Two steps forward....one back for the Bok team

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Wilco Louw 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi , 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane , 19 Franco Moster, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian de Allende ....... The team is better for Pollard and Vermeulen. But Francois Venter is a horrible selection and he will cost us before the tour is over. .. I guess the only surprise is that Paige who has some playing time with Pollard wasn’t selected....and good old Lomp has been retained after a truly flaccid performance against Ireland.

 This is the standard Coetzee fare and I hope that the French beat this lot so we can get rid of Coetzee.
Nobody can make a sweeping statement about that Pollard and Vermeulen would be an improvement.   Both Pollard and Vermeulen hardly played any rugby during the past two years as a result of injuries.   In his case one can say maybe he will be an improvement on Jantjies - but we wuill have to wait and see.
Vermeulen played his first game this Top 14 season in the recent game between Toulon and Agen - one of the weakest team in that series,   Toulon lost the game and the important issue insofar as SA is concerned Vermeulen was basically invisible in that game.
Rudy Paige is not even the 6th best scrummie in SA - so your surprise may be somewhat surprising.
The big loss in the above team is Du Toit - who was the only worthwhile forward last week.         

Zero impact off the bench either.  

 The mighty Mosterdt is on the bench!

 And Dan Dup!

Coetzee is clearly playing 10 man rugby like at the Stormers. 

Flyhalf Handre Pollard may be better at implementing the Coetzee game plan- which clearly has reverted kick and chase and crash ball. More weight means more crash balling and tackling.
No point selecting Jantjies if the plan is to never play expansively.
ScrumhalfCronje had his worst game of the season last week. Perhaps his first time in Northern Hemisphere- he looked a bit like Hourgaard- slow to the ruck and clumsy, with poor 2 step passes. 
CentresThe selection of the Currie Cup show pony Francious Venter is a disaster. The logical thing to do was to put Pollard at 12. Francious Venter does, however, understand the game plan. He loves this game plan of the aimless crash ball and kicking. 
Jessica Kriel somehow retains his place at outside centre. He now understands the Coetzee game plan. 

Not selecting AM is a moot point that Mallett mentioned.He is a specialist centre and cant even make the bench. 
Outside BacksNo wing or fullback cover, other than Jessica Kriel who is already starting at 13. 
No Gelant? Unless Delande is also covering wing, and Jantjies 15Willie Leroux would have been a good option...
Tight 5
Slack Jaw Dejager is an insult, Mostert has been in excellent form the whole season. For some reason, he was dropped. Dejagaar does nothing in ball retention or recovery, and cant cope with a fast pace game. However, Alister Coetzee has gone into his shell and reverted to 10 man rugby. 
Mombani is a passenger that will get his usual 2 minute game time, and misthrow his only lineout. 

BackrowThe back-row is a big improvement "if" Vermeulen plays well. Kolisi has been poor on the openside this tour, and perhaps if Louw goes back to his usual position he will be better. 
Curwin Bosch will not be getting game time on this tour. 

 Looks like AC is back to his old tricks again, his team hopelessly fails against Ireland and now he is ringing the changes. 
Where as the French will be more settled and licking their lips, especially after their purple patch against the All Blacks last week where they outscored them in the 2nd half. 
Apparently the 9 and 10 each made 100m carries against the All blacks, so I expect them to cut the boks apart in that channel. 
They also have better midfield and wide men. It is going to be a long day. Might wait for the highlights on youtube

 De Jager ahead of Mostert tells you everything you need to know about Saturday. How Kriel is still there just blows my mind. And I guess Cronje will yet again be asked to do the one thing is completely terrible at. Duane there when Du Preez should start. How many of these guys has Thor even played with before? Kitshoff still can't by a start. How in heaven's name is Venter in this squad ahead of JSVR?
Almost two full season down the line and we are still better off just putting Bok jerseys on all the Lions.
Bloody circus.
Lekker Toetie. Lekker man!