There are a few injuries and a few disappointments in performance where replacements would be essential. There are two lists here - the real one and the lunatic one.
The real one
The real situation is that there are two cases - namely De Allende and Mapimpi = where the players were injured.
There are three options for replacement of De Allende, but one is to be ruled out - since the player involved is not back from injury break, Those are -
* Jan Serfontein - still not playing after lengthy injury lay-off:
* Handre Pollard - a real prospect with a bad defense record in all games played this year; and
* Andre Esterhuizen - with his own problems in making tackles and a crashballer with pace problems.
My own choice would be Esterhuizen.
Insofar as Mapimpi is concerned my first choice replacement would be Nkosi - but I do not know when he will be ready to play after his injury. After that comes Combrinck as a potential replacement. Skosan was tried out previously and his defense was a major problem.
I would pick Combrinck in this case as he is also a good option under high balls and a plyer with ball sense as well.
The only player that should be dropped from the squad is Louw - he is incompetent and slow - he has lost his ability to compete completely and is a definite over the hill player. There is an easy replacement for him - namely Marcell Coetzee. He should be drafted back into the squad asap. He can play in all three loosie position and would be a real option at 8 in the WC next year - especially if Vermeulen is not available or over-the-hill as well. He is a very hard worker with a very high work rate.
The Lunatic fringe one
The lunatic fringe are desperately trying to get rid of Malherbe, Du Toit, Kriel as well as De Allende ruled out with an injury. They produce false and mythical reports and make sweeping statements on player performance as well. Omne example is Louw - where vicious attacks on Du Toit and praising of Louw was a real situation up to the Aussie test. He was even praised for his performance on Saturday.
They are delighted by De Allende's injury and cannot hide their delight. They wanted him out desperately. Their favoured replacement used to be Esterhuizen - but it has switched to Pollard now. Wait for it though - nobody has yet mentioned Fat Fransie or De Jongh yet. One even started a thread with De Jongh in the headline and is that is a sign of their preference,
They do want Du Toit out - and in replacement wants Louw retained and will probably want another player like Alberts returning to the Springbok squad.
Then there is a the belly-flopping Malherbe - but there is no indication of their replacement choice. Probably Nyakane.
One can never be sure what the lunatic fringe really wants. They really are sometimes not agreeing in their battle against their pet hate players, but that is a rarity and one will have to see what they come up with next.
