I smell a rat on Saturday

My assumption is that - with Lambie and Alberts out - the starting line up for Saturday will be as follows:-

15   Pietersen (Joe)

14   Aplon

13   De Villiers

12   Olivier

 11  Pietersen (JP)

 10  Steyn

   9   Hougaard

  8   Spies

  7   Coetzee

  6  Daniel

  5   kruger

  4   Etzebeth

  3  j Du Plessis

  2  Bismarck Du Plessis

  1   Beast

Bench

16   Strauss

17  Greyling

18  F van der Merwe

19   Kankowski

20  Pienaar

21  Van der Merwe

22   Habana

Why do i smell a rat - and am worried?   Because there are two many weak links in that set up.   The vback line is going to be the main problem - completely neutralized by Steyn and Meisiekind.   I have no problem with the rest of the backline and in some way it could even improve nwith the inclusion of Joe Pietersen.   The forward will be drastically weakened by the inclusion of Greyling on the bench and by the loosies - especially Daniel.    In my reckoning there are two many weak links in the team.

My forecast is that we are going to lose against the POMS and that would not be a good thing to happen.  I reckon the score would be 24 - 12 in favour of the POMS

What has happened to the 114 kg Jaque Potgieter. Thought he would be fit by now. Playing daniels is asking for trouble.

Also why no Habana Mike. He isn't  injured. Frans Steyn is a big loss . We are actually missing quite a few players from our march 22 now but can still win provided daniels doesnt play.

 Mike i think he will go:

15   Aplon

14   Habana

13   De Villiers

12   Olivier

 11  Pietersen (JP)

 10  Steyn

   9  Hougaard

  8  Spies

  7  Coetzee

  6  Potgieter

  5  Kruger

  4  Etzebeth

  3  J Du Plessis

  2  BDu Plessis

  1  Beast

16   Strauss

17  Greyling

18  F van der Merwe

19  Daniel

20  Pienaar

21  Peterson (Joe)

22  Basson

It's too risky starting with Joe, Gametime.......he is comeing off an injury.

Problem is that the Stormers does not play Aplon as their full back and they need to have a replacement goal kicker if Steyn fails again.    Those were my reasons for picking Pietersen ahead of Aplon.    However, the weakest link is Olivier in the backline.   I think that habana wo0uld be rested for this game.  He got injured on Saturday and was replaced rather early - hence my comments with regard to him.

I agree with you about Potgieter though - that indeed will be an imrpovement to the team.   

However, my problem remains with Steyn and Meisiekind and the negative impact it could have on performance of the back line.  

Ek

Problem is that the Stormers does not play Aplon regularly as their full back and they need to have a replacement goal kicker if Steyn fails again.    Those were my reasons for picking Pietersen ahead of Aplon.    However, the weakest link is Olivier in the backline.   I think that Habana wo0uld be rested for this game.  He got injured on Saturday and was replaced rather early - hence my comments with regard to him.

I agree with you about Potgieter though - that indeed will be an imrpovement to the team.   

However, my problem remains with Steyn and Meisiekind and the negative impact  the two together could have on performance of the back line.  

However, lets wait and see what Meyer has in mind.

 Yes i agree Aplon has not been playing Fullback recently. but who in the squad that is matchfit has.

I am not so sure that Habana will be rested. Heynecke Is still under pressure to win. He does not want to make the same mistake PDIvvy did with the LIONs. he will want to take this 3-0.

A few things, firstly, Daniels looked out of his depth on Saturday. Habana is finally starting to find form, I say play him. Also, on Saturday we clearly saw why Hougard is keeping Pienaar on the bench. A much better performance by him. I have to agree with you all regarding Olivier, he just isn't good enough at this level.

 Agreed on everything Bluebok. Unfortunately we don't have an experienced inside centre better that Olivier to partner Jean in the squad. Very glad to see both our scrummies doing well. as Pienaar is in good form too. Daniel and Kankowski to me were the big questionmarks. Daniel has shown some Skills and has the X factor but might be too early for a call on him. I am not a fan as he is the kind of player that doesn't know what he wants to be. However I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. kankowski plain and simple lacks enough Game time to be taken seriously plus he is bieng kept out of the Sharks linup so no idea what he is doing there.

I am worried about the front 3 more then the backline problems. We can not afford another 2nd half scrum and ruck, like last weekend, with a week and fresh backline.

gareth you make a good point, our scrum looked terrible in the second half.

Thanks for the contributions.  i always try and generate discussions on contentious issues.    Let me get it staright we have a number of problems in the squad - as mentioned by most contributors which could influence the outcome of the game.

Weak Points are the following:-

   *    No 12 center - Meisiekind is NOT the answer here. 

  *    Flyhalf - if Morne's kicking game fails again and his service to Meisiekind is the same as was the case last week - there is a serious problem.   He gave Steyn a number of hosp[ital passes - after looking at the game again, that became evident.

  *    The Bench - which caused the scrum disaster last week

I do not think Daniel helped - a flank must also add strength in the scrum, which he did not do.   Kruger is not a good scrummager and somebody said that the Beast cannot play for 80 minutes - so that caused a problem.   I do not think they would give Kruger another chance - he failed too badly - but is Greyling any better?   Remember the youngster Malherbe gave him a work-over in the last Super 15 game before the series started.

The above issues are serious enough to cause a major problem insafar as the outcome of the game is concerned.