OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
Any thoughts on the ABs squad? I'm quite happy, although I'm not quite convinced by Kerr-Barlow as the 2nd halfback. I'd rather have Brad Webber in the squad.
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Question of the Day: Do you think Bafana Bafana will win tonight?
Official June 2016 Tests Thread
- Thread starter OrbitalDawn
- Start date
Boks: It’s a serious cleanout
South Africa’s twelfth post-isolation national rugby coach seems determined to begin duty with a pretty clean slate.
The equivalent of just about an entire starting XV of players have fallen by the wayside as Allister Coetzee on Saturday revealed his maiden, 31-strong Springbok squad for the home series against Ireland in June.
Admittedly several players were unavailable for the time being or have since retired, but 14 members of predecessor Heyneke Meyer’s start-out squad of 31 for the 2015 World Cup – where the country blew hot and cold before finishing in the “bronze” berth – do not feature in Coetzee’s immediate plans.
The real casualties, you might say, given that they continue to play first-class rugby and haven’t officially retired from international duty, are Zane Kirchner, Morne Steyn, Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Schalk Brits and Coenie Oosthuizen.
Bryan Habana and Ruan Pienaar are not available specifically for the Irish challenge, Handre Pollard and Schalk Burger are on the injured list, whilst Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Jean de Villiers have retired.
Certainly Coetzee has not done a “Peter de Villiers” by pinning notable faith in plenty of players from a prior era as he took charge – although the quirky De Villiers did have the justification in 2008 of being keen and able to call upon gnarly members of a World Cup-winning squad from only the previous year (under Jake White).
Apart from introducing nine uncapped figures, the long-time former Stormers mastermind should earn approval in currently bellicose, impatient governmental circles for selecting 12 players of colour, and the majority of them black African.
That is four more than Meyer chose for RWC 2015, when several of those men tended to be controversially peripheral much of the time anyway – there were only three players of colour in the starting line-up for the semi-final defeat at the hands of the All Blacks.
There seems a far better chance of more fulsome involvement by several black players in the three-Test Irish series – starting at Newlands on June 11 – especially as the squad Coetzee has revealed includes popular, in-form names like Lions midfield ace Lionel Mapoe, their only temporarily crocked flyhalf Elton Jantjies, and someone like Stormers flank Siya Kolisi who produced a timely, barnstorming performance in Saturday’s tetchy derby victory over the Cheetahs.
People will be entitled to raise an eyebrow or two over the inclusion of both Newlands-based hookers in Scarra Ntubeni and Bongi Mbonambi, especially as the Stormers set-piece has struggled to fire consistently in recent weeks.
Yet both are talented No 2s when on song, and their lack of Test knowledge is counter-balanced anyway by the presence of Adriaan Strauss, a seasoned 54-capper who is tipped to be the first-choice pick in the role and a candidate for the still-to-be-determined captaincy for the June series.
Coetzee’s most “adventurous” squad selection is arguably Garth April, the understudy at the Sharks to Pat Lambie who nevertheless grabbed his opportunities strikingly well while the more established pivot underwent a fairly length layoff.
It has been a meteoric rise this season for the 24-year-old, but there is almost certainly something about him, as they say, and Coetzee was not off the mark when he opined at the press conference immediately following the squad revelation: “You (should) always allow for late bloomers, late developers … he has good, soft touches and I like his core skills too.”
The coach has gone unapologetically lean on overseas-based players; only loose forwards Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw and French-based loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff have been asked to make long-haul treks back to South Africa in the next few days.
As I reported several weeks ago, Coetzee always seemed likely to pluck the barrel-chested Kitshoff back from the risk of potentially falling into French Test hands somewhere down the line.
An old favourite of his at the Stormers for several years, Coetzee realised that the seriously gifted Kitshoff is still only 24 -- and quite capable of putting serious heat on Bok No 1 jersey incumbent Tendai Mtawarira now that he is in the greater green-and-gold mix.
The Boks ought to still have the nucleus of a physical yet mobile pack, able to dominate in both structured and more fluid play.
