Springbok squad analysis

I have read many a moan and groan regarding the squad HM has put together. Some valid points but also some unrealistic notions where alternatives havent been presented for the complaints. Firstly, i have no idea how they decided on 36 players. A squad composition must make sense. Either 30 players, 17 forwards (extra prop and hooker, only 5 loosies) 13 back (only 5 outside backs), or 34 players (additional loosie, 9, 10 and outside back), or 37 (current set up with an extra lock). We have an issue at lock and therefore adding another player to give him exposure would make a lot of sense. Whoever comes in if we have an injury at for is going to unrealistically adapt very quickly. Lets take it from the front: Props (5 irrespective of squad size): 2 looseheads, 2 tightheads, 1 bothsides. Injuries to Malherbe and Kitshoff certainly didnt help the coach but it is still disappointing to see Guthro selected. It seems that Coenie is now officially a tighthead and that Marcel vd Merwe is heading in the same direction (which is a shame, with Malherbe back he will be 4th in line), evidence for this is that he has been rotated with Kruger at the Bulls. Both can fill the spot which requires flexibility. My tighthead pecking order is Malherbe Coenie Jannie, so I am happy with the selections given Malherbe is out, bubbling under Adriaanse (hasnt featured this year) and Redelinghuys. Loosehead pecking order is Beast Marcel (we need him this side) Kitshoff, I am happy with Beast and Marcel to cover the both sides position, with Kitshoff out I would rather see exposure given to bubbling under Nyakane (hasnt featured this year) or Dreyer than Guthro again (not forward looking enough). Hookers (3 irrespective of squad size): Bismarck and Strauss are clear choices but suspension has put us in a tough spot. Next in line Scarra is injured. Logically Visagie is next as he is bubbling under, some pundits do question his form this season though, but as a 4th choice I am happy with him. HM had no other option but to get his 3rd hooker from overseas. Lets hope when the Vanilla Gorilla's suspension is over that it is Visagie and not Brits who is kept in the squad as it will be good for his development. Locks (4 in 30-man, 4 in 34-man, 5 in 37-man): As much as it pains me to say but Matfield has proved me wrong at 5 this season. The other 3 locks in the group are more traditional 4 locks, even more of a reason to include another 5 lock in the group to learn from Matfield. The composition should be 2 4s, 2 5s and another who can cover flank. Front lock pecking order, Eben Flip Lood. Happy with the selections since Eben is still out. Pecking order at 5, PSDT (covers 4 and 7 to) Matfield Lewies, so i would have Lewies there. Lock/Flank pecking order, J Dup Rhodes Elstadt (hasnt featured this year). So i would have J Dup there as well and there wouldnt be space for Bakkies. In a smaller squad it would be a toss up to let Lood, Lewies, J Dup go. I would probably leave Lood out in those circumstances. Backrow (5 in 30-man, 6 in 34-man, 7 in 37-man): Given a 37 squad the composition should be 2 8s (HM has missed a trick if Duane gets injured) 1 fetcher 1 ball carrier and 3 all rounders. Pecking order at 8 Duane/Arno Whiteley, with Arno out i would have Whiteley in. Fetcher pecking order Brussow Fourie/Minnie. Ball carrier pecking order Alberts Oupa. Allrounder pecking order Louw/Burger Coetzee, Carr bubbling under then Kolisi/Lappies (both havent featured this year). If you cut the squad to 34 then I would have 3 allrounder/fetcher types and therefore leave out Brussow. Cut the squad to 30 and I would let Whiteley go. At this size of squad lever the lock/flank provides extra cover. Scrummie (2 in 30-man, 3 in 34/37-man squads): Fourie still commands a spot. 2nd/3rd spot either Reinach/Hougie. No need to venture overseas except if we want to cap Kockott. Sarel/Groom bubbling under. Flyhalf (2 in 30-man, 3 in 34/37-man squad): My pecking order is Lambie Goosen Boshoff. Pollard bubbling under. With Lambie out and Pollard at JWC, HM would have to go overseas to fill a spot in the wider squad. The only scenario in which Morne is allowed. Centre (4 in 30/34-man 5 in 37-man squad): Obviously the 5th man needs to cover both positions. Pecking order at 12 Jdv De Allende/Serfontein Frans. I would have those 4 as the centres in the squad (Jdv De Allende to play 13), the 5th centre I would add De Jongh. We have no standouts at 13. To me De Jongh is just the best of an average bunch which includes JJ Jordaan Sithole Sadie Mapoe. Given injuries it is simply okay that Sithole and JJ are in the squad. If the squad gets smaller I would dump JJ. Outside backs (5 in 30-man 6 in 34/37-man squad): 2 15s 4 wings. If squad is smaller i would let a 15 go given Boshoff and Frans can cover. Pecking order at 15, Willie Marais/Taute. No need for Zane. Wing pecking order, Habana/JP Hendricks and then any of Basson/Mvovo/Mapoe/Rhule given Aplon is injured

 Nice summary of the situation, Xtra. Of course one would disagree here and there but the core of it explains the situation that HM is in and how he arrived at his squad. What is strange is the fact that none of the HM Haters Society has bothered to take you up on this.

