Springboks out with the old & in with the new?

[disco]

Can Matfield & Bekker be paired up for the Springboks or will PDV stick with the Matfield-Botha combo?

If PDV went off Super rugby form then Matfield & Botha would be dropped for the Stormers pair of Bekker & Elstadt.

Brussow proved how important he is for the Boks RWC chances & he was sorely missed in 2010 but the problem facing PDV & the Boks is do they stick with the old guard or bring in the new.

Bismarc is the best hooker in world rugby & Smit is not in the top 4 props in South africa I think PDV has to let him go & make a decision on who will lead the Boks in NZ.

Matfield should be captain but surely Bekker has earnt his spot in the run on side & have Bakkies off the bench.

Fourie Du Preez was the best player in world rugby only two years ago & he's just comeback from a long injury lay off so he just needs time I'm pretty sure if he stay's injury free this season he'll be firing for the world cup.

 

[Blue]

All good questions but way too early to really answer any of them.

Matfield and Botha are woefully out of form and Botha is likely to be suspended again.

Don't think Elstadt will make it. We are unlikely to go to the World Cup with a rookie lock, or any bolters for that matter. We have Botha, Matfield, Bekker, Rossouw and Flip vd Merwe and those will be the WC locks barring injury.

The Smit issue is a huge headache. A massive one. I personally think he needs to be cut loose.

The Bok management and most SA punters believe you cannot start Matfield and Bekker together. Too similar and I tend to agree.

The back row I would like to see will be Brussow, Burger, Alberts but again, the obsession with Spies will probably not see that happen. He has been absolutely piss poor and should be dropped to the bench by the Bulls. Kankowski is also not suited to the hard grind and we may well see Juan back in time.

Overall I think we are unlikely to see many surprises and we are likely to go to the Cup with the old guard whether that's good or bad remains to be seen.

 

[Doc]

Smit has never been the best hooker in SA, rarely been the best at the Sharks. But I conceded they were right to go with him after 07. Will be an interesting issue.

Honestly don't think the Boks have snowballs chance in 11, but that might change if they pick a team on form, something they probably have never done in their history.

 

[Bruce Ross]

The Bok management and most SA punters believe you cannot start Matfield and Bekker together. Too similar and I tend to agree.

Blue, I am aware of the general South African tendency to pair a leaper and a bruiser in the second row. Let me pose a hypothetical question:

If Victor Matfield had had an identical twin would you and most South Africans have opposed picking both twins in the same team when they were at their peak?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It was interesting listening to James Horwill in the podcast last night and he was asked the specific question about the make up of a locking partnership. He seemed to agree that the Saffer system of the athletic lineout jumper and the round the ground "rock shifter" (as Bakkies apparently refers to it) was the conventional wisdom. I would take two Matfield's at their peak in a heart beat, for what it's worth.

As far as the Boks go, as much as I rate Smit as a captain and all round good bloke, surely Bismark is the guy at 2. John is not a great prop and there are plenty of other guys who can play there: Beast, du Plessis, Steenkamp et al.

The back row is harder. For me, it depends on the fitness of Smith. If he's there, it doesn't matter as much who else they select, he's that important. Brussow has to play if he maintains his current form, because the Boks really missed a genuine fetcher last year. Someone has to go toe to toe with McCaw and Pocock.

 

[Blue]

Bruce:

Completely agree. I would take Matfield squared any day. My view on Bekker is that he is more than physical enough to play as the rockmover and Matfield can play tight if need be, I would start them together.

Brown hornet;

My preferred back row has always been Brussow and Juan with Schalk at 8. Enough said on Smit. He should be on the bench as his versatility is a great asset. Nobody in the world can play all three positions as well as he does. He may not be the best in any of the fattie roles but being able to hold his own is a fantastic advantage on the bench.

 

[Scotty]

Brussow should just about be the first picked for the Boks. The difference without him last year was stark. If he keeps going like he did last week he could be rated ahead of McCaw by years end.

Would FdP be the likely captain if Smit isn't picked?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Brown hornet;

My preferred back row has always been Brussow and Juan with Schalk at 8. Enough said on Smit. He should be on the bench as his versatility is a great asset. Nobody in the world can play all three positions as well as he does. He may not be the best in any of the fattie roles but being able to hold his own is a fantastic advantage on the bench.

