[2014 Mid-Year Tests] South Africa

[iINDOMINUSxx]

well as i have done the mid-year tests for the six nations teams i may aswell start with the other teams since i like south africa they're first
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well i dont know very much about south african rugby atm like players on-form etc. but i'll do my best to. but first off all the November tests the last time the springboks played and they did have a good november tests. but i think that for it they had players like Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie they're getting old and i think south africa should find some replacements somewhere. but from the Fox Sports fantasy league looks like that Lwazi Mvovo is doing well so far i would like to see him back in the springbok team. that young Stormers center called Damian de Allende looks like is having a good season so far. like this is what i really like about south african rugby when players retire they seem to have talented young players who would replace them

the fixtures are:

South Africa vs World XV
7 June 2014, Time to be confirmed
Venue to be comfirmed

South Africa vs Wales
14 June 2014, 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban, South Africa

South Africa vs Wales
21 June 2014, 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa

South Africa vs Scotland
28 June 2014, 17:05 SAST (UTC+02)
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa


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[TRF_stormer2010]

+1

Thanks, now we can stop pestering the Welsh on their thread LOL.

You hit on something that has been something of a theme in SA rugby; at times getting the balance right between the old and new like John Smit holding up the clearly better Bismarck du Plessis in RWC 2011 which might happen again come 2015 but I have to say we have a coach now that actually inspires some confidence. Jaque Fourie I don't think we'll be seeing in a prime role. There is already capable young back-up in all positions and in some cases the young guns are seen as set in position. Under HM the old heads seem to have regained form; guys like Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn have been unrecognizable under HM from their poor form from 2010 onwards. So for the most part we are very settled (though I trust HM won't totally ringfence the squad just yet) except that our 9/10 combination could do with some clarity with FdP/Steyn still the 1st choice with all options to both jerseys coming with some form of asterisk next to their names. I hope this June will bring some clarity as I believe we are unlikely to have either of FdP or M Steyn.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

+1

Thanks, now we can stop pestering the Welsh on their thread LOL.

You hit on something that has been something of a theme in SA rugby; at times getting the balance right between the old and new like John Smit holding up the clearly better Bismarck du Plessis in RWC 2011 which might happen again come 2015 but I have to say we have a coach now that actually inspires some confidence. Jaque Fourie I don't think we'll be seeing in a prime role. There is already capable young back-up in all positions and in some cases the young guns are seen as set in position. Under HM the old heads seem to have regained form; guys like Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn have been unrecognizable under HM from their poor form from 2010 onwards. So for the most part we are very settled (though I trust HM won't totally ringfence the squad just yet) except that our 9/10 combination could do with some clarity with FdP/Steyn still the 1st choice with all options to both jerseys coming with some form of asterisk next to their names. I hope this June will bring some clarity as I believe we are unlikely to have either of FdP or M Steyn.

yep spreading your secrets with the welsh btw my mates were talking about Damian de Allende who is a stormers center how good is he

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

yep spreading your secrets with the welsh btw my mates were talking about Damian de Allende who is a stormers center how good is he

Well I'm a Stormers supporter so there is bias but I really like the guy. Big and fast, good pair of hands, excellent kicking game, a rock on defense. If he is guity of anything it's not utilizing his skill set to the optimum and/or putting other players in space so awareness is something he could work on. But thee is really great potential there. I am sad ot say but I think the Stormers is not the team for him; we are currently struggling in some departemtns.

 

[Draggs]

So he'd be a great Shark then!
I'll have to divide my time between this and the Welsh thread, damn I hate this fixture.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

So he'd be a great Shark then!
I'll have to divide my time between this and the Welsh thread, damn I hate this fixture.

LOL

TBH as is I wouldn't mind our talented youngsters having a stint at the Sharks as long as they come back when we get our act together. Urgh.. to think Jake White was all but begging to be our coach!! At times I hate the setup of how our top brass are appointed and the result that half of them are Crusaders/NZ All Black supporters and we probably won't see any change. In that sense a privately owned club setup is better.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Big and fast, good pair of hands, excellent kicking game, a rock on defense. If he is guity of anything it's not utilizing his skill set to the optimum and/or putting other players in space so awareness is something he could work on

so it's sounds like he's a bit of a Frans Steyn.... can we have one please ?

 

[Big Ewis]

+1

Thanks, now we can stop pestering the Welsh on their thread LOL.

So he'd be a great Shark then!
I'll have to divide my time between this and the Welsh thread, damn I hate this fixture.

you poor thing. You leave me no choice but to put you on the spot straight up. And let me warn you, this will require all the bs diplomatic gymnastic ability you've come to possess in this wretched existence:
so uhh..Draggs. Who will you be rooting for, then ??

 

[SomeOke]

South Africa desperately need a consistently good half-back pairing, if we don't get it right we're not going to be contenders for the World Cup. I don't think we have a single scrumhalf who's good enough other than FDP and our fly-halves are all not special or consistent enough to compete with even NZ's third choice.

