Springbok squad for end of year tour

[Zyzzyva]

I was at the game when the cheetahs beat the sharks in the curry cup semi. I must say, ruan it just looking broken off camera. I felt quite sad for the guy. For whatever reason it just seems like he is going nowhere fast. Mentally he isnt very happy at the moment. Imagine how good he would have been now if they left him playing srumhalf back in the day.

If it were up to me, i would send him to Vlok Cilliers (bulls kicking coach) for a few months. Pity something like that is essentially impossible. He isnt really that bad a kicker, and more often than not hits the poles. He also needs some time with a quality shrink.

The sharks really need a better coaching team.

 

[APoc184]

Good to see that Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss have both been called up to the squad. They replace Chiliboy Ralepele and Gurthro Steenkamp, both injured and on their way back home.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

thank gawd they got 'injured' because they sure can't play to save their lives ......

 

[Zenbaas]

thank gawd they got 'injured' because they sure can't play to save their lives ......

+1. Im happy the other two "replacements" are on their way there

 

[Ou grote]

What happened to that tradition where the "Dirt tracker" Boks carried a "Springbok kop" around, and the first team to beat them on tour would get it?


Don't the Boks care about winning anymore?

 

[I am Penguin]

..........when the cheetahs beat the sharks in the curry cup semi. I must say, ruan it just looking broken off camera. I felt quite sad for the guy. ...........

He should have been. damn Idiot. The team performed MUCH better without him. Maybe he got remunerated by the Cheetahs? /run

 

[I am Penguin]

Good to see that Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss have both been called up to the squad. They replace Chiliboy Ralepele and Gurthro Steenkamp, both injured and on their way back home.

thank gawd they got 'injured' because they sure can't play to save their lives ......

+1. Im happy the other two "replacements" are on their way there

Yep, Yep and YEP!

 

[APoc184]

Now CJ van der Linde is also on his way to the Bok squad.

Good news but if he can pick CJ for the squad then he should also get Frans Steyn and Jean De Villiers.

 

[AMG133]

Pienaar just isn't a flyhalf and never has been. I feel sorry for him as he clearly doesn't want to play there anymore. Scrumhalf is his best position.

His decision making is poor, he can't handle pressure, he can't dictate games like a proper flyhalf. He also doesn't have that vision a flyhalf should have. I was annoyed at Deysel and Johnson standing in the backline, but Pienaar shouldn't have passed to them all the time especially when there was a wall of Leicester defence standing in front of them. A proper flyhalf would have thrown some long passes over to the centres to open up gaps and get the backline going.

I feel sorry for the guy, 1 minute his 1 of the best scrummies the country has seen (beside Fourie), then gets forced into flyhalf position for the country & they make his club play him there too & in all honesty prior to the injury he was doing a blody good job, then after Steyn came into the picture he phased out and got pushed back into scrum half by the Sharks, now he has to re-adjust himself to play at flyhalf for the Boks, it aint easy especially for him as a youngster being pushed around all the time. It doesnt go well with their confidence and match prep.

 

[APoc184]

Squad for game vs France.

Nice team, although I think we will miss Spies at 8 and perhaps Steyn at 15.

Will support them 100%.

15. Zane Kirchner (1)
14. JP Pietersen (30)
13. Jaque Fourie (51)
12. Adi Jacobs (28)
11. Bryan Habana (54)
10. Morné Steyn (9)
9. Fourie du Preez (52)
8. Ryan Kankowski (9)
7. Schalk Burger (53)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (10)
5. Victor Matfield (89)
4. Bakkies Botha (63)
3. John Smit – captain (90)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (30)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (19)

Reserves:

16. Adriaan Strauss (5)
17. Wian du Preez (0)
18. CJ van der Linde (56)
19. Andries Bekker (18)
20. Danie Rossouw (43)
21.. Ruan Pienaar (34)
22 Wynand Olivier (24)

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Look for scoring opportunities (against us) coming from positions 15 and 12 ........

 

[markred]

The bench looks very strong for a change.
Its nice to have that kind of backup

 

[APoc184]

Look for scoring opportunities (against us) coming from positions 15 and 12 ........

I am hoping that our loose forwards can scramble quick enough to help out if the line is broken at 12.
I believe Kirchner will do alright on defense.

 

[Devill]

Look for scoring opportunities (against us) coming from positions 15 and 12 ........

May I ask who you would pick at nr 15?

Also I can not in recent memory (this year S14 and CC) remember that Kirchner once missed an easy tackle, I do however remember at least 4 times where it was a one one one situation where he stopped a certain try with a good tackle.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Frans Steyn, Stefan Terblanche (he has one more tour in him) or that chap from the Lions .... Kirchner is at best, the number 3 or 4 Fullback, not first choice.

 

[Devill]

Frans Steyn, Stefan Terblanche (he has one more tour in him) or that chap from the Lions .... Kirchner is at best, the number 3 or 4 Fullback, not first choice.

1) Frans steyn will not be picked unless we really have an emergency
2) Stefan might have one tour left but ermmm we need to use these tours to give the guys we are 10-1 taking to the WC in 2011 a chance to develop.
3) Louis Ludik, and not to be funny but if you can not remember his name then he could not have impressed you all that much.

So barring Terblanche and Steyn I would really rate Kirchner as our best. And with an eye on 2011 I will rate Kirchner and Steyn as the only options.

As an after thought Kirchner is also very familiar with the Springbok setup.

I will however say that there is not much to chose between ludik and Kirchner.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

He did actually impress me ..... remembering every other member from every other team but my own is not something I bother that much with

But anyway, I don't rate Kirchner, he's been found out a few times already ......

 

[Devill]

He did actually impress me ..... remembering every other member from every other team but my own is not something I bother that much with

But anyway, I don't rate Kirchner, he's been found out a few times already ......

Might I ask where he was found out? As far as I can see he really does not have a weak point in his game (High ball, one-on-one, attack, etc etc).

Imo Ludik is better under the high ball but Kirchner is a slightly better kicker and imo a bit better on attack. Defencively speaking they are both on eqaul ground.

 

[APoc184]

Kirchner was always going to be picked at full-back. I can't think of anybody else. Maybe Joe Pieterson. At least he can kick goal too.
Ludik from the Lions is still injured IIRC and will only be ready before the S14.
Terblanche played some solid rugby and he has the experience but clearly Pdivvy wants to build towards the future.
But I am sure Kirchner will not disappoint. He is very solid under the high-ball and his kicking game is decent enough.

 

[Devill]

Kirchner was always going to be picked at full-back. I can't think of anybody else. Maybe Joe Pieterson. At least he can kick goal too.
Ludik from the Lions is still injured IIRC and will only be ready before the S14.
Terblanche played some solid rugby and he has the experience but clearly Pdivvy wants to build towards the future.
But I am sure Kirchner will not disappoint. He is very solid under the high-ball and his kicking game is decent enough.

I also like Pieterson but the problem is that one good season should not warrent a free pass to the Bok team. Also he has little s14 exp at fullback as I remember because he was mostly played from the bench and then as winger.

If Joe does however show in the S14 2010 season that he can keep performing well I would include him in the Bok sqaud.