Sharkbok
I think Meyer's remarks are a warning to some players to buck up - or they will be gone.
I think that the identification of players to be dropped from the squad would be influenced by a number of factors, the main ones being -
* the performances of the NH Club players in the forthcoming three tests;
* the performance of especially the failures in the Ellis Park test (Morne, Alberts and Engelbrecht) in the upcoming tests; and
* the performance of questionable players in the Super 15 season next year.
I think there are in fact the certain deletions, the probable deletions and the questionable cases. The relevant situation is most likely to be the following:-
Certain Deletions
There can be no doubt that the certain deletions would be Zane Kirchner, Gurthro Steenkamp, Scara and Schreuder.
I think that Meyer is -
* probably thinking of Taute, Francois Steyn and/or SP Marais as probable members of the squad at full back in future; and
* giving Kitshoff another chance in Super 15 to see whether he is maintaining his present level of performance.
Problem is that Taute has been out of rugby for more than six months and was given virtually no playing time by the Stormers - because of Jantjies goal kicking deficiencies and Steyn was and is in poor physical form. Those two will have to show that they are still worth it after taking into account performances in Super 15 next year and he will keenly follow the progress of SP Marais in the relevant series.
Probable Deletions
There are quite a number of candidates here and I think the following can be on the edge of dismissal.
Morne Steyn, JJ Engelbrecht, Willem Alberts, Siya Kolisis
There can be no doubt that Meyer is giving those four players one last chance to prove their value on test level - I do not think that he would not have taken notice of what happened in the Ellis Park test and subsequent CC games - and those four are in fact on thin ice.
I think that he may give them one more chance in NH conditions to see whether they are salvageable - if they do not show real top class performances they are goners. Engelbrecht, Alberts and Kolisi has still a chance to recover their selection by performing well in the three upcoming tests and Super 15 in 2014, but that especially in the case of Alberts is unlikely since his performance over any Super 15 series has always been so-so.
Questionable Players
Here can be included especially the Japan club players and players like Bakkies Botha, where Meyer wants to see whether they can still perform on test level. The answer is not always clear as some may think it is. Even Du Preez was not really a house on fire in the full tests he played in - and there is obviously no proof that Fourie and Pietersen would make the grade. However - even if Pietersen does not really impress in the forthcoming tests - he would have recovery time in Super 15 next year - something the others would not have.
SUMMARY
I do not think Serfontein's position is really in trouble. He is a class act and has the opportunity to develop further in Super 15 next year.
There are a number of positions still up for grabs. Those are the following:-
Full Back : To be contested in Super 15 next year
13 Center : To be contested in Super 15 next year
Flyhalf : Both Lambie and Goosen are strong candidates - Super 15 will show the way forward.
Scrummie : If Du Preez does not show more spark in the fortcoming tests, the younger players would be in a good position to make their claims in Super 15.
7 Flank : The strongest two candidates are Arno Botha and Labuschagne and their performances in Super 15 will show the way forward. Both are likely to be in the future squad in any event.
Lock : Super 15 next year will show the way forward as to who should partner Etzebeth in the lock position. Du Toit is a certainty to remain in the squad - but the performances of players like De Jager and Willemse may be in the run for back up purposes.
