Springbok Watch

[Rassie]

Our ruck cleaning was bad. You can have any 9 but if the rucks dont get cleaned, he'll play like dog shite.We need Brussouw urgently. Vok I cant understand why he isnt in the team. Madness.

Its Meyer. He don't like midgets

 

[Mank]

Cleaning our attacking rucks, or pilfering opposition ball? Difference.

 

[PaarlBok]

Cleaning our attacking rucks, or pilfering opposition ball? Difference.

Playing to the ball means you have to do the two duties anyway. Brussouw is a tiger playing to the ball, by far the best one in SA.

 

[USARugger]

Still have the feeling that Hougaard was always much stronger on the wing than at 9. He's got world class quickness but never looked 'in control' at 9.

 

[Sidbarret]

Louw has been from the squad as he due to get married on Sunday.

F Steyn did the same thing last year. Personally I think this bullshit. Sure this is just a job to the guys, but this is test rugby, surely they could have done this any other time of the year.

 

[USARugger]

Yes because a game totally overrides a sanctimonious oath to another individual which is 'supposed' to be upheld for their entire lives.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

Louw has been from the squad as he due to get married on Sunday.

F Steyn did the same thing last year. Personally I think this bullshit. Sure this is just a job to the guys, but this is test rugby, surely they could have done this any other time of the year.

I agree, Did abit of research and saw that Flouw said he wanted to play but HM told him to take a couple of days off. Something about HM building balanced people and not just rugby players or some nonsense like that.

 

[PaarlBok]

I am not to worried about Flo's honeymoon, he may injured himself. Best time now to have a look at the full squad and give others a chance against the skirt wearers. JdV , Habana, Steyn and Jannie should be rested for this one.

 

[Braveheart81]

. Best time now to have a look at the full squad and give others a chance against the skirt wearers.

Are you referring to Scotland or Samoa or both?

 

[Mank]

Yes because a game totally overrides a sanctimonious oath to another individual which is 'supposed' to be upheld for their entire lives.

It does in South Africa

 

[Sidbarret]

The Springbok team to face Scotland in Nelspruit (with province and caps) is:

15. Willie le Roux (GWK Griquas, 1)
14. Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province, 84)
13. JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2)
12. Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province, 85)
11. Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 7)
10. Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 43)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N-Ireland, 64)
8. Pierre Spies (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 51)
7. Arno Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 1)
6. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks, 13)
5. Juandré Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 9)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province, 12)
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks, 43)
2. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, Toyota FS Cheetahs, 22)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks, 42)
Replacements
16. Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks, 46)
17. Trevor Nyakane (Toyota FS Cheetahs, 1)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota FS Cheetahs,3)
19. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 24)
20. Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province, 0)
21. Piet van Zyl (Toyota FS Cheetahs, 0)
22. Pat Lambie (The Sharks, 21)
23. Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls, 1)

So Meyer has opted against rotating players with the only changes being Pienaar coming in for the injured Jano Vermaak and Coetzee replacing groom-to-be Louw. Kolisi and Van Zyl move onto the bench.

It shouldn't be problem for this game, but a really underwhelming loose quartet. I am a fan of both Coetzee and Kolisi, but they are not in form. Spies is shit. On the other hand, Arno Botha played well last week, hope to see more of him.

 

[RoffsChoice]

If I'm not mistaken, Arno Botha is an openside? If so, why two opensides?

 

[Sidbarret]

If I'm not mistaken, Arno Botha is an openside? If so, why two opensides?

It appears your mistaken on two counts. Neither Coetzee or Botha are opensides, rather hard-working, if nor very big blindsides.

ps. Coetzee will pack down on the openside.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Size is one of the reasons, I just always thought Coetzee was an openside given how often he packs there

 

[Sidbarret]

Size is one of the reasons, I just always thought Coetzee was an openside given how often he packs there

Fucken 191cm 105kg midget. (according to the Sharks website, don't believe he's that tall personally).

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree that Coetzee has struggled for form this year compared to his breakout season in 2012. I'd still leave him in the Springboks team though.

The only backrow player I'd change is Spies. He's always been a bit of a flat track bully but when he is out of form he doesn't do that and goes completely missing against tough opposition.

 

[PaarlBok]

I agree that Coetzee has struggled for form this year compared to his breakout season in 2012. I'd still leave him in the Springboks team though.

The only backrow player I'd change is Spies. He's always been a bit of a flat track bully but when he is out of form he doesn't do that and goes completely missing against tough opposition.

Spoes is nowhere, dont even shine on S15 level, needs to go to 7s like Kankowski. Again I'll chuck in Brussouw in the 6,7,8 positions.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sport24

After appearing on the fringes of the Springbok rugby team for most of 2012, flanker Siyamthanda Kolisi’s patience and determination will finally pay off on Saturday.
The hard-hitting player, who could not contain his excitement following his selection on the bench for the Test against Scotland in Nelspruit, said the first thing he would do was phone his father.
“He is going to be more emotional than me, I mean I am the first Springbok from the township where I come from,” Kolisi said after being told of his inclusion on Wednesday.
“He is going to be a very proud dad, and he is going to cry a bit and I will probably join him.
“I am really happy but it isn’t only about me, it is about everybody that’s been supporting me everyone in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.”
Kolisi, who hailed from the Zwide township in Port Elizabeth, rose to prominence when he aptly filled the boots of the injured Schalk Burger for the Stormers in last year’s Super Rugby season.
His work ethic and strong ball carries soon caught the attention of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer and he was rewarded with a call-up to the Springbok squad for the June international Test series against England.
Kolisi, however, had to be content with the exposure he received by being part of the squad as he did not make any of the match-day sides.
He also part of the Rugby Championships squad, but was released to Western Province to play Currie Cup rugby.
The 21-year-old’s dream year came to an abrupt halt when he broke his right thumb in the Currie Cup match against the Golden Lions at the end of August, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Kolisi had since picked up where he left off last year and said he had been motivated by the faith shown in him by Meyer last year.
“He’s always been backing me and that is why I’ve always stayed positive. He’s been encouraging me all the time,” Kolisi said.
“It is a huge privilege but I kind of knew it would come somewhere along the line.”
Kolisi said it had been an arduous process recovering from the injury and getting back to the level which earned him his first call-up.
However, it had all been worthwhile after putting in the hard yards during this season’s Super Rugby.
He said he looked forward to pulling the Springbok jersey over his head and representing his country.
“It is a great thing for me and I have to be a role model,” he said beaming with pride.
“As a Springbok, it is not only about rugby, it’s the things you do off the field.”
While Kolisi was a superb ball-carrier, he admitted he still needed to work at the fetching facet of his play, which was an integral part of an openside flanker’s armour.
Meyer on Tuesday said his young openside flankers such as Kolisi and Marcell Coetzee needed to show they could fulfil a fetcher role as well.
“I spoke to both Siya and Marcell and if they want to play there, they need to show they can play a specialist role,” Meyer said.
“We also have a guy like Heinrich Brussow and, if one of these guys doesn’t show he can play a specialist openside role, then there is no reason why Brussow can’t come into the mix.”
Kolisi said with hard work he was certain he would master the role.
“I am willing to learn and I am willing to do anything to stay in the team and it will be better for my rugby,” Kolisi said.
“I will be a more versatile loose forward and I will definitely work on it and do my best at it.”

 

[The Red Baron]

That really is an uninspiring midfield. I understand why de Villiers is there, but I really don't rate Engelbrecht. Not when there are plenty of better options.

 

[Rassie]

Here is a idea why not move Serfontein to center, put JJ on the wing and get Basson who is slower than Engelbrecht anyway a place on the "your out of form bench"?