To win or prepare for the RWC?

I have to say these latest reports out of the Bok camp are unsettling. The object is not so much to win but to get a squad for the RWC? We have been down this road the last four RWCs. So we arrive with a team that's been losing not winning. All in the name of RWC planning.

But fate has a way of making a mockery of the best plans....Spies and Jean departing early in RwC 07. Big Joe disappearing in 03. Honibal in 99. Frans and Bakkies in 11. These were all supposely key players we built our RWC around, although the departure of Spies was probably a good thing.

We need a squad of players for the RWC and for the RC....but bench play and lesser internationals allow that squad to be developed, without saying winning against Wales is optional. It shouldn't be.

It would be lunacy not to develop a team to last over a number of years as a top unit - and not look only at immediate matches on a week by week or month by month basis.   For that purpose it is necessary to ensure that player development and squad building is undertaken on a continuous basis and that a squad is developed to perform on top level  over a number of years, inclusive of during World Cups.

I think that the idea to select a team on the basis just to win tests on a short term basis does not necessarily result in a positive longer term objective.   That implies that there could not be sufficient team renewal on a continuous basis and cause valley periods for teams from time to time.   As an example the result is the comparatively poor performance record of the Springboks during the period 2010 to 2012.   It also account for the fact that no team has ever won the WC in successive WC competitions.    

Meyer is correct in his approach - but one wonders what he is doing with the idea of selecting the "past their sell by date" of  players like Bakkies Botha and Gurthro Steenkamp when dealing with a programme of squad building.

In essence I can understand Mozart's comments in this case.  He hates any idea of changes to the team and always think that a good player a decade ago - must necessarily be a good player at present.   That is selection according to  the reputation bug - the crux being stagnant teams going back and not progressing.   Individuals in teams are important - but there should always be back-ups that can fill players places without the disrupting of a team as a unit. 

I think it’s exciting and about friggin time.

We have young talent that need exposure … and we need to look at a few of the older more seasoned boys to ascertain whether they’re viable options for the coming WC.

We have issues at  

1.      Tighthead

2.      5 Lock

3.      Flyhalf

4.      Outside Center

5.      Full Back

and I feel rather strongly about getting a stronger bench sorted.

That’s a lot of work and we have to do this in a very short space of time.

Meyer in my opinion is already late. He should have started with this against Samoa, Italy and Scotland.  

With the current squad my team would be …

1.      Beast

2.      Bismarck

3.      Malherbe

4.      Eben

5.      PSDT

6.      Louw

7.      Alberts

8.      Vermeulen

9.      Du Preez

10.   Lambie

11.   Bryan

12.   Jean (cpt)

13.   Fourie

14.   JP

15.   Le Roux

16.   Strauss

17.   Coenie

18.   Adriaanse

19.   Bakkies

20.   Coetzee

21.   Pienaar

22.   Goosen

23.   JJ

I would however have selected a different squad to his. Players that in my opinion do not deserve their selection are - JJ, Kirchner, Kolisi, Pienaar, Schreuder, Guthro and Ntubeni.

Seven replacements that would have benefited from the tour up north and in my opinion are guys for the future are –

JJ – replaced by De Allende

Kirchner – replaced by Boshoff

Kolisi – replaced by Labuschagne

Pienaar – replaced by Kockott

Schreuder – no one really stands out … much the same - I’ll go for Mcleod

Gurthro – replaced by Trevor

Ntubeni – replaced by Schalk Brits

Clean Cut

Sometimes - very rarely I must say  - I agree with you on issues.   I share your opinion about the issue of squad development - which should have started already in the June series.   I also have reservations about the players listed by you (plus at least two others ) - but would say that Meyer has one last opportunity to settle the future selections during the Super 15 next year and the June test series.   Players who want to stake there claim would have to show it through performance and not on reputation.  Maybe the time was right for Meyer to get a clear idea about some of the NH club players could present and to find out whether their reputation is still equalled  by their performances.   This is important  - bearing in mind that some of them were on average disappointing and that even Du Preez showed some decline in performances after his brilliance  in the Pumas test.

I suppose the team would be announced tomorrow and I am looking forward to see what will in fact happen.

Its a very sad day when the coach declares he is not worried if we lose a few tests on tour. That statement is grounds for dismissal as far as I am concerned.

Meyer is fast turning into another useless Bok coach..........the bloke has no idea when it comes to selections and judging by the side he is going to play on Sat, he clearly has no regard for the well being of the players.

Squad development has no place in a match against a side which is possibly the best in the NH. The WC is important but it's no harder to win than next year's RC. A performance culture does not provide excuses for losing ahead of time. This is the same old rubbish which has dogged our rugby.

The attempt to play the Barbarians as a team including touring Boks in 61, to try to preserve our unbeaten record,  was the first example of this weakness of purpose. You don't discuss losing as an option.....as Arnold/Conan  said you put the opposition to the sword and wait for the wailing of the women.