South Africa

JayStarr says...

@ rorygilmore: Lol... That's ok, she still has a couple of niggles to get over anyway. But yeah, thanks for that - I completely left out Juan de Jongh! The only thing is, HM has made it clear that he considers Steyn to be our no.1 12 - and basically promised him that he will play 12 instead of fullback - so even though your suggestion is really good, I just can't see it happening. I would love to see JdJ come off the bench though... think he provides exactly the kind of impact we need.

@ Craig: Thanks... I just think she's taken her opportunities better than Kirchner has... :P But yeah, I know what you mean - I don't think Steyn and JdV makes a good centre pairing... too similiar. I think HM should either play Steyn or JdV at 12 with Juan de Jongh at 13, or bring Juan de Jongh off the bench, but bring him in at 12 where he can wrong-foot a tiring defense. I personally would love to see our 8-9-10-12 in the last 20 minutes being Daniel, Hougaard, Goosen and De Jongh. But unfortunately that will never happen with HM.

@ Carpelone: See what I said above about Steyn at 15. Bekker was brilliant in his comeback for the Stormers - I'd give him another chance before I write him off. As for Kankowski, I would've loved to see him play, but sounds like his Japanese club won't let him. But HM shouldn't have dropped Keegan! He made a difference when he came on last week, while Potgieter was put on his @*$! time after time... Doesn't make sense.

@ APV1: Of course. But maybe we have it the right way around and everyone else has it the wrong way around... Ever considered that? :P

And about my choice as fullback: she can't run or tackle, but she has a pretty mean up-and-under and can fall over when she gets the ball... So since that is all that is required of our full-back these days, I thought her added experience makes her ideal.

Posted 20:59 29th August 2012

bloemboy says...

@Rolf, U want a skillful centre pairing? Jaques Fourie and Francois Steyn would be good enough for me, but that wont happen. I still think that Ebershon and Steyn would make for a lively combination though we are short of a world class paring. I will be interested to see how Pollard develops over the next few seasons. He will have to convert to centre or fullback once Goosen gets his hands on the 10 jersey, though what I saw of him, he is a decent player. There is another centre coming through as well that took the player of the tournament at the recent U21 RWC. Serfontein I think. The footage I saw reminded me of Danie Gerber. the boy is pure class.

Posted 18:39 29th August 2012

pog_mahone says...

yawn... right, crapleone?

Posted 18:14 29th August 2012

letsgoboks says...

Im just gonna throw this out there....

But, does anyone else feel F. Steyn is just not up to standard lately. He runs dead straight and literally has not featured in the last couple of games.

Posted 16:10 29th August 2012

APV1 says...

For all of you happy to see Louw in the squad, let me just add my comments. I am right royally p!$$ed off about his selection. It's an awful thing to have done and I for one think HM should be sacked on that point alone.

Does he not realise that Bath play Worcester on Saturday afternoon? AWAY at Sixways! Damn and blast him!

@ JayStarr - I take it that you're using the Saffa cock-eyed approach to 6 and 7, rather than the accepted and proper way round..?! I do, however, like your choice at full-back. Although you're taking experience over youthful exuberance, I think it's a bold choice and one the Boks need. If only HM could see the obvious choice, as you have done, eh?

Posted 15:04 29th August 2012

Carpelone says...

jaystarr

Drop Bekker before your grandmother. He never delivers. Choose JdV / De Jongh and bring Steyn at full back (sorry grandma). Start Lambie at 10 and give 25 minutes to Goosen in the second half. Hougaard is better on the wing.

What about Kankowski? Will he be available?

Posted 14:36 29th August 2012

Ramage says...

Well well well Meyer said he wasnt changing his team. Just as well hes not a ollie or he would be accused of telling porkies and be nonelectable. So who got through to him that he needed some players who could play the modern game. It is a start but now we have to see what his game plan is? The game in Perth to me is a defining one to find out just where the Bok and Wallaby teams are in the overall competition. I am looking forward to it.

Posted 14:28 29th August 2012

rorygilmore says...

@ JayStarr - good comments there. However, I'd drop your grandmother (nothing personal - I think she's lovely, but useless with up & unders) and put Frans Steyn at fullback with Juan deJong partnering Jean DeVilliers. With Pat Lambie distributing from flyhalf they could arguably find their missing mojo! Missing in a Stormer jersey that is. Also, I thought Kankowski was due back in time for Perth....?

Posted 13:23 29th August 2012

JayStarr says...

All the guys he called up are quality players who should've been there in the first place (bar injury / HM's ignorance), so I am very happy to seen them there - espedcially Francois Louw!

However, why did HM drop Keegan Daniel and keep Potgieter? Surely Keegan is more "experienced" and offers a different option... Vermeulen is the same kind of player as Potgieter, only much better, so why is Potgieter still there? Once again HM is contradicting himself.

Also, by not selecting Aplon he is creating a situation where we MUST pick Zane Kirchner (Ricardo Loubser's best buddy). And with either Kirchner or Morné Steyn on the field, we can forget about beating NZ - there or at home. Lambie's best position is fly-half - that is where he played his best rugby this season - but HM has not even given him a chance there yet... no matter how bad Steyn has played. So what chance does Goosen have of getting any (much-needed) game time?

HM said publicly that the two tests against Argentina will be Hougaard and Steyn's "last chance". I believe it is now clear they did not grab that chance sufficiently to hold the others back, so let's see if he now gives Pienaar and Lambie a chance, or whether he finds another excuse to stick with his favourites...

The same goes for the back row. Will he stick with Alberts at 8 now that Keegan is gone? Because he is clearly not a world class 8! Is he going to start Francois Louw? Or is he going to stick with Marcell at 6 so he can play Potgieter at 7?

As far as I'm concerened our best available team right now (barring Daniel and Aplon who were stupidly not included) would be:

1-Beast 2-Strauss 3-Du Plessis

4-Etzebeth 5-Bekker

6-Louw 7-Coetzee 8-Vermeulen

9-Pienaar 10 -Lambie

12-F Steyn 13-JdV

11-Hougaard 14-Habana 15-My grandmother

16-Cilliers 17-Greyling 18-Liebenberg 19-Kruger 20- Alberts 21-Goosen 22-Mvovo

Posted 12:54 29th August 2012

KingShark says...

Pity that two of SA's most talented players will now not receive any game time. Lambie and Goosen. At least if HM were to not pick them, they could have entertained us in the Currie Cup.

Posted 12:38 29th August 2012