Springbok End of Year Tour - 2013...

[Devill]

I did. Differ with them on a few picks, but it's not bad.

The comments section just stood out for me, as most websites' comments sections are cesspits of fail and aids.

Lol, that they are.

Straight swap for Jaque Fourie. Jean inside and Frans outside...

But what if Jaque Fourie regains his form? Surely he will be the better of the two unless Frans really has a blinder of a season prior WC?

Also wouldn't mind this, tbh. He's quite a versatile and useful player to have. He just needs to pull his socks up.

I think I would pick him on the bench. He can cover 10, 15, 12 and 13 (in a pinch), freeing up a slot perhaps for an extra forward which will be usefull on the heavier fields come World Cup time.

I reckon HM wants Jdv, Jacque Fourie, JJ and Jan Serfontein as his World Cup centres.

Maybe Frans Steyn at fullback or utility back. Centre I'm not so sure.

Yes I also think he might be getting on the bench unless he has two crackers come 2014/15 Super Rugby.

Willie is more suited to wing IMHO but Ja, it's nice to see HM has a few lucrative options available.

Frans offers one cover at 15, 12, 13, but as everyone has already pointed out, only if he is fit. He is a brute of a player, bloody monster and in the right form, a great asset.

Willie 15, 14

Zane first choice though (like it or not I think HM will stick with him).

Our main issues are 10, 11 and 3...

Lambie developing nicely but we need a fully fit Goosen. Morne might find some form again soon. Can't write him off just yet but I reckon Lambie is one big performance away from cementing his place in the starting XV. Will be interesting to see if he starts against France and at 10....

10 -I agree whith you on Lambie and I hope that he really shows what he can be (become) against the French this weekend.

11 - We have Habana and I am sure Willie can do justice to the slot if anything was to happen to Habana. Or do you think Habana will not be good enough for the no. 11 Jersey come WC time?

3 - I agree, we saw what could happen if Jannie is out, and our second choice has some harm befalling him. I hope that Coenie can make the switch this weekend, but I am doubtful. Malherbe did well but if he is next in line after Jannie then we need to give him a lot more game time to develop in the next year.

 

[sand_man]

Habana is one sprint away from a career ending torn hammie. He is a legend no doubt and one of the greatest wings ever to play for SA but he is getting on. The problem with having someone so dominant in a particular position for so long is no one has been groomed at this level to take over when he's gone.

There been a few standin's but none vaguely as good as Brian. Bjorn? Lwazi? Hougaard?

 

[Devill]

Habana is one sprint away from a career ending torn hammie. He is a legend no doubt and one of the greatest wings ever to play for SA but he is getting on. The problem with having someone so dominant in a particular position for so long is no one has been groomed at this level to take over when he's gone.

There been a few standin's but none vaguely as good as Brian. Bjorn? Lwazi? Hougaard?

Bjorn? - The best for Kick and chase but this is not the majority of the Bok game anymore. Lacking on defence a bit.
Lwazi? - In my opinion the best of the three in current form.
Hougaard? - Was injured and did not play at wing for a long time now. Imo he could be the best but he would need to prove himself over at least one Super Season.

I think I will give the slot to Willie, then it frees up the no 15 slot for an in form Frans Steyn with a canon of a boot.

 

[sand_man]

http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=2207654

The Springbok team to face France in Paris is:

15. Willie le Roux 11 caps 20 points
14. JP Pietersen 50 caps 75 points
13. Jaque Fourie 71 caps 160 points
12. Jean de Villiers (captain) 95 caps 125 points
11. Bryan Habana 94 caps 265 points
10. Morné Steyn 53 caps 625 points
9. Ruan Pienaar 73 caps 130 points
8. Duane Vermeulen 15 caps 5 points
7. Willem Alberts 29 caps 35 points
6. Francois Louw 27 caps 25 points
5. Flip van der Merwe 33 caps 5 points
4. Eben Etzebeth 23 caps 0 points
3. Coenie Oosthuizen 13 caps 10 points
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) 56 caps 45 points
1. Tendai Mtawarira 52 caps 10 points
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss 32 caps 25 points
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp 48 caps 30 points
18. Lourens Adriaanse 0 caps 0 points
19. Bakkies Botha 77 caps 35 points
20. Pieter-Steph du Toit 1 caps 0 points
21. Siya Kolisi 9 caps 0 points
22. Jano Vermaak 3 caps 0 points
23. Pat Lambie 31caps 65 points

With possibly the exception of the halfback pairing this must be the strongest team we currently have playing over there.

