Springbok Team against Japan

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn

I am generally worried about including of three duds on the bench. as well as only two backline replacements. 

The three duds are in fact Louw, Mostert and Steyn,  The fact is that Mostert is in the squad as a loosie - he has been exposed badly as a lock - I think the decision about him was taken because the other serial flop Louw has a swollen knee and may not play.

I am particularly worried about Steyn.   If any backline player is injured or has to be replaced - what then?  The  Canadians ran through him as if he was not there - making only 4 of his 7 tackle attempts - and the pacier Japan backs will run circles around him.     

Dont worry that is a good Bok team... Marx off the bench is devastating... 

Maybe Frans / Mostert logic is that can cover a few positions.

I think team as Saffex put except Marx off bench for Bongo.

So Elton doesn't even make the bench?

One has to laugh.

What happens if we need an extra at the back? Is Steyn gonna cover every spot.

I guess Faf can play at 10 in an emergency.

Hopefully it doesn't get to that.

Elton hasn't done much wrong this year so it's shame to see him be snubbed like that. Ja, I know most you dislike so don't care.

Plum

I believe Erasmus studies the games of all players with a microscope and under Erasmus Jantjies was not a house on fire in tests - fact is he was very average.

I believe that Erasmus has never been really impressed by Jantjies and I think he was in the WC squad since at the time Willemse was injured.  

What I am surprised about is that Erasmus stick with Steyn in this game.  If  Erasmus was only on the bench for being able to play in various positions - eg flyhalf, center and full back - I would rather have gone for Willemse - who with his pace  can add wing to the positions mentioned.   The idea to have Pollard going off and having Steyn at either flyhalf or in any other position is too ghastly to contemplate.

I would have Jantjies ahead of Steyn anyway,   Both are poor in defense - but at least his passing and kicking game is better than anything ball-hogging Steyn can produce..           

Duplicate

Mike, one question.

Can you name me one player that you have changed your mind on?

EG I don't think he is good enough (time passes) I was wrong, this guy is good/world class?

Plum, Willie will probably move to 10 and Cheslin to 9 in emergencies...not ideal, but we can't afford tired forwards against the Japs.

Why would Kolbe move to 9 when we have bench cover at 9?

I guess you mean Kolbe to 15, right?

Jantjies is arguably the next best flyhalf in the country but reading between the lines he's never had Rassie's confidence hence the reason Steyn was brought into the squad. Rassie also spoke about Willie fulfilling the role. A bit of a gamble methinks seeing neither has been trialed in the role at world-class level.....n ot recently anyway.

And there is also the reasoning as   Pollard is not as good behind an advancing pack as Jantjies is.

Evidence of this can be seen in the numerous top tier games where Pollard has failed to unlock defences while our pack were making mincemeat of opposition forwards.

Converting that dominance into a ten or fifteen point lead will be crucial going forward.

ouMaaik, whenever you give a player the 'kiss of death', the poor fella's 'skoon verlore,' totally fckd, incapable of redeeming himself & never again able to play a decent game ...........please Joe, say it aint so.

Ou Maaikie,

“  I believe Erasmus studies the games of all players with a microscope “

“ What I am surprised about is that Erasmus stick with Steyn in this game.   “

Maybe Rassie has a stronger microscope than your nineteen voertsek Riversdale magnifying glass.

@Plum. 

I’m not sure what you mean by Pollard failing to “unlock defences....”. I trust you mean the opposition defences. If so, I’m not too sure that it really is mainly on his shoulders to do so. I think it is more the task of the centers. Not that the flyhalf has no role to play in the attack but the playmaking is more the job of the midfield and in particular the inside center. 

Ja, I had a brainfart with Kolbe at 9...he can cover 15. I would have left Janjies out and played another back on the bench, but Im fine with the team as is...It's actually the the starters Rassie went for this year.

@Cera

Not saying its entirely his responsibility. Rather, that he has a part to play when the team is advancing, and Jantjies gets more out of that advantage than Pollard does.

All our 9s are snappy and dangerous. Before the 12s and 13s get the ball it has to go through 10. Pollard has a good pass and gets over the advantage line.  Jantjies has an erratic capability that confuses opposition when they're under pressure from a dominant pack. We forget, he has the best track record in SA at doing just that against SR teams that are better than Japan by miles.

.  

To me it's pretty obvious Ploom. Eraser doesn't want to play the Jantjies game, particularly against Japan. He wants the Tractor to bash it up, and the forwards to strangle the Japanese pack.

He is so confident of his tactics, there are just two Plan A's.....no Plan B. Think about it......with Mostert able to slot in seamlessly for Dud, we can literally cover every player and every starting style, from the bench.

All made possible by the superb versatility of Frans on the bench. It's also nice to  see that Eraser has settled on the Beast vs the neutral Kitshoff.

Stick with moz!

Poor SS-S - he is totally lost as per normal.

Louw has a wacky swollen knee and that poor supposed lock is NOT going to replace Du Toit in the game.  

So if Louw cannot play he will bring in either another backline player or a real loosie.    The fact is that you do not understand rugby at all as is evident from the team you selected for the game. 

Unless the Springboks lead by more than 21 points Steyn will not be allowed to be on the field of play.   He is a huge defense liability,       .   

Guys, Guys, Guys Elton Jantjies is great on the bench but he is a problem the moment he takes to the field.

He never has been, is or will ever be a international class fly-half.

Period.

Congrads to Dave for being close with his team selection for this test.

Just trust that Erasmus has the players fit because they are going to be running chasing the Japs......cannot wait to see how Malherbe is going to keep up with the game.

No team would be complete without Steyn in the mix, pleased to see that Erasmus thinks the same.

Go Bokke.

AJH

Th better question would be - would  Steyn be able to keep up with the  game?  

Congratulations to Dave?  From what I can see, the team is exactly the same as the one I predicted Rassie would select. 

Agree - Dave generally knows his rugby.  

Agree - Dave generally knows his rugby.  

So lets get this straight,   Louw in all tests - even against the minnows - was totally useless this year, actually much worse than Kolisi was at his worst.     

Shark the only change in Eraser's thinking since the WC started is Lomp for Mostert....but truth to tell, I believe that also was part of the long term plan. Lomp is so  lazy he has to be put under selection pressure.