Official June 2014 Tests Thread

[OrbitalDawn]

I see the Frogs made 10 changes to their starting lineup, getting some solid players in. Should hopefully be a better contest!

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Even though our scrum was shyte, did you see how much worse it got when the front row subs came on? Jannie may be a **** of a player in every other regard and I hate him for that but he and Beast and Biz do anchor that scrum better than what else we have.

 

[Devill]

Seeing the comments on News24 pertaining to the money issue. I understand that it is for short period and it is their job. BUT, talking to youngsters still in school, there dream is to play for the Boks. Not to play for the Boks so that I can make more money. Call them naive or not aware or whatever.

As much as I am a fan of Frans, this is not the 1st time that he withdraws from the Bok set-up. The timing for me is an issue.

The reality is that we are in the Pro-era and cash is king!

As with any injury, a youngster gets an opportunity presuming that Serfontein is going to start. Pity de Allende is injured!

If it is true that SARU promised him a higher pay package and then did not deliver I support his decision.

 

[Devill]

Is Jannie really the best prop we currently have?

Dirty player, weak tackler, doesn't do much with ball in hand... Is he that strong in the scrum?

No. I do not know why we persist with him. Hell I feel even Coenie was better at tight head than Jannie.

BOKS:

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lwazi Mvovo

1) Thank fsck RP is not starting.
2) Jannie better pick up his game a lot this week.
3) I was hoping Mvovo would get the start above Hendricks.
4) I hope Goosen gets more than the normal 10 minutes at the end of the test match.

 

[Badprop_za]

If it is true that SARU promised him a higher pay package and then did not deliver I support his decision.

Fair comment. I will also move if this happened to me at my employer.

Read an article where Jake mentions that Frans should be rested. Really Jake! IMO, it is not the Bok Coach's responsibility to rest players.....

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Totally stumped on the Steenkamp selection, he did absolutely nothing whatsoever last week to justify starting ....... moar Bulls sentimentality from HM ftw.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Even though our scrum was shyte, did you see how much worse it got when the front row subs came on? Jannie may be a **** of a player in every other regard and I hate him for that but he and Beast and Biz do anchor that scrum better than what else we have.

No. I do not know why we persist with him. Hell I feel even Coenie was better at tight head than Jannie.

Also felt to me like Coenie fared better. Even Nyakane might be worth a shot. If Jannie isn't performing in the scrum then he literally serves no purpose in the team.

1) Thank fsck RP is not starting.
2) Jannie better pick up his game a lot this week.
3) I was hoping Mvovo would get the start above Hendricks.
4) I hope Goosen gets more than the normal 10 minutes at the end of the test match.

Agreed, except I think Hendricks deserves another game there. He was very enthusiastic and participated all over. In important games I'd have Mvovo starting.

 

[Devill]

Fair comment. I will also move if this happened to me at my employer.

Read an article where Jake mentions that Frans should be rested. Really Jake! IMO, it is not the Bok Coach's responsibility to rest players.....

+1. Wish we had central contracts like the All Blacks, so that we could insure the players were conditioned right.

Totally stumped on the Steenkamp selection, he did absolutely nothing whatsoever last week to justify starting ....... moar Bulls sentimentality from HM ftw.

:erm: He played a lot better than Beast last week. Or are you going to tell me Beast had a massive awe inspiring game?

Also with only three bulls in the starting line up I fail to see how he is "favouring" the bulls players.

Also felt to me like Coenie fared better. Even Nyakane might be worth a shot. If Jannie isn't performing in the scrum then he literally serves no purpose in the team.

Agreed, except I think Hendricks deserves another game there. He was very enthusiastic and participated all over. In important games I'd have Mvovo starting.

I guess giving hendricks some more experience is not a bad idea, I just think you should play your best 15 every game. Also I do not think hendricks had a terrible game, just that Mvovo deserves the starting place.

Agreed on Jannie, last year he slipped about four tackles that directly let to tries.

 

[Noob-Noob]

No. I do not know why we persist with him. Hell I feel even Coenie was better at tight head than Jannie.



1) Thank fsck RP is not starting.
2) Jannie better pick up his game a lot this week.
3) I was hoping Mvovo would get the start above Hendricks.
4) I hope Goosen gets more than the normal 10 minutes at the end of the test match.

I agree on all your points. Well said
BJ Botha is also a better Tighthead than Jannie.

 

[Noob-Noob]

:erm: He played a lot better than Beast last week. Or are you going to tell me Beast had a massive awe inspiring game?

