Playing England
November 20, 2012 in Uncategorized
It will be interesting to see what changes Heyneke Meyer makes for the England game. With the possibility of losing Eben Etzebeth (cited) and JP Pietersen (injury) as well as a number of players not covering themselves with glory against the Scots the opportunity for change is there but I doubt that Meyer will make any large scale changes.
JP Pietersen’s injury will force HM to keep playing Hougaard on the wing even though he might have been tempted to give him a go at scrumhalf to try and get the 9/10 dynamic working. This might give Mvovo a chance with Hougaard moving to 14.
Pat Lambie’s inability to play a Morne Steyn style game better than Mornetjie could see Steyn taking over at flyhalf.
Should Etzebeth cop a ban we will probably see Flip van der Merwe starting at lock, not the most disciplined or smartest players on the park and although his yellow card was more of a team card it was still a stupid penalty to give away.
As the #3 tighthead prop at the Lions it was difficult to understand why HM selected CJ before Pat Cilliers in the first place but after Saturday’s performance CJ is surely set to lose his spot on the bench.
Possible team for Saturday:
15 Zane Kirchner
14 Francois Hougaard (JP Pietersen)
13 Juan de Jongh
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Lwazi Mvovo (Francois Hougaard)
10 Morne Steyn
9 Ruan Pienaar
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Willem Alberts
6 Francois Louw
5 Juandre Kruger
4 Flip van der Merwe (Eben Etzebeth)
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Adriaan Strauss
1 Guthro Steenkamp
16 Schalk Brits
17 Heinke van der Merwe
18 Pat Cilliers
19 Franco van der Merwe (Flip van der Merwe)
20 Marcell Coetzee
21 Pat Lambie
22 Jaco Taute
23 Lionel Mapoe (Lwazi Mvovo)
Wozza said on November 20, 2012
HM hasn’t set them up to fail, he just doesn’t rate Elton and Pat at fly half. We know this because he hasn’t trusted Pat to play his natural game, and he continues to leave Elton out of the match 23. The fact of the matter is, HM is waiting for Goosen to come back from injury. When that happens he will bring out the old excuse “I wanted an experienced cool headed fly half on the bench to help the inexperienced Goosen” which means Morne is second choice, Lambie is third choice, Elton is 4th choice.
Also leaving Cilliers out of the Scotland game was just short of criminal, it was tough watching CJ crumble scrum after scrum.
With JP out I would bring in mvovo or mapoe. Im not sure whats going to happen with Etzebeth, but South Africans always get screwed over when citing’s occur, and I don’t expect him to get away with farting on the pitch let alone “eye gouging”.
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
Golden Lions prop JC Janse van Rensburg will fly to London on Tuesday evening to replace the injured CJ van der Linde in the Springbok squad.
At last! But probably won’t get game time
sheriffff said on November 20, 2012
Springbok Kicking coach has said Lambie will start against England and should go forward as bok number 10 http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/121120/Lambie_must_stick_to_flyhalf
Told you so?
The Green Man said on November 20, 2012
Yeah, go forward as Bok number 10 until Goosen returns
Then it’s splinter time again.
GEN DE LA REY said on November 20, 2012
Do not think HM will make many changes just forced ones.
Pat for CJ
Mvovo/Taute for JP if needed
Flip for Eben
He will again ask Lambie to play a tactical kicking type of game. Lambie was pretty good at it in the 1st half.
Ruan will stay at 9. And I watched the game again and most of the bad kicks comes from Pienaars boot.
He will also stick with Zane. He was good under the high ball but again every time he gets the ball he kicks straight into oppositions hands.
We will either lose or squeak a win. Pity cause England did not look good against a very average Aus side.
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
there were further concerns over props CJ van der Linde and Gurthro Steenkamp.
Van der Linde lasted 30 minutes before pulling up with a hamstring issue and retreated to have it heavily strapped. Steenkamp’s problem was less obvious, but he was also withdrawn from the session.
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
“Luckily it’s the one area where we are covered. Lwazi [Mvovo] has played there before, Raymond Rhule is here to learn, Lionel Mapoe is an option even though he’s played centre this year and Jaco Taute can also play on the wing, even though he’s played centre too.”
Watch us start with a scrumhalf and a fullback on the wings while the wings cover from the bench and hope they get on the field.
Hennie said on November 20, 2012
“According to the way the Boks trained on Monday, it looks likely that there will be only one change for the England game, with Mvovo coming in for Pietersen if the latter is ruled out.”
“Of course if Etzebeth is also prevented from playing it will mean two changes, with the one at forward being potentially much more significant given where the England strength lies and how they go about trying to win rugby matches.”
Hennie said on November 20, 2012
I think HM will stick with Lambie.But i think Eben and JP will be big blows. We dont need this before the England game
sheriffff said on November 20, 2012
So Mayer basically set Elton and Pat up to fail so he could have his little pet back in the number 10?
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
He wants to focus on only two flyhalves, Morne and Goosen.
sheriffff said on November 20, 2012
Thats your opinion, not the facts. I believe Lambie will start on Saturday
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
True, but he has made it clear that he believes in Morne and that Goosen is his longterm choice. Even if Lambie gets another chance what good will it do if he has to play another kick and chase game with Ruan passing the majority of ball to the forwards for bash-up rugby?
Of course I could be wrong (not the first time) and HM will show him to be open-minded and willing to let Lambie play his own game.
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
Lambie and Elton will have to use Super Rugby to get themselves into real contention and Lambie better hope that Plumtree sticks with him at flyhalf
sheriffff said on November 20, 2012
Why wouldn’t he? who else do the Sharks have at Flyhalf? and with Ludik playing superb at Fullback? of course Lambie will be Flyhalf for Sharks
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
Let’s just say I’m sceptical about both HM and Plumtree’s public statements and promises.
sheriffff said on November 20, 2012
Well by the looks of things he is sticking with Lambie, reports on twitter suggest, he has been training at 10
Baylion said on November 20, 2012
If he does let’s hope Lambie will be allowed to play his natural game