There’s a few things one can read into HM’s squad…

        (1)   He has ruled a line through smaller players

(2)   It’s a squad based on physicality, meaning lots of kicking and direct running and nothing in between. There’ll be little if any creativity displayed in the backs.

(3)   HM like every other national coach before him has made some crap selections.

We have some very vivid reminders of losing at our physical best, as an example I  cite the WC quarter-final against OZ. A recent example was yesterday as the so called “micro lights’ held their ground against a rampant Bulls side. I hope I’m wrong because if I’m not, how hard is it going to be for the opposition to read our gameplan?...and to develop counter measures like they have done in the past. Point 2 worries me the most.

Re: selections.. Sure, you can’t please everyone and HM is human and therefore entitled to some errors…. but carthorse Wynand Olivier?... no Heinrich?...Vermaak ahead of Piet Van Zyl..even the underrated Duvenhage is better than Vermaak. KanKan?...a proven Test failure! JJ Engelbrecht…What’s his claim to selection other than playing for the Bulls? Has he cracked a few defences which I haven’t noticed? Funny that….I’ve seen Favea from the ‘Canes do some awesome damage but somehow I’ve managed to miss our very own. Pardon my cynicism. On the plus side I’m glad he left out the plodder Josh Strauss of CC notoriety but I’m intrigued in his choice of Elton Jantjies who should still be attending high school but somehow finds himself in the Bok squad.. Anyone notice how Butch James carried Jantjies in yesterdays game? Voeitog. …and voeitog again for Spies, our Greek Statue with less moves  who’s been crap all year.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think HM is the ideal man for the job and I believe the Boks will wipe the English and by so doing they’ll develop a winning culture but surprisingly there’s enough to suggest already that HM will make mistakes.

Denny

Personally I think there are other more important issues coming to the fore in the case of the latest developments.   Now lets start with the present unachievers or under-achievers in the squad of 32.   The clearest sign of that no present Springbok will not be dropped if he keeps on under-performing.    In this Meyer was a bit hamstrung becaue of the number of top players on the injury list and the Junior WC, but he did include a number of potential players in some positions - eg 4 scrummies if Hougaard is counted as one is one of such cases.   In particular the following players could be the first to go:-

    Pietersen

    Steyn

    Spies

    Hougaard - I think Pienaar will strat as scrummie (with hougaard on the bench

    Jannie

He is unlikely to drop Jean De Villiers soon - but he will have to go by the second quarter of 2013, since we need to groom a new center combination for the WC..

I must say that there are some weird selections - especially from the Bulls - but I do not see them as real contenders for a team or bench selection.    Kirchner and Olivier????????

Finally - the wise thing meyer did was to leave Du Preez out of the squad.  He has been weakening progressively since 2007 and is way past his sell-by date.  No Du Preez - big advance in our back line strategy.  

Once we have a functional half back team in place the kicking game would cool down - with Steyn there is no other option available.  I can see some time when the younsters get in and start playing attacking back line play. 

Mike

While my ass points to the ground we will never win a WC with Jantjies as Pivot.....Goosen, yes but not with Jantjies. I think Meyer killed two birds with one stone when selecting the kid (a) he has no-one else (b) he's a POC.

I think Meyer did right not to wind the clock backwards in re-visiting FDP...or was that just media BS?

Steyn and JDV have to go but they HM will have to groom suitable replacements.

Weird selections you say...damn right! .....slanted in the Bulls direction,nogal.

Best call Meyer has made todate is leaving out these little guys who would not stand up to test rugby. Good on him, at least he is with the times, unlike many on here who seem to think 85kg fullbacks, wings and centres are found in the top flight test playing sides today. One only needs to look at these modern test sides to realise that little guys are not part of the equation thank goodness. Its a mans game after all

Getting rif of small players...............anyone remeber Neil Back from England?He only went and won a World CUp

Um Neil Back was how many years ago???????????????????

I'm talking todays test rugby. Have a look at the current test sides and see how many 85kg centres, fullbacks and wings there are. The only small guy I can think of is Halfpenny of Wales, who himself looks like a bodybuilder these days........for the rest, you wont find a back other than at 9 or 10 that weighs under 90kgs, probably closer to none under 95kgs......its the modern trend

Yes, Neil Back was one of our best ever players...and he was pretty small. But he was immensely strong and very fit....not many players were capable of 120 press ups a minute !!

It took a long while for the Coaches to be brave enough and select him for the England team, so blinded were they by the size issue. His first Cap was a disaster but, once the game plan had been altered to suit his talents, he really showed why he thoroughly deserved to be in the team.

He was very tough and really nasty to play against.....but a player we all wanted in our national side.

 Yep in a pack of forwards there is room for a small openside/fetcher flank forward. Daniel is that type of player as are Brussouw, Pocock, Warburton, Betsen and Back......in todays game they are generally around the 100kg mark and there is definately a place for them. You cant strike a balance having 8 massive guys, you need one speedsters who's role is to hound the 10 and get to the beakdown first.

England right now dont seem to have a true fetcher, Robshaw is playing that role, but realistically he is a 7, much like Wood is......both a big guys.

Just to point out...in " proper " Rugby, the no 7 is the Openside or " fetcher " as you so strangely like to term it. You mean Robshaw is a 6, or Blindside.

Tom Johnson is many England supporters pick at 7.

 Yeah blindside, being 6 with you lot, 7 with us.

I dont know Tom, but you need to find a true fetcher

Yes, we as we invented the game, one would think our numbering would be the correct way. But, as ever, you have to play with it !!

Tom Johnson played against the Barbarians and is on the Tour. He plays for Exeter, I'm sure you've seen him when you've watched the Premiership........

 No cant be asked to watch Exeter