Match 22 Against the Wallabies

 With the announcement of 30 man squad and the 4 new players----I predict these 22 match day players against Australia.

-

1. Beast

2. Strauss

3. Jannie Duplessis

4. Flip Van Dermerve

5. Eztbeth

6. Francois Louw

7. Alberts

8. Vermuelen

9. Pienaar

10. Goosen

11. Habana

12. Frans Steyn

13. Jean Devilliers

14. Francois Hougaard

15. Pat Lambie

--

Bench Players-

-CJ Van Der Linde(covers both loose and tighthead) or Coenie Oosthuizen (loosehead prop)

-Elton Jantjies (Morne will be dropped from match day 22)

- Juan de Jongh (center and utility back)

-Tiaan Liebenberg(hooker, specialist position)

- Andries Bekker (lock- cant last a whole game, good impact players as has speed).

-Zane Kirchner(reserver fullback)

- Coetzee(loose forward) experience in all 3 positions

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I expect Morne is being dropped from the match day 22, and this is why Jantjies is back in the squad.

 What are everyone elses predictions for the match day 22?

I made my comments on this issue elsewhere.   I think the squad is poor and problematic - since it caters for Kirchner (who should have been replaced by Aplon), Morne Steyn, De Jongh and Earl Jantjies (Earl because he is in most aspects of the game on par with Earl Rose).   That leaves you with very few options for benh selection if the really poor Morne Steyn and Kirchner is to be left out.

I differ from you as to the bench.    I believe that Alberts is too slow to be effective against the Wallabies and I would rather have Alberts on the bench - he is good against slow moving teams like the POMS and not really effective against more mobile teams like the Wallabies.   We cannot have two props on the bench - and in that case my selection would be Oosthuizen.   As such the starting up should be slightly different and cater for Coetzee (7) and Bekker (5) - with van der Merwe on the bench.   Burden is a much better hooker than Liebenberg and much more mobile - he should be on the bench ahead of Liebenberg - especailly against the Wallabies.   Van der Linde is past tense period.

 @Mike- this is a prediction of what I think of what would be choosen by Meyer, not my own first choice. 

I would also have Aplon on the bench and Side Show bob Kirchner back in the curry cup. For a few extra kg, Meyer will rather stick to a player with no positional play on defence, or else affirmative blue players in the squad.

I have ammeded the bench to include loose forward cover- forgot about that! 

Oosthuizen is being touted as potentially becoming a tight head, so perhaps he could cover both loose head  and tighthead leaving out CJ. If Meyer chooses CJ I guess it because of his experience covering both prop positions, and that Coenie is just back from injury/ As for general play Oosthuizen is miles better. I was very impressed with his debut, in both scrums and loose play. He reminds me alof of Os Du Raant at the start of his career.

I think Alberts could be effective if we dominate possesion, but am allmost certain that Meyer will start with him.

If we are chasing a game, and Alberts is not keeping up then I would drop him like a hot patatoe and bring on Cotzee.

I would probably start with Bekker as well just because he has played so many good test for the boks compared to Flip. Although I think that Meyer will start with Flip VDM because he played well in his last game.  Eztbeth seems certain to start. 

Dejong I am not sure about. He started his career well combining with Jaque Fourie, but has waned away to being more of the flank style of center- crash ball.

I would not choose Tiaan Liedenberg in the 30 man squad. Both Burden, and the Stormers other hooker are much better. 

Elton Jantjies - Much better than Morne Steyn. Better kicker and I think better passer. Although if their was an injury to Goosen I would rather move Lambie to 10, and bring Aplon on at fullback.

Although I doubt this is what Meyer would do. 

As a whole I am more happier with the squad that the previous ones selected, but I am more interested in the match day 22. 

Ideally Morne and Kirchner are dropped. 

