Coach57,555 posts
10 Jun 2013, 10:39
#1
10 Jun 2013, 10:39#1
Meyer is as pleased as punch about the performance of the players on Saturday - but indicated that some changes to the squad will be made this week. That leaves us with wondering what changes can be expected. What is absolutely clear though is that those players - who received poor or adequate ratings for the performance on Saturday will not be effected by those changes. Those players in essence are -
Basson, Spies, Kruger and Jannie Du Plessis
Meyer is a one-incident jerk in matches and award players for such cases. He will point out the role of Basson in the case of that intercept try and the pass he made to De Villiers before his try why Basson should stay in place. Spies did next to nothing in the test - yet Meyer would find it unthinkable to change him - after all he is the Bulls captain. Who will call the line-outs in the absence of Kruger - which was the only real task performed by Kruger on Saturday? Note also that three of the above four players are Bulls and replacement of Bulls players are not to be considered.
The other issue is with Du Plessis. The player most likely to fill the no 3 position is Malherbe - but he is injured. Malherbe is apparently favoured by Meyer and he had to fly to New Zealand and England last year to cover that position. One also have to bear in mind that the Sharks in their most recent match played Du Plessis from the bench and the fact that Meyer starts with him indicates that Meyer is making a mistake in the relevant regard.
Be it as it may - the following changes are likely to be made:-
Kirchner is a absolute certainty to start on Saturday and despite his excellent performance Le Roux will be left out of the squad 23 - because they need three bench players from the backline. The three bench players need to be a scrummie - a player that can cover both the flyhalf and full back position and a center. So we will have an unchanged bench for Saturday.
That leaves a question mark as to the other changes. In the back row - where most people think that Spies should go - Meyer will definitely not make a change affecting Spies. He will also not change Louw - so the focus would be on Arno Botha - if indeed there will be a change. Botha had a more than reasonable debut. He did well in the tackle situation and in line-outs - but gave away a penalty for a head high tackle and was not really a driving force in ball carrying. The above may be just enough to secure his retention. However, based on his record - Meyer may just bring in Alberts - that is depending on the nature of his latest injury - despite all indications statistically that Alberts did nothing last year to justify his selection and in two games this year he was poor. However, I do not think that Meyer's choice for the bench on Saturday (Coetzee) was really up to standard. So my guess is that Meyer -
* will select Alberts for the No 7 position; and
* put Botha on the bench for Saturday.
The above would represent no change from the original team announced by Meyer for the test on Saturday. If Alberts is not available he will retain the present scenario with Botha starting and Coetzee on the bench - no change to the line-up actually starting on Saturday.
Now for the locks - many people are questioning the performance of Kruger - but Meyer will make no changes in that case for who will call the line-outs in the absence of Kruger?
The props may result in changes. I think Meyer will start with Beast and put Coenie at no 3. He would then put Jannie on the bench and retain the other bench selection.
TO SUMMARIZE - MEYER WILL MAKE TWO CHANGES TO THE TEAM AS ANNOUNCED FOR THE ITALY TEST. HE WILL BRING IN KIRCHNER AT ALL COSTS AND HE WILL MAKE A BENCH CHANGE INSOFAR AS THE PROPS ARE CONCERNED. IF HE GOES BEYOND THAT - I FOR ONE WILL BE SURPRISED AS HELL ABOUT IT.