Also with only three bulls in the starting line up I fail to see how he is "favouring" the bulls players.

Agree with you again, Steenkamp's all round game is much better than that of Beast, he makes more runs and more tackles. Guthro always gives his everything.

I feel for HM, if he even considers picking an EX or current bull he gets accused of favoring the bulls (or having Bulls sentimentality)

 

[Devill]

Agree with you again, Steenkamp's all round game is much better than that of Beast, he makes more runs and more tackles. Guthro always gives his everything.

I feel for HM, if he even considers picking an EX or current bull he gets accused of favoring the bulls (or having Bulls sentimentality)

Haha. I am sure if he beats the top 3 teams in next years world cup to win it he will still be seen as "lucky" by some.

I think some people on the forum secretly has a tiny crush on HM, and now they are projecting.

I do not agree with everything HM does but I think he has at least some pedigree so I will give him a chance.

Favouring bulls players he sure as **** is not doing imo.

 

[Albereth]

Even though our scrum was shyte, did you see how much worse it got when the front row subs came on? Jannie may be a **** of a player in every other regard and I hate him for that but he and Beast and Biz do anchor that scrum better than what else we have.

Agree. The scrum problem in in the second row. That Salusa 45 takes a while to kick in.

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Is Jannie really the best prop we currently have?

My thoughts exactly.

1) Thank fsck RP is not starting.
2) Jannie better pick up his game a lot this week.
3) I was hoping Mvovo would get the start above Hendricks.
4) I hope Goosen gets more than the normal 10 minutes at the end of the test match.

Agreed.

 

[Devill]

Agree. The scrum problem in in the second row. That Salusa 45 takes a while to kick in.

Sorry just to confirm, you are blaming Bakkies and Victor?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Real pity that Leigh Halfpenny isn't in the Wales side for this tour. Quality player.

 

[APoc184]

WALES FOR 1ST TEST

15-Liam Williams, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Taulupe Faletau, 7-Aaron Shingler, 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4-Luke Charteris, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Gethin Jenkins

Substitutes: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Paul James, 18-Samson Lee, 19-Ian Evans, 20-Josh Turnbull, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-James Hook, 23-Matthew Morgan

 

[MickeyD]

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/06/12/why-frans-quit-boks

A dispute over payments to the owners of Frans Steyn's image rights appears to have been the final straw that drove the player to quit the Springbok squad dramatically on Monday afternoon.

Steyn left the team's base in Durban just days before the first Test against Wales at Kings Park in an agitated state following the arrival of some senior SA Rugby Union (Saru) officials at the hotel.

The 27-year-old player and Saru have been at loggerheads over the handling of image rights payments and the appearance of officials central to the dispute incensed Steyn.

His defiant stand appears to have been made on principle, as there is no obvious financial gain.

Steyn will lose his current contract and match fees and could lose out on a lucrative World Cup contract. It could cost him more than R2-million in total.

His image rights have been owned by a third party since he joined French club Racing Metro in 2009 - a standard practice for high- profile sports stars.

When Steyn returned to South Africa in 2012 he was awarded a Springbok contract with a specific understanding that the use of his image rights would take place under licence from the third party. Payments were to be made separately and directly to the party by Saru, but that was not honoured.

Steyn's agent, Gerrie Swart, would not comment.

Saru commercial general manager Andy Marinos said he had not been involved with the matter for "over a year" and directed inquiries to Saru CEO Jurie Roux.

But Roux could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Steyn was also unavailable for comment, having retreated to his farm with his wife and baby.

The Sharks faced a similar situation when they offered Steyn a contract but they were upfront and instead included the licence fee in Steyn's contract, which the player then paid to the third party.

"I can't comment on Saru issues but I can confirm that we have a great relationship with Frans," Sharks CEO John Smit said.

Saru tried to defuse the situation in a bland statement, but the reality is that a talented, 53-Test cap player, who every nation on earth would pay handsomely to play for them if they could, has walked away from the Springboks due to a genuine grievance.

Steyn is feeling the strain and his decision to take a break is as brave as it is dangerous.

"At that level of rugby if your headspace is not right you can't just run out and play - it's a contact sport and he'll get hurt if he is not fully there," Sharks coach Jake White said.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Very weird situation. His dad also mentioned some 'other issues' being part of it, that he couldn't disclose.

 

[Sl8er]

Jordaan, Olivier called up to Springbok squad

http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=2485384

 

[GreGorGy]

Please not that butter fingered cünt Olivier Twits. Jeez, I was delighted when the BULLS managed to get rid of this fücktard.