My friend Saffex is back and Meyer is selecting his squad this week

Now we can get away from the geriatrics so beloved by Mozart and start looking at a Springbok squad for the EOYT:-

Full backs  :   SP Marais, Marnitz Boshoff

Wings       :   Brian Habana, JP Pietersen, Willie le Roux

Centers     :   Jean de Villiers, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Damian de Allende

Flyhalfs     :   Patrick Lambie, Johan Goosen

Scrummies :  Ruan Pienaar, Cobus Reinach, Louis Schreuder

Loosies      :   Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Lappies Labuschagne, Siya Kolisi

Locks         :  Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Flip van der Merwe, Lood de Jager

Props         :   Tendai Mtawarire, Stephen Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Jannie du Plessis,

Hookers     :   Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Deon Fourie

I left out Francois Steyn - not matchfit and will have to see how he develops next Super 15, Taute - out with injury - but a possible full back next year, Arno Botha - definite loosie next year and Schalk Burger - possible next year with due regard to Super 15 performance.

Players to be phased out next year are Ruan Pienaar, Flip van der Merwe and Jannie du Plessis.  

Please just not anymore of Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Willem Alberts, Juandre Kruger and Gurthro Steenkamp.  If they are still in the squad I am going to flip a lid - Meyer would in my opinion have made a massive mistake in that case.  

 Not a bad squad mike, however I would find place for Aplon at fullback. Also Ruan Pienaar should never come close to a Bok jersey again, rather give me Van Zyl, Vermaak

Mine would be

15) Aplon , Le Roux

14) JP (if avail) / Gerhard Vd Heever

13) JJ , Serfontein, De Jongh

12) Jean , De Allende

11) Habana , Basson

10) Lambie , Catrakilis, Goosen

9) Kockott , Fourie (if avail) , Vermaak

8) Vermeulen , Deysel

7) Louw, Alberts

6) Deon Fourie, Lappies

5) Pieter Steph , Lood

4) Etzebeth , Flip, Bakkies

3) Jannie , Coenie

2) Bismarck, Strauss

1) Beast , Nyakane, JC Janse

Also not sure if the overseas based players are available? I actual forgot about SP Marais and Marnitz Boshoff

 Bok-beF$k

I was trying to put myself in Meyer's line of thinking and also thought that the number of foreign-based players are going to be limited by SARU.   Remember Meyer is a creature of habit and he tends to stick with players he had in his previous squads.   The issue here is that Meyer is also unlikely to return to players he periously used and was not really impressed with (like Aplon and Njakane).

In selecting the above squad I also looked at the limitations on foreign players.   My worry is that Meyer would end up with selecting players like De Jongh - really totally under-par in Super 15 and in the CC.   I also think that he would look for alternatives to De Villiers - or better still to both centers and that he would like De Villiers' playing load making lighter.   That being the case - I thought De Allende is a must.

Fourie Du Preez is not available - and both Vermaak and Kockott are foreign-based and on that basis cut out of contention.   He may use Pienaar - already a squad member - and as back-ups use Schreuder and Reinach - who were called up for Meyer's training camps.

My  other problem is that you really have too many foreign-based players in your squad - which would not be acceptable to SARU unless Meyer can convince them he has no alternatives locally.

I also think that some players are going to be phased out - because  of the 2015 WC and the few opportunities available before 2015 WC - you cannot introduce newbies into the WC squad and they have to have experience before that happens.  I include players like Alberts and Jannie in that category.   Also think that Coenie at loose head will be a better proposition than at tight head.

And then there is the BEE requirement - four players of colour in the match day squad - therefore Habana, Pietersen, Beast and Kolisi would be a must.   The latter is a less - damaging proposition than the others - all a bad lot.   In any event - I picked 29 players only and the squad consists of 32 players - so add De Jongh, Njakane and one more Black player (maybe a lock) to make up the 32. .    

CleanCut

As I said Meyer is a creature of habit and bad habits die hard.   Personally I think there is not a snowballs hope in hell that Steyn would prove to be suitable for future selection - but Meyer may keep bearing him in mind.   If he can prove something positive - like he failed to do on Saturday - then there is a small chance for his selection.

Incidentally - Mozart would preach false gospel, all aimed at trying to get rid of Engelbrecht - and Saffex is addicted to Francois Steyn.   Straight choice between Steyn and Engelbrecht and I choose Engelbrecht, at least Engelbrecht knows how to run - Steyn only knows how to amble along slowly.

My main problem is Steyn would completely destroy any semblance of attacking backline play - he is just not up to standard from that perspective - too slow in running and thinking  by the proverbial mile.  

My squad would be:

15. Willie / SP Marais

14/11. Habana / Rhule / JP

13/12. Jean / JJ / Serfontein / de Allende / Frans Steyn

10. Goosen / Lambie / Jantjies

9. v/Zyl / Reinach / Kockott

1/3. Beast / Jannie / Coenie / Kitshoff / Malherbe / Nkanyane

2. Bismark / Strauss / Chiliboy

4/5. Etzebeth / Steph du Toit / de Jager / Willemse

6/7/8. Vermeulen / Kolisi / Brussouw / Coetzee / CJ Stander / Labascagne / Elstadt 

 Saffex

Still going with Jantjies and Francois Steyn.   The latter is far from ready to go on tour - he is half-cooked at this stage and is unlikely to feature in the starting line-up of the Sharks this weekend.   He will need to make a real impression in Super 15 next year before he can be a reasonable selection.  

Jantjies has again proved that he is just not up top standard - even on CC level.  Sorry - but he looked promising when he was Under 20 - but the promise never came to fruition afterwards - he just did not show any further development.

Van Zyl did not look good in his recent matches and I think Schreuder is in fact a player with better instincts and better performance at this stage. 

Don't think Brussow is available for the tour. 

Frans walks my side, he is injury free.

Jantjies always walks my squad as my third choice 10

I like Schreuder, but I prefer v/Zyl