After the weekend debacle Saffex set of a debate about selections - which is in fact meaningless since the final decision rests with Meyer. Meyer as a former loosie - is apparently not interested in the backline and he said nothing about their poor performance and lack of penetration - so the backline will probably be left unaltered after a dreadful performance. Meyer will retain all of them - that is for sure - because it is apparent from his remarks that he does not think the backline players represent a problem. The backline is not there for attack - they are there to defend - so to his mind the defnece was adequate.
However, if he was upset by the team performance and basically was unhappy with the back row - he would mess around with them and leave the rest as it is. He would persist with the high kick and charge strategy - and will say that the kicking problems will be attended to within his coaching framework.
Meyer's squad for the away matches would basically be marginally changed - probably for the worst - and would only represent the bringing in of Vermeulen - if Jane is still not available. Otherwidse he will insiist on the selection of Spies - a backward move if there was any. He will not drop Flippie - despite his 70 second penalty - that can also be coached out of him.
Meyers squad will look like the following:
Back Line :-
Kircjner, Lambie, Habana. Mvovo, Engelbrecht, De Villiers, Francois Steyn, Morne Steyn, Hougaard, Pienaar, Vermaak
Forwards
Vermeulen, Alberts, Coetzee, Daniel, Bekker, Etsebeth, Van der Merwe, Kruger, Beast, Du Plessis, Greyling, Cilliers, Strauss. Liebenberg, Burden
I think that the above squad is looking for disaster and that is what can be expected.
If I was the selector - I would make a completely different selection and start afresh with the view to improve all-round performances - not only amongst the back row of forwards.
My squad will be as follows:
Back Line :-
Lambie, Ludick. Habana, De Villiers, Jordaan.Engelbrecht. Goosen, Morne Steyn, Francois Steyn, Hougaard, Pienaar, Vermaak. Not necessarily my first choices, becaue of injuries. Of the above I would select the following backline: Lambie, Habana, Jordaan, De Villiers, Hougaard, Goosen and Pienaar in the starting line up and put the Steyns and Vermaak on the bench. That will give the Steyns a ckear enoigh indication that they are dispensable and must up their performances to remain in the squad
Forwards
Vermeulen, Alberts, Coetzee, Stander, Kankowski. Bekker, Etsebeth,, Beast, Du Plessis, Nel, Cilliers, Strauss. Liebenberg, Burden Alberts can be the back up lock forward - and I wouuld also seriously consider Elstadt if Kankowski is not available. He can also serve as back up lock forward.
The above would be the first step towards team building and that would be adjusted as younger players return from injury or show their potential
