Team that could emerge for Wales

Willie

JP 

Fury

Jean

Habana

Morne

Du Preez

Beast

Bismarck

Coenie

Etzebeth

Stephanie

Louw

Alberts 

Vermeulen

Steenkamp, Malherbe, Strauss, Bakkies, Kolisi

Pienaar, Lambie, JJ

The big decisions revolve around fullback, wing, outside centre, flyhalf, tighthead and lock. I think Stephanie had a big enough game in the CC final to get the nod at lock....he helps with our big weakness at Ellis Park....the kickoff.

The other big forward decision will go to Coenie. He has spent a whole season in waiting. If not now, when? Meyer is nothing if not loyal.

The permutations are more complex among the backs. If Meyer goes for Willie, and he may because he is such a popular player....Lambie is a crucial back up. That would allow the selection of Morne, the more reliable kicker...again a natural Meyer inclination. It also gives a ready path back for JP.

Then we are left with outside centre. Again with the nod going to Willie , it's easier to bring back Fury, something I think is in Meyer's plans. Fury wouldn't be back if he wasn't likely to play.

So this shapes up as a series of trade offs. Meyer can't leave out all of Lambie, JJ, Willie and Steph....even if that is his gut inclination. But include Willie and  Steph and he can leave out weaker sister JJ, and weaker kicker Lambie.

To me this preserves our primary attacking weapon Wille.....improves our nous and defence with Fury and JP.....and improves our physicality in the air with Steph. It has the makings of a stronger team than the one that played at Ellis Park. The one huge concern would be tighthead.

Mozart

You are probably right about the team - but I have serious reservations about three positions:-

1   More Steyn - I think his performance at Ellis Park was wicked and Meyer would way up his goalkicking (33% missed kicks in any event) against the negatives in defence and decision making and chances are that Steyn may (hopefully) be left out.  

2.  Coenie Oosthuizen - he did not have a good game against the Sharks in scrumming and I think that there are serious reservations abut his move to tighthead.   You yourself has been very critical of him in that position.    If he was so sure about Coenie - he would not have called up another tighthead (Adriaanse) for a 3 test series.  My gut feeling is he is going to go with Malherbe - whom he has called up as back up twice before. 

3.  Willem Alberts -  After his poor performances at Ellis Park and in the CC final -    Meyer is not going to be influenced by the media hysteria about the CC final, he is going to study the match and see what really happened -  Albets is likely to get only one further chance to prove that he belongs.   He is on thin ice.  Meyer may decide to go with Coetzee - who had a much better game at he CC final than Alberts did in any event.

I think from a defensive perspective - he may decide to go with Fourie - but that could also be  a problem, since there is no certainty about his real form on test level and he may destroy the backline attack because of his speed deficiency.    On the other hand - he may have stamina doubts like Fourie Du Preez showed at Ellis Park. - ie lasting well in the Australia test and a week later ran out of steam at Ellis Park.

Another Ellis Park casualty is likely to be Kirchner - who is in the squad to boost the quota numbers - because of the omission of the hopeless De Jongh, who was severely disappointing in the NH tests last year.

The questionable cases in the team as indicated are those mentioned - but we will see which way Meyer is going to go against Wales insofar as the perennial under-performers are concerned .            

Mozart

With all due respect - Keo's articles are at best jokes by a coke sniffer - but Meyer may go with Morne because of goal kicking - in all other aspects of play Lambie and Goosen are better options than Morne.  I think that the Ellis Park performance may count against Morne and I also think that the opposing teams - realising his deficiencies are going to go for his weak points in defence and hesitancy in decision making.    Be it as it may - I think that in the absence of serious injury on the part of Lambie and Goosen - this is likely to e Morne's swansong on test level.

I am not sure about Coenie at tighthead.   You yourself pointed out repeatedly that he struggles as a tighthead and I think in the longer term he is likely to be utilized as a loose head - backing up Beast and taking over from him.   However, I think that Meyer may decide on him for one test - testing the water - and then finally makes up his mind.   Wales has strong props and they were instrumental to reduce the Wallabies into a mess in scrums during the Lions tour - so whoever is selected will have serious problems in the scrums.       

Mozart

Keats and Keo - nice one that.

 Mozart

Don't expect an answer - tis is probably what Beeno calls a mole.   He arrives on site start jabbing madly about everything and everybody - with not an ounce of logic in him - and on one point you agree with his gibberish.   Shame on you