This week the Springboks are in camp at Hazyview, where they are preparing for a game against Scotland on the weekend.
Scotland, as we know, have some players out on tour with the British & Irish Lions and have additionally sent a considerably weakened side to South Africa this June. Testament to this was when they lost, for the first time, to Samoa on Saturday in Durban.
Is this then not the ideal time for South Africa to see EXACTLY where they stand as far as depth is concerned, as well as to give some players the time to get back to form after reduced game time or poor Super Rugby form? When will a golden opportunity like this, to experiment properly, again present itself?
If Heyneke Meyer has the conviction to choose players in his Springbok group, does it not then follow that he must have the conviction and the will to play these players against weaker opposition?
In light of this and in an attempt to increase the core of players ready to take on The Rugby Championship, my feeling is that this is the opportunity to experiment and indeed to cast his net wider. I would play the following side and I will expand on my reasons below:
Starting 15:
1. Loosehead – Trevor Nyakane
2. Hooker – Adriaan Strauss (Captain)
3. Tighthead – Lourens Adriaanse
4. Lock – Flip van der Merwe
5. Lock – Eben Etzebeth
6. Openside Flank – Francois Louw
7. Blindside Flank – Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne
8. Eighthman – Arno Botha
9. Scrumhalf – Francois Hougaard
10. Flyhalf – Patrick Lambie
11. Left Wing – Bjorn Basson
12. Inside Centre – Jan Serfontein
13. Outside Centre – JJ Engelbrecht
14. Right Wing – Bryan Habana
15. Fullback – Willie le Roux
Replacements:
16. Hooker – Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Loosehead – Coenie Oosthuizen
18. Tighthead – Jannie du Plessis
19. Lock – Franco van der Merwe
20. Looseforward – Siya Kolisi
21. Scrumhalf – Piet van Zyl
22. Flyhalf – Morné Steyn
23. Centre – Robert Ebersohn
The only Overseas player I would play would be Francois Louw. I would play no other players who willingly choose to go earn their money at the money pots of the Euro, the Pound or the Yen.
In the starting lineup, certain players have played a lot of rugby this season and in previous seasons, none more so than Jannie du Plessis, Morné Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Juandré Kruger & Pierre Spies.
Choosing a few fresh rookies like Lourens Adriaanse and Lappies Labuschagne and blooding Siya Kolisi, Piet van Zyl and Robert Ebersohn from the bench will give them Springbok caps, making them inaccessible for any other future National side, increasing the chances to keep them in South Africa longer.
The Springboks need a good captain and Adriaan Strauss deserves that honour this year, so he would be my captain, to lead by example and to provide that experience to the front row.
At lock I would use the experience of Flip van der Merwe and I would experiment with Eben Etzebeth at No 5, seeing as both Andries Bekker and Juandré Kruger will be exchanging their fortunes in South Africa to go after the lucrative lure of money. South Africa needs to find a good No 5 lock going forward.
Amongst the looseforwards one has to be careful to keep the balance amongst the combination correct, with a fetcher at openside, a hard-tackling and strike-running blindsider and a man with hands of gold at the back of the scrum. Leaving Pierre Spies out, serves two purposes, firstly to rest him and secondly to replace him with a harder edge at No 8, in Arno Botha. Let’s see if Arno Botha can possibly be the ideal No 8 the Springboks are looking for, going forward – without compromising the blindside by giving the hard man, Lappies Labuschagne, a go on the blindside. For me a fetcher at openside is non-negotiable, therefore Francois Louw’s inclusion and discarding Marcell Coetzee off the bench in total.
You might ask why I would prefer to start with Francois Hougaard at scrumhalf, and the reason is simple. During the recent Cheetahs / Bulls Super Rugby match, Hougaard (even not in the best of form) totally overshadowed Piet van Zyl (who looked like a deer in the headlights in that game), bettering him in every aspect of that important crunch match. As I already indicated, Ruan Pienaar does not feature for me, he is an overseas player firstly and secondly is terribly slow as the base of the scrums and breakdowns, something we in the Southern Hemisphere simply do not want and cannot tollerate.
Patrick Lambie needs to find his mojo again and I would have Morné Steyn on the bench only as security. I would not play Morné from the bench unless it is imperative to do so in the actual game situation.
I would rest Jean de Villiers and play the Bulls centre combination of Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht without hesitation, they’ve been a good combo all season. I would have Robert Ebersohn on the bench to cover both centre positions… and I would give him a run with 20 minutes to go to blood him.
