Springbok Squad Assessment

Willem Alberts: No problems with this selection.

Bjorn Basson: Part of a very successful gameplan at the Bulls with Morne. Will be used better Meyer than under Peter, of that I have no doubt. Second top try scorer in the competition.

Marcell Coetzee

Keegan Daniel: Been one of the better Sharks players all season.

Jean de Villiers: Has been okay for the Stormers but heavily exposed at times. More recently the Cheetahs humiliated him. I hope this is a short term selection.

Bismarck du Plessis: A high penalty count continues a long standing bad disciplinary record. Very poor in contact this year with a hefty turnover rate, has had little to no effect on the ground and been heavily exposed on defence. His lineout throws have been so-so at the best of times. Definitely a player riding on a reputation built up by anti-Smit campaigners, how much longer will this farce continue? This should be his last year for the Boks.

Jannie du Plessis: Our only tighthead, he was very good last year, but has been struggling for form throughout the Super XV.

JJ Engelbrecht: A big gamble.

Eben Etzebeth: The natural successor to Bakkies.

Bryan Habana

Francois Hougaard: World Class, best 9 in the competition by far.

Elton Jantjies: A political selection, nothing more. Mere window dressing.

Ryan Kankowski: This has to be a very strange call. Kantklownski has a dire test record and been utterly nowhere for several seasons now for the Sharks.

Zane Kirchner: The best attacking fullback in South Africa. Ranks very high for try assists and has been a key member of the Bull's backline. Better than Joe? Not so. Worthy of a squad place though.

Juandré Kruger: should oust out Bekker and establish himself as a regular this season.

Werner Kruger:

Patrick Lambie: Has been woeful all year. A nervy player prone to cowardice. Hard to see what value he brings.

Tendai Mtawarira: BEASTTTT!

Lwazi Mvovo: Lazy touchline hugger with no heart. May as well put him on train tracks along the touchline.

Wynand Olivier: Acquited himself well at 13, a good return to form for him.

Coenie Oosthuizen: Not the best scrummager but his general play has been exceptional.

Ruan Pienaar: Hard to fault him, has been in exceptional form up North.

JP Pietersen: Our best 14, but how will playing at 13 have affected him? We all know how positional switches disrupt players.

Jacques Potgieter: Another solid campaigner. Should thrive under Meyer's watchful eye.

Chiliboy Ralepelle: Has been the standout hooker in South Africa. No media hype, just a solid player doing his job to the highest standard and doing it consistently well. He is finally living up to that early promise. It will be interesting to see what role he plays.

Pierre Spies: The best of a patchy generation of 8s.

Frans Steyn: The most complete 12 in the game.

Morné Steyn: An exceptional talent that isn't always appreciated. His defence has been called into question despite continually proving himself. Though it is true that we no longer possess dominant defensive 10s, Butch is the last of that ilk, though he is not quite as accurate as in his prime. Morne has a deft pass and a good sense for summing up the game and each situation. With the best 12 outside him the backline will achieve a much greater level of potency.

Adriaan Strauss: A good leader and consistent performer. Just behind Chiliboy., only just. 

Flip van der Merwe: Some say he has a lot to prove, I do tend to agree that he is not hitting the level that he set when he first came onto the scene. Under Meyer though, that may change.

Franco van der Merwe

Jano Vermaak: In each and every way he is inferior to Du Preez.

Suprise Omissions

Heinrich Brussow: What does he have to do to win a call up? This one selection gaff to come back to hurt Brussow. He has been in exceptional form this year, and though Kolisi has done well for the Stormers, he is still a distant second to Brussow. A massive loss to the Boks.

Joe Pietersen: By far he is the most complete fullback in South Africa. The perfect kind of player for test rugby. This could also be one to come back to haunt Meyer. If he does select Lambie at 15, we field a significantly inferior player with a diabolical temperament. Joe is a calm and authoritative presence with a good tactical boot; something the Boks have been badly in need of since 2007.

Du Preez: Still one of the greatest players in the game. Vermaak will need to pull the performance of his life to justify selection over Du Preez. Hougaard has been prone to faltering in tight tactical games. Having Du Preez at least on the bench would be a very good insurance policy.

Juan de Jongh: He has so much potential it beggars belief why he is not here. It appears we will have Frans, finally after such a long period of bumbling around by Peter, now we will be in search of that special 13.