I'm hoping something will change in SR, perhaps Lambie fulfilling his potential or Goosen becoming reliable.

 

[Big Ewis]

still waiting for the answer to the innocent question I'm asking Draggs...

Hey, you Saffa fans think Morné Steyn is too limited ? He's an amazing goal kicker, but then in the game itself do you think he's good ?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

South Africa desperately need a consistently good half-back pairing, if we don't get it right we're not going to be contenders for the World Cup. I don't think we have a single scrumhalf who's good enough other than FDP and our fly-halves are all not special or consistent enough to compete with even NZ's third choice.

I'm hoping something will change in SR, perhaps Lambie fulfilling his potential or Goosen becoming reliable.

So Lambie is now out injured for the rest of the season and Goosen isn't even blowing hot and cold but just plain cold right now.. JLP or Boshoff?? At least these guys can kick with the best and even better. LOL, the fact that our clear best option is Morne Steyn is very sobering.

still waiting for the answer to the innocent question I'm asking Draggs...

Hey, you Saffa fans think Morné Steyn is too limited ? He's an amazing goal kicker, but then in the game itself do you think he's good ?

He is good at what he does but limited is how I see Steyn. What he doesn't do very often or at least very effectively and often is take on the line to keep the opposition guessing (not a fantastic physical specimen ITO speed, elusiveness or strength) or defends well.



I think we should use this opportunity to see what our guys at home are worth. Wales will be coming injured and while we have our own legion of walking wounded I do think the guys plying their trade at home should get their chance as reward.

So who'll be standing by June or returned with time to catch up? Lambie is out for sure. Anyone got any estimated timelines for Arno Botha, PSdT, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Hougaard? Lock seems to be the big injury concern with all 3 first choice players out. Both halves is the big concern though as we are lacking beyond Fdp and M Steyn and we've been *****ing for good reason about Steyn in the past; hopefully both stay fit and HM continues to get the best out of them but I'd sleep a lot sounder knowing we have trusted back-up. Beyond Habana/JPP/Le Roux I am also not confident about the back three but that pales in comparison to the halves question as we've had sucess with less at 11/14/15.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Habana/JPP/Le Roux I am also not confident about the back three but that pales in comparison to the halves question as we've had sucess with less at 11/14/15.

A couple of questions - Could Jaco Taute or Ludik make an apperance ? I've been told Taute was unbelievable until he had some horrible injury. Could Frans Steyn play in the 10 position ? I think he did for the Sharks a couple weeks back and made a beautiful kick for a try to the winger.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

A couple of questions - Could Jaco Taute or Ludik make an apperance ? I've been told Taute was unbelievable until he had some horrible injury. Could Frans Steyn play in the 10 position ? I think he did for the Sharks a couple weeks back and made a beautiful kick for a try to the winger.

Taute has been with the bokke before but has those two horrible injuries has held him up and he's now seemingly out of favor at the Stormers so it's difficult to say. He looked the business at 15 for the Lions but havn't showed that pace and line breaking ability since returning from inury so is basically just a big boot and solid tackler ATM. Playing for the Stormers in current state doesn't do an outside backs chances of higher honours any favors. I'd be very surprised if Ludik was in contention as he was snubbed while playing brilliant rugby in SA so I can't see what more he could've done and he still didn't get a nod. Frans Steyn played a good game at 10 but I doubt HM will go that rout even though I am sure Steyn is in with a big chance of at least making the bench so, yeah the competition is hot for that utility/outside back bench spot between Steyn, Taute, Serfontein and maybe even a bolter or two. Steyn and Taute I see as having a good chance as both can cover 15 while there is heavy competition for a starting center spot.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Cheers for that because some guy I know use to say how brilliant this guy was(what happens after watching 5 super rugby games, thinks he's the knowledge of all rugby) from what I've seen Aplon is playing some great rugby and he should be in the squad. What are the views on players abroad? Are they getting pressured into moving back to SA ?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Franco van der Merwe ruled out for 6 months so that makes it our 4th choice lock also out to join 1st Etzebeth, 2nd PSDT and 3rd (or on the form he was in 1st?) Flip van der Merwe. Matfield is starting to look like a realistic option

Either him or look at bringing in/back some overseas-based talent; Bakkies Botha, Juandre Kruger, Gerhard Mostert, Andries Bekker, Juan Smith or Danie Rossouw but are these guys avaiable and in some sort of form though..

Cheers for that because some guy I know use to say how brilliant this guy was(what happens after watching 5 super rugby games, thinks he's the knowledge of all rugby) from what I've seen Aplon is playing some great rugby and he should be in the squad. What are the views on players abroad? Are they getting pressured into moving back to SA ?

