Rassie's First Choice XV

The dust has hardly settled on the Rugby Championship and already we are turning our attention to the year-end internationals – writes Rugby365’s Jan de Koning.

While the Springboks are still stuck at No.5 in the world rankings – more than two rankings points behind fourth-placed England and almost 10 points behind first-placed New Zealand – they are indeed a lot closer to a top-three spot than it seems.

That will become evident when the Boks take on England, France, Scotland and Wales on consecutive Saturdays next month.

England (November 3) and Wales(November 24) are ranked just above the Boks at No.3 and No.4, while France(November 10) and Scotland (November 17) are both just below SA at No.6 and No.8.

However, the selection for these matches will carry far more significance than the rankings will.

It is the final opportunity for Bok coach Rassie Erasmus to get answers to the questions about his backup personnel.

His need to ‘build depth’ and give the backup players some much-needed game time will be the overriding factors.

After November there are only next year’s three Rugby Championship Tests and perhaps a couple of warm-up matches. Those will be used to get the first-choice team into shape.

Obviously, injuries will play a role in the final selection, but looking at Erasmus’ selections throughout 2018, his starting XV has an established look about it and will remain unchanged – unless injuries dictate otherwise.

It is when it comes to Erasmus’ backup selection that the picture is a lot murkier.

Jan de Koning takes a look at the selection options for November.

Fullback

First choice: Willie le Roux (Wasps, England)

One of the problematic positions. Le Roux won’t be available for all the matches on tour. For one, the opening match against England falls outside the international window. There is no clarity on whether Warrick Gelant has recovered from his shoulder injury.

Back-up options: Damian Willemse(Stormers/Western Province), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Curwin Bosch (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France – also not available for all the games), Frans Steyn (Montpellier)

Willie Le Roux included in Springboks squad. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Right Wing

First choice: Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)

The No.14 jersey has been blighted by injuries. Sibusiso Nkosi started against England in June, before an ankle injury to Nkosi opened the door for Mapimpi. When the latter was injured during the Rugby Championship in Australasia, Jessie Kriel started on the right wing against New Zealand in Wellington. Cheslin Kolbe started in the last two matches. Much will depend on the fitness tests of the various players in the next three weeks.

Back-up options: Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), Travis Ismaiel (Bulls), Lwazi Mvovo(Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France – also not available for all the games)

Outside Centre

First choice: Jesse Kriel (Bulls)

Even though Lukhanyo Am, before he fractured his arm on Bok duty in New Zealand, started in the No.13 jersey, Kriel has since established himself as the premier outside centre. Am’s lack of game time – if he recovers in time – will also give Kriel another run in the midfield.

Back-up options: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Lionel Mapoe (Lions), Ruhan Nel (Western Province), Frans Steyn (Montpellier)

Inside Centre

First choice: Damian de Allende(Stormers)

When he was first named by Erasmus, there were doubters abound. However, De Allende has begun to form a formidable midfield partnership with Kriel in the midfield. Some still feel Andre Esterhuizen deserves a chance and he may well get it on the year-end tour.

Back-up options: André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Frans Steyn (Montpellier), Damian Willemse (Stormers/Western Province), Rohan Janse van Rensburg(Sale Sharks)

Left Wing

First choice: Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions)

The options are plenty, but experience at international level is thin. Dyantyi has truly been one of the finds of the year – still raw, like an uncut diamond.

Back-up options: Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Courtnall Skosan (Lions), Dillyn Leyds(Western Province)

Flyhalf

First choice: Handré Pollard (Bulls)

Pollard had a rough patch midway through the year, but eventually settled down and started to live up to his potential. Not the finished product yet, but clearly settled and comfortable in the No.10 jersey.

Back-up options: Elton Jantjies (Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Robert du Preez (Sharks), Frans Steyn (Montpellier)

Scrumhalf

First choice: Francois de Klerk (SaleSharks, England)

After bursting onto the international stage in 2016, he was overlook the following year. Rassie Erasmus saw something very special and recalled him. Even more important, he found a way to utilise his unique talents. However, it is in the back-up column where the issue is – Ross Cronje’s season-ending in jury will mean there’s even less experience for the year-end tour.

