Malherbe getts called up

Ex Supersport

DHL Western Province prop Frans Malherbe has been called up to the Springbok squad currently preparing for their fourth test in The Castle Rugby Championship in New Zealand.

The 21-year-old Malherbe trained with the Springboks in June during the England series and effectively replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth in the squad.

“Frans’s call-up is purely precautionary as our two tighthead props on tour are struggling with injuries,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Neither Jannie (du Plessis) nor Pat (Cilliers) trained with us on Tuesday, but we’ve decided to give them as much time as needed to regain their fitness.

“Frans has been with us before and he knows our calls and moves. He’s still young and has a bright future ahead of him.”

Malherbe is due to arrive in Auckland on Wednesday evening (NZ time).

The Springbok squad to play New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday will be named on Wednesday

Personally I would have preferred the more mature WP Nel. Malherbe i sanother who is not quite ready. Will be of great interest thoughto see how he goes. As a player I find him too passive.

I indicated in another thread that Meyer may be forced to call for another prop - and it really materialized.   I did not expect it to be Malherbe - but he seems to be favoured by Meyer as a future Bok prop.

Beeno - yes he was very passive in the first half of the game against the Cheetahs last Saturday - have to agree with you there.

Mike agreeing with Beeno is always a wise path to choose!!

Worst of all it looks as if WP Nel could be lost to Bok rugby. Wonder if Meyer tried to call him up?

Beeno

You got caught by a bad sucker punch here.   In the first half of the game Malherbe was on the bench - so he was very passive.

Not really Mike i do not judge a player by one game.

Next

meyer showing some guts and picking more junior members. jannie and co have been at it since feb so they look very flat and need a rest more than anything else. its a good call but i reckon wp nel is a much better bet. if he gets capped at least he wont be able to play for scotland at international level. we need to stop this player drain. we cant really afford to lose these types of players

 Well clearly he was just called up for cover. He is not fearuting in the named team for Saturday. what does worry me about the named team is that we do not have a tighthead on the bench. I would much rather have a tighthead on the bench than a loosehead. Tightheads generally can go and play loosehead but mostly it does not work the other way round.

Malherebe should have been selected ahead of the useless Cilliers from the start. What the hell did Meyer see in Cilliers?

i liked cilliers and i liked how he was included, but he really didnt add anything of any value when he came on. IMO neither beast nor jannie have either though, and that goes for the last two years in all levels.

@clevermike,
please apologise to ben10 for sucker punching him in the jaw, LMAO, :D

 

This mosrning they claim that Jannie only has a 50% chance of playing. Would this mean that Malherbe will jump the Qeue and start if jannie is unfit to play. i think he is then the only tighthead in the squad fit to play...?