In the back three I would keep the weekend past’s combination together, with Bryan Habana in trememdous form on the right wing, Bjorn Basson on the left wing with his sheer pace and with Willie le Roux the X-Factor from fullback.
The gamble in my selection, I guess, comes at scrumtime… but at least I would have a full Cheetahs front row who know one another, playing as they have trained and played all season. I would go to war with this side!
I have no doubt though, that Heyneke Meyer won’t be as bold as I have been… pity.
Come on, tell us what you think… but remember, your reasoning must be sound.
Show me you have thought this thing through carefully, as I have.
As far as I know Robert Ebersohn was only on standby if Jean de Villiers and Juan du Jong were unavailable. Last I heard Juan de Jong will be available this week.
I also understood that Bismarck will play of the bench.
Willem Alberts will play if fit, he was already in the starting line up.
Players like Jean de Villiers, Adriaan Strauss, Morne Steyn and Pierre Spies can do with a break.
2 @ dWeePer:
Bissy apparently played a Club game on the weekend, to give him game time and to get his match fittness back up to speed.
Bissy is always an option and world class when on form.
I do not think Willem Alberts is in any type of form and is fast becoming a perrenially injured player… I would not play him.
As far as I’m concerned, Juan de Jongh is not nearly in the form that Robert Ebersohn is, is still under somewhat of an injury cloud, so he would not make my squad either.
Ama-Blomme 122 / 2 against Pakistan, batting 1st, after 28.2 overs
Fark, Amla out after 31.4 overs
SA 145 / 3
Ama-Blomme were 234 /9 after their 50 overs.
Pakistan is 6 / 1 after 3 overs
Not a high total to defend against Pakistan who is touted as the best bowling attack at the competition
Pakistan 48 / 3 after 17.3 overs
Blomme looking good
OK i stopped reading the rest when i saw this question, so i might read more and react differently, it is just me i react on what i see, but still my principles are sound(at least in my own eyes)
If Heyneke Meyer has the conviction to choose players in his Springbok group, does it not then follow that he must have the conviction and the will to play these players against weaker opposition?
NO , NO , he knew who he can use in his game plan and who will be able to fit in later when needed. WHAT HE NEEDS IS TO PICK HIS PREFERRED 15 AND GIVE THEM EVERY CHANCE TO BOND, a injury here and there wont disrupt his “ritme” if his plans are well communicated and all buys in on the game plan.
This way of thinking is so much in line with Buurman van Zyl,s style it scares me if we start reaching those disciplines again. It was simply GREAT.
@ grootblousmile:
OK i reached your first comment now and i see it is you fantasy team now, not the poor coach, who i feel will not dish out Bok jerseys that easy, well god damm i hope not. Sorry my friend i feel totally different, to be a Bok you must be the best, if you are second best respect the best and work hard to get to that position, work for your place.
Aggenee, Francois Hougaard is in doubt for Saturday’s Test, with a knee injury which might also sideline him for a couple of weeks… seems there is a cartlidge tear of some sorts and his knee is uncomfortable.
He was sent to see a specialist in Pretoria and might need a scope on the knee to clean out debris.
Now that means that Ruan Pienaar will probably start, with Piet van Zyl on the bench and whilst I do not have a problem with Van Zyl on the bench, I have a problem with Ruan Pienaar as starting scrummie. He is just too freegin slow behind the oven and behind the rucks and mauls…. too freegin slow!
Not good news… not at all!
now back to read the comments
9 @ superBul:
Where will we have another chance to broaden the squad, to be capable of taking on Aussie and All Blacks in The Rugby Championship?
I’m not saying GIVE jerseys away… but we absolutely have to find backup for Doc Jannie. I’d in fact give 1 new jersey out in the Starting 15 only.
Also, we have to find some more loosie dimention, Alberts is crocked, Marcell Coetzee is a passenger, thus my inclusion of Kolisi… he’s been knocking on the door a while.
Piet van Zyl… well how else do we now cope with the scrummie injuries?
Robert Ebersohn… do you consider that as giving a Bok jersey away, after this stellar season?
The rest already own their Bok Blazers….
I took the first available thread, and before I start, my apologies for not being on here for months now.
GBS will know the situation (and thanks for the kind words bud) – but in short, my blogging days are over as I am about to embark on a rugby career which actually pays as I join SA Rugby next week.
This is just a short note to thank you for your friendship and banter over the years – I might not have blogged here often in recent months, but I always checked in every week.
You guys have my email, I won’t disappear completely, but I am leaving behind a huge passion in my live – discussing the game with like-minded people on places like this.