Back-up options: Embrose Papier (Bulls), Ivan van Zyl (Bulls), Cameron Wright(Sharks)

No.8

First choice: Warren Whiteley (Lions)

One position where there is no shortage of quality or depth. Duane Vermeulen could just as easily be listed as a first choice. In both cases their leadership and experience make them invaluable assets. Whiteley’s big drawback is the constant injuries in recent seasons.

Back-up options: Duane Vermeulen (Kubota Spears, Japan), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), Dan du Preez (Sharks), Francois Louw (Bath, England)

Flank (No.7)

First choice: Pieter-Steph du Toit(Stormers)

Just in case there are still some who don’t know, No.7 is a blindside flank in South Africa. Du Toit fits the bill perfectly – he is fast, strong, has a high workrate and can also play at lock. In fact he played at lock most of his early career. The return to fitness of Jean-Luc du Preez is a major boost for the Boks and will offset the injury to Teboho Mohojé. Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi could always move across or he can look at England-based Nizaam Carr.

Back-up options: Jean-Luc du Preez(Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath, England), Nizaam Carr (Wasps)

Flank (No.6) 

First choice: Siya Kolisi (captain, Stormers)

As captain he is always the first name on the team sheet. After an iffy start in June, Kolisi has grown as both captain and player. There is plenty of openside back-up if Kolisi is required to move across to the blindside.

Back-up options: Marco van Staden(Bulls), Francois Louw (Bath, England), Albertus Smith (Lions & Yamaha Júbilo)

Lock (No.5)

First choice: Franco Mostert (Lions)

With his high workrate and sound set-piece skills he has overtaken all the other second row forwards and allowed the coach to re-deploy Du Toit to the back row. He can also play on the blindside flank, which give the coach additional options if there’s an injury crisis. And then next year Lodewyk de Jager will also return, to make this a very

Back-up options: Rudolph Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Botha (Sharks & Kubota Spears), John Schickerling (Stormers)

Lock (No.4)

First choice: Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)

After a slow start, while working his way back to full fitness from a lengthy injury lay-off, he has formed a formidable partnership with Mostert.

Back-up options: Marvin Orie (Lions), Jason Jenkins (Bulls & Verblitz), Chris van Zyl (Stormers)

Tighthead Prop

First choice: Frans Malherbe (Stormers)

Many have questioned why Malherbe starts ahead of Stormers teammate Wilco Louw, but the coach seems to have a plan – even though Malherbe seems to struggle to last the distance.

Back-up options: Wilco Louw (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

Hooker

First choice: Malcolm Marx (Lions)

There is no-one like him. A key player in the Bok set-up and vital to the cause when the coach wants more grunt.

Back-up options: Mbongeni Mbonambi (Stormers), Armand van der Merwe(Sharks), Mahlatse Ralepelle (Sharks), Schalk Brits (Western Province), Bismarck du Plessis (hooker, Montpellier)

Loosehead Prop

First choice: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)

He has slowly overtaken The Beast (Tendai Mtawarira) as the Boks’ starting No.1 this year. Not the finished product yet, but will be invaluable at the World Cup next year.

Back-up options: Tendai Mtawarira(Sharks), Retshegofaditswe Nche (Cheetahs), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Thomas du Toit(Sharks)

by RugbyPass

Wilco over Malherbe, wait until Mr Clever sees that. 

Some bold moves. Ox at 2 is certainly one of them. I haven't been keeping tabs in alot of the names. 

I like Jean-Luc at 7. I think he would be a great addition on tour. He has never started consecutive tests, which is disappointing. Has started at 8 once, 7 twice.

Lambie and Goosen? You've got to be kidding me? Goosen is injured again. I think Willemse has a bright future, not ready now. 

Lambie has done what the past couple of years? 

Lood is a tree trunk in a jersey. Moves like lurch. If we want to play a dynamic brand of rugby, we can't field players like this. 

Damian is a turnstile without skills. Passive and too mentally slow to follow the pace of a game. 

