The Springbok sqaud

All the players I predicted would be selected is in the squad - so I am not really surprised.   However, th squad is indeed disappointing with the large number of under-performing Bulls players around.   Meyer still sticks with them.   The Kolisi is a good selection - but he was very disappointing in the WP-Sharks Super 15 game.

I did npot think that Brussow would be in teh squad and has given my reasons repeatedly for that selection.

The really bad choice was Jantjies - we dare not play him,  the opposition would run all over him.   There may be other reasons for his constant selection - he is definitely not good enough from a playing perspective.   The people that would cheer when they hear of his selection would be the opposition.

Now for the Blue Bulls under-performers, they are all there.   Starting off with Kirchner, Engelbrecht, Morne Steyn, Hougaard, Spies, Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Greyling (the worst of them all) - they are all there.   Lucky enough no Werner Kruger.   

I think the squad as selected is only for the games against Argentina - so maybe there are going to be improvements in future.    However, one must say - it is very good to get a Blue Bulls contract - that allows for 50% of your changes to be in the Springbok squad - even if your performances are way below par.

However, the team that will play is likely to be the following:-

15    Kirchner

14    Pietersen

13    De Villiers

12    Francois Steyn

11    Habana

10    Morne Steyn

  9    Hougaard

  8    Spies

  7    Alberts

  6    Coetzee

  5    Bekker

  4    Etzebeth

  3   Jannie Du Plessis

  2   Bismarck Du Plessis

  1   Beast

The bench is likely to include Strauss, J Kruger, a prop (your guess is as good as mine but hopefully not Greyling), Kolisi, Pienaar, Engelbrecht and Lambie.  However, bearing in mind the favoured status of Bulls players - Kolisi may be left out and replaced by Potgieter (the brain box)

I am very dissapointed in Meyer- he could still be in the Bulls payroll. It is like affirmtive action for the Bulls. 

Spoes instead of Kankowski?

It looks like we are stuck with Morne Steyn at Flyhalf for ever. So much for Morne having to prove his form after the pommie tests, in the Super15.

Also Kirchner- who is useless on attack and defence. Aplon proved his is a much better player on attack- as well as positional play on defence. I realise that Aplon is small- so not ideal, but he is much better than Kirchner. 

 As for the Dumb and Dumber Potgieter- the depth we have at loose forward is ridiculous- and this clown is selected. We need player with brains who can understand a game plan. 

Greyling is another bulls token selection. Better than Kruger but still week.

WP Nel would have been a much better selection. 

 Some truly pathetic c Bools selections....before this year is over PdV may be looking good.

Let me add something to my earlier comments.   Meyer will NEVER drop Morne Steyn as flyhalf.   His whole game plan centers around Steyn.   If he flops like was normal this year - he will be given another chance - and another - and another.

The problem here is I believe Meyer is stuck on his Blue Bulls game plan - irrespective of whether it is a flop or not.   Mozart. I am already missing Pieter de Villiers - at least he was only talking rubbish - Meyer is  selecting rubbish.

Ok so if every Bulls player is a token selection who should have been selected in their place? (bearing in mind the following players were not considered for selection : WP Nel, Coenie Oosthuizen, Brussow, Kanko, Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Taute).

Stu 5

Welcome to the Board.   Want to know who could be selected ahead of the under-performing Bulls players - I have limited time to comment - but can think of players like Aplon ahead of Kirchner - the letter is useless under high balls and a poor defender.   Jordaan is definitely 2 notches higher than Engelbrecht - Morne is a kicking flyhalf cannot play a link game with his backline thus neutralising the backline) whose kicks have gone awol - virtually anybody is better than him - Spies does not play 75 minutes of any game - so I would pick Strauss ahead of him.   Want to know more?   Who in his right mind would select Greyling as a prop???    

Funny enough - I have no problem with Hougaard, Flip van der Merwe and J Kruger - but the rest of the Bullse selectees are only there because they have a Bulls contract - they are and were really medicore in the Super 15 and the tests against the POMS.   That same crowd was in the team that lost 32-10 to the Sharks and we know what happened to the Sharks this morning.

The All Blacks must be smiling from ear-to-ear to see that concotion.

I was quite critical of the number of Bulls player in the Springgbok squad - so I did a quick count and found the following team composition:-

Sharks    -     11            =      Likely team      =     7

Bulls       -     10             =                              =     4       

Stormers  -     5             =                              =     4

Lions        -     3

Cheetahs  -    1

The bench will have 3 Bulls, 2 Sharks, 1  Cheetah  

Of the 22 players to be in the team or on the bench - the Sharks will have 9 players and the Bulls 7, the Cheetahs 1 - plus Ruan Pienaar.  

The question is how did the various teams perform in Super 15.   The Bulls lost twice against the Stormers and lost by 32-10 against the Sharks.   On the whole they did not play well and lost in the play-offs in a particularly poor display against the Crusades.   The Sharks did well, but everyone must admit - they were disgracefully poor against the Chiefs today.

What makes the Bulls so wonderful that they can contribute 7 players in the team or on the bench?   Nothing that can reasonably explained.    They were below par - and that is a fact.    The only explnation is that they are the favoured team and despite their poor eprformances are still making up the second largest component of the Springbok squad.  

Taking into account todays final and the particularly poor display by the Sharks - I do not give the squad no  chance of ever beating the All Blacks = the lot will even struggle against the Wallabies and Argentinians.   Meyer should have considered proven performances to select a squad - not at franchise preferences.

Meyer already said we do not have back line players that can perform - so lets put in a kicking flyhalf and play a ten man game.   That will mean that we cut out 5 players of ever competing.   With that backline there is zero chance for the ball ever reaching the wings - there only work will be to defend - defend - defend.  Nothing else.

Now lets look at the team that will be fielded and the Bulls players in the team:-

   *    Kirchner - known for the following:   Bad under high balls, poor defender, defective position play.   and provide very little in aattacking play.   His kicking game is also poor.    Very accerage S15 player - not even remotely capable of playing international rugby.

   *    Morne Steyn - can only play a kicking game - very poor ball distributor, average goal kicker when under pressure.  Defebce reasonable.   Absolutely predicable to produce 10 men rugby.   None of the other top international teams would want him in their team.

   *    Hougaard - Under pressure he is a poor ball distributor.   Kicks are charged down far too often - indicating  slow reaction time.    However, we do not have anyone better - so we will have to lift with him

  *    Spies is no no 8.   Meyer took him from wing and put him at 8.   He would be in the team - come hell or high water - despite the fact that for 75% of any given game he vanishes from sight..   As somebody so aptly said - "he is built like Tarzan and play like Jane" - very apt discription.