Jean de Villiers spoke out about selection

Jean de Villiers made a statement of importance as to what is required to qualify selection for the Springbok team. In the statement he basically said that reputation is meaningless and the performance is the only criterium applicable. To remain in the team hard work is essential so as to ensure that the required level of performance is maintained. He stated clearly that the comments apply to him as well and that he is happy to play if he gets the opportunity again. He went on to say he does not mind to play in either of positions 12 or 13. Thee is one thing of importance here and that is that PERFORMANCE should be th norm for Springbok selection and nothing else. Age is not a basis - but age should in all instances be coupled to performance. That being the basis for selection - thee are various positions in the Springbok team where position were possible. However, lets look at the issue of performance where the position of players would be secure:- * Full back - Le Roux is the obvious selection At this stage there is virtually no challenger * Wings - Habana is the only certainty - the other wing to be discussed later * Centers - De Villiers, Serfontein and Engelbrecht are the only contenders * Loosies - Louw is a certainty - the other 2 positions to be discussed later * Locks - Etzebeth is the only certainty - other position to be discussed * Hookers - Strauss and Du Plessis are certainties. Out of the squad of 23 players - 9 players have through performance showed that they belong and those 9 will be in the squad. Unfortunately there are a number of injured players like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Arno Botha and Frans Malherbe hat would have been in the 9 certainties At least Du Toit will be available after the first two rounds of the CR and is likely to be in the picture. Now lets look at the "vacancies" - in other word the remaining 14 players that could be considered as alternatives :- WINGS The departure of Pietersen has left a whole and that one will have to be filled. There are various contenders that could be considered and in the main those are the following:- * Bjorn Basson - very spedy, good under high balls, defence seriously defective. * Lwazi Mvovo - speedy, acceptable under high ball - above-average defender Other potential candidates include potentially Jordaan - still injured and return date uncertain - and an option would be to play Engelbrecht at 14 - with De Allende as back up center and wing. HALF BACKS There really is a problem here and the individual layers need to be assessed carefully:- * Motne Steyn Steyn was very poor in the tests last year and his only major attribute - namely kicking at goal - deserted him completely. He never was a food reader of the game - he is one of the most one-dimensional flyhalfs in World Rugby and also one of the most easily ones to read. His kicking game is at times seriously defective. He also cannot really serve as a good backline pivot. There are serious question marks in evidence. He started last year off well in Super 15 and towards the end of that series became a liability rather than an asset. This year he started off well again -but his last three games were not good at all. Meyer is likely to keep him in the squad - but he is t my mind a player that must be assessed on all aspects of the game and kept under the microscope all the time. If his goal kicking deteriorates like it did last year - he should not even be considered after the initial two Super 15 games. Not an ideal selection at all - but in the absence of Goosen the most likely candidate of Meyer. * Pat Lambie He was much criticized for his performance this year at 10 - but he is a steady flyhalf and with rare exceptions a good kicker at goal. His strategic kicks were always in evidence and there is no doubt that he has better ball sense than Morne Steyn. A very good player that does not always get the credit he deserves. My preference at flyhalf - based on the ball sense issue - and is a certainty for the squad f 23. * Dimitri Catekillis A cool customer with very good attacking and kicking abilities. Will not disgrace any team. * Ruan Pienaar Is the incumbent scrummie and even though he is one-dimensional - he is despite a poor record int eh Heineken Cup and really nothing of substance in the recent test - likely to remain the top cpontender for the starting post. * Francois Hougaard Was originally a serious contender for the starting line-up last year - but failed badly in the tests he played in. His game showed a downward trend and Meyer moved him away from the scrummie position to wing - where he showed serious deficiencies. The question arises - did his scrummie play improved from last year - so as to come into contention again - and the answer is unfortunately no it did not. Under pressure Hougaard is not a nice sight to see and It would be detrimental to have him in the squad of 23. * Piet van Zyl A god scrummie and did well enough when he came on during the recent test - after Vermaak got injured. h is not really a house on fire and rather predictable. Will not let the team down. * Sarel Pretorius A very good sub - very predictable and can make things happen for the tram. However, can also be questionable and the fact that the Cheetahs uses him as a sub indicates that is where he should be. * Jano Vermaak A good all-round player, but he is off to France and not really good enough to be called back to SA to play here ahead of other local contenders. * Cobus Reinach A very promising youngster and probably by 2014 the top choice scrummie in SA.. He should to my mind already have been in the squad - but for the recent injury. The best available scrummie and I would pick him above Pienaar in any event. However, Meyer is likely to stay with Pienaar - and hopefully the back up will be provided by Reinach. NUMBER 8 their are only two serious contenders here - namely Arno Botha and Duane Vermeulen. The fact that Botha is out of rugby for the remainder of the year - means that the only serious consideration is Vermeulen. The latter at times is injury - prone and if he is the only other contenders that should be considered at 8 should be Marcell Coetzee - followed by Van der Walt (Cheetahs) and Engelbrecht (Kings). FLANK FORWARDS There are a number of candidates here that needs consideration for playing at 7. * Willem Alberts He is the one layer above everyone else that plays on the reputation that he is a strong ball carrier and defender. However, Ole Cruz (Tomas) calls him one-dimensional player with very limited abilities - largely due to his deficient mobility. He can carry balls in traffic - but he is too slow to be a factor in open field play. Although his reputation talks about strong ball carries - his average carry is less than 2 meters - so even in his stongest element of the game there are limitations. He tackles well - but is not as strong a tackler as his reputation makes him out to be. he is good around the fringes - but the moment the ball goes slightly wider - he canno defend properly - as is evidenced in the two tries scored by the Amoans in the test recently. In particular his lack of mobility is a serious deficiency and he should really not be in contention for Springbok selection. * Lappies Labuschagne One of the most hardworking players in SA - with an outstanding record in Super 15 this year. He is a good ball carrier - also in space and has scored some excellent tries when running with the ball in hand. Also a good ball passer in such conditions. He has the highest tackle count of any player in Super 15 and is a very strong tackler - causing numerous turn overs in possession as a result. Very useful in line outs. Of the contenders - the best all round candidate. * Marcel Coetzee Very good player whose performances peaked during the last two Super 15 games - a real contender to play at 7 as well. * Reinhart Elstad A very good all-round player who is also better than Alberts as an all-round player. Unfortunate that he is also leaving SA this year. Thus far ignored by Meyer in his squad selection - to my mind a serious deficiency. I would say the real contenders for the no 7 jersey in order of preference are Labuschagne, Coetzee and Elstadt. All three of them are multi-dimensional players and mobile enough to combat the speedy looosies of other Champions teams. LOCKS The problem is to find a partner for Etzebeth and the best potential candidates are no dount Pieter-Steph Du Toit and Lood de Jager. One does not know when Du Toit will return to rugby - and te stand-in should be De Jager if he is not available soon. The other outsiders at this stage is Jacques du Plessis and Willemse - but both needs some CC games to really show up whether they can be considered. PROPS * Jannie d u Plessis Du Plessis in tests and Super 15 showed some weaknesses in scrimmaging and there are signs that he is getting very near to his sell by date. However, we have problems at tight head and alternatives are rather limited. It is likely that Du Plessis will remain as tight head for at least the early tests in the RC. * Frans Malherbe The player I think Meyer is grooming as the future Springbok tighthead. e will be back in the game the beginning of September and is likely to take over the no 3 jersey sooner rather than later. * Marcell van der Merwe A top class player - but was injured and did not play in Super 15 this year - he should be given further opportunities over the next year and is likely to become the bench tight head. At loosehead we are well catered for in Beeast, Coeni Oosthuizen and Terevoor Nyakane. Aside from the 9 certainties - I think that out of the squad of 23 would include another 8 players that are already Springboks. That eaves 6 vacancies in the match day squad - namely at wing, scrummie, no 7 loosie, lock (2 places) and loose-head prop. I myself thinks that Mvovo is the better candidate for playing at wing - Reinach at scrummie, Labuschagne at 7, Du Toit and De Jager at lock and Malherbe at 3. However, the better option may be to play Engelbrecht n the wing as indicaed above. Comments will be appreciated.

