Ex Keo
The fullback experience of Pat Lambie must be trusted to start against the Australians in Brisbane.
Willie le Roux had a shocker in Mendoza (Rubbish that is overstating it!) but I’d start him on the right wing and move Bryan Habana back to his favoured left wing. Bjorn Basson has pace and is good under the high ball but he has always struck me as a good Super Rugby player but not quite there at Test level.(Agreed)
The back three axis can be improved and I believe Lambie’s calm, combined with Habana being Habana and Le Roux’s play-making ability makes for a greater threat.(Not a bad idea Keo)
JJ Engelbrecht is another whose defensive decision-making let him down against The Pumas. His conversion from wing to outside centre has shown growth but the one area he continues to struggle with is his defensive decision-making. It again proved erratic in Mendoza.
Jan Serfontein may be a consideration against the Wallabies. If he does not start then I at least hope he will get more game time.
Another consideration could be to play Engelbrecht on the wing, use Le Roux in an impact role and start with Serfontein at No 13.
Jano Vermaak should also get a start ahead of Ruan Pienaar. Vermaak’s speed to the breakdown and different style is more suited than Pienaar to the fast paced Brisbane surface.(Agreed)
Willem Alberts, if selected, needs a big performance and not just a 20-minute cameo and Juandre Kruger needs an overall. Kruger is the player who controls the Bok lineout but his physicality doesn’t match his rugby intellect and when the going gets a bit tough he tends to get going … like in out of there.(at Juandre 110 kg is lightweigt - he is however more physical that the 106 kg string bean matfield who fooled so many for so long)
Beast is another who too often in the past two seasons has traded more on the spectator chant of ‘BEAST’ than making an impact. I wouldn’t start with him. (Agreed he simply doesnt work hard enough end of story)
Brisbane is also the Test that should see the return to the starting XV of Bismarck du Plessis.(Either one against oz s fine by me)
The performance in Mendoza wasn’t good enough and expect several changes for the battle in Brisbane.
Yes Oz loosing 2 now will also be desparate. But if we play well we can definitely win. It will be inreseting to see who Meyer Selects. Deon Fourie would be geat to have in the squad with Louw at 7 two fetchers and a more pacy loose trio. Vermulen at 8 -this guy really puts in the hard donkey work.
Re Deon Fourie - apart from lineouts no sa loose forward has his all round skills set. I am very interested in Wilie Brits's development. One had to sit up and take note of that pace, skill and reasonable size.
So many quality young players coming through. If only we can keep them and get our house in order etc
