Jannie du Plessis mistackles the whole End of Year Tour

Rugby | Springboks

Experienced Springbok tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis has been ruled out of the forthcoming Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Wales, Scotland and France because of injury.

His place in the touring team will be taken by the uncapped GWK Griquas prop Lourens Adriaanse, a member of the Springbok squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship who was on the official standby list and will play with Du Plessis for The Sharks next season.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said: “Losing a player with Jannie’s experience and ability is a big set-back, but we’re lucky to have someone like Lourens to step in. He’s been part of the squad for almost the entire test season and was one of the unlucky players to miss out on initial selection.”

The 30-year-old Du Plessis, who played in his 50th Springbok test last month against Australia in Cape Town, was ruled out because of a chronic shoulder injury and a hand fracture.

“Jannie went for an MRI scan on his shoulder, while we also reviewed his recent hand injury with his specialist,” said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.

“He will only be ready for the test against France and as player welfare is very important to us, we decided not to risk him on this tour.”

Another possible replacement for Du Plessis, Pat Cilliers, was also ruled out as he is going for surgery on a shoulder injury on Thursday.

Shezza

I rally can see why you did so well in Fantasy Rugby selections - you really know what you are talking about rugby - wise, even though I differ from you on Francois Steyn.  

My impression all along has been that Coenie is a better loosehead and that he should be on the bench as a back  up for Beast  - and in view of Jannie's poor defence and little contribution outside of scrums - he should e replaced by Malherbe.   Malherbe is fresh - had little rugby over the past six months and is as strong as an ox.   Know the family very well - have spoken to him a number of times - and I can vouch for that. 

Mozart

Are you prejudiced as per normal - I referred to the fact of the physical condition of Malherbe - you thick plank.  You have no idea about anything relating to rugby in any event.     Your only idea is that the older the players are the better they are - whether they perform or not.

You yourself condemned Coenie as a tighthead continuously and fabricate stories about   players (Malherbe included) - without any relationship to the truth.   Please try and be less obnoxious - if you don't mind.

Blikkies

Mozart says the fans do not u8nderstand the role of Jannie - what they do understand is his missed tackles and his limited contribution outside of the scrum.  

However, that is not the point.  In terms of the new rules the bench will always have two props - one a tighthead and the other a loosehead.   Coenie can cover both as you stated - but in the present scenario  it is not as important as it used to be.

I have my doubts about who would start.   What I do know is that Meyer has always shown a keen interest in Malherbe and saw something in him.   He called him up to New Zealand last year and also to London - when Beast developed health problems and CJ - another Mozart favourite - flopped badly and then pleaded injury.   He ultimately did not use him at all - but shown his interest in the guy by doing what he did.  

I think that if Meyer was so happy with starting Coenie - he would not have called up Adriaanse as a tighthead as well.   After all the tour involves only three matches.   The first test he will start with Beast and Steenkamp as looseheads - but I think he is likely to start with Malherbe at tighthead backed up by Coenie.  After that he will start with the two props mentioned, but I think he will phase out Steenkamp, because he knows that the French props will make mincemeat of him - like they normally do in their domestic competition.