Seious questions about injured players

The Springboks have serious problems in certain positions on the field of play - often enough as back up players or starters where present occupants are indeed questionable. Can members please provide information on the present injury situation. We know that some players are out for the year - eg Arno Botha and Schalk Burger - but others may be back within the next two months. FULL BACK We really have a problem here - if Le Roux is injured or cannot play for any reason whatsoever - we only have Kirchner - the worst full back in Super 15 available. Although they are unproven on high level there are basically only three real alternatives left to be considered, namely - * Jaco Taute; * Francois Steyn ; and * Louis Ludick CENTERS Our present center situation is poor if we have take into account the following alternatives are taken into account:- * De Jongh - a player who buggered up badly in test situation - he fluffed a try scoring opportunity against the Wallabies in Pretoria and played a disappearing trick in the Murrayfield and Twickenham tests - plus his defence this year was putrid with the highest missed tackle count of any center in Super 15.. * Ebersohn - an unknown quantity on test level - but cannot be worse than the disgracefully poor De Jongh. Once looking past the above two - we are down to only De Allende (not utilized properly in Super 15 and the players who was promising in Super Rugby last year - but not playing thie year or being really problematic this year, namely - * Whitehead; and * Jordaan What is the injury status on the last two players? FLYHALVES We only have Steyn and Lambie available this year - as Jantjies was disgustingly poor in the Super 15 this year and not even remotely considerable on international level. Morne Steyn last year was seriously defective on test level - and he was equally unconvincing last Saturday. He Is leaving for France and we really need to have another option. The only alternative in reality is Goosen - what is the latest news on his injury? SCRUMHALVES Here there is a real problem since Pienaar did not do well for Ulster this year and was poor on Saturday. Vermaak and Hougaard this year was questionable and very poor alternatives. What is the injury situation as to the following players:- * Cobus Reinach; * Hougaard I do not think Vermaak would be available for the Championship and may be out for even the EOYT. NUMBER 8 Spies is poor and there are only a limited number of alternatives available. Botha is out for the year - and the question here is what the situation as to Vermeulen is. LOCKS With Bekker leaving for Japan and Kruger as per normal useless - we are in deeper trouble than we imagined before. What is the present situation as to Du Toit - when will he be back in circulation? .

The penny drops at last for ou maaaikie.

The palyers we are going to miss inlcude:

Malherbe, Bekker, Du Toit, Vermuelen, Burger, Elstadt, Arno Botha.

Vernaak, Reinach, Goosen, Frans, JP and Taute

MIke with Lambie, Goosen and Cat we are reasonably well covered although injuries can make  a mockery of anything.

Our lock resources without Bekker are not too bad if all are available. Etzebeth, Du Toit, De Jager and Flip. Jaque Du Plessis in time.

The bulle fullback is promising and Daniller could do a job for us - underated?

I really hope De Jongh doesnt resurface. He has done zip to merit selection. Centers are Jean. Jan, JJ and Allende. Robert maybe  - he punches above his weight and never shies away.

Number eights- Vermuelen, Alberts, Van der Walt, Engelbercht - maybe even Coetzee or Labbers?

We can only hope there are no more injuries and some players come back. Very litle news comes out in this regard. I heard Vermuelen will be back for the RC.

Beeno Most issues would be fine - but for Meyers's crazy selection ideas. He cannot consider Danillier - and will select Kirrchner come hell or high water. Then he has made a selection of a squad last year and stick like glue to that squad. If the players not perform - he does not drop them - he kept them on. Anyway isf he carries on the same way - we should have a decent coach by next year. If we lose on Saturday - or even win by a small margin - you would never hear the end of it - the public will react to his selections like they did repeatedly last year and boo them. Not that I support such a line of action - but Meyer is to blame for the poor showing against the Scots of all teams - a team weakened drastically by Lions selections and injuries - and a poor show against Samoa is not going to be well-received by the public.