I doubt Aplon will get into the Bok squad for three reasons; at the Stormers he gets limited attacking opportunity which is his strength, he is tiny (and the stigma is still there), he has signed for a Grenoble in the Top14 which brings me to your questio regarding our oversees-based players. It is a very tricky one TBH and I don't think there is much of a majority view in SA. We'd love for our players to be based in SA but that is not a realistic hope. Our systems allow for selection of overseas-based players and I agree with it but is becomes a balancing act and one which most fans in SA think Meyer has got wrong particularly during last year November with all of Habana, M Steyn, B Botha, G Steenkamp, F Louw, J Fourie, R Pienaar, J Vermaak, J Kruger (and FdP would've been there had he been avaiable) being overseas based but majorly part of the tour. The question was wouldn't we have been better served by developing new younger players looking ahead all while rewarding the 'loyal' players keeping our local game/teams strong? I think the pressure on overseas players to return is actually less than it was in the past just because Meyer is selecting those players en masse so what reason do they have not to earn in Euro's and Pounds.. oh, and Yen

 

[TheSaffycen]

Some of those players you can't blame Meyer for picking, if Habana is available he has to be selected you can't not have the best winger in the world(IMO). The others though are not really outstanding players, Steyn and Fourie in 2009 would have been but now not really. Louw and Botha are very decent players but as you say reward players who stay in south Africa like Coetzee and Brussow.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

2 Months off exactly.

That should leave time for some of our wounded to be back in contention. Also enough time for guys to get injured in SR action as things are heating up. No red jerseys for us at least ;P

So who'll be back from injury do you guys think and where do we need to bring in overseas-based players and where do we give someone local a go?

As is my matchday 23 will look like:

1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Bismarck du Plessis
3 Frans Malherbe - JdP needs an extended break still and we need depth IMO
4 Eben Etzebeth - as I'm assuming he'll be back and ready
5 Flip van der Merwe
6 Francois Louw - captain post 2015 IMO
7 Willem Alberts - 1st name onto the teamsheet
8 Duane Vermeulen
9 Fourie du Preez - because we don't want to give the Wlesh a chance
10 JL Potgieter (has the composure, the accuracy and I love how he is taking the line on which is something we've been lacking)
11 JJ Engelbrecht - Habana will always be there but lets reward the local guys and try a thing or two out while the games are still 'friendly'
12 Frans Steyn - give JdV a good rest to keep him fresh as an option ahead of 2015 IMO while getting Steyn back into the mix
13 Juan de Jongh - probably my most contentious choice but I think we need a gamebreaker at 13 to keep balance and JdJ is solid on D as well, otherwise Paul Jordaan
14 JP Pietersen
15 Willie le Roux

16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Guthro Steenkamp - or blood/develop someone else?
18 Victor Matfield - still a devil in the line-out and assuming PS du Toit and Franco vd Merwe are both unavailable..
19 ? - so many options with Arno Botha out long term..
20 Rory Kockott - because the other chances havn't paid off
21 ? - the most difficult one for me; Lambie and Goosen are touch and go ITO form/injury and Steyn is in France...
22 Damian de Allende - as F Steyn and JPP can both cover 15
23 Coenie Oosthuizen - if fit

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

this is my south african squad which i would really like to see.

1.) Tendai Mtawarira
2.) Bismarck du Plessis
3.) Frans Malherbe
4.) Eben Etzebeth
5.) Flip van der Merwe
6.) Duane Vermeulen (im sure he's capable of playing blindside)
7.) Willem Alberts
8.) Warren Whiteley
9.) Fourie du Preez
10.) Patrick Lambie
11.) Bryan Habana
12.) Jean de Villiers (c)
13.) JJ Engelbrecht
14.) Damian de Allende
15.) Willie le Roux (also might give Francois Steyn a chance at fullback)

16.) Adriaan Strauss
17.) Gurthro Steenkamp
18.) Coenie Oosthuizen
19.) Pieter-Steph du Toit
20.) Siya Kolisi
21.) Francois Hougaard
22.) Jacques-Louis Potgieter
23.) JP Pietersen

 

[Big Ewis]

good looking XV's. Some names I don't know. Will there be a few try-outs potentially this summer ? And where do you feel there isn't as much depth as you'd like per position ?

 

[goodNumber10]

this is my south african squad which i would really like to see.

1.) Tendai Mtawarira
2.) Bismarck du Plessis
3.) Frans Malherbe
4.) Eben Etzebeth
5.) Flip van der Merwe
6.) Duane Vermeulen (im sure he's capable of playing blindside)
7.) Willem Alberts
8.) Warren Whiteley
9.) Fourie du Preez
10.) Patrick Lambie
11.) Bryan Habana
12.) Jean de Villiers (c)
13.) JJ Engelbrecht
14.) Damian de Allende
15.) Willie le Roux (also might give Francois Steyn a chance at fullback)

16.) Adriaan Strauss
17.) Gurthro Steenkamp
18.) Coenie Oosthuizen
19.) Pieter-Steph du Toit
20.) Siya Kolisi
21.) Francois Hougaard
22.) Jacques-Louis Potgieter
23.) JP Pietersen

Nice team, i reckon JJ won't get picked as he'll either go with yer man in japan, or with steyn at 12 and PDV at 13.

Would probably have steyn ont he bench myself, probably over Pietersen as Hougaard covers wing... steyn can cover 10/12/15.