2012 Rugby Championship R5G1 Springbokke vs Wallabies @ the Bull Ring

[Ruggo]

I think Slipper has the bigger engine and that he is regular TH at super rugby gives him a huge advantage. When Robbo comes off at the 30th minute I would be curious to see Benny A switch over to LH and Slipper to TH. A bit of disruption but the up side is they play in the positions they have the most experience at.

 

[Italophile]

I thought Cooper was ready, but obviously he was just like Mitchell and I hope they don't make the same mistake with Genia.

Absolutely. He came back from his ligament strain too early a couple of years ago.

 

[PaarlBok]

Look like we might see more from the New Generation Springbok coming through the ranks. Only an injury will stop Goosen starting and in comes Jaco Taute and Lambie. Frans Steyn also struggling and may open the door for JdJ.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bokke squad for last two tests
The Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and New Zealand in South Africa:
Willem Alberts (Sharks) - 15 Test caps
Andries Bekker (Western Province) - 27
Craig Burden (Sharks) - 0
Pat Cilliers (Golden Lions) - 3
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) - 7
Juan de Jongh (Western Province) - 10
Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province) - 79
Jannie du Plessis (Sharks) - 37
Eben Etzebeth (Western Province) - 6
Johan Goosen (FS Cheetahs) - 2
Bryan Habana (Western Province) - 81
Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls) - 22
Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions) - 0
Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls) - 19
Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls) - 5
Pat Lambie (Sharks) - 15
Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province) - 3
Francois Louw (Bath, England) - 12
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) - 39
Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks) - 7
Coenie Oosthuizen (FS Cheetahs) - 1
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) - 58
Jacques Potgieter (Blue Bulls) - 3
Frans Steyn (Sharks) - 53
Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls) - 41
Adriaan Strauss ( FS Cheetahs) - 16
Jaco Taute (Golden Lions) - 0
CJ van der Linde (Golden Lions) - 73
Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls) - 18
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province) - 2
meantime JP Pietersen and Basson will return this weekend for CC duty.

 

[Blue]

F Steyn down with a bum ankle I see.

Just the excuse Heyneke needs to play M Steyn. Experience yada yada.

The real confusing thing is that HM did not release Lambie for the cc last week and then calls in Jantjes as well. Then he defends Morne again yesterday.

Very confustering.

 

[Jnor]

Cmon Heyneke, you know you don't want to play Lambie or Goosen. Would settle with JACO TAUTE just to make BJ happy

 

[p.Tah]

With the Quade circus in full swing. I'd almost forgotten we've got a game this weekend.

 

[Brisbok]

After the Australiasian tour I felt pretty confident that Meyer would drop Morne for Goosen at the very least, with also the possibility of Lambie replacing Kirchner.

Now as we get closer to the test and reading reports coming out of SA, it appears more and more likely that neither of these changes will happen. I hope like hell the journalists have got it wrong! It will be very frustrating if both of these players are named to start after their performances overseas.

I can't understand the purpose of having a 30 man squad with none of the players released for Currie Cup duty. There are a few players in the squad who desperately need game time.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Anyone know when the teams are announded?

 

[HG]

Deans hasn't flipped the coins for positions yet, will leave that up until game day I would think.

 

[Scoey]

I can't understand the purpose of having a 30 man squad with none of the players released for Currie Cup duty. There are a few players in the squad who desperately need game time.

That is one of the good things about RD - he releases players to go back to club to play if they're not needed in the 22 etc.

 

[Dumbledore]

Excellent - well, the Morne playing bit, not the injuries to F. Steyn and Goosen.

South Africa's under-fire flyhalf Morne Steyn could keep his place in the side to face Australia on Saturday in the Rugby Championship following injuries to Francois Steyn and Johan Goosen.
Morne Steyn missed 11 points with wayward kicks when South Africa lost 21-11 to the All Blacks in Dunedin on Sept. 15 but his obvious replacement Goosen has a bruised heel.

