With less than 90 days to go before the Springboks have to defend their title in New Zealand and the squad reduced to 37, the debates will start flowing towards which players are currently out of form and will really need to start showing some willingness and ability to appease the supporters on whether they deserve to go to the World Cup.
The following players for me is where the most important issues lie:
When looking at John Smit, the debate on whether he is still a first choice player and whether his leadership is still vital to the success of a World Cup campaign continues. I am of the opinion that between switching from prop to hooker on a continual basis has not done him any favours. He is most definitely not an international standard prop and most definitely not amongst our best hookers. Sure, he is still a quality player, but when a guy like Bismarck du Plessis sits on the bench and is regarded world wide as probably the best hooker in world rugby, the question is, how much do we gain from his leadership vs leaving Bismarck du Plessis on the bench.
Fourie du Preez over the past 2 years have had a horrid time with injuries, so much so that it has severely effected his form when he did get the chance to play. We currently have a number of players who are in top form that can cover his position. Guys like Sarel Pretorius, Dewald Duvenhage and Jano Vermaak are all players who may not have the international experience of Fourie du Preez, but has been putting their hands up during the last 18 months. Not to mention Francois Hougaardt who has made a big difference to the Bulls back line in the last few weeks. He seems to get their line on the front foot better than Fourie du Preez and I think is partly the reason why the Bulls have become a threat over the past few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, Fourie du Preez is a great player, but to me he seems to have lost his effectiveness with his box kicking, he is forever complaining to the referee, and just doesn’t seem as confident anymore.
Bryan Habana looks to have the confidence of a six year old who is constantly being berated by his father. Where Habana in the past has been very effective with the kick chase, his ability to read a game and do those “miracle” intercepts, he is now just another player trying too hard to regain form. His hands are not good anymore, in the past he would hang on to 50/50 passes, I can’t remember when last he chased a kick successfully and caused a turn over of possession, he struggles to find gaps in defence. Compare that to Bjorn Basson who must be the best player of a high ball in the Super XV this year. His form is ridiculous. He is a finisher, reads the game well and shows some very good skills.
There is not much to say about Butch James, we all know he has experience and we all know what he can do, but with Morne Steyn starting to look the part, and Patrick Lambie who is a future star, there is no need for Butch.
Wynand Olivier is a conundrum if there ever was one. He seems to be able to somehow stay in the picture when it counts most. His form is varying and I just don’t like him. When you expect him to pass to the supporting player at crucial times he doesn’t, when you expect him to be solid on defence, he misses a tackle. Then as soon as you accept he is just a decent player and should not be in a international jumper, he does something you don’t expect of him. Besides all that, he is at best only a replacement for Jean de Villiers.
These are the guys that concern me, they are all good players, but the question remains, what does an out of form experienced player bring to the table, that a less experienced player who is in great form and in some cases the best in their position doesn’t.
My feeling is that if we want to defend our RWC title successfully we need experience, we need leadership and most of all we need fit players who are in form. None of the players selected in the squad of 37 should let you down. They have proven their worth, but in some cases picking a player out of form might not be the trade off that will win crucial matches.
We need to go with experience and form.
Also don’t got to war without your leader ever. John must go to NZ.
Bissie is great, but we have to remember too, he gives away penalties, yellow cards and is not the best line out thrower, he has cost Sharks there plenty this season. But in the loose he is brilliant. John scrums better than Bissie and his throw-ins are better as well. He also brings Leadership with him.
Sharks turn around on Saturday was not only cause of Bissie. The whole bench came on at the same time. A lot also had to do with all those other players. Adi alone made a massive difference.
The John bashing just never stops. Shameful actually.
Biltongbek, you are not bashing John there in your article. Rather giving your opinion in a respectful manner. In my post above I am talking about other bloggers on other blogs. Not many just some.
Ash, see only you and I are logged on. Good morning boeta.
Will catch up later once more have logged on.
@ Puma:
Morning Puma, don’t get me wrong, I have a huge amount of respect for John smit. I just wonder about how much do we need his leadership. In my opinion there are other senior first choice players that do have very strong leadership qualities and have been part of the 2007 campaign.
Our midfield combination in Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie are a very capable influence on any backline.
In the forwards you have Victor and Bakkies, not to mention Juan Smith if available. So the trade off needs to be good.
In your honest opinion do you think John is going to the world cup due to his leadership, or because he is one of our best hookers?
puma @ 3
morning pums … been busy for a while … chat later!!
😀 its almost like the schalk brits/ john smit debate all over again!!
yes, its gonna be interesting over the next few weeks debating points like smit vs birthmark (lol, saw one of the bloggers call him that this morning!!)
..
i would go for jsmit, not only for his leadership, but because he do the things that a hooker needs to do, better than bissie!! yes, bissie brings a lot of other things to the table,
but
come the knock-out stages of the wc, you need someone there who would give you confidence that he’ll get the basics right ie. line-out throws, scrummaging etc.
Many many many points to be made. Which ones are valid, which ones are not?
Before I continue, I want to make a “definition change”. Experience in my view means being solid with a Stomach of Steel, having proving you can mix it with the best. Even when you are going for the biggest prize in your code in front of thousands of live and millions of televised viewers.