Sharkbok

I am prepared to lay a bet that Meyer would keep Steyn and Kirchner in the starting line - up with Lambie and Goosen on the bench - giving them more playing tiime.   Metyer is very obstinate about those two players and will see nothing wrong with them.   However, there is  faint chance of say 10% that he may start with Goosen and Lambie and put the other two on the bench.    In that case the third bench player is likely to be Taute to cover the center and wing positions.

I am sure the Wallabies only option is to run our team off the park - they woiuld endeavour it in any event.   That is where I believe it would be advisable rather to select speedier players - hence my preference for speedier players - amongst the forwards preferably Coetzee and Bekker - rather than Alberts and Van der Merwe.   

However - ultimmately Meyer will have the final say and whatsoever that say is - he will be criticized by some and supported by others.   Only hope the supporters will be in the majority - and will be very vocal if he insists on his two pet players Kirchner and Morne being kept in the team and even on the bench.

 I don't think Meyer will change much of his team or even if he will change it at all. He will stick wih Morne and Kirchner and May even stick with Kruger and Flip. We are going to have the same rubbish, but we may get away at home and scrape past the wobblies. 

Meyer needs to be bold and stop looking through blue tinted glasses and make the real hard decisions. 

My 22 would be:

15. Lambie 14. Habana 13. Taute 12. Frans 11. JJ.Engelbrecht 10. Goosen 9. Hougaard 1. Beast 2. Strauss 3. Jannie 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Brussouw 7. Coetzee 8. Vermeulen 16. Pienaar 17. Jantjies 18. Jordaan 19. Coenie 20. Fourie 21. Flip 22. CJ Stander

Saffex

We are talking here about the selection from the squad that has been chosen for the tests against the All Blacks and Wallabies and you included palyers not in the squad.  Enegelbrecht, Jordaan,  Brussow, Fourie and Stander are not in the squad - so they cannot be in the team.

Incidentally on CC level both Engelbrecht and Brussow have had atrocious games over the past three weeks whilst Jordaan,  Fourie and Stander were very good.   Janthies blew hot and cold - mostly cold bar for his kicking at goal.

The issue of Hougaard at scrummie is a failed experiment that will not be repeated - even Meyer realizes that.   When Pietersen comes back - Hougaard will go on the bench - the scrummie option is out.

I read on several sites that Goosen spent a lot of time training with the squad at flyhalf. Perhaps Meyer is finally willing to make a change.

I just hope they did more than just replace 1 player. I don't expect a new gameplan out of the blue, but the inclusion of Goosen will bring up a series of different circumstances -- hopefully the Boks will react well to them and capitalise more effectively.

Spot on starting selection Sharkbok given Meyer's squad. Reserves would be Coenie, Liebenberg,  Bekker, Coetzee, Taute, Kirchner and De Jongh. I am assuming Coenie could ata shove still play loosehead. I would lik eto know the medical outcome of that kneck injury.

Snapster's selection:

15. Lambie 14. Habana 13. Taute 12. Frans 11. JJ.Engelbrecht 10. Goosen 9. Hougaard 1. Beast 2. Strauss 3. Jannie 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Brussouw 7. Coetzee 8. Vermeulen 16. Pienaar 17. Jantjies 18. Jordaan 19. Coenie 20. Fourie 21. Flip 22. CJ Stander

Taute should be on the bench and definitely not before Jean right now.I think in any event we may need Taute at 15 in furture years. Locks - get in your two most physical locks - Etzebeth and Flip. Brussouw - hahahahahahahahahha pleeeeeease!  I am afraid Deon Fourie must NOT be considered as a test hooker as his scruming is not good enough. Liebenberg is the guy you want currently in Bissie's absence. I would even consider starting with Liebenberg.

Cruz

There was a newspaper report on Monday that Goosen had a bruised heel - but never a further mention of it since.    The real problem case was FRancois Steyn's ankle problem.  Latest news was that it was X-rayed abd that he responded well to treatment..  CChances are that there was no rwal danmage to the ankle and that he will be available on Saturday.

The team is to be announced today at 12:30 - so we will know soon enough what is going to happen.   Hope you are right about Goosen.