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[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Springboks vs. World XV

RWC2011Fan

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Springboks team has been announced:
15 Willie le Roux
14 Cornal Hendricks
13 JP Pietersen
12 Frans Steyn
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morné Steyn
9 Ruan Pienaar
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Willem Alberts
6 Francois Louw
5 Victor Matfield (captain)
4 Bakkies Botha
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain)
1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements:
16 Schalk Brits
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp
18 Coenie Oosthuizen
19 Flip van der Merwe
20 Schalk Burger
21 Fourie du Preez
22 Johan Goosen
23 Lwazi Mvovo
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/spr...icks_to_make_Springbok_debut_against_World_XV

Matfield and Botha- how long has it been since we've seen that?
 
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I can't wait to see this world XV side it's going to be seriously talented.
 
Hoping for good dry weather and entertaining rugby all round

Have an issue with Boks no 13 - JP has done nothing at all to impress and no recognized 13 on the bench
 
15 Willie le Roux
14 Cornal Hendricks
13 JP Pietersen
12 Frans Steyn
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morné Steyn
9 Ruan Pienaar
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Willem Alberts
6 Francois Louw
5 Victor Matfield (captain)
4 Bakkies Botha
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain)
1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements:
16 Schalk Brits
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp
18 Coenie Oosthuizen
19 Flip van der Merwe
20 Schalk Burger
21 Fourie du Preez
22 Johan Goosen
23 Lwazi Mvovo





wow wow wow wow....I see the Boks aren't taking the World XV lightly. Not lightly at all !!! They got absolutely all their big guns out. And they'd have Eben in there had he not been injured....I thought they'd experiment for his one, but obviously not. Springboks for a win for sure, just because of the chemistry argument. World XV can't/won't be sharp as a real team and they're playing a regular, full strength Boks side at home...bottom line.
 
Springboks team has been announced:

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/spr...icks_to_make_Springbok_debut_against_World_XV

Matfield and Botha- how long has it been since we've seen that?
Arg everything I hoped it wouldn't be. I don't mind Bakkies being there as he's probably a better alternative to Flip considering our injuries, but I was really hoping for something more fresh from 10-13.
I guess this first test doesn't say much, but I would think if he was going to let Serfontein or Goosen start it would be in this match.

Sigh.

edit: I guess at least Hendricks and Willie are playing, although they're unlikely to get the ball.

edit: The real issue is that whether we like to admit it or not, we weren't good enough to win the World Cup in 2011, apart from some small tweaks this is the same side. I know we have some injuries but I was really hoping we'd build to something something different in 2015, we will not win the world cup without fundamentally altering the team strategy and some of the players selected just don't have the ability.

Serfontein is a better ball carrier than FSteyn so this is obviously about having his boot in the side. Morne has been on the bench for his club side and still he gets selected over a more versatile player.

I guess I should calm down as this isn't a "capped" test, but it is frustrating.
 
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I think this is a very clever move by HM.

his starting team consists mostly of the overseas players and guys that didn't play last weekend (the Cheetahs).

While still keeping the pairings as tight units.

This will assist the other guys in recovering completely from any bumps and bruises they still might have.
 
What point is there in winning this particular fixture, or not just winning but overkill, just 'big names'. Sure a form player like Hendricks has been included while De Allende and Etzebeth, Malherbe, PSdT and Arno Botha are injured and would be considered if fit but... **** me. No Serfontein? JPP has been poor and now out of position. I'd be surprised if our outside backs get the ball from anything other than fielding kicks and loose balls. Botha and Matfield together? Jannie du Plessis is not 1st choice any more or at least shouldn't be, Ruan Pienaar's continued selection boggles my mind. HM has all but ringfenced Bok selection and has far overstepped the line between finding a balance between home based players and overseas talent IMO. So much so that what is the point of any SA player playing in SA? I mean, if you are in you are in and it doesn't matter where you play and if you are not then in yet, you don't get any preference in selection from playing here so why not earn 4 times elsewhere?
 
The Sharks front row and Willem Alberts (especially him) looked gutted and burnt outlast week. Same with Frans Steyn.

Jan Serfontein/Juan de Jongh would have been a better choice for this game
Dammit, hope Morne did not become more of a non distributor up north and Pienaar... guess we can only pray

But can see what HM thinks, hope it works out and we have a spectacle
 
What point is there in winning this particular fixture, or not just winning but overkill, just 'big names'. Sure a form player like Hendricks has been included while De Allende and Etzebeth, Malherbe, PSdT and Arno Botha are injured and would be considered if fit but... **** me. No Serfontein? JPP has been poor and now out of position. I'd be surprised if our outside backs get the ball from anything other than fielding kicks and loose balls. Botha and Matfield together? Jannie du Plessis is not 1st choice any more or at least shouldn't be, Ruan Pienaar's continued selection boggles my mind. HM has all but ringfenced Bok selection and has far overstepped the line between finding a balance between home based players and overseas talent IMO. So much so that what is the point of any SA player playing in SA? I mean, if you are in you are in and it doesn't matter where you play and if you are not then in yet, you don't get any preference in selection from playing here so why not earn 4 times elsewhere?

There is no need to fume...

This won't be the same team that plays next week...
 
TBH I'd rather that this were the team to play next week rather than now (assuming we are to see dynamic slections next week- big assumption). Serfontein has yet to start. This is not a must-win game so is the perfect game for him. Lets see if Hougaard can continue his improvement at 'test' level. JPP has been uninterested, why reward that?... just a pointless fixture.
 
TBH I'd rather that this were the team to play next week rather than now (assuming we are to see dynamic slections next week- big assumption). Serfontein has yet to start. This is not a must-win game so is the perfect game for him. Lets see if Hougaard can continue his improvement at 'test' level. JPP has been uninterested, why reward that?... just a pointless fixture.
Yes... let the hate flow through you.

Apart from the outside backs I wouldn't have started a single player in this backline.
I suppose Hougard, Goosen, Serfontein, de Jong would have been to much to ask for but any one of them would have made me happier.
 
There is a rumor Percy might come on in the second half... and .... **** I need a drink
 
I don't like you pessimists!!

It's highly unlikely that this will be the same team next week. Why? because HM knows that this much doesn't mean anything. Why risk his top players against a made up team?? He won't... So now he gives a bunch of guys, who hasn't been part of the training group, a chance to get with the program, and some of these guys needs the playing time to get into shape...
 
I hear Naas Botha has been called in the event Morné pulls up injured during training.
 
<iframe style="width: 1px; height: 0px; border: medium none; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="twitter-widget-0" frameborder="0"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Did you know Victor Matfield played craven week with Danie Craven. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Divvyfacts&amp;src=hash">#Divvyfacts</a></p>&mdash; Peter de Villiers (@Coachdivvy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachdivvy/statuses/473800450035417088">June 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Did you know Victor Matfield is the guy who picked up the soccer ball in 1823 and started the game of rugby <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23divvyfacts&amp;src=hash">#divvyfacts</a></p>&mdash; Peter de Villiers (@Coachdivvy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachdivvy/statuses/473802765748424705">June 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
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