+Team for second test

Let me in my humble opinion give the team that should play against the POMS in the second test:

15     Lambie

14     Engelbrecht

13     De Villiers

12     F Steyn

11     Habana

10     M Steyn

  9     Pienaar

  8     Spies

   7    Alberts

   6    Coetzee

   5    Kruger

   4    Etzebeth

   3    J du Plessis

   2    B du Plessis

   1    The Beast

Bench  :   Aplon, Hougaard, Pietersen,  Van der Merwe, Daniel, Strauss and ??????

Let me explain for the beenfit of the uninformed why I made the above selections.    Lambie is an automatic choice at full back.    Engelbrecht has the extra speed not noticeable in the case of Pietersen,   Hougaard is not acceptable after his game in the first test and I think Meyer probably read him the riot act.

Not sure whether Oosthuizen is available.   if he is he could start in which event Jannie du Plessis would be on the bench - whilst if he is not then I would go with Malherbe on the bench.

Some of the above players are really lucky that there are still injuries around.   If Vermeulen was available I would have brought him in at 8 and the other loosies would be Alberts, Coetzee and Burger (one of whom on the bench).   The same applies if Goosen was available - that could cause him to start.

My team would be:

15. Lambie 14. JP 13. Jean 12. Frans 11. Habana 10. Jantjies 9. Hougaard 1. Beast 2. Bismark 3. Jannie 4. Flip 5. Etzebeth 6. Coetzee 7. Alberts 8. Spies

16. Pienaar 17. Morne 18. JJ.Engelbrecht 19. Coenie 20. Strauss 21. J.Kruger 22. Daniel

Saffex Basically not much difference - as far as I know Oosthuizen is injured - so he may not be available.

You will never get me to agree that Pietersen is a good selection.   He was rather average in the first test - due to the fact that he is too slow to get to the breakdown point after a kick and is not at all affective in tackling - even if he got there.   I still think he is far too slow to be an international wing under present playing conditions.   I will not be suprised if he is not dropped altogether from the starting line up and the bench - but lets wait and see what Meyer decides upon.

You know I do not really rate Morne Steyn as a flyhalf - but Jantjies at this stage is a no-no.   He has to develop a lot more in a better team environment before he could remotely be regarded as an option in future.    He will have to compete ultimytely with Goosen and Lambie - and further down the line also with Pollard.    However, there is a vast difference of opinion on him on this Board as well as amongst the public.   If we win the second test there is a possibility that Meyer may try him out as a flyhalf - depending on Morne Steyn's performance, but  definitely not in the second test.

I have a problem with Hougaard as well - his early replacement in the first test indicates that he was not doing what Meyer expected of him - so I think Pienaar will be in the starting line-up with Hougaard on the bench.      

Same  team as last week. However playing Flip ahead of Juandre would be an option. Only doubt is whether Etzebeth has much left in the tank.

 Please will someone give Jantjies a Springbok jersey/Blazer and send him back to JHB....finish and klaar.

This guy is no SPRINGBOK and you Vallies know that.

Hougaard needs to be on the wing where he orginally played, hes got more acceleration than JP. Pienaar was better when he came on, he is a better tactical kicker he needs to be at 9.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iHbK8cSHsA