Official June tests thread

Arno Botha in for Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee on the bench.

Uncapped loose forward Arno Botha has been called into the Springbok starting team in the place of the injured Willem Alberts for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban.

Botha’s place on the replacements bench goes to Marcell Coetzee, who played in all 12 Springbok tests last year. Botha is the third uncapped player in the starting line-up, along with fullback Willie le Roux and scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.

“It’s never ideal losing an experienced member of your squad the day before a test and I feel for Willem, but I also have the utmost confidence in Arno and Marcell, who I rate as two of the most exciting young loose forwards in South Africa,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

Commenting on the injury, Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said: “Alberts picked up an oblique abdominal strain earlier in the week and the decision was taken to withdraw him Saturday’s test, but he should be ready for next week’s test against Scotland in Nelspruit.”
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http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/130607/Botha_to_debut_for_Boks
 
Mom, Brian? Or JJ?

Was a peculiar match. Score line flattered us a bit. First 20 we were sharp, then it become some what loose and disjointed. 2nd half Italians murdered us except at turnovers where we made everyone count!!

Set pieces were shocking, line outs, kick offs and scrums!!!
 
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Italy played bloody good rugby in the first 20min of the second half. Would have challenged any team in the world.

In the end they were never going to keep it up.

Our scrums are a BIG concern.
 
That first 20 minutes of the second half were a bit worrying. We didn't seem to have much of an answer to that sort of sustained attack.

I did enjoy watching Habana. He showed just how dangerous he can be when given space - a mistake not many teams in world rugby make.

Meyer has always known how to get the best out of him though.
 
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We're going to get murdered in the RC, going by that performance. HM needs to shape this lot up in the next few weeks, like asap.
 
BobsLawnService said:
That first 20 minutes of the second half were a bit worrying. We didn't seem to have much of an answer to that sort of sustained attack.

I did enjoy watching Habana. He showed just how dangerous he can be when given space - a mistake not many teams in world rugby make.
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I don't think many teams in the world would have had an answer to that. They played really well. Quick ball, good running lines, good supporting runners, and they had so much confidence and momentum after murdering us in the scrums and a few line outs.

Let us not forget that this same Italian side managed victories over Ireland and France in the Six Nations. They are not as useless as they used to be.

This is a good victory for the Boks.
 
"We're going to get murdered in the RC, going by that performance. HM needs to shape this lot up in the next few weeks, like asap."

I really like the look of this team and I think that HM is doing a good job creating a good attacking team.

I think that given a few games together this team will become a force to be reckoned with.
 
APoc184 said:
I don't think many teams in the world would have had an answer to that. They played really well. Quick ball, good running lines, good supporting runners, and they had so much confidence and momentum after murdering us in the scrums and a few line outs.

Let us not forget that this same Italian side managed victories over Ireland and France in the Six Nations. They are not as useless as they used to be.

This is a good victory for the Boks.
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Agreed. You expect the Italians to be competitive in certain areas of the game. I thought they were totally overawed in the 1st 20, much like we were in the 1st 20 of the 2nd half.

Our inability to control the kick offs is a bit concerning though and that's got nothing to do with the quality of the opposition.

Italians are known for their good scrummaging but you would expect parity there. Bringing Coenie on at tight head is not the remedy either.

The line outs as well, were poor, more on account of our own poor timing and not the 2m Italian locks competing for the ball.

Anyway, with only a week to prepare perhaps our expectations are unrealistic.

Good to see some raw pace in the backline. JJ has got some serious gas!!
 
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