Juandre to be Bok lock?

JON CARDINELLI writes that Andries Bekker’s untimely breakdown could see Juandré Kruger starting for the Springboks sooner than expected.

Bekker has long been touted as Victor Matfield’s successor. When the Bok legend retired (Bwahahahahha)at the end of 2011 he assured the South African public that the future of the game, as far as lineout management was concerned, was in good hands. After mentoring Bekker for four years, Matfield was ready to pass the baton.

Since his appointment in late January, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer has been open about the locking situation in South Africa. While the country is spoiled for choice in positions like hooker and loose forward, there is a dearth of good locks, especially in that specialist position of No 5. Meyer said he would have to count on Bekker and Kruger to perform this role in 2012.

Now that Bekker has been ruled out of the England series with a back injury, Meyer’s options are limited. Kruger has plenty of experience having played more than 50 matches for Northampton in the northern hemisphere competitions, but is yet to play a Test. Nevertheless, he may now be asked to wear that No 5 shirt in the series against England.

Not many gave the Bulls a chance after they lost six senior Boks at the end of last year. And yet, their pack has been impressive and Kruger has been one of the standouts. Taking over from Matfield at the Bulls in that No 5 position, he has ensured that the Bulls have continued to perform at the lineout and at the kickoffs. These two areas will be important against an England side that places an emphasis on forward ascendancy.

His partnership with Flip van der Merwe may also be considered a plus. Meyer will have just six days to prepare his Springbok 22 for England, and so he will be relying on existing combinations and structures. Now that the experienced and imposing form of Bekker is no longer in the frame, a Bulls locking partnership may be favoured at the highest level.

One specialist No 5 will not be sufficient, however, and Meyer will need to bring another lineout manager into the squad. The Bok coach has said that he will call on South Africans based at overseas clubs if there is a need to do so. In this case, Johann Muller is a strong option. (What a Joke!!!!)

He’s not only an experienced player but has been in excellent form for Irish club Ulster, who made it to the final of the European Cup. Muller will also have played against many of the English players in the northern hemisphere competitions, and will be able to provide some insight regarding their strengths and weaknesses.

Meyer will name his 30-man squad on Saturday after the Bulls-Stormers derby. That squad will be without several key players if you consider that Juan Smith, Bekker, Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen are all still sidelined with injury.

Fourie du Preez will be named captain for the England series and Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar is also set to be included. Meyer has always been a fan of Francois Hougaard’s skills but the Bulls man hasn’t been in great form at the base of the scrum. One of Pienaar or Hougaard could be included as a utility player with the other providing cover for Du Preez.

As he has shown on numerous occasions for the Bulls and at the 2011 World Cup, Hougaard can be a devastating runner on the wing, and his physicality also makes him suited to a tighter contest. His kicking game, while not yet up to the standard of scrumhalves like Du Preez and Will Genia, will be a bonus in the back three.

Frans Steyn should also be included and considered a prime candidate for the No 12 position. Coenie Oosthuizen and Adriaan Strauss will be in line for Bok recalls, and as far as uncapped players are concerned, Kruger, Marcell Coetzee and Eben Etzebeth should all be in the mix

With Jannie, Juandre, Spiesies and brussouw playing one wonders wherethe forward dominantion will come from. Then we have Du preez with huge question marks over him and morne whose attacking flair is zilch these days. Injuries are causing a problem.

How fit is Frans one wonders.

How pathetic that would be if Johan Muller was ever considered, what an average lock this guy is and given the depth of young locks we have at present, why on earth would such a washed up never been ever be even considered

In all honestly, Bekker did us a favour by being injured. At no point has he seriously been a contender at test level. Better that Meyer is forced to use Juandre now and estblish some continuity from the start with a much better and more durable player. Bekker has been injured every year since 2008, not something that inspires confidence in one even if he was something special as a player.

I dont want to be too hard on juandre. He is a far better athlete than ou victor and does at least attempt to play as a lock. Its just that I cant really think flip, juandre, spiesies and brussouw will dominante. Alberts will no doubt be the seven and, if on form, will give the pack some clout as will Bissie and hopefully the beast IF he really decides to play.

