Tag Archives: springbokke

Meyer Playing It Safe But At What Cost?

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I understand continuity. But at the same time I understand the need for change when change is needed. I don’t think Meyer does.

Sometimes Meyer seems scared and he seems scared of losing. He has once again picked the same side bar one or two players. I’m sorry but I don’t see the sanity in this. Once again Meyer has the chance to blood youngsters with much needed game time come Rugby Championship and yet again he has failed to rest overplayed players.

It is more than clear that players like Jean, Beast, Jannie and Strauss need rest. They have been playing non-stop rugby this year. Jannie and Beast I feel are the ones who need it more than most. They have not been playing their best rugby by some way and really look jaded.

Guys like Lambie, Serfontein, Kolisi and co need as much exposure as possible and playing against the likes of Italy, Scotland and Samoa would have been ideal. De Villiers needs a break and can’t be expected to perform in an injured state! Yet Meyer has once again missed a trick. Come Rugby Championship time these players bar a few will have no more fuel left to take on the likes of the All Blacks. We shall once again be cannon fodder.

What I also find smacks of disappointment is that Kolisi is dropped for Alberts. Sure Alberts will give us much go forward ball and I like his inclusion. However, I don’t feel it should have been at the cost of Kolisi. I would have loved to have seen Kolisi perform at 8 for this game. We are short on quality eighth men in this country. We basically only have Vermuelen and Philip van der Walt in my opinion so blooding Kolisi or Botha would have made more sense in this tournament than giving Spies another go to fail miserably.

Spies has had ample opportunity over the years to showcase his potential and he hasn’t. He has been given more chance than any other player I can think of. He has never proven himself and I feel it is unfair to quality players like Kolisi, Botha, Labuschagne and Van der Walt that someone like Spies gets the amount of opportunities he does with nothing to show for it.

For this game I would have gone with players like Lambie, Serfontein, de Jongh, Labuschagne, Oosthuizen and Adriaanse. Give the guys the exposure, let them grow in stature. Meyer has proven more astute this year than last but I can’t help but feel he got this wrong!

The Springbok side to take on Samoa:

15. Willie le Roux, 14. Bryan Habana, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain) / Jan Serfontein, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Willem Alberts / Siya Kolisi, 6. Francois Louw, 5. Flip van der Merwe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Tendai Mtawarira


Substitutes: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Juandre Kruger, 20. Siya Kolisi / Marcell Coetzee, 21. Piet van Zyl, 22. Pat Lambie, 23. Jan Serfontein / Juan de Jongh

Kolisi and Jean deserve more

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Saturday’s game against the Scots was definitely not something to write home about, but one thing that is was the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude the Boks bounced back with. It was admirable and worthy of the shirt they wear.

It was a tough game with the Scots using spoiling tactics quite well with a ref who was obviously not to clued up on the game. Kudos to them… they played the ref well.

Not many players shone in the match for SA. Strauss had a good game but not his best. Etzebeth was by far the best tight five on the field. Kolisi was a monster, on defence and attack. Jean in my opinion the best back of the night.

I find it interesting that Jean is getting nailed by the media. I wouldn’t go so far as saying the public. Yes he has his doubters but so far this year he has been playing his best rugby. A lot of the public agree which is why I find it strange that the media keep on harping on about him. Has the Serfontein bug gotten that bad?

I know Serfontein is good, hell he’ll be great! But at the moment I wouldn’t drop De Villiers for him. Maybe move De Villiers to 13 because JJ showed his lack of defensive acumen during the Scotland game. He did improve in the second half but still, maybe wing is where he belongs.

The surprise of the Jean media frenzy too me though is overshadowed by the lack of media coverage surrounding Kolisi. The man had a brilliant game against the Scots. He was man of the match and it was well deserved. He won the collisions in the tackles and in his carries. He made more meters in that game than Spies has done in his career! Yet hardly anything is being said.

The week before Arno Botha had a great game. It was in the media. There were ooo’s and aah’s about his game. They were well deserved. Yet here comes Kolisi and almost eclipses Botha’s performance (he eclipsed his loosie partners by a few miles) and Meyer only makes passing mention of his good game. He said more about Serfontein’s 8 minutes on the field than Kolisi’s 76 minutes. He even managed to praise JJ for coming right in the second half.

Now I know race is a contentious issue in this country and to me it has nothing to do with race. But Kolisi played one hell of a game and got the man of the match award. The other day in an article I read (think Rob Houwing) he was talking about ball bashing forwards needed for the Samoa game and says in that department Botha outshines Kolisi. Rubbish… to me they are on par. Kolisi is extremely strong and wins collisions just like Botha but Kolisi can also run around defenders and not just through them.

There was so much hype about Kolisi before the game. So much media coverage. Yet when he did perform it became nothing more than a mention and the Jean debate took centre stage.

I feel Kolisi deserved more and he will be getting it from me. Mr Kolisi, to you sir I raise my glass for a game well played. Your future looks bright and I hope you get another chance to showcase your talent. If Meyer doesn’t pick you at 6 or 7 then I hope to high Heaven that he drops Spies and plays you at 8!

Schreuder Pick Makes Little Sense

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Last year Meyer made some crazy calls on player selection for the Boks. This year he seemed to have his head screwed on better. Well maybe it just looks like he is awarding form because most of the players he picked out of form last year are in form this year. But just as it seems Meyer is normal, he calls a certain Louis Schreuder as his third scrumhalf choice after the departure of Vermaak and Hougaard to injuries.

Kudos to Schreuder. Meyer obviously sees something in him, so do I, but I do have to question his selection. All the Stormers scrumhalves have been playing rather mediocre rugby this year, which is why I am not too surprised at the poor backline play of the Stormers. My question though is why pick Schreuder above more in form choices like Sarel Pretorius or Charl McLeod?

Meyer seemed intent on picking players based on form yet with Schreuder’s selection he seems to be backing away from that trend. Pretorius, when he has had the chance to play, has been a dangerous player for the Cheetahs. His sniping runs and constantly keeping the opposition guessing are his strongest attributes. He kicks well from the base and his service is crisp. The only blot on his CV would be his lack of tackling ability. But he offers so much more at times that that can be overlooked with comfort.

Charl McLeod may not be as dynamic as Pretorius but he certainly has a sense of the unexpected about him. He also keeps opposition guessing, his service is crisp, his kicking is exemplary and he can defend against bigger players. His only blot is age, but in my opinion he is still young enough to play for the Boks.

So picking Schreuder ahead of these guys begs a question. Why? I saw Meyer’s response is that he has helped out at raining sessions, but again I have to ask why? Who knows, maybe Meyer would have gone the Reinach route instead if he wasn’t injured. One thing is for sure though, Meyer is looking towards the future by picking young players as backup in his squad.

I just hope the Schreuder choice doesn’t back fire, for Meyer as well as the player in question!

Happy to a man… almost

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The Bok game against Italy was quite literally a game of opposites. Brilliant for 20 minutes, crap for 30 minutes and then brilliant again for 30 minutes. The Boks looked a much better attacking force and it was easy to see why.

We had quick ball even though Vermaak could have been better protected and our forwards were generally in command in lose play. However, scrum time, the lineouts in the second half and the absolute shambles of restarts was what kept the Boks back from ammasing more points.

In the front row it is clear to see that Beast and Jannie need rest… it really looks like they are playing on almost depleted fuel reserves. No amount of Red Bull will help. Strauss on the other hand is improving with every game… they his perfect lineout record was shot to pieces in the second half.

Our second row of Juandré and Eben looked solid… when Flip came on there seemed to be a massive communication gap. Think the guys weren’t sure of who was calling the lineout shots but in the lose they still did well.

In our loosies play Arno Botha and Flouw stood head and shoulders above Spies. I see on Keo that Keohane said we should get off the backs of Morné Steyn and Pierre Spies… I agree on Steyn but totally disagree on Spies. He was mediocre at best against the Italians and Parisse showed him up in a losing team. Spies doesn’t even play that well when the Boks are on the back foot! Can’t help but feel that Meyer missed a trick in not picking Philip van der Walt. I can even imagine a Flouw, Lappies, Arno combo that would seem to be able to do what should be done… destroy opposition!

I was more than happy with our halfback pairing and Steyn has played every critic, including the staunch ones like me to complete and utter silence… hell I even praise him now. He is taking tha ball flatter and reads a game beautifully. He once again illustrates why sportsman should getting married until after their playing days!! Hahaha. Vermaak played well and deserved more protection… pity about the hamstring though.

Our centres looked well oiled. Jean is playing some of his best rugby this year and JJ has blossomed bloody well for someone who looked like absolute crap last year. I don’t think Juan will get a sniff at the green-and-gold again soon unless it’s off the bench or JJ gets injured.

Our back three where outstanding. Habana showed class throughout the game and even though Willie had a nervous start he provided some much needed thrust from the back. Basson started quietly and after his yellow card produced some very good touches.

All in all I was happy with the reserve play though Coenie is going to need a lot more time at tighthead to develop… wouldn’t mind seeing Adriaanse get a start. Pienaar slotted in seamlessly when replacing Vermaak and Lambie and Serfontein were not on long enough to make a telling contribution.

The only blot in the team for me is Spies. He should be offering so much more but yet again doesn’t play to his potential. He didn’t play badly… but he didn’t play well either.

Balanced Bok Team… almost

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Well Meyer has definitely picked a well balanced team to take on Italy this weekend. I was reading Tank Lanning’s column and he seems a bit worried about centre and a lot worried about tighthead. I can understand that and it is probably true, but I do not quite agree.

I do like the look of the back three. Habana and Basson should be great under the high ball. Not sure about Willie because he has never really played at fullback but I am pretty sure he can handle it.

If Jean is fit then great for the Boks. If not then it isn’t a train smash either, as I am pretty sure that if Serfontein takes his place we won’t be the worse for wear. Sure we lose a lot of experience in Jean but Serfontein will have Morné on his inside and the fact that Serfontein and JJ having been gelling very well at the Bulls can only be a boon for the Boks. Added to that is the fact that we do have an inform Ebersohn that will be on the bench as well as Lambie that can cover the inside channel effectively. So at centre I am not as worried as Tank.

Our halfback combo is my real concern when it comes to depth. Jano has been playing well and kudos for the start. Hopefully he’ll grow and he also offers a better kicking game than Hougaard. Pienaar should be a shoe-in for the Rugby Championship so I am happy that Meyer is giving Jano a start before Hougaard. Hougaard is however my concern. His rugby hasn’t been the best in a while now. He is more consistent but not his usual expressive self. Someone like Piet van Zyl or even McLeod would have been a better backup at this stage. But then again Hougaard does offer versatility as a wing, however I feel that those bases are covered in the squad.

My other concern is Spies. Yes he has been playing some decent rugby but when games get tight he still has a tendency to disappear. So against Italy, Samoa and maybe Scotland he should flourish but he is still vulnerable in tighter games. I would have liked to see Arno Botha get a go from the back for this game because at 8 we don’t seem well stocked.

With the flanks I have no real complaints except maybe that besides Louw, no-one else plays to the ball as much and isn’t all that effective. Maybe Brussow or even someone like Deon Fourie would not have been bad back up. But then who do you drop to accommodate another fetcher?

At lock we also seem a little thin. With Bekker’s departure there now seems to be a big void at 5. I am not a big supporter of Juandré but hopefully he comes good but I would have preferred Franco above Juandré. And Steph-du Toit is a great player but my verdict is still out on whether he is our answer at 5. For this game and future tests I would have loved to see Etzebeth and van den Merwe as Lock partners with Etzebeth taking over at 5.

Tank feels we are a bit short on proper tightheads. I feel Adriaanse will be up for the challenge but Tanks’ main concern is for Saturday’s bench against Italy. Meyer has picked two looseheads basically in Nyakane and Oosthuizen. Tank feels Oosthuizen isn’t cut out for tighthead. I disagree and I’m sure he could become world class if given time.

At hooker the Boks are blessed. Strauss and Chiliboy have been playing great rugby and Bismarck is almost back from injury. Add to that a Tiaan Liebenberg as backup (though not in the squad) and we should have enough quality depth.

So all in all my biggest concern is Spies, followed by a real lack of depth at lock.

The Bok team:

Starting XV:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Reserves: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.

Bok Selection makes me feel warm inside

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Well the Bok squad has been announced and I must admit, for the first time in a long time, I am actually quite happy with the selection. One or two individuals can count themselves darn unlucky though.

The only true big surprise sprung on us couch-coaches was the inclusion of Lourens Adriaanse as backup tighthead. I was surprised by his inclusion above Wiehan Herbst since he got invited to trials and Adriaanse not. But it just goes to show that good form can still get you places.

Last year Meyer selected favourites. This year he seems content to acknowledge form (though when it comes to scrumhalf he still seems to play favourites). One form player that has been overlooked is Robert Ebersohn. Picking JJ Engelbrecht above him doesn’t make much sense. JJ has been playing very good rugby, but Ebersohn has been playing exquisite rugby. He has vision and great hands, something JJ doesn’t have yet. We can also say that Juan de Jongh has been a lucky inclusion. Yes probably but then again Stormers rugby hasn’t helped his cause. He has the ability to break a line better than the other two so if I was Meyer I would have stuck with him too.

I’m happy for a guy like Trevor but I don’t think he is better than Kitshoff. Kitshoff has been playing some good rugby of late for the Stormers. He has been scrumming very strongly and his play in the lose I also feel is superior. But take nothing away from Nyakane, he has been playing some solid rugby himself.

One inclusion I feel should never have happened and should never be allowed to happen is the continued inclusion of Zane Kirchner. Side-show Bob was solid last year, but he will never ignite a team or change a game. How he continues to make the squad only Meyer will know. I feel someone like Jürgen Visser has even been playing better rugby. Anyway…

All in all not a bad squad selection bar one or two picks. Hopefully the Boks can play some good rugby this year and actually be able to take on the likes of the All Blacks and Australia, and hopefully not draw to Argentina again… ever!

Couch-coach Bok pick

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Well it’s almost International time with the June Test Series almost upon us. What every rugby enthusiast likes to do at a stage like this is analyse the potential candidates for Bok colours and the try and pick there starting XV (15 for you non-Romans). Guess what? I will be doing exactly that right now. Why change a couch-coach tradition?

It has been an interesting Super XV. Bulls who were not favourites at the start of the year are now leading the conference. The Cheetahs have finally found consistency and some depth to place second. The Sharks are sort of imploding. The Stormers have imploded and the Kings have won over many fans with some enterprising play. Basically everything in this tourney from a South African perspective is ass backwards. I’m happy for the Cheetahs. They deserve it and have been the most entertaining team by some distance for a long while. The Bulls’ young acquisitions are finding there feet and playing well, especially Serfontein.

So this year we have good and bad. Players in sublime form still seem to be an overlooked theme from Heyneke. He does so love his favourites but all in all his squad of 38 that he picked for training have not been too badly picked… bar one or two exceptions.

So out of that squad he has to pick 30… that should be an interesting subject when he finally does. I’m pretty sure we’ll see a surprise or two. His Brussow issue still leaves a bad taste in almost every supporter’s mouth but that’s should be an entirely different topic of conversation.

So here would be my starting XV followed by my reserve VII (7 for you non-Romans).

Starting XV:

1. Beast Mtwarira: Given his experience and his resurgence from bad form under Heyneke last year he should be an obvious pick again.

2. Adriaan Strauss: I pick him above a returning Bismarck only because Bismarck has been out for soooooo long. Plus Strauss has been in good form.

3. Coenie Oosthuizen: I pick him above Jannie because it will be a great training ground for Coenie to pick up some much needed tighthead exposure if he is to become one.

4. Flip van der Merwe: I used to be very critical of Flip. But ever since concentrating more on his rugby instead of just being a bully he has really won me over.

5. Eben Etzebeth: With Bekker departing and Juandré not one of my favourites and SA in general being so short of quality 5’s I’d pick Etzebeth here since we have an abundance of quality 4’s. Plus he did a damn good job at 5 against the Reds.

6. Francois Louw: We need a “fetcher” and Brussow isn’t in the squad, plus Deon Fourie should also not be overlooked as a “specialist”. Plus Flouw played bloody well last year!

7. Lappies Labuschagne: What?! I hear a few say… I’d pick him above Alberts because A: He has been playing better rugby and B: He has been playing better rugby

8. Arno Botha: He has been playing some good rugby for the Bull and yes at 7. The reason I don’t pick Spies is because I wouldn’t even have him in the squad. Yes he is a superb athlete but always disappears when games get tight. He will do well against these teams because they do not offer the same resistance as an Aussie or All Black side. I like Arno and he can play 8 and will probably not go for coffee in tight games.

9. Francois Hougaard: Heyneke has missed a trick here. No Piet van Zyl? Seriously? He has been the form 9 this whole tourney for SA teams. Hougie has been mediocre and Vermaak better but because there is no other choice I would pick Hougie… mainly to try gain some confidence for the Rugby Championship. But come then and Hougie still struggles then I’d drop him completely and pick Vermaak. Mind you Ruan Pienaar should be in the picture then.

10. Morné Steyn: I hate to admit this but he has been the form flyhalf so far. Enough said!

11. Bryan Habana: Even though he will be leaving he is still an automatic first choice. He has such a high work rate and all out commitment. Something a few other players can learn.

12. Jean de Villiers (C): We need a captain. Yes we have Serfontein and he could some good exposure for this little tourney. Who knows… maybe a sub with de Villiers moving to 13? That’s how I would grow him.

13. Robert Ebersohn: He has been playing some of his best rugby ever… and at 12. I pick him at outside because Juan de Jongh has only been consistent and Ebersohn has been brilliant. Plus he has a bit more experience than Serfontein and has played 13 before.

14. Willie le Roux: I’m sorry but this should basically be a no brainer. He has been sublime, phenomenal, extra-ordinary… pick an adjective! He can turn a game on its head given ¼ of a chance!

15. Pat Lambie: Mr Cool, Mr Calm… he would be perfect at 15. Has exceptional awareness and is great under the high ball. Plus I think he would link up great with Willie and Bryan.

Reserves:

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle: Just because he has been performing and Bismarck has been out sooooo long.

17. Jannie du Plessis: He can’t be left out completely. He has been a rock the last few years.

18. Pieter-Steph du Toit: I pick him above Juandré because I feel he has way more to offer than Juandré. I don’t feel like Juandré is a committed Bok… and not because he is leaving. I just don’t feel he is grounded. I could be wrong…

19. Willem Alberts: He pips Kolisi because I feel Alberts will have a bigger impact off the bench.

20. Jano Vermaak: Because we have no other choice!

21. Jan Serfontein: This kid is going to be a big superstar for SA. Hope he keeps his head on his shoulders with feet on the ground! He has been playing some very good rugby and can’t help but feel the Bulls owe him for their success thus far.

22. Bjorn Basson: Because he is quick, can defend and is awesome under a high ball. Plus he knows how to sniff out a tryline.

23. Wiehan Herbst: Maybe Coenie can stay at loosehead with Wiehan and Frans Malherbe looking promising.

That would be my 22 for the up coming June tour.

Enjoy the rugby.

Joy and Heartache… All In One Day

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Two things struck me as interesting topics to talk about on the rugby news front. First is the news of John Smit as the new Sharks CEO and the second is Heinrich Brussow not being considered in the Springbok training group due to a perceived high penalty count (absolute bullocks!).

Let’s start with the good news first and that is the appointment of John Smit as the new Sharks CEO. The reason I say that this is good news is that for a change rugby will be run by someone who actually knows the game.

For a number of years now we have had, mainly, a bunch of narrow minded business personnel running this beautiful game of ours. Mostly not well. Case in point being the palookas that are ruining rugby in the Western Province (Rassie Erasmus débâcle comes to mind). Administrative decisions are being made on a business level and in the end has adverse effects on the game we all love.

Having a person like Smit in charge is a master stroke by the Sharks board… well in my opinion it is. Smit is no moron even after years of banging his head in a rugby game. He is highly intelligent and commands respect from his fellows. He definitely has the business acumen needed but more importantly his decisions SHOULD be to the benefit of the game as he KNOWS the game (almost like why I regard Glen Jackson as the best ref so far in the Super 15 because he blows like someone who knows the game intimately).

So kudos to the Sharks who seem to, as usual, lead from the front in innovation.

The bad news. Springbok management have made a pathetic attempt to point out to Brussow why he does not get picked, that being his penalty count. Rubbish!!!! If you read Front Row Grunt you will have seen the stats that points out Brussow as having a low penalty count compared to others. In 6 games he has only had 7 penalties against him.

What does count against him however is his low turn-over rate of only 2 in 6 games. A guy like Brussow should be doing about 2 to 3 a game at minimum.

What pains me is that the Springbok management actually try and point out that his count is high when it obviously isn’t! Just tell Brussow, like a man, that you won’t pick him because he is not your favourite. Don’t lie to him… that’s just cowardly. But then again everything SARU does these days is cowardly…. they have no backbone.

I do however like Brussow’s response, “I’ll just have to work harder to prove that I deserve to be in the Springbok squad. It’s frustrating sometimes because penalties will happen as referees are so strict at the breakdowns. But I’ll do whatever it takes to earn my spot. I’m even working hard on becoming bigger.”Can’t help but feel that last little bit is a dig at Meyer’s selection policies!

So kudos to Brussow on his reply (and slight retort)

Meyer’s Breakdown Blues

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One can’t help but comment on Meyer’s speech about the breakdown “blues” of this country. Meyer is of the opinion that if we can sort out the breakdown of South African teams we can win matches. Truer words have never been spoken but then one would have to look at why we are having breakdown issues.

Meyer likes to say we have breakdown problems but then why does he not pick the players who can resolve that issue in his squad. Why is their no Brussow? Hell I’d even go as far as picking someone like Deon Fourie at 6 because on the ground he is devastating.

To me the problem doesn’t really lie in the fact that we are “behind” other teams in the pecking order come breakdown time but in the players we pick to win the breakdown game! Meyer is also a culprit in this regard.

When Meyer took over as Bok coach he believed that to win matches you need to boss the collisions. Fair enough, but without any ball to play with the only way you’ll win a match is tackling a team into submission.

I believe that this philosophy of big players has filtered down into our Super Rugby thinking. Of all the teams out their only the Cheetahs play a true fetcher in Brussow. The Stormers are playing a “big” loose trio but none of them really play to the ball. The only person who can is Duane Vermuelen but he is an 8th man and “fetching” is not part of his criteria. The Sharks have Keegan Daniel and Jacques Botes. Botes doesn’t make the starting team often and Daniel is fair on the ground but no where near the likes of Francois Louw or Brussow. The Kings have Watson but he is injured and way past his best and the Bulls have Stegmann who has never ever ever been anywhere near class… never mind international class on the ground.

Our team selections these last few years has been based on a Meyer philosophy of size wins games. Now Meyer is singing the breakdown blues. It makes no sense. I feel we have the talent and I believe to sort out our new Meyer issue we should pick the appropriate players for the role. Being great at the breakdown is a talent and not something that can be coached. The top three for this country, in my opinion, at the moment are Francois Louw, Heinrich Brussow and Deon Fourie. Of course when Bismarck comes back we have an extra “fetcher” and Adriaan Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen are also not bad on the ground come ruck time.

So I do not agree with Meyer in saying that we are not good at the breakdown. If anything team choices make us bad at the breakdown. We look bad because we don’t pick a specialist. Looking at Meyer’s training squad selection it looks no better and I foresee a loss at the breakdown if Louw gets injured.

This would have been my Bok squad also without international players, based on current form in the Super XV:

Loosehead: Tendai Mtwarira (I know he is out of sorts but won’t play without him), Steven Kitshoff

Hooker: Adriaan Strauss, Kyle Cooper, Chiliboy Ralepelle

Tighthead: Coenie Oosthuizen, Wiehan Herbst, Frans Malherbe

4 Lock: Flip van der Merwe, Steven Sykes

5 Lock: Franco van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit

6 Flank: Heinrich Brussow, Deon Fourie

7 Flank: Lappies Labuschagne, Rynardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi

8th Man: Duane Vermuelen, Phillip van der Walt, Jacques Engelbrecht

Scrumhalf: Cobus Reinach, Shaun Venter, Francois Hougaard

Flyhalf: Morné Steyn (as much as it pains me), Pat Lambie, Dimitri Catrakilis

Left Wing: Bryan Habana, Raymond Rhule

Inside Centre: Jean de Villiers, Robert Ebersohn

Outside Centre: Juan de Jongh, Lionel Mapoe (for lack of a better option)

Right Wing: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen

Fullback: Frans Steyn, Joe Pietersen (for lack of a better option)

Note: I did not select current major injuries

So all in all I feel we are not behind when it comes to breakdown play… we just aren’t picking the right people for the job.

Is Meyer Developing Talent?

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The Boks will be playing there last match of this gruelling season against the team that we started to show decline, England. In the June tests at home the first test was a convincing thrashing of the Roses. The second test Was less convincing but still looked good. In the third test the wheels started coming off and cracks were starting to show in what was looking like a promising start under Meyer.

Ever since then dubious selection like Jacques Potgieter and Arno Botha, the constant faith shown in Morné Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers and Francois Hougaard, and the obvious snubs at players like Lwazi Mvovo, Elton Jantjies, Juan de Jongh and Patrick Lambie have plagued Meyer through the rest of his tenure. The eye of the public was firmly placed on the man and his every move questioned with scepticism.

Yes Meyer has had a tough time, he should have expected no less but he has sorely let the public down. I read an article on Rugby365 yesterday about how Meyer was throwing egg on the public’s face by telling Lambie to play to his strengths. What a load of bollocks. The public have been baying for a more attack orientated game and by asking Lambie to now play his style and not the one asked is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to public opinion.

Meyer did the same when he finally called in a specialised “fetcher” in the form of Louw because trying to turn Marcell Coetzee into one was not working. Not only couldn’t we win ball on the ground it was obviously also hurting the player as his game overall started taking a knock. Back then there was also calls from the public and media alike to include a fetcher, and look how Louw has responded. Now our forwards look unstoppable.

Wasn’t Hougaard’s move to wing nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to public pressure?

One thing is certain through all this and it is that slowly but surely Meyer seems to be walking in the right direction.

But I still have one point of criticism to make against Meyer and it involves this end of year tour. Meyer, in my opinion hasn’t done enough to bring through the youngsters and has failed to identify key areas of personal that are almost at their sell-by date.

Lets start with the front row. Everyone knows and agrees that Beast, Bismarck and Jannie are the best we have and will be for some time. However what bother me is the backup. On the loosehead side we are pretty much covered with the like of Heinke van der Merwe, Guthro Steenkamp and JC Janse van Rensburg.

At hooker we have Adriaan Strauss, but after him who do we have? Schalk Brits is no spring chicken. Tiaan Liebenberg is also on the wrong side of 20 and Chiliboy is once again a tackle bag specialist. Why have no young hookers been identified and taken on tour?

Same thing with the tighthead side. We have Pat Cilliers who looks like a great replacement yet they picked CJ ahead of him and we suffered for it. Why show no trust in a man who has given you no reason not to. Meyer has obviously identified Frans Malherbe as one for the future yet left him at home instead of gaining some touring experience.

Our Lock reserves are also thin yet we have plenty of young guns coming through who can make a statement like Etsebeth… well probably not as massive a statement but a statement nonetheless. Andries Bekker isn’t that young and prone to injury plus all the other guys picked are in their twilight years.

At loose forward we have a plethora of talent. This country always has yet Meyer seems to be picking favourites over those that actually perform. Jacques Potgieter and Arno Botha are cases in point. Jacques hardly played Super Rugby this year yet got picked even when injured and Arno Botha has had a mediocre showing at the Bulls during the Currie Cup so how does he qualify. Even playing in a less “demanding” tournament he looked average. Why did CJ Stander leave when he has produced fine performances? Kolisi was given the cold shoulder and players like Kankowski and Daniel were hardly given chances even though they played the best out of almost everyone.

At scrumhalf we also have a problem. Ruan is the incumbent and has a cool head but he is also approaching his twilight. Hougaard hasn’t measured up but I’m sure he will again soon. But why is someone like Vermaak picked? He hasn’t played rugby to prove he is the second or third best option and he is also no spring chicken. Why not take a younger chap with like Reinach or Groom? This tour exposure would have been vital for their growth and increased our depth at 9.

At flyhalf we have been all sixes and sevens. At least here the young guys have had exposure but none has done enough to say they are the future. I appreciate the fact that Meyer is giving Lambie time but someone like Jantjies should have also benefited, even if only for 10 or 15 minutes per game.

At inside centre we have a problem. Jean de Villiers is near the end of the road and probably only has a year left in him, two at a stretch. Yes Frans Steyn has been identified as his replacement but who is there after Steyn? Why has Meyer not identified a third or even a fourth choice? Why was someone like Whitehead not taken, or Francois Venter or Jan Serfontein? At outside centre why was someone like Paul Jordaan not taken with? Taute can play 13 but is not a great choice.

At wing we have enough young cover but Meyer doesn’t seem t be doing enough to give them exposure. He picks Hougaard at 11 where he says he doesn’t want to be at the expense of players like Mvovo and Rhule who could benefit from game time.

At fullback a lot of soul searching also needs to be done. Yes Kirchner has been solid but neither is he anything to write home about. And if Taute is the future why is he not getting a go at fullback? And why have younger possibilities not been considered as backup? Lambie can play there yes but his future seems to be written in flyhalf stone. Frans Steyn can also play there but likewise he seems to be our first choice 12. So why have no other possibilities been discussed or brought on tour if for nothing else than to learn?

This also brings me to my point on captain. Jean de Villiers has been retaining his starting berth for he is captain. But there does not seem to be a search for an alternative. Who will captain the Boks in Jean’s place? Adriaan Strauss seems a likely candidate but will be second fiddle to Bismarck. Is enough being done to recognise a new leader or are they banking on Jean living forever?