Meyer has to announce the team against the AB's by Wednesday and he has only four days to deal with the blatant inadequacies so clearly shown yesterday against the Aussies.
He has limited capacity availble in his present squad - but the following issues need urgent attention:-
The halfbacks
It is high time to realize that Morne Steyn and Ruan Pienaar is not the answer. Both has been clearly inadequate in tests this year and Morne himself has been shockingly poor in the RC tests thus far. Yesterday was the worst imaginable display by Morne and Steyn's service and general play indicates serious inadequacies.
It is high time that both are being replced and when the squad is announced for the home legs of the RC both should get one-way tickets to go to Europe toplay for their clubs. Morne in particular would not even make the starting line-up of his club. Yeterdays display is a clear indiction why he is benched by his club most of the time.
The only real options available to Meyer is to select either of the following:-
Flyhalf - Pollard/Lambie
Scrummie - Reinach/Hougaard
Wings
Cornal Hendricks looks dangerous in attacking play - but his defense is seriously compromised - this was shown a gainst the Pumas and again yesterday. Playing him against Savea or Ben Smith would be suicidal. I really have no answer to that one for Saturday - but we seriously needs an answer to that problem in the home legs of the RC. We need Pietersen back as a matter of urgency.
Lock combination
Etzeeth had a top game - but the problem is with Matfield. I have said it in the past - Matfield is physically inadequate. It was clear as daylight yesterday. His presence has had serious side-effects. He definitely does not contribute to strenghthening the Tight 5. One of our main strengths - the rolling maul - has vanished into thin air because Matfield cannot play a role in that. Part of yesterdays scrumming deficiencies can definitely be attributed to Matfield.
Matfield missed nearly 25% of all attempted tackles and those he made was inadequate and of poor quality. Too many players just pushed him out of the way.
The short term solution is to play De Jager on Saturday and bring in Willemnse into the squad for the home leg of the RC. Both Bakkies Botha and Matfield should not be anywhere near future squads.
Jannie du Plessis
The scrumming display of Jannie yesterday agaimnst the weak AUssie scrum - that disintegrated against the AB's a week ago - showed that he is not of any value to the scrumming of the Springboks anymoire. He should be replaced in the squad as a matter of urgency. I would suggest that he be benched for the game on Saturday and only be brought in if there are serious problems with the scrumming.
The center pairing
There is no real penetration or effective ball carries in the case of Sefontein and De Villiers. Defensively Serfontein was fine yesterday - but I have been noticing that De Villiers is not the player he was last year in Super 15 and tests.
De Villiers does not create any space anymoore - and for next week I suggest that they play De Allende at 12 and try out De Villiers at 13. The other option would be to play Serfontein at 12 and De Allende at 13.
De Villiers's performances must be put under the microscope - he definitely is a top captain and gentleman - but if he does not improve, his continuation in the team needs to be reonsidered.