Beeno, Brussow is one of the three strongest players the Boks have fielded as far back as I can even remember! Not only does he dominate physically but he has the best stamina of any Bok, outlasting even the mighty Spies all season. He is one of the most well rounded and accurate players and he is currently having a very impressive season.

Well Card at least we established he ainst stealing much ball these days but some claim brussouw has a big tackle count and should be in the side for that reason.

I wonder if marcell coetzee wouldn't offer more, the old idea of  a 6 stealing ball has about died.

Anyhow I have little doubt that brussouw wil play so lets see how he goes.

With Beenkop all loosies have to weigh 110kgs!!

sapster Marcell is 106 kg so that blows up your point.

However like to see anyone get the better of Burger, Vermuelen and Elstadt, weiging in at 111, 116 and 118 kg.

Burger is not strong on the ground and is a mediocre ball carrier. He defends well, but not authoratively like most would have you believe. In most ways he is inferior to Brussow. Brussow is stronger, fitter, better handling, stronger tackling and much, much better on the ground. Hell, Kolisi has completely over taken Burger. 

Beenkop your loosetrio is completely unbalanced, it would get its arse kicked. They might be able to bash into people, but there is very little skill there. You need one quick ball playing loosie. Schalk is past it, as der says, Brussouw and Kolisi are better. What out for Baby Bok skipper, Liebenberg - by all accounts the real deal as well.

Give me Brussouw, Daniel and Kolisi at 6 over Schalk anyday. Schalk needs to challenge for the 7 spot, but he is down the pecking order here as well

Not a bad loose trio at all Dave, Kolisi and Daniels have been turning up very good stats which reflects their consistently highly level of play this year.

I do however feel that Burger may be of use as an 8. He interlinks with backs and forwards very and offloads well enough in contact. That said, Johnson does all of these things much better and faster.
 

Juandre has to play 5. There is no one else. Muller will also have to come into the squad.

Spies unfortunately will play at 8. I wonder if Heyneke will put Alberts there?

That allows for a loose trio of brussouw, stander/coetzee, alberts.

Why on earth would you want useless Muller brought into the squad

der I dont think Schalk would make a good 8 as he tends to always look for contact. I want an 8 with ball skill and the ability to beat the man both physically and through skill. Schalk is a direct route hard nut and can only be considered at 7 in my opinion.

Johnson? Nope he is a good honest player, but out of shape and a bit stupid. Only options at 8 for me are Spies, Vermeulen and Strauss for now, although both CJ Stander and Coetzee would make handy 8's. Arno Botha played 8 for the Baby Boks last year.......all 3 youngsters are good players

Speaking of locks, what are your opinions of Bresler? He looks quite small on TV but has been playing really well recently, particularly in the Stormers game.

I have rarely read more junk than on this thread. Bekker is no good, Schalk is no good. But Flip, Daniels, Johnson, Juandre, Kolisi etc are much better. It's a joke.....you guys don't have a clue about test rugby and who contributes. The"mighty Spies" give me a break. That useless capitulator had 14 runs in the QF beat zero tackles and made 2 tackles himself all game!

 So Moz given the choice, who would you have at 6 for the Boks - Daniel, Kolisi or Schalk - one certainty is that Schalk would be sitting at number 3 on my list.

Given how average our test record has been for many years, I somehow struggle to see what or who you think constitues a good test player or what is required. No doubt you would have Morne on that list?

Schalk, Jean etc are done, time to move on to a new generation of players. Why on earth would you select Schalk when you have classy youngsters like Coetzee, CJ Stander, Arno Botha, J.Potgieter, Elstadt, Vermeulen, Josh Strauss and v/d Walt

Kruger at lock - a bit of a joke not so?   Kruger may develop further and come into contention in some circumstances - but although he is a better real lock than the center lock Mattfield ever was, he cannot be compared with hard players like Etzebeth and Elstadt.   

And it looks like the average Van der Merwe - Flippie this time - is the other lock favoured by the Aristokrat.   What a farce!!!!  

