[2014 Mid-Year Test] South Africa vs Scotland 28/06/14

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Lewies has been called up. Thoroughly deserved call-up if you ask me

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/lewies-in-beast-and-flip-out

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

It's front page news in the Pretoria Beeld today

Sorry it's in Afrikaans - http://www.beeld.com/nuus/2014-06-23-kies-n-swart-bokke

Will they create a quota system to get at least 2 white South Africans into Bafana Bafana?

 

[Big Ewis]

so I hear South Africa will be playing a new face at LH in the absence of Beast. Always exciting to test out new props. I see he was picked once in 2013 by the Boks...don't remember him...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Lourens Adriaanse was called up as well. I really hope Jannie du Plessis gets some rest now

 

[TRF_heineken]

Will they create a quota system to get at least 2 white South Africans into Bafana Bafana?

lol, I couldn't care less at this moment about Bafana. But it will now be even more interesting to see what's going to happen with the other sporting codes now that Afriforum has has publicly shown their intent on this racial issue. And also, the last regular white soccer player, Matthew Booth, has now retired, so Bafana will have to find a replacement immediately.

so I hear South Africa will be playing a new face at LH in the absence of Beast. Always exciting to test out new props. I see he was picked once in 2013 by the Boks...don't remember him...

Lourens Adriaanse has been called up, but he's more a tighthead than a loosehead. He was part of the EOYT group last year. I'm excited about the prospects of what the team might look like up front. We could even see an all-cheetah front row in Nyakane-Strauss-Oosthuizen starting.

Lourens Adriaanse was called up as well. I really hope Jannie du Plessis gets some rest now

I'm glad that Adriaanse has been called up, but I wonder if he would even feature?? To me, Marcel v/d Merwe must start along with Coenie. Unless HM feels that both of them plays too similar...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

so I hear South Africa will be playing a new face at LH in the absence of Beast. Always exciting to test out new props. I see he was picked once in 2013 by the Boks...don't remember him...

Lourens Adriaanse is an out-and-out tight head though unless there has been another call-up I am unaware of. On 2nd thought I wouldn't put it past the coaching team to play Adriaanse at LH.

But if sanity prevails we will probably see either one of Coenie Oosthuizen or Marcel van der Merwe play there with Adriaanse at TH or MvdM at LH and Oosthuizen at TH as they want to force him into the TH role seemingly unless they decide not give the tired Jannie a break. With both Oosthuizen and VdMerwe capable of playing both ends we have options though I tend to agree that Oosthuizen is or at least was a better loose head. MvdM and Oosthuizen while not our best srummaging props will add a TON around the park though and I love to watch fat men run.

Lewies has been called up. Thoroughly deserved call-up if you ask me

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/lewies-in-beast-and-flip-out

Agreed. I was surprised when De Jager got the call ahead of Lewies but one has to admit that he took his chances.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Agreed. I was surprised when De Jager got the call ahead of Lewies but one has to admit that he took his chances.

I would pick both of them ahead of Flip at the moment. But I must say that it's just so strange! Just the other day we were worrying about who to pick at lock for the Boks, with fear and desperation creeping in. Now, we have stocked up again, and to be honest, all these guys deserves to be there (well, apart from Flip, he needs therapy).

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, De Jager and Lewies will go fine but the certinly be behind Etzebeth and PSdT when fit. Matfield on form brings some interesting selection problems. He certainly is good captain but I still the younger guys should get a look in first (if fit) and also feel HM made a misstep by snubbing Bismarck du Plessis; I know if I were captaining the top SR team and was vice captain of the Bokke I'd be miffed at being leapfrogged with JdV out. Just what kind of message is that? I don't think it's a coincidence that one of the worlds most consistennt hookers has been playing pretty average (by his standards) these last 3 games...

 

[TRF_heineken]

Yeah, De Jager and Lewies will go fine but the certinly be behind Etzebeth and PSdT when fit. Matfield on form brings some interesting selection problems. He certainly is good captain but I still the younger guys should get a look in first (if fit) and also feel HM made a misstep by snubbing Bismarck du Plessis; I know if I were captaining the top SR team and was vice captain of the Bokke I'd be miffed at being leapfrogged with JdV out. Just what kind of message is that? I don't think it's a coincidence that one of the worlds most consistennt hookers has been playing pretty average (by his standards) these last 3 games...

I disagree. Bismarck has been playing average all season long. And I think it's because of the responsibilities given to him this year. But also because players do go into a slump at some stage in their careers. I am also of the opinion that he's not at full fitness.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I disagree. Bismarck has been playing average all season long. And I think it's because of the responsibilities given to him this year. But also because players do go into a slump at some stage in their careers. I am also of the opinion that he's not at full fitness.

Not all season long surely! He was playing very well mid-way through.

 

[Gena_ZA]

To me Bissie had a poor SR season by his standards - cause his natural aggression is held back by the captaincy
He is way better for the Boks lately

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

We'll have to disagree then. Suppose we can't always see things eye to eye LOL; I felt he was poor in all 3 these tests and while he had a few poor games in SR he had a couple of blinders as well IMO.

