Rugby Championship 2013

[Jay_Bee_Kay]

Also no scrumhalf has really raised his hand and stamped his authority on the SA rugby scene

What about Sarel Pretorius?

Or am I missing something?

 

[Solitude]

What about Sarel Pretorius?

Or am I missing something?

Sarel is the most underrated player in South Africa. People have said that his defense is lacking and that his passing isn't the most accurate. But hell, he is the best substitute player I have ever seen. I would always pick him as the scrumhalf on the bench. He seems to up the tempo of the players around him and his explosiveness creates space.

It's a shame that he isn't picked for Springbok duty.

 

[GreGorGy]

We must sticky this, CC and release SR threads.

Steenkamp back in the mix - mmmmm.

 

[Devill]

What about Sarel Pretorius?

Or am I missing something?

At the Tahs he was average. It showed that without the go forward ball and right team strategy he might not be half the player he was in the season of 2011.....

Also he is much more of an impact player. He has was not even the only first choice scrumhalf for the Freestate, how do you want him to be the saviour of the boks?

Sarel is the most underrated player in South Africa. People have said that his defense is lacking and that his passing isn't the most accurate. But hell, he is the best substitute player I have ever seen. I would always pick him as the scrumhalf on the bench. He seems to up the tempo of the players around him and his explosiveness creates space.

It's a shame that he isn't picked for Springbok duty.

Agree 100%. I would love to see him come off the bench for the last 20 against a team like Aus or the Pumas.

 

[thijei]

The Springbok team to face Argentina in Soweto is:

15. Willie le Roux GWK Griquas 3 caps
14 Bryan Habana Toulon, France 86 caps
13 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 4 caps
12 Jean de Villiers DHL Western Province (captain) 87 caps
11 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 9 caps
10 Morné Steyn Stade Francais, France 45 caps
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N.Ireland 66 caps
8 Duane Vermeulen DHL Western Province 7 caps
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 21 caps
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 19 caps
5 Juandré Kruger Racing Metro, France 11 caps
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 14 caps
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 45 caps
2 Adriaan Strauss Toyota FS Cheetahs 24 caps
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 44 caps
Replacements
16 Bismarck du Plessis The Sharks 48 caps
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp Toulouse, France 40 caps
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 4 caps
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 26 caps
20 Siya Kolisi DHL Western Province 2 caps
21 Fourie du Preez Suntory Sungoliath, Japan 62 caps
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 23 caps
23 Jan Serfontein Vodacom Blue Bulls 3 caps

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/130814/Vermeulen_Kruger_to_start_for_Boks

 

[Devill]

The Springbok team to face Argentina in Soweto is:

15. Willie le Roux GWK Griquas 3 caps
14 Bryan Habana Toulon, France 86 caps
13 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 4 caps
12 Jean de Villiers DHL Western Province (captain) 87 caps
11 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 9 caps
10 Morné Steyn Stade Francais, France 45 caps
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N.Ireland 66 caps
8 Duane Vermeulen DHL Western Province 7 caps
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 21 caps
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 19 caps
5 Juandré Kruger Racing Metro, France 11 caps
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 14 caps
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 45 caps
2 Adriaan Strauss Toyota FS Cheetahs 24 caps
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 44 caps
Replacements
16 Bismarck du Plessis The Sharks 48 caps
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp Toulouse, France 40 caps
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 4 caps
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 26 caps
20 Siya Kolisi DHL Western Province 2 caps
21 Fourie du Preez Suntory Sungoliath, Japan 62 caps
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 23 caps
23 Jan Serfontein Vodacom Blue Bulls 3 caps

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/130814/Vermeulen_Kruger_to_start_for_Boks

Solid team. I am very happy the HM has kept Wille le Roux at 15. I really am worried about flyhalf, because if Morne Steyn is injured there is only really Pat Lambie (Who was also not enjoying the best of form in Super Rugby) and then no one else.....