 Mike your Stormers bias is a little too obvious. Etebeth is our best lock, but Flip and Jeandre are damn fine locks as well. Elstadt is on a par with these 2

Saffex

Me biased - not on your life.   I believe that the selection should be based on performance and nothing else.   I do have one thing in common with your general idea and that is to look for younger and better performing players - and am not supporting anyone over 28 to play in the next WC.   However, for the next two years we need to start blending in younger players into the set up - but then we also need to be realistic. 

The only players I think that in three years time are Coetzee, Elstadt and Potgieter.    Johnson is not in the frame at all - he is going to play overseas next year and this year he was coming of the bench most of the time,   tell me there is something amiss - but not on this Board - here he is a world beater.

We need to get things into perspective - but the only perspective some have is provincial or franchise-based.    But then to tell me a light weight like Brussouw is the strongest player on the field is hogwash.   I was worried about the latter this year - he was not as affective as he was last year and he is being pushed off far too easily.    Let me give you one example - player techniques are studied in detail and counter-measures developed as soon as a new player comes into the llimelight.   That ultimately is countered by size, weight and strength - reducing the value of a player like Brussouw.     But thn anyone can post anything here as fact - even making clueless comments about phrases people have read somewhere about and now shout it around without a clue what it really entails.

Your take on Brussow is utterly clueless. Why not talk about Bismarck who gets brushed aside at the breakdown? Brussow often uses the counter-ruck to present the ball to his team after he latches into the ball. It actually negates their own cause as they add momentum and extra player strength to remove possession from their own player! Brussow though is not easily brushed aside, his low centre of gravity and freakish strength make him practically immovable. He has actually been in better form in this years Super XV than he was at any point last year. Something to be owed from plenty of game tie to add match-sharpness.

" But thn anyone can post anything here as fact - even making clueless comments about phrases people have read somewhere about and now shout it around without a clue what it really entails."

So true, isn't it? Just like the 'hogwash' that was Du Preez's kick that led to a try. A complete fabrication on your part. Unfortunately for you I am able to cross-reference quite far back. How now for Brussow's outstanding set of stats? Third top pilfer in the competition, he has consistently been in the top 4 since the start of the season. His defence stats are outstanding as well. He has prevented quite a few tries at crucial stages. Without Brussow the Cheetah's would be more severely blunted than with the loss of Goosen.

 

Aristokrat

That coimemnt about the Du Preez kick that let to a try - where did you get that from?   The try I mentioned at Twickenham was not the result of a kick - the ball came out of a maul and Mr Du Preez was nowhere to be found - standing around with the full back.   ball picked up by the Poms - score under the posts.  End of story.

Aimless kicking is a real possibility with Du Preez.   70% are plain handover of balls opening up the opportunity for opposing teams to run at us.   That often leads to tries against us - but I have NOT made any remarks previously about that..   

I notice that you suddenly became quiet about players with ball sense.- after pointing out the real definition - all the automatons mentioned by you as having that quality is blown out of the water.    With all your reference material - why not do an objective study and see the results of their play.  If you do not want to do just that - please give me the references and I will write it out in detail and let you see an unbiased portrayal of what we have lost out on over the past three years.     

Yes, you more than once that it was an aimless kick that led to a try. Even now you are incorrect, at no point was a try conceded by a maul and at no point was Du Preez culpable. The only two tries were from a chip and the other an attacking move off a lineout that was dotted down near the posts.

And as for most of our conceded tries coming from kick turnovers? Please state your case for this, very few tries scored against the Boks have come from stray kicks.

Now onto ball sense. I have not read what you have had to say anywhere about it, and quite frankly I am not interested either. Your arguments are at best whimsical. At no point do you ever provide any evidence and at no point do you ever cite real references. Your take on Jean is pure unabashed WP bias. Jean is a shoddy centre and the moment you realise that the better for you. Thank the heavens that his days will soon be behind us.
 

Aristoikrat

Just one final comment - IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT A TERM MEANS, DON'T USE IT   You have no clue what it means and iapply it to players with NO BALL SENSE.   I LOOK AT PLAYER VALUE - BEYOND BLUE BULL VALUE - GAME, SET AND MATCH

 Blue, Bresler is a great young prospect and plays it hard and gives it his all. Not sure why you think he looks small he looks big to me. I recall Bladen commenting on how big he had got since his school days.

He is not small - 1.98m and 115kg