Coetzee has also, correctly, largely avoided the risk of wrath from the pro-Lions lobby by giving the nod, either for the senior Bok squad or the ‘A’ group to tackle English counterparts around the same time, to a generous portion of the standout SA team in Super Rugby thus far in 2016.
The Lions played thrilling, new-age rugby in ending the Bulls’ unbeaten record at Loftus on Saturday with a startling 56-20 outcome.
Their widespread claims for higher honours just couldn’t be ignored.
And “Toetie” hasn’t done that …
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
Sport24
Link: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/boks-its-a-serious-cleanout-20160528
South Africa’s twelfth post-isolation national rugby coach seems determined to begin duty with a pretty clean slate.
The equivalent of just about an entire starting XV of players have fallen by the wayside as Allister Coetzee on Saturday revealed his maiden, 31-strong Springbok squad for the home series against Ireland in June.
Admittedly several players were unavailable for the time being or have since retired, but 14 members of predecessor Heyneke Meyer’s start-out squad of 31 for the 2015 World Cup – where the country blew hot and cold before finishing in the “bronze” berth – do not feature in Coetzee’s immediate plans.
The real casualties, you might say, given that they continue to play first-class rugby and haven’t officially retired from international duty, are Zane Kirchner, Morne Steyn, Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Schalk Brits and Coenie Oosthuizen.
Bryan Habana and Ruan Pienaar are not available specifically for the Irish challenge, Handre Pollard and Schalk Burger are on the injured list, whilst Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Jean de Villiers have retired.
Certainly Coetzee has not done a “Peter de Villiers” by pinning notable faith in plenty of players from a prior era as he took charge – although the quirky De Villiers did have the justification in 2008 of being keen and able to call upon gnarly members of a World Cup-winning squad from only the previous year (under Jake White).
Apart from introducing nine uncapped figures, the long-time former Stormers mastermind should earn approval in currently bellicose, impatient governmental circles for selecting 12 players of colour, and the majority of them black African.
That is four more than Meyer chose for RWC 2015, when several of those men tended to be controversially peripheral much of the time anyway – there were only three players of colour in the starting line-up for the semi-final defeat at the hands of the All Blacks.
There seems a far better chance of more fulsome involvement by several black players in the three-Test Irish series – starting at Newlands on June 11 – especially as the squad Coetzee has revealed includes popular, in-form names like Lions midfield ace Lionel Mapoe, their only temporarily crocked flyhalf Elton Jantjies, and someone like Stormers flank Siya Kolisi who produced a timely, barnstorming performance in Saturday’s tetchy derby victory over the Cheetahs.
People will be entitled to raise an eyebrow or two over the inclusion of both Newlands-based hookers in Scarra Ntubeni and Bongi Mbonambi, especially as the Stormers set-piece has struggled to fire consistently in recent weeks.
Yet both are talented No 2s when on song, and their lack of Test knowledge is counter-balanced anyway by the presence of Adriaan Strauss, a seasoned 54-capper who is tipped to be the first-choice pick in the role and a candidate for the still-to-be-determined captaincy for the June series.
Coetzee’s most “adventurous” squad selection is arguably Garth April, the understudy at the Sharks to Pat Lambie who nevertheless grabbed his opportunities strikingly well while the more established pivot underwent a fairly length layoff.
It has been a meteoric rise this season for the 24-year-old, but there is almost certainly something about him, as they say, and Coetzee was not off the mark when he opined at the press conference immediately following the squad revelation: “You (should) always allow for late bloomers, late developers … he has good, soft touches and I like his core skills too.”
The coach has gone unapologetically lean on overseas-based players; only loose forwards Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw and French-based loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff have been asked to make long-haul treks back to South Africa in the next few days.
As I reported several weeks ago, Coetzee always seemed likely to pluck the barrel-chested Kitshoff back from the risk of potentially falling into French Test hands somewhere down the line.
An old favourite of his at the Stormers for several years, Coetzee realised that the seriously gifted Kitshoff is still only 24 -- and quite capable of putting serious heat on Bok No 1 jersey incumbent Tendai Mtawarira now that he is in the greater green-and-gold mix.
