Springbok Squad for TRC

[Brisbok]

Backs: Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Jean de Villiers (captain)

Forwards: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Juandre Kruger,Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane,Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Duane Vermeulen

 

[Brisbok]

Largely as expected, Fourie du Preez a bit of a surprise, Gurthro Steenkamp also hasn't been mentioned much. Interested to see which 9 Meyer goes with. I think most of us could already name 13 of the 15 starters. Question marks are at 9 and 15.

Edit - also a question mark over one wing position with JPP out. Will Meyer consider moving Willie le Roux to 14 where he plays with the Cheetahs and go with Kirchner or possibly even Lambie at 15?

 

[The Red Baron]

Did Nyakane get the call up for the June tests?

 

[Brisbok]

Did Nyakane get the call up for the June tests?

Yes, he played off the bench in at least two of the tests and scored a try in one of them if I remember correctly.

 

[The Red Baron]

Thanks for the info Brisbok Nyakane has had a pretty good season, and seems quite a capable prop.

Pretty 'safe' squad picked there, and, as you said, to be expected. Meyer seems to go with what he knows and rarely deviates. Would have been nice to see Ebersohn get a run, but there are still a number of talented backs in that squad.

I think one problem with Meyers mindset is that he can be too conservative, and tends to rely on players whose best are behind them.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Backs: Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Jean de Villiers (captain)

Forwards: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Juandre Kruger,Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane,Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Duane Vermeulen

Predicted lineup?
Beast, Strauss, du Plessis, Etzebeth, Flip, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Pienaar, Steyn, Habana, JdV, JdJ, le Roux, Kirchner
Battleship, Coenie, Nyakane, Franco, Kolisi, Vermaak, Lambie, Serfontein

 

[Brisbok]

Predicted lineup?
Beast, Strauss, du Plessis, Etzebeth, Flip, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Pienaar, Steyn, Habana, JdV, JdJ, le Roux, Kirchner
Battleship, Coenie, Nyakane, Franco, Kolisi, Vermaak, Lambie, Serfontein

That will be pretty close to the mark I reckon RC. The only differences I believe will be at 5 and 13. I suspect Juandre Kruger may start in the 2nd row along with Etzebeth, with Flip dropping to the bench.

At 13 I am sure Meyer will go with Engelbrecht over de Jongh, who may find himself on the bench, or out of the match day squad completely (rightly or wrongly).

 

[Blue]

Kirchner. Jaysus.

Fourie Dup. Wtf? Not that I mind really would be good to see what sort of shape he is in.

Can understand Steenkamp. There is little real depth at LH other than Beast and Coenie who is seen as the backup TH as well.

Would like to see Lambie at 15 and Willie at 14.

Kirchner. Fark.

Hope Duane will be okay else they have to play Alberts at 8.

Most unlucky players? Brussow and especially Lappies Lab.

Franco vd Merwe is there because we have no depth at 5. Etsebeth has to learn the trade as the no 5 lock. I am sure he will but he is not ready to call the lineouts yet.

It's all moot anyway because we'll play Meyerball.

 

[Deputy Van Halen]

From an outsiders perspective it's baffling how Brussow doesn't get picked, easily one of the form players in the S15 this year I reckon. Is size really prioritised above all else?

 

[Rassie]

Kirchner. Jaysus.

Fourie Dup. Wtf? Not that I mind really would be good to see what sort of shape he is in.

Can understand Steenkamp. There is little real depth at LH other than Beast and Coenie who is seen as the backup TH as well.

Would like to see Lambie at 15 and Willie at 14.

Kirchner. Fark.

Hope Duane will be okay else they have to play Alberts at 8.

Most unlucky players? Brussow and especially Lappies Lab.

Franco vd Merwe is there because we have no depth at 5. Etsebeth has to learn the trade as the no 5 lock. I am sure he will but he is not ready to call the lineouts yet.

It's all moot anyway because we'll play Meyerball.