Ok, lets break it down by first stating the obvious and going on from there.
1.) We want to win the World Cup. Everyone wants to – how do we do that?
2.) We could have one of the most experienced squads ever to go to a WC – should we?
3.) Many of the “experienced players” and the coach is on their way out – is this relevant?
4.) We need BOTH form and experience – who has this?
5.) Flair RARELY wins you a WC in ANY sport. Point in case, the All Blacks, the Proteas and the French football team -does this exclude any players?
Allow me to look at these points (sorry, Im gonna shuffle it around a bit.)
2.) Not necessarily. When SA beat the Lions, it was a very inexperienced player at international level that took us through. The same can be said for Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and JPP. When they went to the WC the first time they were just babies, with very little experience, but they held their cool. A few young Turks never hurt, it does not have to be all experience.
5.) It does not exclude any players per se. At the most, it places them on the bench. Just like having young talent does not hurt you, and experience is not always the end all and be all, temper must still be matched with temperance.
As a side note, I believe that “flair” usually applies more to the culture and game style, but definitely has relevance to players as well.
3.) Many experienced players, with close to a 100 caps will step aside. A few will stick around. In a way we need to look beyond the WC of 2011. We need to identify the understudies and blood them wherever and whenever we can.
1.) How do we win the WC. IMO, by taking both experience and form. Also, we need to play to our strengths as the Bokke. A STRONG SET PIECE. a FIERCE and well BALANCED lose TRIO. Trojan DEFENSE. More than one pair of BOOTS that can punish the opposition. K*K VINNIGE WINGS.
4.) Looking at players who has both experience AND form and slightly considering points (1) and (3) I would pick the following players
15- Frans Steyn
14- JPP
13- Jaques Fourie
12- Jean de Villiers
11- Bjorn Basson
10- Morne Steyn
9- Fourie du Preez
8- Willem Alberts
7- Juan Smit (if fit, he is worth 2 players, a leader and respected by all)
6- Schalk Burger
5- Victor Matfield (Captain)
4- Flip van der Merwe
3- Jannie du Plessies.
2- Adriaan Struass (haha-haas uit die hoed)
1- Gurthro Steenkamp.
But seriously thats just my opinion.
Agreed. I think we can have the best of both worlds at this WC. NZ teams have been vulnerable to accurate kick and chase teams. Provided the chase is good, and the defensive line is intact. The following team, could maintain parity at scrum tiome, I can’t see any scrum being totally dominant in the top 6 nations. We have serious quality in both the lineouts and loose forwards. We don’t have the real out and out strikers like Guildford, and Gear, that are always dangerous, but we do have good backs. Hence my team to play a good defensive game, with possible scores from broken play:
1. Guthro Steenkamp
2. John Smit
3. Jannie DuP
4. Bakkies
5. Matfield
6. Brussow
7. Juan (if fit)
8. Burger
9. Fourie duP
10. Lambie
11. Basson
12. Jdv
13. Jaque
14. JPP
15. Frans Steyn
16. Eugene van Staden (can cover LH and TH)
17. Adriaan Strauss (We know this won’t happen) been more accurate at lineouts, and is just as good as bizzy in loose
18. Andries Bekker
19. Danie Rossouw
20. Hougaard (9/14)
21. Morne Steyn (10/12)
22. Riaan Viljoen can cover all positions in the backline
Rest of the squad:
23. Beast
24. Elstadt (can cover 6/7 or lock)
25. Bissy
26. Louw
27. Pienaar (can cover 9/10/15)
28. Sadie (can cover 11/12/13/14)
29. Josh Strauss
30. Butch James
Just some thoughts! there is solid defenders in 9/10/12/13 channels with enough speed out wide to capitalise. Brussow and Burger will be a nightmare at the rucks, and with Bekker, Matfield, Botha and juan, we have enough weight behind the props, and a range of lineout options
Flok, ek is bly julle hoef nie ‘n span te kies waarin Ek hoef te speel nie!
Julle sal die sewe dwergies en Sneeuwitjie se lelike sussie, Aspoestertjie, kies om saam met my in die voorspelers te speel!
Eugene van Staden, Rynhardt Elstadt?? WTF!!
@ Greenpoint-Gunner:
GG, I pretty much agree with your selection couple of questions though…what about Ruan at Scrummie, on current form and crankiness FDP mustn’t be there, Hougie would be a better choice. Ruan had a sublime game for the Baa baas a few weeks ago at scrummie, playing with a variety of players from around the world. They beat England which lead to a very worried looking Martin Johnson at the end of the game.
I reckon Adriaan Strauss might just shade Bissie as our best hooker, in the loose very similar, turnover ball Bissie is better (but we have loosies who can do that), throwing in Adriaan, level headedness and not giving away penalties, Adriaan. He has had a few games in the test side and should get a run in the Tri Nations. Both these hookers would not be out of place as the best in the world. I feel for Schalk Brits who should actually be seriously considered, but the culture of the Boks would probably exclude him.
John Smit must have some good showings before I would consider him, but he will probably surprise us all as he knows he is going and is preserving himself for the WC.
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