Keegan Daniel’s inclusion into the Springbok team at No 8 was one of five changes to the Bok side which last played against England at the end of June.
Daniel comes in for the injured Pierre Spies, and coach Heyneke Meyer said the young player would provide the team with “that X-factor”.
Sport24
“Pierre is one of the senior players and when you lose an experienced player like him it’s a big setback,” Meyer said at the team announcement here on Wednesday.
“But I’m glad for Keegan because it’s a big opportunity for him and I’d like to see him taking it with both hands.
“It is a step up for Keegan, but he has really been playing well. I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level. He’s got an X-factor about him.
“It will be a hard, physical game on Saturday and we are looking to Keegan to bring that (X-factor) that can make a difference.
“He’s got to run from the back, as the No 8 covers from the back, so it’s going to be a big challenge. He was good against a physical team like the Chiefs and also against the top defensive team, the Stormers.”
Spies’s absence brings to six the number Bok loose forwards on the injury list, and Meyer said he had to carefully ponder the selection options for Saturday’s showdown.
“I did consider moving Willem Alberts to No 8 so that Jacques Potgieter could come in on the blindside flank. Such a move would have given us more ball carriers.
“But Marcell Coetzee is not a specialist openside flanker and he carries the ball a lot, so I think we are covered when it comes to big ball carriers.”
Meyer also had to make a brave call at lock. That resulted in dropping the capable Juandré Kruger, who ran the Bok lineouts against England. Andries Bekker will take over that role on Saturday.
“I had a difficult decision at lock and dropping Juandré wasn’t easy,” said Meyer.
“He is a good player and he did not let us down against England, so he is a bit unlucky. However, Andries is an extremely talented player and this game is at his home ground – Newlands – so that swayed it.
“I went with Flip van der Merwe as the cover on the bench because he’s been outstanding when he’s come [on] as a replacement in the Bulls’ matches. Also if something happened to Andries, Flip is very capable of making the lineout calls.
“There has always been a question-mark over (the fitness of) Eben (Etzebeth) and I would have opted for a 5-2 split on the bench, but with JP (Pietersen) out I could not do so.”
Two of the reserves, prop Pat Cilliers and Bulls three-quarter JJ Engelbrecht, are the new caps in the squad. Meyer said he kept an eye on their progress and felt the time was right to blood them at international level.
“It has been a while in coming, but they have both earned their places with good performances,” said Meyer.
“Pat hasn’t been playing a lot of rugby, but I am looking forward to seeing what he can do against a great pack like the Pumas have.
“We can never have enough experience and players can only gain experience by playing.”
@ StormersboySpringbokJan:
My old white Cortina (CAY 2629) still runs around CL, would you believe, belongs to the erstwhile honourable rector prof. Brink, I sold it to him when he was still first year at Rhodes Uni.
PumaSpringbokJan wrote:
Morning Puma, now that i read this , it reminded me what a staunch Bull supporter had to say last night somewhere else. True the Sharks played their best rugby at the end of the season and the Bulls played shite at the end, but the Stormers played shyte all year :LOL:
In all honesty my Bulls team very seldom excited ME this year although we ended higher than the Sharks(that cost us dearly though)and the Sharks peaked at the right time.
What makes me wonder is how we all of a sudden have a coach going for players in form, and doing a lot of experimenting. Did HM negotiate a secret clause a unspoken one where he is allowed like the 2 previous coaches to be rated after the WC?
In the sentence above i said “a coach going for players in form” , what happened to the “class is permanent”
Remember I look beyond the Puma test, this team WONT scare the All Blacks and Australia.
Will the Kings/Lions saga finally come to a head today, or will they manage to find another reason to delay decision. We should know very soon!
Meeting is over – Kings in, Lions out for a year
If Kings only guaranteed a spot for 1 year, where will they ever hope to find decent players. None of the top players are going to sign under such circumstances. Laughable, and Kings really will be the laughing stock in the next S15
Elton kom Kaap toe!
Josh too, and Jaco and Pat.
🙂
Elton gaan Vrystaat toe Goosen en Josh kom kaap toe
One of the poorest selections I’ve ever seen. The Pumas are going to break this little man in half.
Springboks to end a distant third in the tournament losing to the Pumas in Argentina, as well as both tests in Australia and NZ, as well as the AB test in Soweto.
69 @ Scrumdown:
Jeez you making it sound all doom and gloom. Remember Sharks had a light weight loose trio and it was that loose trio that done it for us. Well yes, our tight five too, but our fast loosies were awesome.
Just wait and see how we do mate, think we should beat Arg home and away and beat Oz home and away. We will probably lose to NZ on their turf but I think we could beat them at FNB.
Don’t underestimate Keegan. He is a superb player and punches above his weight. Brilliant at the back of the scrum and is one of the best South African players in off-loading in the tackle.
If our half backs can produce some good rugby we will do well.
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