Our game is so much dependent on a 9 that can kick with accuracy to create space in the back field that Meyer had no choice.

Under Meyer do not expect much away victories. He set his team up for home games. Where Jake White tended to set it up for away games. You can see a bit of that rubbed of on Allistair Coetzee.

 

[Rassie]

From an outsiders perspective it's baffling how Brussow doesn't get picked, easily one of the form players in the S15 this year I reckon. Is size really prioritised above all else?

Is a fetcher in the game so important to a team who prefers less possession, territorial advantage and minimizing risk? Look at Super Rugby a center is the turnover King with a fetcher distant seconds with 8 less turn overs

 

[Sidbarret]

Predicted lineup?
Beast, Strauss, du Plessis, Etzebeth, Flip, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen, Pienaar, Steyn, Habana, JdV, JdJ, le Roux, Kirchner
Battleship, Coenie, Nyakane, Franco, Kolisi, Vermaak, Lambie, Serfontein

Close-

Think Meyer will go with

Beast
Strauss
Du Plessis
Etzebeth
Flip Van der Merwe / Kruger
Louw
Alberts
Vermeulen

Du Preez
Steyn
Basson / Le Roux / Engelbrecht
De Villiers / Serfontein
Engelbrecht / De Villiers
Habana
Le Roux / Kirchner

Bsmarck
Steenkamp
Oosthuizen
Flip / Kruger
Coetzee
Pienaar
Lambie
Serfortein / Basson / Engelbrecht


Only real issue is at wing where Meyer has to decide between Basson (who played all three June tests), Le Roux (with Kirchner slotting back in at fullback) or bringing in Serfontein and moving the centres out one.

 

[Rassie]

^I would like to see Serfontein at 13

 

[biltong]

I see Meyer is insisting Coenie will be converted to tight head, it isn't going to work.

IF Meyer is continuing to select overseas players or those moving overseas, will he use November tours as an experiment to find new talent?

Fourie du Preez and Gurthro Steenkamp for me is not good selections, neither are the future of Bok rugby.

 

[Sidbarret]

I see Meyer is insisting Coenie will be converted to tight head, it isn't going to work.

IF Meyer is continuing to select overseas players or those moving overseas, will he use November tours as an experiment to find new talent?

Fourie du Preez and Gurthro Steenkamp for me is not good selections, neither are the future of Bok rugby.

I'm fine with Du Preez's inclusion, he is the same age as Carter, Nonu and C Smith. I think there are similarities between him and G Smith. Both went backwards during their last few seasons in the SH due to injuries, but some time off in Japan might just be what they needed to recover and refocus. South Africa is very thin on scrumhalves at the moment, a situation that it made worse by Meyer insisting on kicking a lot from the base, when the best local talent are running and passing scrumhalves (Francois Hougaard, Pretorius and Van Zyl).

Guthro (only a year older) is bad selection. I think we are well covered on the loose head with Beast, Nyakane and Kitchoff.

 

[Rassie]

I'm fine with Du Preez's inclusion, he is the same age as Carter, Nonu and C Smith. I think there are similarities between him and G Smith. Both went backwards during their last few seasons in the SH due to injuries, but some time off in Japan might just be what they needed to recover and refocus. South Africa is very thin on scrumhalves at the moment, a situation that it made worse by Meyer insisting on kicking a lot from the base, when the best local talent are running and passing scrumhalves (Francois Hougaard, Pretorius and Van Zyl).

Guthro (only a year older) is bad selection. I think we are well covered on the loose head with Beast, Nyakane and Kitchoff.

We are not thin on scrum halves. We have heaps of them. Its just the way we play and the need for certain skill set that is the problem. Instead we just accept the inevitable and change the way we play and change the structures and try something new. Now our effectiveness is dependent on replacing the key player.

PDivvy and Meyer are running White's idea to bits. One can imagine how successful you will be when sides had 9 years a look at you and worked you out. Not to even mention the laws that even make it more difficult.