First springboks alignment camp announcement... Dave?

Ethan Bester, Phepsi Buthelezi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane (all Sharks); Ben-Jason Dixon, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Deon Fourie, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all Stormers); Renzo du Plessis, Francke Horn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions); Johan Grobbelaar, Mpilo Gumede, Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (all Sharks); Paul de Wet, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (all Stormers); Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van Wyk (all Lions); Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier

Dave, who did Rassie miss?

I think Rassie need to look at JJ van Der Mesch. He has been playing a lot of rugby this season and a serious ball carrier. Mind he his missing link. The guy stands at 145kg but still ber mobile. Playing for Stade France.

Lots of great youngsters and fringe players in the mix.

However, I would not bring them into the boks squad just yet. I would opt to get some A games this season and get these guys to play together for 6 games or so, then bring them into the bok match day and look to replace the aging players.

I would love to see more of Hooker and Julie's as a combo, you have guys like Ludwig and a few others.

Then, what do we do with Henco? Is he better than Julius. Do we rush Julius or give him a few more seasons to get better?

Maybe somebody like Kriel and Henco and then Hooker and Julius. Two world class centre combinations in the making.

Big misses for me are locks Ruben v Heerden Jason Jenkins and Ruan Vermaak - Rassie has a definite blind spot when it comes to locks

The Tsituka brothers

Nohamba at 9 and Masuku at 10

Could have done with young tighthead props Hanro Jacobs and Frans Klopper

Last time I saw vd Mecht playing he was grossly overweight - looked a mess

I see no point in including Mapimpi, Willie, Koch, Nyakane, Aker vd Merwe, Fouche, Fourie etc given their ages

What?!!!!

Deon Fourie is still there? What a waste. Will be selected at 41?!,

Yeah complete waste - I would not have selected Willie, Mapimpi, Nyakane, Koch, Fouche, Aker vd Merwe, v Staaden and Fouche

I would have replaced them with Gelant, Masuku, Nohamba, Jantjies, Hanro Jacobs, Frans Klopper, Ruben v Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Jason Jenkins, Corne Rahl, Vincent Tsituka and Manu Tsituka

Why the fuck Ruben v Heerden and the Tsituka brothers have been snubbed in a squad that large is ridiculous

I can see them all fucking off overseas now

Even Trevor the Dancing Bear made it…Renzo Du plessis is some new guy??

Some good choices there, but some also really not….The Genius clearly rates Moerat over Ruben V Heerden?

Renzo du Plessis looks a handy openside - good over the ball - not sure how he has made the group given the little exposure he has had

He looked good though - youngster 22

You must be happy, Julius made the first step….

Along with Hooker and eventually David Kriel

I just don’t get the Ruben v Heerden, Ruan Vermaak and Tsituka brothers snub

It’s ridiculous and pisses me off

Keep an eye on Ruan Venter today against the Stompies.

The main is a straight-up breker. You could put a leather jacket on him and make in every villain in every teen movie from now on and nobody would bat an eyelid.

The Boks will need an enforcer soon. So far, he fits the profile more than anyone else in his age group.

120Kgs at 198cm...he makes Esterhuizen look small!

Dave would approve of that stature.

Ruben van Heerden being left out is one of the most bizarre things Rassie has done up till now.

Rassie the Genius?? I don’t think so, it’s more like Rassie the Poephol…

Ruan Venter hurt both Hanekom and Elrigh Louw in their last encounter

He is a freak

I hope Ruan Venter carries on kicking on, he's a serious talent.

I'm not usually ever worried about Bok depth or future, especially at lock - but I do worry about the lack of a serious name at 4 coming through, a proper enforcer as mentioned above. Maybe Venter will be the one.

Welcome back......'Deddy'.....AgPleez don't go MIA again lol

Ruan put Roos in his place nicely yesterday.

At the end of the half the commentators were talking about how quiet the Lions kept Roos. It wasn't the Lions, it was Ruan.

It just doesn't seem like the Lions have given him a mandate though. I keep a close eye on him during games and he's pretty much stuck defending at pillar. There is no circumstance under which I wouldn't be asking him to murder the opposition 10.

...and then when the Lions get to the oppo try line, the don't seem very interested in feeding him the ball to run into the line at an angle. Which would be the next thing I'd be getting him to do at every opportunity.

Ruan was shut down made very little impact

Roos was the best forward on the park yesterday

You didn't watch the game Dave.

Stop just checking highlights...

Ruan is for sure one strong and tough guy….but maybe I missed that play, but I couldn’t see Roos being rag dolled??

Venter is stronger I think, but Ivan Roos did manage to hold on where needed, but once or twice it took 2 players to bring Ruan down completely …

Henco V Wyk is Right up there with form and a person must see what Erasmus decided, also with Julius onboard.

But we have good depth at Centre…Erasmus must start these young Centre,s as much as he can….

Wilco is doing great and to be honest, the Strongest version of our scrum going forward, has him starting at 3.

I watched both games last night Plum - one certainty is that I expected more from Ruan - never dominated anyone certainly not Roos

Roos was not error free but still the best forward on the field

He has matured no more of that off the ball stuff and he is not letting the odd error define his game

Wilco should never have been dropped from the Bok squad originally - far more dominant than Koch has ever been

Poor call by Rassie years ago as are his calls when it comes to locks

Have a look at the first half again. Ruan targeted Roos. He stopped him numerous times.

I counted at least 4 big hits from Venter on Roos in the first half.

At half time the commentators literally said that Roos had been completely shut down...and they were spot on, with Venter doing most of that shutting down.

If I were a Frenchie with plenty of money I'd make Venter a proposition he can't refuse.

Oh there is no doubting Venter would have stopped Roos a few times - I’d expect that but that did not stop Roos in total all game

I was disappointed in Venter’s carries, given his freakish strength I was expecting more dominance but he was shut down all game

As I mentioned Dave, it's not Venter that is the problem. It's how he is being used.

If I were playing at 9 and on the oppo line, I'll have a deal with Venter that every time I see him coming at pace he's getting the ball.

I mentioned in during the game on the weekend. Venter should be coming in on an angle and get service. More often than not, he's smashing his way over.

It doesn't matter how big a guy is, from a standing start it's almost impossible to make headway.

It was the same last week where he was predominantly ignored on those types of situations o reposition line.

For me, he's a weapon...use him in the right situations and the dividends will flow.

Venter removed Roos from the first half of the game.

And in the second d half Roos was far quoted than he normally is, and it's a direct result of Venter being there.

Much of the Lions dominance up front yesterday was due to Venter. As I mentioned in my first ever post about him, he's the guy that will carry a team on his back.

Oh bullshit did Venter remove him from the first half - stop exaggerating

He might have tackled him a few times but Roos made far more of an impression on the game than Venter ever did

Ruan had a disappointing match