 

[Gena_ZA]

It's a forum, people should disagree on issues or we could be all wrong

 

[TRF_heineken]

haha, well we all can't be right!

where's the fun in arguing then??

 

[GoTheNaki]

It's a real shame that Lambie had to be injured for practically the entire season.. and then Handre Pollard have an awesome JWC. I called that he'd be SA's #10 one day.. But not this early. Hopefully he has a fantastic game.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

It's a real shame that Lambie had to be injured for practically the entire season.. and then Handre Pollard have an awesome JWC. I called that he'd be SA's #10 one day.. But not this early. Hopefully he has a fantastic game.

Lambie has had many chances for the Springboks and never looked comfortable at 10 for us. His place in on the bench if anywhere IMO. Pollard still young and rough around the edges for test rugby but the potential to be a fixture at 10 for us is there and his natural game will suit SA.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The Springbok team to face Scotland in Port Elizabeth is:

15 Willie le Roux - 14 caps, 30 Test points
14 Cornal Hendricks - 2 caps, 10 Test points
13 JP Pietersen - 53 caps, 80 Test points
12 Jan Serfontein - 11 caps, 5 Test points
11 Lwazi Mvovo - 8 caps, 5 Test points
10 Handré Pollard - uncapped
9 Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) - 69 caps, 75 Test points
8 Duane Vermeulen - 18 caps, 10 Test points
7 Schalk Burger - 70 caps, 65 Test points
6 Marcell Coetzee - 15 caps, 5 Test points
5 Victor Matfield (captain) - 112 caps, 35 Test points
4 Lood de Jager - 2 caps, 0 Test points
3 Jannie du Plessis - 53 caps, 5 Test points
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) - 59 caps, 45 Test points
1 Coenie Oosthuizen - 16 caps, 10 Test points
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss - 33 caps, 25 Test points
17 Trevor Nyakane - 3 caps, 5 Test points
18 Marcel van der Merwe - uncapped
19 Stephan Lewies - uncapped
20 Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje - uncapped
21 Francois Hougaard - 27 caps, 20 Test points
22 Marnitz Boshoff - uncapped
23 Zane Kirchner - 28 caps, 25 Test points

so 5 uncapped players in the matchday 23.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Springbok team to face Scotland in Port Elizabeth is:

15 Willie le Roux - 14 caps, 30 Test points
14 Cornal Hendricks - 2 caps, 10 Test points
13 JP Pietersen - 53 caps, 80 Test points
12 Jan Serfontein - 11 caps, 5 Test points
11 Lwazi Mvovo - 8 caps, 5 Test points
10 Handré Pollard - uncapped
9 Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) - 69 caps, 75 Test points
8 Duane Vermeulen - 18 caps, 10 Test points
7 Schalk Burger - 70 caps, 65 Test points
6 Marcell Coetzee - 15 caps, 5 Test points
5 Victor Matfield (captain) - 112 caps, 35 Test points
4 Lood de Jager - 2 caps, 0 Test points
3 Jannie du Plessis - 53 caps, 5 Test points
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) - 59 caps, 45 Test points
1 Coenie Oosthuizen - 16 caps, 10 Test points
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss - 33 caps, 25 Test points
17 Trevor Nyakane - 3 caps, 5 Test points
18 Marcel van der Merwe - uncapped
19 Stephan Lewies - uncapped
20 Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje - uncapped
21 Francois Hougaard - 27 caps, 20 Test points
22 Marnitz Boshoff - uncapped
23 Zane Kirchner - 28 caps, 25 Test points

so 5 uncapped players in the matchday 23.

So I assume Goosen wasn't considered to be 100% fit. Happy for both Pollard and Boshoff. Hope they take their chances and that the forwards provide a solid platform for them. That they are still outside FdP and with continuity in the backline we should be able to make fair enough comparisons.

I'm very happy with oosthuizen moving to 1 and Lood getting a start ahead of FvdM even if it is injury forced. Happy enough with the bench. I'd say my only concern is the breakdown but all of Burger, Vermeulen and Coetzee have some skill on the deck and helped by Oosthuizen and BdP we should be fine competing at the breakdown and I hope we clear our own well as that is where Scotland got one over us last year.

All in all a good squad everything considered.

 

[TRF_heineken]

So I assume Goosen wasn't considered to be 100% fit. Happy for both Pollard and Boshoff. Hope they take their chances and that the forwards provide a solid platform for them. That they are still outside FdP and with continuity in the backline we should be able to make fair enough comparisons.

I'm very happy with oosthuizen moving to 1 and Lood getting a start ahead of FvdM even if it is injury forced. Happy enough with the bench. I'd say my only concern is the breakdown but all of Burger, Vermeulen and Coetzee have some skill on the deck and helped by Oosthuizen and BdP we should be fine competing at the breakdown and I hope we clear our own well as that is where Scotland got one over us last year.

All in all a good squad everything considered.

Yeah, the reports said that he is still struggling with the knee, so HM didn't consider risking him.

I am too happy with the squad. Now they must just show how good these uncapped guys are.

Also, Pat Lambie and Frans Steyn will both play this weekend for the Sharks in a warm-up game before the SA teams start off next week with the SR...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Zane Kirchner <_<

When will the madness end?