Springboks v Ireland 28/11/09

[MielieSpoor]

Irish team looks good and we are just waiting for the Bok team to be announced but it looks as though John Smit might be back at no 2. Ad might make space for Wynand...

Your views/predictions?

(Please note all the RP/MS fanboi's - this thread is not to bash the one or the other, there are 22 players in a team)

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

I'll be glad to see John go back to hooker ... it's where his 2nd strength is IMO. I guess we'll have to wait one more day to see exactly how many of those 8 injuries will still be injuries. As such, I'm gonna leave my predictions for tomorrow. Although, I think Ireland is taking a risk playing a new litey at 10 ... especially if we are on song

 

[Bizkit87]

I'll be glad to see John go back to hooker ... it's where his 2nd strength is IMO. I guess we'll have to wait one more day to see exactly how many of those 8 injuries will still be injuries. As such, I'm gonna leave my predictions for tomorrow. Although, I think Ireland is taking a risk playing a new litey at 10 ... especially if we are on song

is it just me, or do we need to give John Smith his golden handshake now? i think this tour would have been ideal [John should go the way of Percy [well.. not in the -hit-your-wife kinda way, more in the team management way] to find a replacement/permanent hooker for the next world cup?

that way, we keep Smith in the team setup [as we undoubtedly need his leadership/inspiration etc], and we can actually have a proper pack of forwards?

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Oh you're one of the haters huh He's a weak prop (not useless, just weak), an awesome hooker and a magnificent captain but you wanna get rid of him ...... gawd.

 

[Bizkit87]

Oh you're one of the haters huh He's a weak prop (not useless, just weak), an awesome hooker and a magnificent captain but you wanna get rid of him ...... gawd.

I'm definitely not a John Smith hater, what the man has done for SA rugby is something we should never forget...

but can you honestly tell me he is our captain/hooker for the next world cup? and that he will be the best?

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

I reckon so, provided he's conditioned well and also providing that no one rises way above his leadership level. I believe that if he reckons he can do the next world cup, then so be it.

 

[GreGorGy]

Ok, sorry for that...

The John Smith story: He's written a book. Haven't read it (I watched the movie, spread out over several seasons). He really has done it all, hasn't he? Is he the best though? My loyalties aside, I have always stated the strongest support for him as captain of the Boks. His conduct is impressively non-partisan. His command is brilliant. His understanding of the binds between his players and their respective skills is unmatched. Even Victor does not have this: he understands Blue strengths, certainly, but I do not think he really gets other franchises.

The "selected highlights" of John's book indicate his understanding of cohesion and the role it plays in success. So, will he make the next WC?

These insignificant end-of-year tours, where the points don't count to any title, are the perfect opportunities to test other players for backup at key positions and to assess leadership: who can captain the Boks in 2011 if not John Smith. Right now, no-one. A golden handshake would be insulting to him - he should be allowed to retire on his own. We should be preparing for this eventuality now though.

But not against Ireland. As insignificant as I believe this tour to be, Ireland I think offers the greatest challenge. We really should make an effort to beat them. And I do think we can but we must realise the point of the OP: there are 22 players on the team. They should be carefully chosen and that key ingredient to success - cohesion - must be part of the mix.

I have no idea what player sentiment within the Bok camp is towards some individuals whose selection has been questioned but I do think a victory will come if each of the players has only a positive attitude to each other player, something that has not always been part of the mix...

ZA by 7 or less...

 

[markred]

Until they officially announce the team for Saturday its hard to make a call.
If p-diddy makes the right decisions we should win but if he has his usual brain explosions in might be a tough day at the office on Saturday.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

The team for the Croke Park game will only be named on Thursday, but it is expected to include several changes, with Wynand Olivier getting an overdue call-up to replace Adi Jacobs at inside centre and Danie Rossouw, because he is better suited to the anticipated wet field and conditions, slotting in at No 8 ahead of Ryan Kankowski.

Probable Bok starting team: Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Beast Mtawarira.

Oh lawd, we go from Spies to Kanko to now Rossouw .... are they trying to kill the 8 position

 

[Zyzzyva]

JDV HAS JOINED THE SQUAD IN PLACE OF INJURED JACOBS.

WOOHOO

 

[Zyzzyva]

Its getting better by the minute it seems.

 

[MielieSpoor]

JDV HAS JOINED THE SQUAD IN PLACE OF INJURED JACOBS.

WOOHOO

I honestly don't think that this was really neccesary! Wynad Olivier is there and there is absolutely nothing wrong with his form so why did they not just pick him?

He was with the squad this whole tour but now that someone hets injured, he gets shifted to the side yet again. If they were going to pick JdV, why didn't they just send Wynand back lastweek with the midweek team seeing that he is only there for standby and that he isn't really considered as somebody to be selected for the starting 15....

 

[Fiekus]

I honestly don't think that this was really neccesary! Wynad Olivier is there and there is absolutely nothing wrong with his form so why did they not just pick him?

He was with the squad this whole tour but now that someone hets injured, he gets shifted to the side yet again. If they were going to pick JdV, why didn't they just send Wynand back lastweek with the midweek team seeing that he is only there for standby and that he isn't really considered as somebody to be selected for the starting 15....

From what I read JDV will be on the bench but the team has not been announced yet so all speculation

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Bright minds obviously (thankfully) concluded that Olivier isn't anything to feel 100% confident in and made the call to get JDV back ...... good call.

 

[Ou grote]

looks like the Bok management actually want to win this game.
Should be worth missing the church bazaar for.

 

[sand_man]

Ireland will take it....

Boks are spent this season. Too much bloody rugby!!!!

 

[Devill]

is it just me, or do we need to give John Smith his golden handshake now? i think this tour would have been ideal [John should go the way of Percy [well.. not in the -hit-your-wife kinda way, more in the team management way] to find a replacement/permanent hooker for the next world cup?

that way, we keep Smith in the team setup [as we undoubtedly need his leadership/inspiration etc], and we can actually have a proper pack of forwards?

The problem is Bismarck is a better hooker performance wise (at least the last 4-6 months) but John's captaincy might be worth us playing the second or third best hooker in SA. You can see how the boks some times "lose hope" when John leaves the field. Also he impressed last weekend as hooker. Also Smit will make it to the next WC... it is only 1.5 years away.

JDV HAS JOINED THE SQUAD IN PLACE OF INJURED JACOBS.

WOOHOO

Yes Jean wil be on the bench and Olivier is likely to start. I say give Olivier a fair chance. He was by far the best centre in the S14 and he never got a proper run.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Team has been announced

Springbok team:

Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves:

Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Andries Bekker, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers.

 

[Ou grote]

nice bench for a change

Not many "players of colour" --- might be some crap there.

 

[MielieSpoor]

Team has been announced

Springbok team:

Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves:

Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Andries Bekker, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Jean de Villiers.

Looks good. If the boks can dig really deep and put it togther for a last time this year, we can beat Ireland.