Hard choices here and really some other players one could very well pick.Some injured players are possibly not ready. This team is based purely on merit and no other rubbish criteria.
But how about this squad:
Beast, Kitshoff, Coenie, Jannie
Bissie, Stauss,
Etzebeth, Du Toit, Flip, Willemse
Louw , Deon Fourie, Vermuelen, Alberts, Burger
Kockott, Du Preez, Reinach
Morne, Lambie
Jean, Jan, JJ, Allende
Habana. JP, Willie
Aplon, Steyn, M Boschoff
Beeno
Nice squad with serious deficiency problems. The line out problems will continue without a reliable third line out option. Steyn showed zilch thus far and neither did Burger - they should prove through performance that they are up to standard in next years Super 15 - reputation selection is an abomination in any event. Why take them along as passengers - it could cause serious embarrassment in team selection - like happened last year. SP Marais is better than Boshoff. Fourie is good - but a real penalty liability at the best of times and he has a comparatively low tackle ratio. Another habitual card candidate is Willemse.
And you still have to carry non-performers in that squad like Steyn and Alberts. The latter only performs about 10% of what is expected of a loosie. Why not include Malherbe s a loosie rather than Alberts - he would do a better job there than the clumsy and slow Alberts does .
Beeno
I have serious reservations about Burger and Francois Steyn. Burger came off the bench for two matches and in both cases showed nothing as a player. Matter of fact all that became clear is that he is not matchfit and should be evaluated to see whether he is selectable - which should be the case based on Super 15 next year. The same should be applied to Francois Steyn. Elsewhere you said that performance is the key to selection - yet here you deny it by going for Steyn and Burger. Both should only be considered after showing that they still belong during Super 15 next year.
I am not prejudiced ever and I do look at all aspects of play - the only notable thing Burger did in his last match was to miss a crucial tackle before the Lions scored a try - for the rest he did precious little since his return. Incidentally after I pointed out that missed tackle on the request of Mozart - he went quiet on the Burger issue.
I also do not buy your comment on Labuschagne - the rest period of one month between the semi and the first test is sufficient to give him ample time to recover from a very long season of playing continuously week after week.
Marais makes errors in poor playing conditions - because he involves himself more than Boshoff in actual play and his errors occurred in very poor playing conditions. He has had a long season of Super 15 play for the Kings where he really was a standout player. He also is a player in the mould of Willie le Roux - so he is much more dangerous player and together with le Roux will be awesome in attacking play.
Lastly - I have serious reservatrions about whether any of Morne Steyn, Alberts, Burger and Francois Steyn would be in the run for selection to the WC squad for 2015 and that raises the issue of whether they should go on tour now with only two further series to blood new players if necessary. If Burger and Steyn are to be candidates for 2015 - they would have an opportunity in Super 15 next year to prove that they belong - but Morne Seyn and Alberts have been promoted above their level of competence and should be discarded asap.
Cleancut
I only have minor problems with your squad and team selections - and those relate to the following:-
* Easy one - Du Preez nd Brussow are not available for the EOYT;
* Willemse has the bulk - but his main ambition in life seems to be to collect cards and penalties - must get his mind right before he becomes known as the second Flip van der Merwe;
* Kriel is good on CC lpevel - but I would like to see first how he progresses on Super 15 level - a jump up from CC to tests is huge and he must wait for a while in my opinion.
* Serfontein is still on a learning curve and to my mind not speedy enough at 13. I would rather play the stronger De Allende than Serfontein at this stage - although Saffex will have a fit because of that statement and because you are leaving out his favourite Engelbrecht completely.
I posted my side earlier and it is as follows:-
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. matter of fact I would not mind if Pienaar is replaced by Cockkott in the E OYT squad already.
Interesting moving Alberts to lock. I was also thinking about doing that. He has slowed a lot but remains a man with a lot of go forward. Whether he can compete for a starting spot remains to be seen. Would make an interesting bench player though. I like him.
Catrakilis is a must. Deserves his spot at year end. More so that Goosen. Would definitely replace Goosen with him.
JJ at wing is a much better option than at center. Still
wouldn’t make my squad though. Hate the bastard.
Only real issue I have of your is … Fat Fransie Steyn.
Beeno
You said repeatedly that the doctors said that Goosen should not play - where and when and on what grounds did the doctors say it. If it was on the grounds of his op in September recovery should be more than complete by the end of October - unless he did some damage starting so early. I have not read anything about it anywhere so further info will be appreciated.
As far as I know Du Preez is not available - so why should he be taken to monitor anybody. If Kockott and Pienaar need mentoring at this stage of their careers they should not be playing test rugby.
As far as Malherbe is concerned I took a chance on him based on his performance in his come back game - ideally he should have had more game time - but he is always a solid choice and I view him as the no 1 tight head for the future.
I think if JP becomes available I would play Le Roux at full back and use one of the other two on the bench. If anyone has the X Factor it is Marais.
I must state again - when looking at a potential squad I did take into account that there are only 3 series of tests before the next WC and that potential WC players should be in the present squad to determine their suitability and that the next two series can then be used to refine and give new players a reasonable chance to prove themselves and get reasonable test game time - also replacing them if they do not match up.. You cannot go to the WC with rookies in the squad. Do you really see players like Morne Steyn and Alberts as potential WC squad players for 2015? I frankly don't and that is the issue here.
Boklogic
One question - when last was Steyn performing as a best center - to get back to his best? Was it in 2008-09 by any chance? since then his best was not really top quality - now -was it?
Another question - when did Alberts win us a game - when he gets on the roll? I do not need to be reminded of the freak try at Twickenham last year - he was lucky to be in the right spot to score a try where he had only to dot down the ball. For the rest he lost us games and had a major share in the Ellis Park as well. On the roll he never is - his tackle count is ridiculously low for a loosie, he plays no roll in breakdown ball recovery, arrives at breakdown points after the props, is slow as a carthorse and clumsy as well. He never make tackles outside the fringe and his ball carries are pathetic. Statistically he is a very poor loosie. besides that in tests this year he missed a number of tackles where tries were the direct result of his miss tackls and his clumsiness. Two in the Samoa test and two in the Ellis Park test.
Good enough - definitely not we can do much better.
Beenkop, why on earth would you want to select Burger who looks half the player he used to be?
Flip and Willemse ahead of de Jager is laughable as is Morne ahead of Goosen
Worst selection is Boshoff ahead of SP Marais or Frans Steyn
Mozart
As per normal you have no positive and only negatives in your head. Y our running down of performing players and support of failed players is legendary and everytime you made a wrong assessment countered by statistics - you go quiet. By the way have you find that poor miss tackle of Burger - which you asked about and I told you when and where? Gone quiet on that one - therefore I suppose you found it.
The real joke is players had in his squad and who failed badly in tests. We can continue with players like Kirchner, Morne Steyn, Alberts, Steenkamp and Kruger - and failure over the next WC is virtually guaranteed - so enjoy while it lasts.
The joke is ultimately going to be on you - because I do not think Meyer has missed out on the failures. If he did he will be wrong and end up like he did and admit himself that he made selections errors. He is after all not perfect and only human.