I tend to agree with that. A good balance of ball running, enforcer skills and fetching, like a good back row should have.

 

[rustycruiser]

Brussow should just about be the first picked for the Boks. The difference without him last year was stark. If he keeps going like he did last week he could be rated ahead of McCaw by years end.

Would FdP be the likely captain if Smit isn't picked?

Matfield, Jean de Villiers, and Juan Smith would captain before Fourie. From what I read in John Smits biography FdP is very quiet and doesn't take to the captain's role (see the Bulls in 2008).

My first choice back row would also be Brussow, Juan, Schalk. With Juan out injured, Brussow, Schalk, Alberts.

 

[Gnostic]

The only problem with Matfield squared is that with two lots of chicken legs your scrum would be essentially depowered.

Agree with the others regarding best backrow with Spies on the bench to cover all three spots. Come RWC time the Bok will miss J. Smith at least as much as they Brussow last year.

Last point I wouldn't rate De Plesis as the best Hooker in the World. It is arguable for sure but I would personally take TPN and Meelamu before him.

 

[spectator]

The back row I would like to see will be Brussow, Burger, Alberts

That is, quite simply, scary! Huge, agressive and mobile.

And if Smith is fit...holy hell!

 

[PaarlBok]

The Bok WC team is pretty much cast in stone. Snor wont change that easy and players from the outside will have to play out of their skin to get in. Think its rather easier to find those borderline players.
The squad will be
Frans Steyn, Aplon, Habana, JP Pietersen, (Basson/Mvovo), Jac Fourie, Jean de Villiers, JdJ, (Olivier), Morne Steyn (Lampie/Butch), FdP , Januarie, Hougaard, Spies, Kankowski, Juan, Alberts, Schalk, Brussouw, Bekker, Matfield, Bakkies, (Rossouw/Klein Flippie), Jannie Doep, CJ vd Linde, John Smith, Battleship, Beast , Guthro

 

[spectator]

No Kirshner?

 

[PaarlBok]

No Kirshner?

Maybe. Aplon probably the better pick because of his versatility and bring much needed flair to the Bok team.

 

[Blue]

The only problem with Matfield squared is that with two lots of chicken legs your scrum would be essentially depowered.

Agree with the others regarding best backrow with Spies on the bench to cover all three spots. Come RWC time the Bok will miss J. Smith at least as much as they Brussow last year.

Last point I wouldn't rate De Plesis as the best Hooker in the World. It is arguable for sure but I would personally take TPN and Meelamu before him.

Agreed until your last sentence. Bismarck is head and shoulders above the others.

TPN has not played enough rugby in the last two years to make any claim to anything. He needs to stay healthy for a whole season then we can look at it again.

Kev is all class, but for impact around the park, Bismarck does it all.

 

[Blue]

No Kirshner?

Steyn because a 60m penalty on the 80th minute could win the Cup.

Oh and he is a better fullback anyway. I know Australians don't rate him (especially thsoe whon have not seen first hand how much he means to the Racing Metro team) but he fits the mould of a Bok fullback 100%

Bold prediction: Morney Steyn will not be the starting Bok 10 come World Cup I will even put a lazy 10 on it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Agreed until your last sentence. Bismarck is head and shoulders above the others.

TPN has not played enough rugby in the last two years to make any claim to anything. He needs to stay healthy for a whole season then we can look at it again.

Kev is all class, but for impact around the park, Bismarck does it all.

Battleship is a monster. No team can play without him. Many think Brussouw was missed last year, we miss him more then Brussouw, do three mens job. Take him out the Sharks team and they are done.

 

[PaarlBok]

Steyn because a 60m penalty on the 80th minute could win the Cup.

Oh and he is a better fullback anyway. I know Australians don't rate him (especially thsoe whon have not seen first hand how much he means to the Racing Metro team) but he fits the mould of a Bok fullback 100%

Bold prediction: Morney Steyn will not be the starting Bok 10 come World Cup I will even put a lazy 10 on it.

Who will be the Bok 10?

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Battleship is a monster. No team can play without him. Many think Brussouw was missed last year, we miss him more then Brussouw, do three mens job. Take him out the Sharks team and they are done.

Agreed. He's a terrific player.

 

[whatty]

Who will be the Bok 10?

Either lampie or Grant imo. Butch wont make the squad