meyers masterstroke that will win it for us ! What an absolute fool. Aussies by 20.

Strauss has been the strongest carrier for the boks so it will be a big loss, but Bismaark is more effective at the breakdown in ball retention and turnovers. Not that Bismaark is not effective at carries either.

They are probably our two best forwards and both would walk into a worldXV if it were not for the competition between the two.

Meyer said last year that some of his breakdown woes were due to the injury of Bismaark and his effect at the breakdown. 

Plumtree has worked allot with Bismaark on his breakdown skills.

Given how poor the boks are at the breakdown at the moment this may be a good call.

What is frustrating is that the bench needs to have another fetcher incase the breakdown shambles continues.

Starting Bismarck is a good move, we need the cut and thrust he brings to the pack. Cut Meyer some slack when he does the right thing.

Yeah, I agree, Denny.

Strauss is good but I rate Bismarck as our best 2. In fact I regard him as the best hooker in world rugby.

It's high time he takes his 2 jersey back.

Our pack lacks grunt, Bismark is the man for the role, there's nothing wrong with Strauss but he's a different type of player and most defnitely not a bad sub. I'd just like a bit of dimension to an otherwise bland pack.

Its ironic how he mentions he would love to have a player like Cooper in his team, yet he prefers to have Morne over fly half's with a more attacking abilities similar to Cooper, he lost me there. I don't agree with the option of Bismaark starting, Strauss has been in great form this year and since he is younger his development as a player will be better if he is selected to start. Bismaark is more of a useful player when making a impact off the bench like we saw before, I doubt that the breakdown will be any different with him starting. I've stated before the RC that Le Roux wouldn't do so well against competitive teams and teams with a tactical differences, we are definitely starting to see that now and I think we'll be seeing it all unfold if Le Roux remains at fullback. His weakest strength is tactical kicking and him catching the high ball puts him out of his comfort zone with pressure. What makes Dagg such a great fullback is he can counter attack as well as put the opposition team under pressure by his effective kicking skills and is solid under the high ball, Le Roux is a joke to compare.

 I would be happy enough with Bissy starting. We are fortunate to have 2 of the best hookers in the world. I hope Meyer puts Lambie at fullback and moves Le Roux to wing instead of Basson. 

Welcome back P-i-Ireland....long time no "see"...and yes a few of us would like to see those positional changes.

Saffex

Status: Rugby Legend
Posts: 5287 RE: Du Plessi set to start
September 02, 2013, 14:05:51

The only rotation Meyer needs to make is to sack Basson, Jean, Morne, Pienaar, Jannie, Kruger, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Flip, Vermaak and Steenkamp and we might stand a chance of challenging Oz

Hahahahahahaha, jisss pappie ma jy's snaaks.  Clearly you missed a great career opportunity as a stand-up comedian.  Pity the rest of the board do not share in your failed humour.  Pappie jy's dom, fokken dom!

That's a good move, springboks will need Bismark's strenght at the breakdowns. But surely not the most urgent one, Strauss was doing a very good job there.
The most 2 needed changes IMO are the withdrawal of both Alberts and Basson. It's something difficult to understand from outside how the selector keeps going with Alberts having the depth SA has in the backrow. With Botha injured I would try with Labuschagne or Jaco Kriel (that young has a lot of potential!!) or even J. Potgieter (is he injured? or his move to the tahs prevent him for being selected?).
Basson is not a test player and with the current players selected there are 2 possibilities IMO: to move JJ to the wing and put Serfontein at one of the centers keeping Le Roux at FB but as Lucid said LR's kicking and catching capabilities should be a worry so it would be better to introduce Lambie at FB and move LR to the wing

When Springbok Rugby is moving players out of position to play for the national side surely shows a lack of depth in their setup. I personally do not believe that we have a lack of depth and this conflicts with the above statement. All the talk of JJ moving to the wing, Le Roux is esentially a winger and not a fullback. These guys should not be played out of position. We have the depth but this is not being developed in the right manner.

Great we have Bismark back but because we have such talent at hooker, should we rather be playing Strauss at flank now as he is  great hooker but lack the depth. As much as i like Deon Fourie at CC level and it is possible to play out of position at this level, i do not believe it is possible to do it at international level.

We should have enough depth to not have to play people out of position and the thought should stop. Players dont enjoy it, other players get anoyed by it and it does not develop depth.

Hope you have a great game Bissy and only giving away 2 penalties is fine, but no more.

I agree with the positive statements about du Plessis. He is sort of like Hoare for the ABs in that he is like having a fourth loose forward & the Boks have to win more breakdown ball - so not a bad idea.  

Anyway, it's not all or nothing as having Strauss coming off the bench means you get the best of both worlds.