Foreign-based players - Performance analysis

The following players were in Meyer's squad thus far this year:- ZANE KIRCHNER There always has been some debate about this player - and there were always pros and cons in his case. Kirchner always was a player with serious limitations. He never was an attacking backline player - generally good under high balls - a good follow-upper of kicked high balls - but extremely limited in other areas of the game. His defence was always poor and his attacking play verges on the non-existing. Despite his serious limitations - he was consistently in Meyer's squad and was virtually the only full back considered by Meyer in 2012. However, in 2013 in Super 15 - Kirchner had a spotty record - mostly average, but in some game downright poor. He also was injured and missed some matches. Up the very last game before the June team selections - Meyer tried to get him into the squad - but could not do so - because he had to play well and see whether he was not affected by his most recent injury. He played a shocker and I think he will not be in the squad any longer. Is he replaceable? I think he is and Meyer has a variety of choices in future. Fact is that two of the potential choices - Francois Steyn and Jaco Taute - are both injured and he is at his stage limited to only Le Roux and Lambie. I would say he is not a key selection anymore - and based on the fact that he is foreign-based - there is no real need to continue with him in future. I watched Visser of the Bulls playing yesterday and I thought he is likely to make massive programmes in future. Young - strong - fast - with massive potential. Likely to be the one to watch in future. Aside from that we have Marais - who did very well for the Kings in Super 15 and is now playing for the Sharks in the CC series. No need for Kirchner anymore BRYAN HABANA There can be no questions asked about Habana. He is still the best wing in world rugby. Like any player he has his down days - but he is a clever and tricky customer that has been successful in scoring most tries in SH teams. The game yesterday really was an aberration. He is no doubt the first wing selection any coach on the planet would make and I would say there can be no questions asked as to this player being in the Springbok team. MORNE STEYN Even his most ardent admirers will admit that Morne Steyn is a one-dimensional player. His main armouty consist of his goal kicking ability - coupled to his strategic kicking. The latter is not always very strategic - often too far to be of real value and in essence a means to hand over ball possession. He is not an attacking backline play pivot and at times - like yesterday - his defence has been questionable. Is he replaceable? The first contender - Goosen - has been out of contention since April and it is not sure when he will start playing again. The only other two candidates are l;ambie and Catrakilis - since Jantjies are totally unacceptable. Although we are rather thin on the ground here - I seriously do not think Steyn is not replaceable. RUAN PIENAAR Pienaar came into the squad last year as back up for Hougaard. When the latter failed in 2012 - Pienaar becae first choice scrummy. Pienaar is a limited options player and he has had a poor 2013 performance record for Ulster. The game he played yesterday was probably his worst game ever - but he is nearing the age of 30 and we cannot expect real improvement in future. The better option at scrummie is definitely Fourie Du Preez - but he is playing in Japan and unlikely to be available before 2015 - when he will be 33 years of age - he is 31 at present. Not a long term prospect at all. However, he is not available for Springbok selection and is not really the immediate answer. We have not produced too many quality scrummies over the past few years and the long reign of Du Preez and Pienaar added to the problem. At this stage the field is limited to players like Van Zyl, Reinach and Schreuder - but I still think the under-performing Pienaar needs to be replaced. FRANCOIS LOUW Has had some really good games for the Springboks in the past - but has also have a limitation as he is relative immobile with rather deficient speed. A contender for replacement - but since Brussow is in Japan and all the potential replacements have some real concerns - we are in trouble here. Likely to remain in the squad - but we need to look at other options in future. JUANDRE KRUGER Always a player with very little grunt and real limitations. After his atrocious performance yesterday - the sooner he is replaced in the squad - the better it would be for SA Rugby. The potential candidates are obvious. It is likely that Pieter-Steph will start playing CC this weeknd again and he will thus be available. In the meantime De Jager is playing well in the CC - as he did in Super 15 - and he could be the first choice starter with Du Toit on the bench. Both have better all-round abilities than Kruger. GUTHRO STEENKAMP What a farce!!!!!! He cannot make the Toulouse starting line up anymore - yet Meyer picks him for the Springbok squad. In both tests he came off the bench this year - he failed and was penalized repeatedly. A really weird selection this one. Any of a dozen props playing in SA at present can be used in his place without being as poor a he is at present. CONCLUSION In essence Meyer has the option to get his player selections right without his favoured Blue Bulls foreign-based players - but will he get it right? Chances of replacing most of the Blue Bulls - related foreign players are almost zero - and we will soon see what will happen - since he has to announce his squad for the tour squad for the two away games this week. I do not expect much of a change at all. One other issue I would really try is to play Louw at 8 - bring in Klosis and Coetzee at 6 and play Labuschagne at 7 - but Meyer is not adventurous enough to try that one. So back to the same old losing game - with no chance of beating either the Wallabies not the All Blacks over the next three weeks. After an atrociously poor goal kicking record last year

"GUTHRO STEENKAMP What a farce!!!!!! Is he After an atrociously poor goal kicking record last year " - Geez Maaik have they been letting Girthrow do the kicking again?

Mozart Sorry - I wrote the message in the early hours of this morning - got sleepy and just press the comment button - intending to finalize the message this morning Has now completed the message and hope that would clear the air.