Good squad.
"No place for Esterhuizen and Roos. Ruan Nortje leap frogs Ruben v Heerden at lock which is bullshit as is Koch ahead of Wilco Louw and Reinach ahead of Papier or Nohamba"
1. Esterhuizen is suspended
2. Koch has given no reason to be dropped, but Wilco is unlucky not to be in the squad.
3. Agree on Nohamba. Get him in to the mix.
Koch still stands strong but he is already 34 and he will not make it to the next WC.
So it can only be to allow the guy to finish off his career and I think same counts for Malherbe.
Tank is also not a better TH than Wilco, but Tank can cover LH if need be. For now Frans and Vincent are the the two specialised THP,s
Interestingly Kitzhoff is not there but Wessels is because he can cover both Hooker and LH?? Rassie definitely Rates versatility in players that can cover more positions…But he also knows that specialised positions like TH is very important….so I do believe that is the only reason why Wilco is not there yet…I am sure he will be there sooner then later, well at least I hope so.
I do Rate Nortje and not Moerat…so definitely would have gone with Ruben instead of Moerat.
I do feel for AE the guy is a really good 12 but luck is not on his side. It looks like Rassie does feel Roos is not physical enough and Ben + Elrigh are.
Reinach is also a guy finishing of his career and his form is mostly good ….FAF not being picked is a surprise but Happy for Morne vd Berg and we all know that Grant Williams is class.
Happy for the new guys especially Fassi….I think when we play the AB at home, we will see More changes.
Faf is injured
Roos is not a physical thing for crying out loud that’s pretty obvious- it’s probably more that he does not fit
He could be another du Preez twins case which will be very sad
Koch ahead of Wilco is poor, Reinach ahead of Nohamba or Papier is poor, Nortje ahead of Ruben v Heerden is poor and the exclusion of Roos is very poor
Oh ok
Sure - Esterhuizen is suspended and will remain suspended in future. Neiter him nor Mostert will be in future squads of the Springboks.
It is noted that Willemse is not in the squad yet - if he was available Le Roux would not have been in the squad.
I thnk the selected team from that squad could be as follows:-
15 Fassi
14 Arendse
13 Am
12 De Allende
11 Kolbe
10 Feinberg-Ngomezulu
9 Williams
8 Louw
7 Du Toit
6 Kolisi
5 Snyman
4 Etzebeth
3 Malherbe
2 Mbonambi
1 Nche
Bench .
16 Marx
17 Du Toit
18 Koch
19 Moerat
20 Smith
21 Dixon
22 Van den Berg
23 Pollard
I think that Pollard will not be in the staring line-up to preserve him as long zs possible in the Springbk squad
Uncle Mike I think that you’re team choice might be close to correct. I do think though Rassie will start Willie as he is the playmaker and Pollard with Sacha of the Bench.
Yeah, I really like Roos, but then when you see a player breaking the line and scoring tries of course he stands out, but that is the URC against some very weak teams which in the old days a low rank Super rank team would put 40 points on them.
I know Roos tries to be tough, but he doesn't have that mongrel like Wiese which I think Rassie is looking for. Ben Jason Dixon stocks has gone up recently. I haven't noticed him much in the URC but probably because he has been playing behind Dyamani. Hopefully will see more of him at the stormers next season.
Will be interesting to see who is selected for the Australian games. Will it be the best available team and last hoorah of this outgoing bok team or will they actually roll the dice and bring younger players in
Out of this bunch, who will be your starting 23?
Anyone know if Eben has been suspended?
KC
Nice try - but I think that Wilie is on his way out and unlikely to survive this year. He is not really the playmaker he used to be in the past. As to Nche at 3 is actually totally unrealsitic - he is a specialized 1 and never played ss a tighthead before.
As to Pollard I think - and stated thus before - that he will be in the squad to reserve his contributon and to play as little as possible because of injury concerns - he was out of rugby for long periods after 2015 - he enver played for teh Springbks in 2016 and 2017 and went out on injury for the period October 2022 to June 2023. When he got injured recovery takes long times. So to protect Pollard he will in the main being used from the bench..
I think that the real choice of Brown and for backline attacking purposes will be Feinberg-Ngomezulu with Pollard being on the bench more than as a starting player. I do not think that Erasmus and Brown really want to see another Pollard injury..
The Aussie team against which the Springboks team is not the hottest team around and will be a team against younger players will start or played from he bench. There is no way Du Toit would be left out of he team as the top performing forward at present and taking over he captaincy when Kolisi is replaced by a bench player.
I do agree with you about Louw being the starter with Kwagga on the bench. Kwagga is more an impact player than he is a starter,
.
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Duplication
1. Ox
2. Bongi
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben
5. RG
6. Kwagga
7. Ben J Dixon
8. Elrigh Louw
9. Grant Williams
10. Pollard
11.Cheslin
12. Sacha
13. Am
14. Arendse
15. Fassi
16. Steenekamp
17. Grobbelar
18. Vincent
19. Nortje
20.Pieter
21.Van Staden
22. M vd Berg
23. Willie
Marx is only available for second test.