There are some options above who should never be options.   These include -

Frans Steyn    - no center (plumtree stated clearly - to slow as FB

Travis Ismaiel  -  very poor recently

Lwazi Mvovo  -   way past his sell-by date

Skosan and Leyds - both failed badly on test level.

Elton Janjies     -    failed in virtually ever test he played in

Frans Steyn      -    cannot make decisions and to slow

Mohoje and Carr - failed in tests, impossible selections

Francois Louw  - serial failures

Orie, Jenkins and Van Zyl - the man cannot be serious 

Vincent Koch - definitely not a test level player

Coenie Oosthuizen  - cannot play at loosehead due to injury

There are also  some missing players and those include -

Jan Serfontein - already back playing for Montpelllier at center

Augustus  - ten times better than the other options at 8 and 7

Lood de Jager - will return to play in October.

You included Frans twice. Plum tree's opinion of centres is interesting, he discarded Frans but returned to him after trialling many other options. Frans was better. Plumtree couldn't get anything out his backs for six years. Jake got so much out of Frans that he carried the team on his back throughout 2014. Even Gold got good production out of him. The video which was posted a month or so ago revealed a player who would walk into the current Bok team. I don't think we need to bring him in, but it wouldn't hurt. André and Serfontein have the skills to do a good job at 12. Damian must be discarded, and it would be more productive to play Frans than him. Of all our options at 12, Damian is the weakest.

Louw had two poor games. He ended the RC with a superb game at 8 against the All Blacks. He can clearly play to a high level at any position in the back row. At least as a bench option he has a lot of value. The kinds of open field tackles Louw missed during his bad spell was exactly what Damian has been doing since the England series. Why is one permissable and the other "a serial failure"? 

Jantjies has done more than Willemse with far fewer errors but you want to label him a write-off? There's something wrong with that. I'm not a Jantjies fan, but he is clearly second in line.

Lood is slow, has no skills, lacks endurance. He runs out of steam within 30 minutes of having to exert himself. Cannot handle pressure moments. This lock's game is a relic of 1950s rugby. We cannot play a modern brand of rugby with someone so limited. Snyman et al provided grunt and a more dynamic game.

As per normal your interpretation is BS,   The Sharks ended up with only 17 players being available to play 2013 and had to borrow players from other unions to over the shortfall.  Steyn was one of the beneficiaries of that problem.   He was BS then and worse in 2014 and 2015 when he was rated as the no 32 center playing in the SR series,   

Jake as per normal destroyed the backline play of the Sharks by using one of the worst centers/flyhalfs in 2014 as a key backline player,   He was so poor at coaching backline players that he was effectively fired by the Sharks.   I can see one thing though - when a player is piss poor like Steyn was in both 2014 and 2015 you give him the biggest write-up imaginable.  Have to agree with Dave in that your support of players is completely different from the findings of real rugby analysts. 

Your claims are normally so erratic and unproved that it is better to  realize that members are dealing with a fool and not a proper objective assessor.   You lied about the comparison as to tackles made and missed by De Allende and compared that with the comparatively low tackle count of Louw in all matches.  In any event De Allende played at center and Louw at no 8.   Comparisons of the nature are not made by any reasonable analyst ever.

As to De Jager - the player is the exact opposite from what you said he is.   You should stop being prejudiced and start looking at players objectively.     

Frans was better in 2014 and our best centre. He was at the very least behind Serfontein in 2015, who was arguably our form 12 of Super rugby that year. Frans outplayed ever player Plum tried at 12.

Frans was the Shark's best backline player throughout that campaign. He was their best 12, 13, 10 and even 15. He opened up the game for the rest of the backs. Lambie and Jordaan were the weak links, and they were where the backline stuttered after Lambie's return from injury.

Actually, my views are very consistent. They are also logical and can be verified by every form of evidence. A collection of stats from 2013 will reflect that Frans was the better of 12s. You yourself asserted this is irrefutable evidence, when defending Damian's stats for the England series. Erratic would be changing positions depending on what is most suitable to you at the time. You are thus erratic. 

