EOYT squad

With the RC lost, it is time to look forward. Firstly we need to ditch the failures and move on. Kirchner, Morne, Pienaar, Kruger, Steenkamp and Franco have to go.

The squad I would select would be:

15. Willie le Roux / SP Marais

14/11. Habana / v/d Heever / Rhule / Mvovo

13/12. JJ / Jean / Serfontein / de Allende / Howard Mnisi

10. Lambie / Jantjies / Catrekillis

9. v/Zyl / Reinach / Schrauder

1/3. Jannie / Beast / Coenie / Malherbe / Kitshoff / Nkanyane

2. Bismark / Strauss / Chiliboy

4/5. Etzebeth / Steph du Toit / Flip / de Jager / Willemse

6/7/8. Vermeulen / Louw / Kolisi / Elstadt / Coetzee / CJ Stander / Labascagne

Mozart

We were not ahead at half time and we afterwards went ahead again.   That was good - but did we have to have handicaps in the team.   You blame the Barrett try in  Engelbrecht - but he was just one of three failures.   Steyn was probably in the best position to tackle him - since Barrett was slowed down by having to sidestep De Villiers first.   But his effort was not worth anything,  

In reality I go along with most players mentioned by Saffex - accept Jantjies - who is injured and is off for the next month in any event.  I would use Lambie at 10  and put Catrakillis on the bench.

The game on Saturday told you nothing - did it.   You did not even notice that our loosies was comprehensively out played by the AB loosies - now did you?  That despite the fact that the actual performances confirm that.   Then you come up with the statement that the AB loosies are greats - they are nio doubt very good.   You did not realise that the AB loosies were lower on the rating scale for Super 15 with  4 SA looses rated better than them.   Obviously none of the SA loosies rated higher is in the Springbok squad at present - so why should they not replace the under-performers?

I would definitely sent back Kirschner,  Steyn, Vermaak and Kruger back to their clubs and forget about them for the future.  Will also get rid of Alberts - unles he can run the 100 meters in 50 seconds - at present a minute to run that distance is probably near the mark.  

Tim e to ensure that performances are the key to selections - not personal likes and dislikes.      

Saffex

Morne was indeed the weak link in the defensive system on Saturday.   Normally Morne stands deeper in the pocket and the defence is done by the loosies and not by him.   On Saturday our loosies did not cover that channel and Louw missed two tackles as well, allowing for Steyn to be badly exposed.  

Open field tackles by outside back line players are more difficult to execute than is the case with attacks in the channel where there is less space for attacking players.   Here is where both the loosies and the scrummie and flyhalf come into the picture.    Our problem is our loosies are too slow to provide proper cover in the case of such attacks - and even Du Preez made only one tackle in the game and missed one as well.  

Under the circumstances Morne was exposed to do the defence - in which he failed badly.   However, Mozart apparently does not realize the implications of the above problem and would never agree that his favourites in the back row and backline - such as Steyn in particular - were the failures in the game on Saturday and caused us to lose the game.

14/11. Habana / v/d Heever / Rhule / Mvovo/ Volmink

13/12. JJ / Jean / Serfontein / de Allende / Howard Mnisi

10. Lambie / Jantjies / Catrakillis/Zeilanag

9. v/Zyl / Reinach / Sarel

1/3. Jannie / Beast / Coenie / Malherbe / Kitshoff / Nkanyane

2. Bismark / Strauss / Chiliboy/Liebenberg

4/5. Etzebeth / Steph du Toit / Flip / de Jager / Willemse

6/7/8. Vermeulen / Louw / Kolisi / Elstadt / Coetzee / CJ Stander / Labascagne/Deon Fourie/Alberts (Suited to NH conditions) Also Stander wants to play for Ireland so rather have Arno Botha if he is fit.

Please snapster no quota players we can't afford passengers like kolisi and chili boy! Kolis may make it but is not ready right now. Chili boy simply is not up to it. 

Beeno

The problem is that I am not happy that the loosies o n Saturday did their part fully.   They did not cover the channel properly and that left us with Steyn being badly exposed.   I think that we need a more mobile loosie combination that an cover a wider area than immediately around the fringes.  The situation insofar as Vermeulen and Louw is not really as critical as is the case with Alberts.   I have no problem with Vermeulen and Louw for the moment.

Do we need the heavies as looses in Europe this year - bearing in mind that we are not playing England?   I do not think so.   The Italian team is not strong and the other teams play a style of rugby that is faster than would be in the case of England.   Horses for courses as the saying goes.     

Beenkop take it you missed how good Kolisi was on Sat, he now needs to start for the Boks ahead of Louw. Not ready yet, what complete bullshit. How many more times do I need to tell you that CJ Stander said he would love to play for the Boks if asked - wake up. Coetzee is one of our bright young stars, he walks the squad. Arno Botha is out for the year.

Liebenberg is useless, will never play for the Boks. Chiliboy is far better as are Callie Visagie and  Kyle Cooper.

Jantjies has been in great form for the Lions, Zielenga is not going to make the grade.

I could live with Volmink ahead of Rhule, only because Rhule has to convince us that he has sorted out his defensive issues.

Saffex

Just one question - when was Janjies great this year for the Lions.   The first game he flopped badly - was dropped to the bench for 2 games.   Then back to the starting  line-up, because of injuries.   Played in three games where he was just above average - nothing great about him.   Got injured in the fourth game and now out for the CC.  

Zylinga on the other had was better than Jantjies - he is a thinking  player that really scored a brilliant try and directly involved in other tries.   He was a major asset for the Sharks and directly contributed to them as a match winner - whilst unlike Jantjies - he played behind a forward pack that frequently struggled.

Jantjies - after an extremely poor Super 15 - is not Springbok material at this stage.   He may become eligible in future and will have to prove that he is a substantially better player in Super 15 next year than he was this year.

I do not think any serious  and unpredicted member will differ from me in this case.