Fourie Du Preez

I too had much to say about the ridiculous inclusion of Du Preez.

I take it back.

I thought he made a huge difference and would love to see him start against the boys down under.

I realise that he played against an aweful Puma side and we'll see how he goes against the Wallabies and the All Blacks ... but for now ... I was impressed.

FDP is highlighting a major problem we have with regards to quality scrummies.....he served as a great replacement for Joost  but between him and the next best, there's daylight.

 Its interesting how somepeople stance

changes after a match, some admit mistakes

and others do not.

http://www.sarugby.com/forum.cfm?threadid=5715

Keo is carrying an article saying iot is amaster stroke by Meyer. Jones and Mallet of course agree.

Ex SA Rugby Mag

The head coach of Japan, Eddie Jones, says Fourie du Preez will prove he's still the best scrumhalf in world rugby during the Rugby Championship.

Du Preez was the surprise selection in the Springbok squad on Saturday, having been absent since the 2011 World Cup because of his contractual obligations to Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath. He'll be available for South Africa's home Tests against Argentina (17 August), the Wallabies (28 September) and All Blacks (5 October), but won't be allowed to tour with the team.

Many have questioned the 31-year-old's ability to control the game at No 9 like he did for the Boks and Bulls between 2004 and 2011. The standards of Japanese club rugby lack the intensity and pace of Super Rugby and South African domestic rugby.

But Jones, who as Bok consultant at the 2007 World Cup and as Suntory boss in 2011 and 2012 coached Du Preez, stressed that the 62-Test veteran is in impressive form.

'Fourie's been outstanding in Japan,' Jones told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Suntory have won 33 from 34 games with Fourie in the team – he's still a top act. In fact, he has received great medical treatment during his time at the club and has returned to the condition he was in at the 2007 World Cup.

'George Smith also had a great 2012-13 campaign for Suntory and he proved to be the best flanker during Super Rugby with the Brumbies. I'm sure Fourie will prove he's still the best halfback during his time with the Boks. Players like George and Fourie don't lose their class.'

Jones also believes Du Preez will also play an important mentoring role for Jano Vermaak and Piet van Zyl, who lack Test experience.

'Vermaak and Van Zyl are two good running scrumhalves in the Springbok squad, but they don't have the tactical game to control the match like Fourie can,' said Jones. 'Fourie has proven to be a great mentor in Japan. He has one of the brightest rugby minds I've come across ... he knows how this game should be played.

'Vermaak and Van Zyl will benefit a great deal during the time they have with Fourie, whose strengths complement the game plan Heyneke Meyer wants the Boks to play.'

So to all Meyer bashers I say suspend judgement on this matter till one can see how Du Preez goes. 

 What a joke

I'm going to go on record and say I really like this move. Meyer needs to find out exactly what he has in FDP, find out if he still has it or if he needs to groom one of the young scrummies - it could be a potential gold mine. No one has stepped up in Super Rugby to make the #9 position his own.  Even if he never gets on the field he'll be a great influence on the scrummies we do have. Its a win-win situation. The guy knows rugby and what it takes to win and getting him into the Bok setup is the only way to judge what he has left in the tank. Hansen would have loved this luxury with Weepu, but his fitness kept him out of consideration - not so with FDP.

This doesn't necessarily signal a return to the kick-and-chase - I certainly hope not. At this point I am giving Meyer the benefit of the doubt that all his talk about backline play earlier this year and the signs we saw in the June tests were legit. Kick and chase is a legitimate tactic - everyone uses it, but it will be even more effective if there is a balance struck with backline play. FDP has the ability better than any of our scrumhalfs to get that balance right and make that tactical call on the spot. 

Steenkamp's selection is a mystery. Don't really understand that one especially since there is no injury to the incumbents and there are proven performers at loosehead - unlike our scrumhalf position.

 His influence on our young 9's will not be felt as Vermaak and Pienaar are the other 9's in the squad, both of whom are now based overseas.

I think its a pathetic selection and is a slap in the face to our young 9's, much like Steenkamps selection is to our young looseheads

 Pienaar is just a place-holder until the real Slim Shady shows up, but Vermaak is a relative Test rugby rookie who could learn a lot from FDP and my understanding is P v/zyl will be part of the extended training squad when the Boks are in South Africa and in the 30 man squad on tour.

But this move by Meyer is more about finding the best South African scrumhalf - FDP has to be in that conversation. 

Erm, Meyer knows exactly what he has in FdP, that's why he's selected him.   Meyers love affair with the 10 man, skop en jag yawnfest is no great secret and has finally reached it's ultimate zenith in duPreez re-selection. Hansen and McKenzie's preparation for this master stroke of coaching genius will be to kick lots of high ball to the likes of Dagg and Folau in training runs. Dagg has already shown he is more than capable at defusing the box kick and Folau's AFL experience will be equally effective. Meyer appears incapable of generating a new game plan  for Bokke rugby and has fallen back on SA's default strategy of kick, chase, kick chase, kick chase, kick chase.............Penalty!  

I think the greater tragedy for SA'n rugby is Meyers preference for foreign based players. The message there for young aspiring Sprinboks is to chase the money wherever it's on offer.  There is no incentive for players to stay in the Republic. I expect this will have dire repercussions for SA's super franchises in the very near future as the cream are lured offshore with lucrative offers from wealthy clubs.  It used to be that players would retire to these clubs having invested their most productive years playing at home.  It won't be long before players will be approached and successfully contracted whilst they are at their most marketable, ie.....peak.   

Just out of interest, I know du Preez has his wet knickered fanboys but has anyone bothered to assess his season in Japan? If we assume that Test caps are given to players based on merit or even recent reputation, what has duPreez done to merit his re-selection over the past 12-24months?  Has one of the most crucial roles in any rugby team really been decided on the achievements of 4 years ago?  Madness.  

 At least I am not a compulsive liar

 I will wait and see when he plays against NZ or Aus in a starting capacity. When he came on the game was already won and the forwards were having a field day against the bargies. He did seem to zip the ball around and actually got Morne to run onto the ball and play more attacking rugby. 

What I like about saturdays game was that the replacements actually improved the boks where in the past we tended to just sit back and defend. 

Really happy that we put the Argies to the sword.

well du preez has picked up the speed and width of the game but that being said the pumas by the time that du preez came one was already winded. still du preez has shown a lot more speed and width on attack and his passing has given the boks that exstra width they need on attack. well done du preez but this has been one game against a out of sorts pumas team. the real test will be the wallies and AB's