Expected Performances of the Springboks against the Scots

I am going to tread on some reputations here - but there needs to be a fresh look at what the players produced last week can be expected to do this coming week - that is after watching the test last week again. Willie le Roux He lived up to his reputation and by all accounts had an excellent debut game. However, the other players are not fully used to his style of play and both De Villiers and Basson fluffed an excellent try scoring opportunity when he made a long pass that especially bassoon should have aught and scored. The main culprit was Basson - who overran the ball because he did not watch out for what was coming. Players need to learn how to play with Le Roux in the mix. I am hoping for continuation of him in his style of play. He was the real key to the backline attacks of the team last Saturday. Basson Despite all the lauding statements - Basson had a shocker in the first half last week and he was really bad in some cases. His intercept try and his pass to De Villiers to score - may have been flash in the pan instances - so I am going to watch out specifically for what he produces this week. Hope he can get better in performance this week. Engelbrecht Had very good moments in the game on Saturday and showed speed to score a try - but he also fluffed two try scoring opportunity and although 90% of the signs were positive - he needs to improve further. The 10% include the fluffed try scoring opportunity - his meddling when Basson kicked that ball when he overran and knocked on a ball with an open try-line in front of him, when his technique was wrong and he knocked on a ball when he should have scored another try and once when he went outside of the defensive line and the player went past him like he was not there. Will see whether there are improvements this week. De Villiers and Habana - no comment - we know mostly what to expect from these two players. Morne Steyn Morne had a solid game - but there were also some serious question marks as well. His goal kicking was good - his strategic kicking really iffy. When it was better for him to make sure that we keep possession he kicked the ball away and thus handed possession over to the opposition. His defensive effort against the Italian try scorer was shockingly weak. He is still far too predictable and one to watch out for - to see whether his game plan can change to improve the backline performances. - please note that his involvement in try scoring attacks by the Springboks last week was minimal and did not really amount to much. Pienaar Vermaak really was not up to international standard last week and got caught a number of times with ball in hand. It can be argued that he received virtually no protection from the SA forwards and in particular Spies - but he still was slow in passing of balls We know what can e expected from Pienaar - hope he does not add to the buggering up of the backline. Spies Spies for him made a surprising number of tackles - he normally average about 6 per game - on Saturday it was 15. However in some of those effort he was not the sole tackler and was assisted by other players. His ball carrying was lousy and his protection of the scrummie non-existent. There is vast scope for improvement here - but I do not expect overmuch from him. Botha Had a good - but not flawless performance. His defence was faultless with a very high number of effective tackles made - his line out play good - his ball carrying less effective. His giving away a penalty I hope was accidental. Would watch with interest to see how he progress and perform in his second full test. A vey good debut test for him. Louw - Coetzee Excellent performance last week by Louw - no real problems in evidence. However - he will not play this week. When Coetzee came on - the whole system fell apart. Coetzee missed tackles like it was unbelievable and the fetching element expected from an openside flank vanished into thin air. His performance was the worst I have ever seen of him - so there is vast scope for improvement on his part. Hope he gets better this week - it cannot be possible for him to get weaker than he was - so lets watch out for some positive signs tomorrow. Hope he can last the game - his potential replacement is a joke in bad taste. Kruger What did he produce on Saturday other than the line-out calls? There was at least something positive to say about all players in the starting line-up - in his case there was NONE. Lets see whether he improves tomorrow - but I really do not expect any positives. Probably the worst lock forward Meyer could have picked. Etzebeth and Strauss Excellent performances - nothing to add. Would like to see how Bismarck does when he comes on. Du Plessis and Beast Were desperately poor in the second half. Du Plessis should be benched at half time and Beast at minute 50. Meyer's replacement strategy would have to be watched carefully - hoped he has learnt something from last week.

ou maaaikie your game for re Steyn is up - surely you should know that by now. How much egg can land in one place. Hahahahahaha

Also ou maaaikie Vermark had a very credible debut given the shortcomings of the pack and Spies in particular.

I dont like the fact that Pienaar these days practically never runs with the ball and makes no sniping breaks.  Steyn and Pienaar as a combo tend to pose too little threat on attack. One can only hope this changes otherwise the Scots loosies etc need only concentrate on our centres

Beeno No egg on my face. Steyn remains a one-dimensional flyhalf - more interested in kicking than doing anything else. Lets look at his ESPN stats for instance:- Steyn 0/0 17 17/16/5 28 1 1 1 1 5/1 0/ He got the ball 38 times and kicked away 17 of those opportunities. The kicking tendency - when other options were available - led to the crowd ultimately booing him. I do not condone that type o behaviour and can understand the reasons for it. Most of the 17 kicks only meant handing possession back to the Italians - with very little of actual benefits to the Springboks. Have you failed to notice what happened in the first 20 minutes after half-time by any chance?