The forwards should be a match for any team on this planet with Bismarck coming of the bench with Flip vd Merwe (Who imo has cleaned up his game - not that I said that obviously he will be yellow or Red carded on Saturday ) and a running flanker in Siya. I am also looking forward to see Serfontein on the park as he is in my opinion the future of Bok rugby at one of the centre positions (I prefer him in the inside centre position).

I would have dropped RP and added someone else.

 

[FoXtroT]

Looking like a real good team, especially like the Loose trio. I think we could seriously challenge the All Blacks dominance in that area this year.

 

[CL-West]

What oh what does HM still see in Ruan Pienaar, his distributions is terrible and he tries to play both 9 and 10.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Solid team. I am very happy the HM has kept Wille le Roux at 15. I really am worried about flyhalf, because if Morne Steyn is injured there is only really Pat Lambie (Who was also not enjoying the best of form in Super Rugby) and then no one else.....

The forwards should be a match for any team on this planet with Bismarck coming of the bench with Flip vd Merwe (Who imo has cleaned up his game - not that I said that obviously he will be yellow or Red carded on Saturday ) and a running flanker in Siya. I am also looking forward to see Serfontein on the park as he is in my opinion the future of Bok rugby at one of the centre positions (I prefer him in the inside centre position).

I would have dropped RP and added someone else.

Yeah, agree with this. I would have put Jano Vermaak in ahead of RP.

 

[Devill]

Looking like a real good team, especially like the Loose trio. I think we could seriously challenge the All Blacks dominance in that area this year.

+1, if vermeulen has a quick route back to top form I really think our loose trio can challenge anyone, anytime. I also like the look of the bench.

What oh what does HM still see in Ruan Pienaar, his distributions is terrible and he tries to play both 9 and 10.

Coming of a great season in 2011 (IIRC) he did not set the international scene ablaze as expected.

Yeah, agree with this. I would have put Jano Vermaak in ahead of RP.

Is vermaak 100% fit? If he is I would also have played him.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

+1, if vermeulen has a quick route back to top form I really think our loose trio can challenge anyone, anytime. I also like the look of the bench.

Always been a fan of Vermeulen myself. On form I'd pick him above Spies any day of the week. Vermeulen, Louw and Alberts will make a lethal trio.

Is vermaak 100% fit? If he is I would also have played him.

Good question, I dunno. I remember Meyer saying they were a bit thin on 9, and I thought he meant Hougaard, but he could have meant both I guess.

 

[Martian]

Personally I'm a bit worried about the speed with which our forwards will get around the park.

Against a team like Argentina I can see this pack working as they also have a similar bunch in terms of brute over pace. Against Australia or New Zealand I think it'll be a totally different matter, they've been bossing us at the breakdown for years now.

Time will only tell though, if our forwards can front up I believe we have a realistic chance in the Championship.

 

[FoXtroT]

Always been a fan of Vermeulen myself. On form I'd pick him above Spies any day of the week. Vermeulen, Louw and Alberts will make a lethal trio.



Good question, I dunno. I remember Meyer saying they were a bit thin on 9, and I thought he meant Hougaard, but he could have meant both I guess.

The only thing with Vermeulen is that he tends not to pass too often when he has the ball and there is an overlap outside him. He needs to work on his decision making with ball in hand.

 

[sand_man]

Duane is also susceptible to a lot of off the ball niggle.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Must say, I love the new ruck "law". Unfortunately it negates the "hitting in" of the packs, but at least the locks don't have to hook anymore. The rucks can now also be contested making on field decisions by the captain a bit more trickier. Now the teams need a hooker that can hook and throw a ball straight into the line outs and a captain with an actual brain.

 

[Martian]

Aussies really looking like contenders this year

 

[SlowInternet]

Good game by the All Blacks

 

[OrbitalDawn]

AB's impressive as usual. Gonna be difficult to beat.

 

[Creag]

The Argentina team on a Springbok bus

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

What a disorganised showing from the Boks ..... So much aimless kicking.

And as for that bloody noise, really wish they would stop/ban those things once and for all