The vagaries of South African rugby selection have once again surfaced with the naming of the 28 man squad to take on the best of British in the upcoming test series.
While most of the squad is fairly predictable, it is the inclusions of the sublimely named Chilliboy Ralepelle and uncapped Earl Rose that are most notable.
One player who should feel justifiably shattered is Bulls’ fullback, Zane Kirchner. Kirchner produced some champagne rugby during the Super 14 that has clearly gone unnoticed by the Bokkie selectors, who have instead opted for the fickle talent of Rose.
Even more bizarre is the selection of Ralepelle ahead of Bulls’ teammate Derick Kuun, even though Kuun kept Ralepelle on the bench for the entire Super 14…go figure?
The rest of the Bokkie forwards are an imposing bunch, particularly when you consider the option the South Africans have in playing a four prop rotation as captain, John Smit, spent nearly all of the Super 14 at tight-head prop. The selection of 6’9″ Andries Bekker, ahead of workhorse Johan Muller, suggests the Boks will look to play field position and dominate the Lions at the line-out.
Add to this the biggest back-row in world rugby of Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and the ultra-dynamic Pierre Spies, and you get the feeling that Peter de Villiers is looking for a good old fashioned bash fest that will cower the Lions into submission.
Calling Springbok backs exciting and skilful has not been commonplace in the last few years, but this lot look exactly that. There is a fantastic mix of abrasiveness and finesse in equal measure that will trouble the Lions considering the constant supply of front foot ball the Saffer forwards should offer them.
The Boks are spoilt for choice everywhere but the spots up for grabs are clearly are numbers 10,12 and 13. Morne Steyn will more than likely get first crack at fly-half ahead of Ruan Pinnear who is taylor-made for the bench, with his ability to cover both scrummie and fly-half.
The centres, well take your pick. A decent case for inclusion can be made for any combination of Waynard Olivier, Jaque Fourie, Adrian Jacobs and Jean de Villiers, however the defensive frailties of Jacobs may count against him. The only certainty appears to be Frankie Steyn who won’t feature in the centres but at fullback in the absence of a specialist no.15.
Running the backline show will be maestro, Fourie du Preez, who is without exception the best scrum-half in world rugby at the moment by a substantial distance.
The last time the Lions took on a World Cup winning team – they lost, and this series looks like no exception. The pride of South African rugby took a massive hit the last time the Lions toured the Republic, but it doesn’t appear likely that the same fate awaits the Bokkies this year.
Best XV
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
2. John Smit (captain)
3. Deon Carstens
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield (vice-captain)
6. Schalk Burger
7. Juan Smith
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morné Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Wynand Olivier
14. JP Pietersen
15. Frans Steyn
16. Tendai Mtawarira
17. Bismarck du Plessis
18. Andries Bekker
19. Danie Rossouw
20. Ruan Pienaar
21. Adrian Jacobs
22. Odwa Ndungane
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3317 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=3317">13 Comments
yeah agree. lions seem to be in a situation at the moment where they are facing SH teams at the peak of their cycles (australia 2001, NZ peaked 2005) and if i can be so bold to predict that australia will be approaching the peak of our current cycle by around 2013. boks should win.
They will pulverise the Lions. We will be lucky if they don’t pulverise us as well. Our escape card is that Rocky, Palu, Moore and Mortlock, at least, are as big and bad as anyone they have.
I actually think we are a better chance against them than NZ – Ali Williams can’t take the fight to them alone, and without Collins who in NZ’s backrows really scares anyone? The perpetually-overrated Luaki showed what a flat-track bully he is against the Bulls (did he break the gain line? what, twice in 65 minutes?).
McCaw will keep NZ in the fight, aided by Williams, but without Carter they will struggle greatly I think against South Africa’s present combination of massive brawn and surprising brain.
As for Kuun and Kirchner, well we all know why they weren’t selected, and I for one think it is a crying shame. I hope Earl Rose plays against Australia, at five-eighth. Apparently he is the Tiger Woods of World Rugby, if only because he needs as long to use the ball.
The Lions will surprise I think, I mean most of the squad is irish or welsh. One of which did well against the boks back in the autumn internationals, I mean even the scotts did well against them! You say they are peaking with the bulls demolishing the chiefs… True, but the lions have a fair few heineken cup winners, After watching the golden lions game I think it could be interesting.
In regards to the all blacks?! They are still the bomb surely… donald can manage he got the chiefs to the final, there backline is still incredible, i mean toeava, Nonu, Svivatu, smokin joe, Muliaina, they’ve still got an incredible bench… people like rudi wulf, tuituvake, and there back row may not be as mean, but messam and latimer are still very good players, Whilst brad thorn is still a bully. I think you greatly underestimate them.
I’ve been underestimating kiwis for a long time now, I’m not about to start changing!
If McCaw and Carter aren’t on the field they’ll just run around bumping into each other like balls on a pool table
seems john smit is pretty much as good at thp as he is at hooker, is it hard to go from hooker to thp?
is it feasible to have tpn backing up baxter at thp?
bear in mind, i’ve never played a game of rugby in my life, just curious
Don’t worry it doesn’t seem to bother Lance Free, Im not sure he has ever watched a game.
It is always difficult to shift in the front row (the loose side always felt like a completely different planet to me) though I would suggest it would be much easier for a hooker to move to tight head rather than loose. John Smit is an old rugby head who would probably wouldn’t play rugby if there was a game called ‘Scrum’. I think TPN needs to perfect Hooker first though.
but if TPN could play tighthead you’d get his skills around the park and someone else could throw the lineouts
The biggest weakness in Saffa Rugby is the coach. End of story.
Someone else could throw lineouts, maybe Alexander.
I always wonder why Waugh couldn’t convert to a tight head.
The Saffa’s scare me but only the same amount as the all blacks. Australia have a transitional team, a team that traditionally enjoys the underdog tag. I think we will turn the corner this season, or be found wanting. In the same way, this season Deans will either establish himself as the standard or drown his reputation in an ocean of mid field, aimless bombs.
If he adapts and learns this year, he will become a legend in my eyes. If not….
what about ryan kankowski? not even on the bench? what about ryan kankowski? from what i saw he had yet another storming super 14 campaign, even if it wasnt as stand out as 2008. not even in contention for a bench spot??