The Players Meyer cannot Pick for EOYT

Last year Meyer picked a squad that caused him major problems when he ultimately ended up having to select  a team for games.   He ended up with some real do-do like CJ van der Linde having to start in games and also with Fatso Steenkamp and Schal Britz.   The backline ended up with a choice between the out-of position Tatute and the useless De Jongh at 13.

Hope he does take into account performances this year and select real performers and do not seect players of dubious value - who is not ready fr selection or has failed us more repeatedly over the last two years. 

The list is long - and the Ellis Park flops are near the top of the list.   Despite all the hype Francois Steyn and Schalk Burger produced nothing of note yesterday - matter of fact both were under-cooked and not at all showing anything that would justify selection  - which if selected would mean a joy ride to Europe at SARU cost - since nobody would really want to see them anywhere near the playing team.

Other flops in games yesterday were Jantjies and Steenkamp.   To those must surely be added the Ellis Park flops - headed by Morne Steyn, Kirchner, Kruger and Alberts - and last years EOYT flop and Super 15 defence deficient - De Jongh.

So - if Meyer takes competence and performance into account - then we could expect an interesting election of players for the squad - so I am looking forward to the announcement of the squad this week .  

Beeno

I had a good hard look at Goosen - he looks much more mature and he did pick up a few kilos while injured.   I think he is going the right way in physical development.   He has gone to 90 kgs and another 3 kgs  will get him to top form weight wise.  That would guard against injuries - since those three kgs will be muscle development and not fat.  He is probably at present one of the lowest fat carrying players around - but some fat is a requirement to survive physically - so there is much to be said about him  at this stage.

However, I would hesitate to take him on the EOYT as well - he should be allowed to mature and have a go at Super 15  level.   However - the other players who should not be going is Burger and Francois Steyn.   Burger is coasting and it will only become clear whether he should be selected again during Super 15 next year.

As to Francois Steyn - there was much hype about his return to CC Rugby - but his return was a damp squib to say the least.   Looking at his performance - and he was subbed early - he still has speed problems and he may still be overweight.   He was not matchfit at all and he produced preciously little yesterday.   I am particularly worried about the impact a slowish center can have on backline attacking play.   I know Mozart wants to see Engelbrecht out and was hoping for Steyn to make an impact yesterday - but he did not make any and his performance was in fact sub-par.  I do not think he will start in the final next week.   He may at 13 - because De Jongh is easy to beat - his tackling is letting the latter down badly - but there may be a contra in lack of attacking ability also - so he is likely to be on the bench.   Another player who must show his true abilities and performance in Super 15 next year.

I think it is time to start phasing out some of the NH club players.  There is no need for players like Morne, Kirchner, Kruger and Steenkamp anymore.  We should start building for the future and some players like Alberts - 30 next year - has no chance of any further development and his immobility is a handicap in any event.  One of our problems is we need two further reliable line out players to join Etzebeth and I am hoping that Du Toit would be one.   De Jager had a good match yesterday - like he did all season in Super 15 - and he is a good back up as well.  The third reliable line out player is a problem.   Good as he is otherwise - Vermeulen is not the answer and neither is Louw.  Alberts is no good as well.   The lack of real and reliable alternatives are killing our rolling mauls - so upgrading is necessary.

I hope Meyer looks at the E OYT is a step in the progression of future players - bearing in mind the 2015 WC and we have only three test series left before then and you cannot bring in youngsters to start their first tests in the WC campaign - so he has a fairly limited time to weed out the poorer players and get the ideal squad together.  He must also play De Villiers as sparingly as possible - hence the need to include a player like De Allende in the mix.