I personally feel there should be a balance between performance and experience - but that continued poor form in tests and in Super 15 should not be awarded. Hansen kept Dagg and Nonu - and both did well in the tests in June = Meyer kept Habana (also oor in Super 15 and he proved that he is still one of the best in the world. However, when form is constantly poor in both Super 15 and tests - the player should get a walking ticket. When doing the above evaluation of players I looked at those players that was in the test team last year and most of whom played in Super 15 this year - as well as the June tests - and then drew up the list of players whose form was deficient over the past year at least. Temporary dips in form was not taking into account. I also looked at one0dimensional players making life easy for the opposition - which to m mind should be excluded. Nobody wants players who can be easily neutralized or beaten by the opposition players in the team. In essence - when form is equal - then experience must essentially be the guideline. Otherwise if the margin is substantial then experience becomes a deficiency. Finally - Meyer's one real mistake is his hesitance in dealing with players playing purely on reputation with virtually no form to speak of = so they remain and weaken the Springbok team by their presence.

Reputation just sucks. So we have a guy whose form is diabolical and he is there for his reputation. Could it be that other sides target him as they know he is selected for his reputation alone. Jannie has been minced a few times but hey, he has a reputation of being a strong scrummager 3 years ago. Fat load of use.

This is just one example of dumb ass logic that has plagued SA Rugby for over 10 years. I have complained about this, on this forum, on a number of occasions.

The honor of playing for SA should not be just about pitching up for a game and being there because you had a good game 2 years ago. A good example here was Frans Steyn. It was harder for him to get out of the team than in it.

Pick a team based purely on form against the Argies and then tell all the other players whom are not there, come and earn your place.