Would love to have seen Lambie given another start but not really surprised that HM has gone with MS...

 

[MickeyD]

No Fourie du Preez?

EIDT: found it - http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=2204124

 

[sand_man]

No Fourie du Preez?

No. He was never going to be available for this last fixture. Other commitments I believe...

 

[Sl8er]

No Fourie du Preez?

He had to go back to Japan, I believe.

EDIT: Snap!

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

@ MickeyD - he's playing for his club on the day I think


Glad to see our loose forwards stay the same but 9 & 10, one huge stagnant bottleneck again

 

[MickeyD]

Du Preez became a father shortly before the squad departed from South Africa for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour. There were concerns over his availability because of injury, but he was passed fit. It was also agreed with his club that he will be released after the Scotland Test.

.....

 

[Wall]

I can't believe that Ruan has so many caps, never realised it

I don't agree with out halfback pairing.

 

[sand_man]

I can't believe that Ruan has so many caps, never realised it

I don't agree with out halfback pairing.

He has more caps than Fourie DuPreez!!

It's a safety first option. The gamble would have been starting with Lambie. Pity...

 

[Devill]

He has more caps than Fourie DuPreez!!

It's a safety first option. The gamble would have been starting with Lambie. Pity...

I really think Lambie should have been given the start. He looked like he was on the verge of taking a step up last weekend.

Also could we not get a better scrumhalf than Pienaar? RP only has as many caps because he must have come off the bench for 5-10 minutes 30+ times.

Ps. Does anyone know if rain has been predicted for Saturday?

 

[MickeyD]

 

[sand_man]

I really think Lambie should have been given the start. He looked like he was on the verge of taking a step up last weekend.

Also could we not get a better scrumhalf than Pienaar? RP only has as many caps because he must have come off the bench for 5-10 minutes 30+ times.

Agreed. I think Lambie found some confidence playing against Scotland and it would be nice to see him be tested against a far more clinical outfit such as the French!

I'm assuming the only reason Rory hasn't got a call up is because he hasn't made himself available! We missed a trick there...

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Agreed on Lambie deserving to start again. He'll never get any momentum or stability if he keeps getting shunted around.

On wing I still think Mvovo is a good bet.

 

[Devill]

View attachment 83607

Thanks. i thought if it was going to rain, Meyer might have included MS because of his superior kicking game atm.

But it does not seem like it will, so I am disappointed that Lambie did not get the start.

Agreed. I think Lambie found some confidence playing against Scotland and it would be nice to see him be tested against a far more clinical outfit such as the French!

I'm assuming the only reason Rory hasn't got a call up is because he hasn't made himself available! We missed a trick there...

I also think Rory gave SA the finger, that or HM does not want all three his scrummies, not to be based in SA.

Lambie in my opinion had a nice stable game against the Scots. I hope that he now at least gets 40 minutes and not just the usual 5-10

Agreed on Lambie deserving to start again. He'll never get any momentum or stability if he keeps getting shunted around.

On wing I still think Mvovo is a good bet.

Agreed on Mvovo as being the best at moment. The only thing that he is not all that great at is the high ball but I am sure he can better himself in that department.

 

[Albereth]

So the game where experience playing in France would count most, Bakkies warms the bench?

 

[Devill]

So the game where experience playing in France would count most, Bakkies warms the bench?

Well I doubt Bakkies will make the next WC, and the fact that Eben and Flip have really combined well this year...makes this call an easy one.

I am worried that Pienaar will **** it up come Saturday

 

[Zyzzyva]

White: Lambie will play at 10

Durban - New Sharks director of rugby Jake White believes Patrick Lambie has been "messed around" in his career for far too long, and will play flyhalf for the Sharks next season.

The 23-year-old, currently on national duty, had raised debate about his best position over the last year after being fielded at both number 10 and 15.

"Let me say that Pat's a very good talent," White said.

"To be fair to him, because he's so talented, he can actually be messed around.

"It reminds me a bit of when (ex-Springbok back) Brent Russell was here -- he could play in so many positions.

"He's always on your bench because he's good enough, but then he tends to never find a position he can settle in."

The former Springbok coach, though, wanted to put an end to any further questions.

"Pat Lambie is going to play at No 10, that’s it," he said.

"He is not going to play anywhere else for the Sharks except at flyhalf."

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/White-Lambie-will-play-at-10-20131122

 

[OrbitalDawn]

So the game where experience playing in France would count most, Bakkies warms the bench?

I'd take Etzebeth over Bakkies any day of the week.