Bok team to face Wales in Cardiff

[PaarlBok]

Now it look like Butch James have to withdraw. Vok weet Snor never should have picked this NH money arseholes in the first place.

The Guardian

 

[rustycruiser]

To play devil's advocate, maybe the money grabbing Welsh and South Africans's shouldn't have scheduled a meaningless game that cheapens the jersey outside of the agreed upon Test window?

 

[PaarlBok]

To play devil's advocate, maybe the money grabbing Welsh and South Africans's shouldn't have scheduled a meaningless game that cheapens the jersey outside of the agreed upon Test window?

Ja sure, Snor did not want this test but he had to deal with it.

Dunno what you mean with "Cheapen the jersey" tests? The way our game is at the moment, he'll have to start experimenting to build depth. He want to use this tests to do it and I dont blame him one bit. Rather in this timeframe then pulling players out in the 3 Nations tests like Jake did.

 

[rustycruiser]

What I mean by cheapened is the possibility that a stitched together makeshift team missing most of the current first string players has a good chance of losing to the Welsh. If they lose, it will be specifically because of the greedy national body scheduling said game in the NH a week before the IRB window opens, just to stuff the coffers. Not to mention it will be the only Bok jersey ever earned by some players (looking at you Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson). So the chance of a historic loss, and handing out of Bok jerseys willy nilly is the aforementioned cheapening.

 

[rustycruiser]

So Butch gone, Bekker 90% gone (Matfield and Kirchner called up to cover their places) and de Jongh and Potgieter maybe missing out due to S14 injuries as well.

 

[Blue]

The boks stand to gain nothing from this test. Players injured, replacing them with guys who needed the rest. The stupidity of it is now becoming evident.

That looks like a good Welsh side and they will come out hard and win it I think. Where does that leave us? Stupid SARU.

 

[PaarlBok]

Not to mention it will be the only Bok jersey ever earned by some players (looking at you Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson). So the chance of a historic loss, and handing out of Bok jerseys willy nilly is the aforementioned cheapening.

Well to be honest I'll pick Muskiet and Basson anyday before Earl Rose or PepperBoy hooker or Nokwe or AD Jacobs for what its worth and hey we just may beat the Druids, we'll never know if we havent tried.

 

[Moses]

Chiliboy, seriously? Clearly a quota selection but hey, what's a Bok jersey worth anyway? Did he even play for the Bulls this year? Will he become captain again when Smit goes off? What a joke.

 

[cheezel]

I can't understand Aplon. He seems a tough little guy, but he gets rag-dolled around.

 

[PaarlBok]

All confused now with the Butch saga. Saw some pictures from Druids Land and Butchie sound all excited and eager to play. Hope they'll sort this kak out. Bekker gone but with Matfield joining only strengthens our changes. Cant wait after the vains is now pumped with green blood again for saturday. Want to see we rip into the Dragon Druids and eager to see the scrums going with the two NH fatties. Flo have a big debut coming up and hope Pie Eater , Pienaar gelling well with a Butch & Mossie midfield to set up the midgets. Going to be a tough one but we have to see where we are going with the NH lot.

 

[PaarlBok]

and finally Butch loose his case

Bok team
Springboks - 15 Frans Steyn, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Bjorn Basson

3 Stormers debutants.

 

[Blue]

I can't understand Aplon. He seems a tough little guy, but he gets rag-dolled around.

Amen. Good enough Super winger. Can't see him ever being test class. He does everything really well but nothing exceptional. Having said that he is better than the bloke on the other wing - The wrong twin.

Basson on the other hand is a very exciting player. Hope he sees some game time.

 

[Blue]

Chiliboy, seriously? Clearly a quota selection but hey, what's a Bok jersey worth anyway? Did he even play for the Bulls this year? Will he become captain again when Smit goes off? What a joke.

Pathetic isn't it. There are five better hookers than him including Maku who is the Bulls backup who I thought was excellent. The best SA hookers this year were Gary Botha and the Stormers bloke. Both excellent. I hope one of them covers the bok bench.

Imagine in training what other players must think of this guy who rocks up out of nowhere and gets handed a jersey.

 

[en_force_er]

Yeah, I don't get Chiliboy's selection either.

Is Maku injured? He is just as dark skinned and twice the player. That being said he isn't really Springbok material either.

 

[fatprop]

Amen. Good enough Super winger. Can't see him ever being test class. He does everything really well but nothing exceptional. Having said that he is better than the bloke on the other wing - The wrong twin.

Basson on the other hand is a very exciting player. Hope he sees some game time.

Rod Kafer on the Aus rugby club show highlighted that for the Stormers most of their kick return counter started from Aplon's work

 

[PaarlBok]

Myself obvious a bit biased but excited with the Stormers trio's debut. Muskiet (Aplon) is the kind of attacker that understand space and break lines easily. Have no problem with his pick and he deserve his place. He was huge for the Stormers this year. Test rugby maybe a bit tighter but you need this kind of attacker, he can turn a tight test on its head. The biggest test is for Juan de Jongh. He'll be up against that Roberts giant who nearly ruined the BIL party. Would have trust juans defense with Grant but dunno about Pienaars defense? Pretty confident Flo (F Louw) will grow in a monster pretty quick on test level. The kid have it in his vains, Jan "Bul"l Pickhard a WP and Bok legend's grand child.

