Ex Supersport
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers did not train with the rest of the team as the build-up to Sunday’s test against Scotland intensified on a bitterly cold afternoon at a windswept suburban ground outside Edinburgh on Wednesday.
According to management sources, De Villiers was absent because he had a slight cold that kept him back at the team hotel.
It seems likely that De Villiers will play against Scotland, although there would be a strong argument for coach Heyneke Meyer to use the Murrayfield game as an opportunity to test one of the other leaders in the squad and rest De Villiers in preparation for the much bigger match against France.
If De Villiers was to miss Sunday’s game, Adriaan Strauss would be the man to step in as captain, as he is set to start at hooker as part of the rotation policy being implemented in that position.
With the game in Paris being played just six days after the Edinburgh clash, Meyer has spoken about the importance of managing the players so that they are fresh for the French test.
It would make sense then to rest De Villiers if he is less than 100 per cent, with Meyer set to show his hand when the team is announced in the early afternoon South African time on Thursday. (Please note Dr Moz)
Meyer did show journalists who braved the cold to attend the Wednesday session most of his thinking for Sunday, and it appears he will be true to his promise of spreading the net with his selection this week.
However, hopes that Pieter-Steph du Toit will get a starting opportunity look set to be dashed, with Flip van der Merwe slotting in alongside veteran Bakkies Botha for the entire training session.
While Van der Merwe was excellent against Wales and hardly deserves to be dropped, the Scotland game does present itself as a good opportunity to allow Du Toit to get his first feel of the No 5 jersey.
Morne Steyn did not train on Wednesday, and instead watched the practice from the stands. Patrick Lambie is set to start in his place, thus continuing where he left off against Wales last week. Willie le Roux will also play fullback.
Just what Meyer will do at centre is less clear as Jaque Fourie was running at inside centre, with Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht taking turns to slot it alongside him.
Does that mean that Fourie could be getting a chance to play inside centre at the weekend? We will have to wait until the team announcement to be sure, for there are various permutations open to Meyer. The smart money should be on the same midfield that played last weekend being retained.
Gurthro Steenkamp and Strauss will come into the front-row in place of the Sharks duo of Beast Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis. Willem Alberts looks set to sit out this game, with one of Marcel Coetzee or Siya Kolisi replacing him.
While logic would dictate that Kolisi start as he has been the back-up at blindside flank for most of the international season, it was Coetzee who did most of the training in that position on Wednesday.(Whew I was worried for a moment Kolisi would start!!)
Possible Bok team: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Patrick Lambie, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Marcel Coetzee, Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Bakkies Botha, Frans Malherbe, Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp.
Should have a very good bench as well.
GOOOOOOOOOOOO the Mighty Bokke.