Full article here:
http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-unio...-and-frans-steyn-in-doubt-20120925-26ieq.html

 

[qwerty51]

Morne will kick 100% at Loftus

 

[Hugh Jarse]

With well struck punts travelling 60-70 metres at LV, what are the chances that we will revert to dribbly little grubbers?

Surely the Saffers will understand the benefits of starting the Goose at 10.

 

[redstragic]

With well struck punts travelling 60-70 metres at LV, what are the chances that we will revert to dribbly little grubbers?

Surely the Saffers will understand the benefits of starting the Goose at 10.

At altitude will the grubbers go further? Could be quite an exciting tactic.

 

[Blue]

With well struck punts travelling 60-70 metres at LV, what are the chances that we will revert to dribbly little grubbers?

Surely the Saffers will understand the benefits of starting the Goose at 10.

If "The Saffers" refers to every person exludign the coach then yes, it has been well documented.

Even the Pretoria Afrikaans media is having a go at Meyer.

He has no support left for playing Steyn. None. 100% on his own.

 

[en_force_er]

Ruan Pienaar goes okay at 5/8, do yourself a favour Mr.Meyer. At least they couldn't say you didn't try.

 

[Mank]

I don't care if Goosen is injured, it's still no excuse to play Morne Steyn again. Rather start Lambie. Morne Steyn is not the answer for the future, surely we know that now. He has enough tests and experience behind him to know what he offers. He isn't going anywhere either, and we're learning nothing and gaining nothing by continuing to play him. We need another 10, and actually, we need more than just one of them. But we're not going to get one by not playing anyone but Steyn for 70 minutes a game.

Move on Heineke Meyer, please.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^^ Did I miss something? Is the Goose injured?

 

[PaarlBok]

^^^^^ Did I miss something? Is the Goose injured?

Sport24

Morne set to keep flyhalf spot


2012-09-25 07:43


Pretoria - South Africa's under-fire flyhalf Morne Steyn could keep his place in the side to face Australia on Saturday in the Rugby Championship following injuries to Francois Steyn and Johan Goosen.

Morne Steyn missed 11 points with wayward kicks when South Africa lost 21-11 to the All Blacks in Dunedin on September 15 but his obvious replacement Goosen has a bruised heel.

The 20-year-old took part in some training in Pretoria on Monday, albeit barefoot.

Goosen's injury and the possibility that the Springboks will lose 53 caps worth of experience at inside centre if Francois Steyn cannot play could delay what seems an inevitable changing of the guard.

"You obviously want to give players a break when they are fatigued, but if I hadn't called Morne Steyn into the Test squad then he would play Currie Cup for the Bulls," coach Heyneke Meyer told journalists at Loftus Versfeld on Monday.

"The pressure won't go away for him, the Bulls are also under pressure. It's best to keep him involved with us, he's taken a lot of criticism but you're still working with a human being and I can see that he is himself again back at home.

"I'm not just going to throw Morne away, he just kicked badly and Johan is not 100 percent and I've been bringing him through slowly. If I bowed to public pressure, then I would change the team every week.

"You can't just throw a whole bunch of 20-year-olds in against the Wallabies and All Blacks, they'll be slaughtered, and I won't push anyone unless they are 100 percent ready," the coach added.

Francois Steyn injured his ankle and was on crutches as the squad practised but team doctor Craig Roberts said a decision on the 25-year-old World Cup winner's availability would be made on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Having drawn with Argentina and lost to Australia and New Zealand on the road in their last three matches, South Africa take on the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld in a last-ditch effort to stay in contention.

Meyer was confident his team could take the spoils against Australia despite a 26-19 defeat in Perth on September 8, after the Springboks failed to turn pressure into points.

"It will definitely be different playing Australia here compared to Perth, where we should have won," he said.

"In the past we've done well against them at home and I have a good feeling about this team, it's definitely developing, there's a great vibe."

As much as I want the youngsters, Morne the best option for saturday. Its his homeground and maybe the last role of the dice for him. Make no sense to play not 100% fit players even as talented as Goosen.