Pickhard's Bok Profile

Jan Pickard
Full names: Jan Albertus Jacobus
Date of birth: 25 Dec 1927
Place of birth: Paarl, South Africa
School: Paarl Gimnasium
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.91m, 106.6kg
Date of death: 30 May 1998 (Age 70)

Test summary: Tests: 4 Tries: 0
First Test: 19 Sep 1953 Age:25 Lock against Australia at Kingsmead, Durban
Last Test: 16 Aug 1958 Age:30 Lock against France at Ellispark, Johannesburg

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
19 Sep 1953 25 Lock Australia Win: 18-8 Kingsmead, Durban WP
26 Sep 1953 25 Lock Australia Win: 22-9 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth WP
04 Aug 1956 28 Eighthman New Zealand Win: 8-3 Athletic Park, Wellington WP
16 Aug 1958 30 Lock France Lose: 5-9 Ellispark, Johannesburg WP

Jan Bull Pickard by Doc Craven
One day I happened to be watching the Maties third team playing when I saw a big fellow, hair longer than was customary in those days, playing at fullback. And, although he played well, I could sense that there was something wrong.

Mr Markotter came along and said: "Danie, that big, clumsy chap will make a very good forward - that is where he will become a Springbok." He was duly moved to forward and that is where Jan Pickard gained his Bok colours.

Jan was Jan. No one could tell him what to do - he wouldn't listen anyway. He wanted to do things his own way.

When Western Province played he had the habit of keeping a few opponents busy by making them so cross that they would want to work him over. He had a unique style for a forward, often standing among the backs and when the ball came out he would make the extra man.

If you left him to his own devices, let him have his own way, Jan Pickard was brilliant. Jan subsequently proved himself in the business world as he did on the rugby field. People like Jan who can make decisions and take chances, will make a success of everything they do.

Jan Pickard is a financial genius and that is one of the reasons why Western Province are in the sound financial position they are today. With Jan Pickard as chairman, particularly of the finance committee, it is not surprising. It's also not surprising that Western Province's golden period in the early '80's came about with Jan at the helm.

Pickhardt also donate the plot where Paarl Gym High School is located in Paarl. He started the Pickardie group and Paarl Rock Wines came from them.

 

[Blue]

Paarl I think you overrate Aplon. I hope I am wrong. He did stuff well, low mistake count. But does he do much that really impacts the game? Not sure about that. He won't let the side down. I agree on that.

I am quietly confident about de Jongh. He has the goods. Not worried about Pienaar's one on one tackling. It's whether they can look after the 10/12 channel together that's a concern. I think they missed a trick here. When the Butch thing went down they should have sent Grant out there and moved Pienaar to 9. Roberts might fancy himself running back inside at Pienaar. As long as Potgieter plays the same role as Schalk in defense, sweeping around the back, it should be okay. This is where Januarie is a MASSIVE liability. Duvenhage made some telling tackles for the Stormers. Ricky slips tackles. Regularly. Too fat to get down.

 

[PaarlBok]

Paarl I think you overrate Aplon. I hope I am wrong. He did stuff well, low mistake count. But does he do much that really impacts the game? Not sure about that. He won't let the side down. I agree on that.

I am quietly confident about de Jongh. He has the goods. Not worried about Pienaar's one on one tackling. It's whether they can look after the 10/12 channel together that's a concern. I think they missed a trick here. When the Butch thing went down they should have sent Grant out there and moved Pienaar to 9. Roberts might fancy himself running back inside at Pienaar. As long as Potgieter plays the same role as Schalk in defense, sweeping around the back, it should be okay. This is where Januarie is a MASSIVE liability. Duvenhage made some telling tackles for the Stormers. Ricky slips tackles. Regularly. Too fat to get down.

As much as I dont like Pie Eater, he sure is a kind of a in your face dogged type of scrummy. But we all know all things start at the engine room, tight 5. Holding tumbs there and thats where we need to control, first phase, Pie Eater just have to do what scrummies suppose to be doing, get the pill in Pienaars hands.

Well cant wait to see them going, going to be a tough nut and just praying the 1st XV players like Matfield, Smit, Mossie dont break down in this no meaning money spinner.

 

[PaarlBok]

Great win by the Bokke. Was a bit worried at the start but then our lot took control and great debuts for the Stormers trio. Thought Juan and Flo was great. Problems for Snor now, who to pick and who to leave out. Oh and the scrumming was much better then last year against the Jonesses. Looking forward to the Haan test this weekend on Newlands. An account to be recon with them.

 

[rustycruiser]

de Villiers tried his best to lose the game by needlessly emptying the bench again. Shades of the Lions Test last year. Apparently he has a short memory. Most people learn from their mistakes, and try not to repeat them. Dewald Potgieter, Juan de Jongh, and Francois Louw had good games. Wales looked dominant in the first 20, but faded after that and it was pretty much all Boks, other than gifting them late tries due to the shoddy subbing.