I never compare the tackle rate of Damian and Louw. I have compared their defence, today, in similar game situations. One you described as the catalyst for defeat and the other outstanding defence and the backbone of everything good the Boks did. I highlighted your hypocrisy. You'll exonerate one player from doing something you deem bad, only to lambast another player from doing the very same thing. I am supposedly biased, yet I criticised Louw for the two misses.

So,you are telling me Lood is an athletic, quick, mobile player with great hands? Do clarify this. It'll prove useful in future conversations. 

What I find remarkable is how little Lügnerin brings to the table to defend himself. His first and most trusted weapon is the mud sling. That he can never actually defend his position, and that he continually fights against people who bring alot of video evidence to the debate, would suggest that he is almost always wrong. When desperate, hell look for someone else who is also wrong. The fact they are also wrong apparently makes him right. What a colourful character. 

What I find remarkable  that when it was proved that Steyn as  real reason for poor backline display  and even the stats quoted to support statements - the two worst prejudiced assessors made wild claims about him.  

Lets just look at some figures here -

Steyn made 2 line breaks and beat 8 defenders in the 2014  season

De Allende made 27 line breaks beating 73 defenders

Steyn lost 42  ball possessions - still a record unrivaled in Super Rugby

Steyn's defensive stats was worse than De Allende.

De Allende was the MOM in 9 of the 16 matches played - Steyn never was.

Steyn was rated no 32 as a center/flyhalf in 2014.  De Allende was rated as the number 1 center.

Mozart then came with a classic - Steyn's real value in the team cannot be based on his stats.   Sure his real value was BS - end of story,    

Steyn was shit in the game you referred to by Mozart - it was his pet hates Reinach (try) and Jordaan (a try assist)  that helped the Sharks to win.  The liar is always talking BS anyway - the Sharks played with 13 men for 10 minutes - because Jannie Du Plessis got carded.       

Talking about the so-called real 13 man game - Fat Fransie was the first Sharks player red-carded coping a five week ban in the process.  His production in that game was minus zero on all accounts.     

Steyn started off well in 2006 but by 2012 he became useless - unfit, fat and speed-deficient.  He was useless in 2012 and his three year  contract with SARU was terminated in 2015 because he was even worse in Super Rugby in 2015.

A pity - but this player lost all his abilities at a relatively young age.   The best record was a pipedream and the results were always poor.  The Sharks reached the final in 2012 - in 2014 they were walloped in the semi.

It really is amazing - Morne was dropped from the Springbok squad once in 2012 and twice in 2014 - but you two write him up as the best ever.   Why was he dropped?   Because he was piss-poor - almost as poor as Fat Fransie was playing Super Rugby for the three seasons for the Sharks.

Lastly - I rather believe Plumtree when it comes to rugby than you two prejudiced ignoramuses.                

I covered 9 of Damian's Super rugby games that year. He was nowhere near the best 12. He was dangerous in open space. The Stormers used numerous ploys to get Damian outside the edge of the defence where he could inflict the most damage. This is why I say he is a 13 masquerading as a 12. He needs space. Against the All Blacks he was looking for space. Which meant the Bok attack was too lateral. This was a common problem under for the Stormers. They were too lateral. Even Mallett picked up on this when he accused Damian of not straightening the attack.

Defenders beaten doesn't tell you where they are being beaten. In 2015, Damian was struggling to carry the ball up. So the Stormers were using forwards and de Jongh to punch it up more. There were numerous examples of Damian waiting in the tram lines for play to return for him to run it.

Frans can create space without beating a defender or even touching the ball. That long range strike against the Bulls where he sucke d three defenders in and allowed Mvovo to break around and work in tandem with Jordaan for a clean strike. Cite one example of Damian doing this. Cite one example of Damian creating space.

The information you post is part of what supports my argument for Damian as a 13 in the first place. To avoid defeating yourself in future, think about what those numbers mean, not how big or small they might be.

I'll return your rear end, would you like it on a golden or silver platter? 

Himmell

The dreams go on unabated!!!!!!!!!!

Himmell

The dreams go on unabated!!!!!!!!!!