Ireland v South Africa

[durbutter]

Not selecting Ross is understandable. He's a better tighthead than Tom Court, much better in fact, but he's solely a number 3. Court can cover both sides so he gets the nod in a 22 man squad. If 23 men were in a squad I've no doubt that Mike Ross would be the backup 3 with Court covering 1.

Ah 22 man squad? fair enough so. i'm liking the way he's picking combinations who play with each other often, more cohesion. Although i would love to see Sexton shine even more with quick ball from Stringer in the future.

 

[Seaton]

This thread sure is going a long way before the game actually starts.

And PdV hasn't even said anything comment-on-able yet

In relation to the game, Pat Lambie has been running at 12 in training, in the absence of Jean de Villiers of course

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Sickened about O'Brien not making the 22. He's been one of the best players in Europe this season. Happy with the team otherwise

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Okay guys. What do you think? Can the newbies Lambie, Mvovo, Daniel and Alberts make a difference?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'll admit I didn't watch a whole load of Currie Cup this year, but I was impressed with what I saw of Lambie and hugely impressed with Willem Alberts. Him and Potgeiter are topclass, looks like the Boks backrow isn't getting weaker any time soon

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Alberts has been a true revelation this season. I wish Deysel didn't have that ankle injury. He deserves a chance in the Green and Gold as well. Mvovo scored 13 tries this season and was involved with another 8 giving the decisive pass. He is a nice change from the off-form Habana. Daniel is an amazing Flanker although he lacks the weight he is amazingly strong. Good to see Hargreaves in the squad as well. Although I think he is far from the level Bekker, Botha, Matfield and Rossouw have, he did play an amazing CC season and deserves a chance.

 

[Intercept King JDV]

I hope the Boks pick Mvovo at 11, he'll make Tommy Bowe look like a junior!^_^

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I hope the Boks pick Mvovo at 11, he'll make Tommy Bowe look like a junior!^_^

 

[SavageLez]

With John Smit, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Juan De Jong, Fourie Du Preez, Jaque Fourie, JP Pieterson, Andries Bekker, