We need a captain not a wuss
September 25, 2012 in Uncategorized
Against the All Blacks Jean de Villiers had the opportunity to show why he is captain of the Springboks and he didn’t.
With Morne’s kicking off course he should have made an onfield captain’s decision to replace Morne as kicker and handed the duties to Ruan Pienaar or Frans Steyn, both accomplished kickers and they couldn’t have done worse, but instead he hid behind the coach’s instructions.
Jean is the captain and he has to make the tough decisions on the field and must, at times, override the coach.
My team for Australia:
15 Pat Lambie
14 Lwazi Mvovo
13 Juan de Jongh/Jean de Villiers
12 Jean de Villiers (if Frans Steyn is still injured)
11 Bryan Habana
10 Johan Goosen
9 Francois Hougaard (allow him to play his natural game)
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Marcel Coetzee (more mobile than Alberts)
6 Francois Louw
5 Juandre Kruger
4 Flip van der Merwe (bit more umph in the rucks and mauls than Etzebeth)
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Adriaan Strauss
1 Beast Mtawarira
16 Craig Burden (more mobile that Liebenberg)
17 Pat Cilliers (CJ if Pat is still injured)
18 Eben Etzebeth
19 Willem Alberts
20 Ruan Pienaar
21 Elton Jantjies
22 Jaco Taute
GEN DE LA REY said on September 25, 2012
Agree JdV not a long term solution for capt. But there isn’t many other options.
As for team changes. I would drop Steyn and Zane but we all know HM won’t do that.
Interesting to see HM see Taute as a 12 cover option. I believe he is a better 15 with more space he is way more dangerous. I would play Lambie 12 if Frans is injured or even move JdV to 12 and play De Jong 13.
My backline if Frans injured
15. Taute
14. Habana
13 JdV
12. Lambie
11. Mvovo
10 Goosen if injured Jantjies
9. Hougaard.
Hanjo said on September 26, 2012
that would be the obvious and ideal line-up imo.
Wozza said on September 25, 2012
Louw did captain Bath for a while
Baylion said on September 25, 2012
I’m not so sure that Flo has a longterm future under HM. Time will tell.
Wozza said on September 25, 2012
You can’t expect Coenie to even bench at the moment, apparently he is still feeling soreness from Saturday. With Cilliers on the bench at least both sides of the scrum are covered. Australia’s forwards are very mobile, and i’ll be surprised if Jannie can keep up all game, the guy has played far to much rugby already.
powa said on September 25, 2012
The only alternative Capt in the team is Strauss as far as I can see
van.marc said on September 25, 2012
The only two changes I will make to your team is Eben Etzebeth in for Flip and Connie in for Pat on the bench, but we all know that this team will never see the field as long as Meyer is the coach, Zane and Morne will start. I am a big SA rugby supporter, but I hope to God that the Aussies beat us with at least 30 point, I want Meyer, Zane and More out of the Bok picture as they are giving the Boks a bad name!!!!!!!!!
Baylion said on September 25, 2012
My reason for Flip, although not a fan, is that he played well against the All Blacks and I believe he offers more grunt up front. Eben tends to play like a loosie and not a lock.
As to Coenie, he isn’t a tighthead and I feel the bench prop must be able to scrum both sides. I know the plan is to turn him into a tighthead but these experiments don’t often work and that should be done at provincial level not in tests.
Boesman92 said on September 25, 2012
Taute havent impressep me much at centre yet, JDV needs to step up or step out and to be honest, i would not have taken Goosen with to Aus And NZ, Jantjies was in the squed before him and didn’t get a chance, and then Goosen played 50min of Currie cup and got he’s chance, and now Meyer tells everyone that Jantjies was in his plans all along!! He makes a foll out of himself everytime he comes up with his bullshit at media interviews! ” J “
Baylion said on September 25, 2012
Feedback from yesterday’s Bok practice on LionsWorld:
“Goosen, Oosthuizen sit next to the field. No sign Beast and J du Plessis. Jaco at 12 all the time. Elton and Morne swapped regularly. Rest of team close to last starting team. Ruan fulltime at 9″
powa said on September 25, 2012
maybe Jantjies only practised because Goosen couldn’t
Baylion said on September 25, 2012
True
Hanjo said on September 26, 2012
same with Frans/ Taute, although it is strange with de Jongh also in the squad and Lambie, both players most would prefer in the 12 jersey ahead of Taute (who i see as more of a fullback/outside centre option) – however, I am pleased to see Meyer doesn’t consider de Jongh or Jean as inside centre options(if that is in fact the reason for Taute in
Baylion said on September 26, 2012
If Frans is out JdV will move to 12 and Jaco to 13