The Boks ought to still have the nucleus of a physical yet mobile pack, able to dominate in both structured and more fluid play.
Coetzee has also, correctly, largely avoided the risk of wrath from the pro-Lions lobby by giving the nod, either for the senior Bok squad or the ‘A’ group to tackle English counterparts around the same time, to a generous portion of the standout SA team in Super Rugby thus far in 2016.
The Lions played thrilling, new-age rugby in ending the Bulls’ unbeaten record at Loftus on Saturday with a startling 56-20 outcome.
Their widespread claims for higher honours just couldn’t be ignored.
And “Toetie” hasn’t done that …
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
Sport24
Link: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/boks-its-a-serious-cleanout-20160528
Fulcrum29
Honorary Master
I’m still saying that the Lions squad is coached to play as a unit, it is noticeable by the way that they play, however their play is only advantages when they are winning the ball so they need to have a consistent 8-pack and good control at the back. They do have individuals which has shown Springbok promise and those had been selected. The reason that I’m bringing this up is that in my opinion near any player can look very good in the Lions team due to the play style, though they need to be coached into the unit.
A player like Jesse Kriel will also be good in the Lions squad.
A player like Jesse Kriel will also be good in the Lions squad.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
That's a good point. Will be interesting to see how the Lions players fit into the Bok squad and if their impact is as big.
greg0205
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There is no line Jaco Kriel can't break... It is known.
Would have felt better if Marx and Smith had been selected to give us 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14... Combinations that have been working together for a while now, but let's see what Allister does... I suspect it'll be a blue and white bias 'till the red and white players show him what they really can do.
Fulcrum29
Honorary Master
I agree with the squad, but it will be chopped and changed over time. I’m also sure that SBW, at 30, will return to the All Blacks as it had been rumoured. Hansen likes to bring in the ‘youth’ with the battle-hardened, they build on the All Black brotherhood with experience and leadership, that is what made them a great rugby country.
In my opinion they picked Kerr-Barlow due to him being the more experienced All Black.
KOPITE
Executive Member
We have a good squad with a balance of experience, form players and youth. We will always have people moaning about one or 2 players that never made the cut. AC has also gone with the tried and trusted like any coach will do. I like that he has picked players that never got a chance under HM. Also remember there is still a few guys not available or injured that can make a return.
We lack back line players that can change a game. Fullback, wings and fly half is a real problem for us as we really thin in those positions and no game breakers
We lack back line players that can change a game. Fullback, wings and fly half is a real problem for us as we really thin in those positions and no game breakers
faniebraai
RIP
True on the first paragraph, average players playing brilliantly as a unit.
Jesse Kriel? Could be, his defense is pathetic though.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
I see Coetzee ruled out an overseas captain.
So likely Whiteley or Strauss.
But you need your captain to start. Don't want another John Smit situation.
So likely Whiteley or Strauss.
But you need your captain to start. Don't want another John Smit situation.
faniebraai
RIP
He has? good... do you know the 4 he was talking about when he said his 4 player leadership group?
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
I suspect Lambie, Whiteley, Strauss and Vermeulen.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
Solitude
Executive Member
Whiteley most likely won't be the captain since Vermeulen is an automatic start. They would not have picked him and have the problems with Toulon if they didn't want to start with him. Vermeulen won't be the captain since he is an overseas based player. Lambie won't be the captain because of Jantjies.
Chances are good that it will be Mtawarira or Strauss. Strauss being the most likely candidate.
Chances are good that it will be Mtawarira or Strauss. Strauss being the most likely candidate.
OrbitalDawn
Ulysses Everett McGill
MickeyD
RIP
Strauss is the new Bok skipper.
SlowInternet
Executive Member
SlowInternet
Executive Member
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
Whiteley was the shoe in with Lambie a good VC but no, let's go for the unpopular choice because I can ........... meh, very unexcited as yet.
SlowInternet
Executive Member
I also would have preferred Whiteley as captain but I think Vermeulen will be the first choice at no 8 for Coetzee.
greg0205
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Strauss is the first mistake, starting with Vermeulen will be the second.