Ex Superpsort
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will need to make a tough call at scrumhalf when he makes his decision on the team to face Argentina this weekend in the opening Castle Rugby Championship match at FNB Stadium.
While Fourie du Preez was the surprise selection when the team was named, and joined the Boks on Sunday from his Japanese team, it is unlikely that Du Preez will start this weekend’s game, with Jano Vermaak and Ruan Pienaar vying for the starting role.
Du Preez has been on a four month season break and while his fitness is good, he has admitted himself that he might not be 100% match fit at the moment.
The more likely scenario is that Du Preez will come off the bench to face the Argentineans, providing the experience that Meyer wants, as well as being a vital cog to inject into the game at just the right time.
So the question then remains who will start on Saturday against Los Pumas, with the options being offered to Meyer being as varied in style as there can be.
There is no doubt that Vermaak, who will join the team alongside several other overseas based players on Monday morning, was the form scrumhalf going into the final stages of the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament. His speed and service were unrivalled, and he is experiencing an excellent season to date, making him both the form choice and a dangerous prospect who the Argentineans haven’t faced yet. (Yep Beeno wastipping this guy when ou snapster hadnt even noticed him and was punting Hougaard whose form had been dismal)
But the experience of Ruan Pienaar, his kicking game and all-round confidence makes the Ulster halfback an interesting option – and one who could be preferred as the game is set to be overwhelmingly tactical on the day.
Pienaar’s box kicks probably rate a little ahead of Vermaak’s game in this area, and depending on what the thinking is, the Boks could opt for experience above form in this area.
However, it is unlikely Meyer will tinker too much with the side that was so successful in the June tests, allowing a chance for momentum to build and combinations to set even more before the antipodean quests begin.
For this reason it is likely that Willie le Roux will be kept ahead of Zane Kirchner, especially after impressing enough in the June internationals to warrant another chance. Kirchner’s game has found form in the last vestiges of Super Rugby, but it will be interesting to see if it has done enough to warrant a recall.
The Boks scored an incredible 16 tries in the three tests in June – nine more than the All Blacks in their June series – and it is precisely this attacking mindset that Meyer will want to keep. (For some strange reason the kiwi bird brains imagine they are the only ones who can score tries!!!!! Bwahahahahahhahahaha)
Jean de Villiers will be back from injury and is likely to resume the captaincy, while JJ Engelbrecht has done enough to keep his spot on the outside and keep Juan de Jongh out at the moment.(You bet!)
Despite several players now plying their trade overseas, a lack of an obvious successor means that Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana, Francois Louw and Juandre Kruger are all likely to be in the starting line-up and will join the Boks this morning.
In fact, up front and injuries not being a factor, the Boks are only likely to recall Duanne Vermeulen to the number 8 spot, even though the player admitted he wasn’t 100% match fit at the moment. In this case it seems Vermeulen will serve a greater purpose linking up in the powerful loose trio with Willem Alberts and Flo Louw which did so much damage last year in the Rugby Championship. (Dispite ou saSUE's highly dubious stats these guys had the wee abs for breakfast at Dunedin as all could plainly see)
It is expected that the worries of the front row – Tendai Mtawarira sat out the training last week with a hamstring twinge, Coenie Oosthuizen had flu and Jannie du Plessis a light calf strain – will all be confirmed as 100% fit and ready to go this week.
Argentina arrive in South Africa on Monday morning, fresh from a 53-12 mauling of the NSW Barbarian side in a friendly on Friday. After a month in camp in Pensacola, Florida, USA at the High Performance Centre, enough time to prepare and with World Cup winning coach Graham Henry now a fulltime member of their coaching staff, they will be dangerous indeed.
Sir Grahma after being schooled by master Jake is set for another schooling but the shrewed Meyer whose rugby acumen is abit advanced for some here.
Sorry Thomas but you Argies are going doooooown. We we will however be supporting you in the other RC matches.
Go Bokke!!!!
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