Good side Mike but I’d start Marx ahead of Bongi with Bongi on the bench. My bench props would be Steenkamp and Thomas
MpowerI agreebaout Louw being the number 8 - but I do not agree about the forwards in particular. Lets look at the following:-
* To put Du Toit - the best performing forward in the eam and replacement captain when Kolisi leave the field on the bench - is questionable.at best.
* Other than scrumming Malherbe played a more important game in tackling and at breakdowns than othe props do - so he will start.
* I do not think that Erasmus and Brown will repalce a good flyhalf to play at inside center and if De Allende is to be replaced it will be by Willemse. For the time being De Allende is the best 12 SA has and other countries wish they could have him.
For me personal likes and dislikes does not count - performances do.
Dave
I like what I saw of Steenekamp in the match on Saturday and think with more experence he may end up as a top player as a prop.
Would not argue about Thomas Du Toit as well.
Where I do not agree with is is playing Feinbrg-Ngomezulu at 12. It would be dangerous t play him in that position and risk his career by doing so. For me he is a really good flyjalf and that si where he should play.
The only reason I put Pieter on the bench is because he is recovering from injury and don’t want to make it worse.
Sacha is use to playing 12 and can make a impact from the beginning with his play making abilities …he will have the Experience of Pollard next to him and can Fill the 10 spot later in the game. ….it will definitely not be detrimental for his career, as Rassie knows his Magical form on 10 already.
I know that Kollisi will be chosen, not because of his Form but his status. The same counts for DDA…. I can maybe change Willie for Dda on the bench.
Who wants to player Sacha at 12?
Hi Denny. There is no indication on the news that Eben has been suspended for anything. The only players suspended is AE and Jasper Wiese….unless you have read something??
Whatever team we field, the WC team that has carried us for 4 years is beginning to fade. Now it gets tricky.
To be honest, I wish Wilco Louw was there. I would even go a bit experimental against the Aussies and try get a few new players out there.
For me the bulls thighs five has been the standard this season. I would just use Etzebeth there and we have some nice combos with Nortje. Although, I probably want to see if RG starting more games. So it will be down to game management.
On Willie, probably his final season, but again, we have so many players that don't have enough caps to play together. Fassi has been around for a while and should have had more caps.
I would go with ahead of Willie and I would probably want to keep Sacha going at 10 with Pollard on the bench. I almost feel that we need to let the young guys start and let the old heads close out the game.
The other question is what to do with Am, he showed great form against Portugal.
Should he be moved to 12 with Ariel on his inside or should we just go straight to the youngsters.
This Rugby Championship should be interesting. Looking forward to it
Agreed King there was no need to include the likes of Koch and Reinach for a start it’s crazy how Wilco has been overlooked - he must be the best scrummaging tighthead in the game right now.
That Bulls scrum dominated the Irish/Leinster scrum
Rassie is still hanging on to the old boys the only one being dumped so far is Trevor
I’m not a Nortje fan he is just another Mostert who struggles physically. He is a better player than Mostert though - I give him that - I much prefer Jenkins, Ruben v Heerden and Ruan Vermaak
As good as Evan Roos is at club rugby, making 3 tackles in both the Portugal and Wales matches just doesn't meet the requirements.
Only 3 scrumhalves?
Who wants to player Sacha at 12?
Bad idea don't mess him up by moving him around. He proofed beyond doubt that he is the best new talent on flyhalf. Why fool around with Libbok if Sasha can do everything you need from a flyhalf. Give him game time now and don't waste it on Manie who had many opportunities.
Hello Jan...welkom.
Good points Jan.
Good luck if you guys think that Rassie will pick him already to start at Flyhalf. I think he will start Pollard with Sacha of the bench…for Rassie it’s all about tried and tested, and for now obvious with his selections, he sticks like glue to his 2019, 2023 WC squad.
So to get Sacha to start play him at 12, until Rassie will start him at 10…that is my motivation to play him for NOW at 12…he has played there very successfully for the Stormers and will bring something different than DDA.
He will add value wherever he plays…why waste him of the bench when he can start??
But ok let see who Rassie picks in his Starting team for the OZ test, if Sacha starts at 10 then great, because that is where he should be playing.
Rassie was interviewed about 10 days ago and he discussed his approach to working with players.
He said that he tries new players out and sees how they perform as part of the system. He said occasionally players are not following the system, and they get dropped. So it is not just a form thing.
Esterhuizen and Rassie are not on the same page. To drop him from such a big squad does not bode well for his future career - given he is already going on 30.
Roos seems to be another that is out in the wilderness.
Shark, Esterhuizen is not dropped he is facing a disciplinary hearing for his red card
Sacha at 12 would be a disaster, he is not physical enough for the role
Zuluman at 15 ................. Pollard 10
DiscoDassie's midfield will be DdA & Kriel, maybe not against Oz, but (barring injury or Faff-like performances from 'em two) definitely vs the ABs .
Wings same as & hopefully Williams at 9.
27,948 posts
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship (in alphabetical order):
Forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
No place for Esterhuizen and Roos. Ruan Nortje leap frogs Ruben v Heerden at lock which is bullshit as is Koch ahead of Wilco Louw and Reinach ahead of Papier or Nohamba