Official June 2014 Tests Thread

[APoc184]

For the incoming tests against Wales and Scotland.

The 36-man Springbok training squad is:

Forwards (20): Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).


Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*, Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).

I am happy that Brussow is back.

New faces. Oupa Mohoje, Lood de Jager, Marcel van der Merwe, Jacques du Plessis, Marnitz Boshoff, Damian de Allende, S'bura Sithole and Cornal Hendricks.

 

[Shi]

Surprised to see Schalk there, is it not time to move on? He just got back and he is not a spring chicken anymore.

 

[sand_man]

No Warren Whiteley? Wow...

 

[APoc184]

Was also surprised to see Whiteley being excluded. A shining light for the Lions.

I'm not unhappy with the squad though. Good mixture of experience and young new stars.

Weird seeing so many Cheetahs in the squad after the season they've had so far.

 

[APoc184]

Strange that we only have 2 scrumhalves in the squad. Meyer usually picked 3 or 4 for the training squads.

Makes me think he has already made up his mind and will play Fourie every game. I suspect Kockott might have declined the offer to join the squad. He is eligible for France in a few months.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

No Warren Whiteley? Wow...

Agreed. Dude's a champ!

Strange that we only have 2 scrumhalves in the squad. Meyer usually picked 3 or 4 for the training squads.

Makes me think he has already made up his mind and will play Fourie every game. I suspect Kockott might have declined the offer to join the squad. He is eligible for France in a few months.

I'm glad Ruan Pienaar isn't there. Should dump Francois Hougaard and put Reinach in there. He had a couple of shocking passes on Saturday but otherwise a great player.

Pity that Arno Botha hasn't recovered yet.

And dump Schalk for Francois Louw.

 

[Penquin]

I believe the euro boks are also available for the tests, the cant make this training group though due to club commitments. So expect to see Ruan Pienaar, Steyn and Habana in there as well.

 

[APoc184]

Aaahh... You are correct. No way Meyer would leave Flo out.

 

[Albereth]

Surprised to see Schalk there, is it not time to move on? He just got back and he is not a spring chicken anymore.

Old Boys Club. Very old boys club.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Anyone else a bit miffed that Boom Prinsloo didn't get a call up? He's been playing extremely well.

 

[APoc184]

We have an abundance of good quality loosies in SA. Somebody was always going to lose out. He is still very young and if he continues on this trend his time will come sooner or later.

On a side note.
I see Jacques Louis Potgieter posted yesterday that it was the saddest day of his life. With reference to not making the squad.

Not quite sure what to make of that. He certainly lifted the Bulls side when he joined them but Bok quality? Not so sure.

 

[MickeyD]

Anyone else a bit miffed that Boom Prinsloo didn't get a call up? He's been playing extremely well.

Strange that Mohoje does not start for the Cheetahs and gets a call up, not Boom Prinsloo! Same with Kolisi, lucky to be there ahead of Carr.

Cobus Reinach should be there ahead of FH.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

lol. JLP ain't bad, but he isn't even starting for the Bulls at the moment.

Still not sure about Goosen, though. He had a good game this weekend, but the rest of the season was quite muted.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Strange that Mohoje does not start for the Cheetahs and gets a call up, not Boom Prinsloo! Same with Kolisi, lucky to be there ahead of Carr.

Cobus Reinach should be there ahead of FH.

Yeah, agreed. Carr has had a phenomenal season in a lacklustre Stormers side.

Apoc is right, though. We have an abundance of loose forwards.

 

[MickeyD]

lol. JLP ain't bad, but he isn't even starting for the Bulls at the moment.

Still not sure about Goosen, though. He had a good game this weekend, but the rest of the season was quite muted.

And he is injury prone - NZ will target him and he will be off the park within 20 minutes.

 

[FoXtroT]

Yeah, agreed. Carr has had a phenomenal season in a lacklustre Stormers side.

Apoc is right, though. We have an abundance of loose forwards.

Indeed we do but I don't see a recognized No. 8 in the squad apart from Duane.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Indeed we do but I don't see a recognized No. 8 in the squad apart from Duane.

Kolisi and Alberts can play there, can't they?

 

[FoXtroT]

Kolisi and Alberts can play there, can't they?

They can, I am sure but its not as well as perhaps more recognised 8th men.

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Should dump Francois Hougaard and put Reinach in there. He had a couple of shocking passes on Saturday but otherwise a great player.

Cobus Reinach should be there ahead of FH.

Completely agree. Reinach had a bad game on Saturday but he's been the standout no. 9 so far this season. Hell I'd probably pick Sarel Pretorius over Hougaard if he wasn't injured.

Not sure why Meyer regards Hougaard so highly but then again...sy bloed is mos blou.

 

[sand_man]

Gees I don't know hey...??

I rate Francois!! His versatility is quite valuable and he may not be on top of his game but he is always on top of his defensive game, tackling well above his weight!

Pound for pound he must be one of the strongest rugby players in SA.