Interantional class players:
Kyle Cooper is a very good hooker. Scurra is a 100 kg hooker and will never cut it
Hookers if all are fit - Bissie, Strauss, Liebenberg, Cooper and Visagie. So meyer in the circumstances should have chosen Bissie, Cooper and Visagie. Cooper was a must. I could accept. Bissie, Cooper and Britz. Visagie favoured over Cooper.
Props. Coenie isa great concern re his scrumming. Nyankane could make a decent tighthead? His build is right for it. Beast, Kitshoff, Coenie, Jannie, Malhebe and Marcell.If all locks fit we have a rich abundance: Flip, Lood, Bekker, Etzebeth, Du Toit, Alberts and Willemse are all international class. No need to play a backline wannabee of 106 kg as a lock!!!!!!!! Guys like Du Toit, Elstadt, Rhodes and Jaque Duplessis can plat lock and 7It an embarassment of riches.Number 8s - Duanne, Van der walt and Whitely are our three standouts with Arno to come back later.Fetchers Fourie number one, Francois Louw and then Brussouw. Carr needs to a bit of fetching and he could be in the equation.Minnie isa good palyer and Kriel nice and quick.Number 7 - Burger, Jaque Du Plessis, Labbers, Deysel and Britz.Loosies - an embarassment of riches.scrummies: Reinach. Kockett, Faf, Hougaard with Du Preez as a mentor. Flyhalves. Lambie, Boschoff, Pollard, Frans, Goosen with Morne as mentor.
Wings, Habana, Allende, JP, Willie, JJ, Hendricks, Mvovo. Mapoe is not fast enough for center!
Centers: Jean, Jan, Allende, Sadie, Jordaan and Sithole. IS young talent coming through.Fullbacks, Willie, Taute and SP Marais
The greatest vunerability is at center and fullback. For the rest we are very well catered for and barring injuires could pick a match 23 that is unbeatable. The other important qualification is that the guys have not been played into the ground.
Re the backs. Stop turning big fast backs into loosies/hookers oaks it the a very stupid thing to do.

 

 Who is Liebenberg.....?

I didnt mean to post this as an attack to either HM haters or admirers. I tried to put a balanced view on the selection situation from my perspective. But for a hope of some rugby debate rather than okes just getting personal... 

He is the third best hooker in the country windpomp. He has been injured and unfortunately is getting on. To me he is right up there with Bissie and Strauss. Very aggressive mobile and a goer. Big, bruising, fast hooker. 
The Mighty Stormers missed him immensely. With him at hooker. and with the likes of Kitshoff, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Duane and Burger in the pack our scrum would be untouchable.Coetzee has to find a replacement for him.Scurra is good outside the scrum but very small. I doubt he is the 100 kg claimed. More like 95kg. 
I am relying on Smal to sort things out as Allistair really has little clue. I see Wakefield was praising Smal's contribution to the turn around.
Pleasw dont act dumb windpomp it all comes so naturally to you!

Beeno I assume those are pecking orders. The first interesting thing to me would be if Scarra and Liebenberg are both fit who starts at WP/Stormers. HM obviously rates Scarra. With Visagie developing he might move up the order as he seems to be a more complete player. Personally I dont think Cooper is anything special and he hasnt proven me wrong yet. 5th or 6th best at best, I would rather have an experienced overseas player (Brits/Chiliboy) than him to be honest. I think HM got it right on the Visagie vs Cooper debate 

I didnt write this as an attack on HM haters or admirers. I just tried to give a balanced view from my perspective. But for the hope of some rugby debate... 

Beeno I assume those are pecking orders. HM rates Scarra but it is hard to say in what order he sees the players beyond the top 2. They havent all been available at the same time. I think he got it right with Visagie vs Cooper. To me Visagie looks like the more complete player and Cooper has never consistently impressed me. Rather than Cooper who is 5/6th best imo I would have Brits/Chiliboy from overseas. If Scarra can lift Liebenberg from the starting lineup at the WP/Stormers when both are fit then he may have proved his quality and place in the pecking order. 

 

 I do not rate Liebenberg. Never has. He also always seem to be injured. I'm afraid, his days of fighting for a place in the Bok side are gone. I would even put Craig Burden ahead of him.

I assume those are pecking orders Beeno. HM rates Scarra. I will be convinced if he can lift Liebenberg from the WP line up when both are fit. I think het got it right with Visagie vs Cooper. Visagie to me is a more complete player and Cooper hasnt consistently impressed me. I would rather have Brits/Chiliboy than Cooper who is about 6th best 

 No my selections were not necessairly in pecking order. I was just making the point that with everyone fit there is oodles of talent in most positions.