Thank you for the many years of joy and sleepless night you guys have given me.
Morne
@ superBul:
11 nothing spectacular said, i just feel that i would use this tests to build for the real chalange and with that i mean play the team as a unit and into form.
In all honesty what is the point of having 700 playing Boks and we lose again and again, get the main 15 as much time together as you can and if someone is injured bring in the second best in SA that fits the game plan to play
13 @ Morné:
Rysmier,
Go well buddy, and thank you for your valuable input here!
You will be missed as a levelheaded blogger in the bloggesphere… but one HAS TO make one’s dreams count and come true!
Now go and change SARU from the inside for all of us!
I enjoy your frankness and your honesty, and WILL keep in touch!
@ Morné:
Congrats Morne, now you have a decent job
But before you disapear tell me what exactly did you get, CEO of SARU?
I really dont know
14 @ superBul:
How do you make replacements fit in seemlessly, if not by giving them the right exposure with Bok encumbants?
16 @ superBul:
Morné Rysmier will be in the High Performance Unit, assisting Rassie Erasmus & Co… and bringing a whole new generations through!
Good job, right place to be!
He WILL help put great systems in place.
Here’s what he said about his new job, on Ruggaworld:
I will be working with Rassie specifically with a program SA Rugby has implemented.
Its an app which builds a national database of players but more than that, tracks their development from U/16 level right through to the senior Boks.
The idea is not only to start identifying rugby assets from an early age, but also pro-actively ensure we guide in their development from juniors to senior professional players working on areas of their game they are not too strong in.
Players will be able to track their own performances over extended periods as analyzed by various specialist coaches and experts.
There is also a big drive on identifying and mentoring players that does not have access to support structures you will find in elite rugby schools. One day camps or rugby clinics although valuable to some extent does nothing for long term guidance and support for our young rugby stars – this will hopefully change that.
@ grootblousmile:
This is actually a sad day for blogging ,really hope he does not become a gravy trainer. Just a tongue in the cheek comment
19 @ superBul:
Sy moer, hy kannie net verdwyn nie, ons gaan met hom kontak hou… en hom nooi as SARU werknemer om vrae te antwoord… sonder om hom in die moeilikheid te kry.
Ons sal hom formeel nooi, goedkeuring kry en Vraag en Antwoord dinge en die tipe dinge doen….
@ grootblousmile:
17
once the game plan is settled and well trained anyone filling a space wont disrupt the team that much, look what happens after a yellow card , the team compensates mostly for that. Bringing in a rookie who is regarded as the next in line should never be a problem. Its not the number of 1 minute appearances in a Springbok jersey that will make the diff, its how well settled the game plan is and if the new boy can understand what his role is. All comes down to picking the next best FOR THE GAME PATTERN Or PLAN
@ superBul:
GBS has it spot on – I have the opportunity to assist in effecting real change in our game – and after speaking to Rassie for many weeks, his passion for this was the clincher for me to take on this challenge.
Once I get stuck in, I can give you guys loads more detail as I know (obviously) how important it is to let the supporters out there know what is happening.
In short, we are going to make sure that the future of SA Rugby is secured, look after our youngsters, and hopefully help bringing through the next generation of superstars.
Pakistan 93 / 4 after 30.1 overs
22 @ Morné:
Hey, whatchit… don’t start swinging dingbats around like Rassie… and don’t do the Disco Lights kak either!
Hehehe
@ Morné:
Good luck Morne , i always respected your comments and opinions.
Tongue in the cheek have you worked out Rassies color codes?
He was a bit quiet lately, start of with a report what he did.
OK i know he spend all his time and effort to recruit YOU
22 @ Morné:
Oh, and another thing… preach the word about the Independent Blogs at SARU, we deliver a much needed input… and the feel of the supporters is very well reflected on the rugby blogs, once you cut out all the kak some of the blogs get up to
Pakistan behind the 8-ball at the moment but it could go wrong for the Blomme if they’re not very tidy.
Pakistan 106 / 4 after 34 overs
@ grootblousmile:
it is almost as hard.
Watwo laat ek in Afrikaans se , dis amper net so moeilik deesdae om die Proteas te ondersteun as wat dit is om die Bafoonas te ondersteun
Op so ander noot, die arme Madiba word ook deesdae dood gewens, siek die hele storie
28 @ superBul:
Kyk, ek ken soccer nie, dis nie my game nie… ek like dit flokkol om die minste te sê…. en SA soccer is ‘n flippen skande boonop nog ook…
Maar ek hou darem van die Blomme
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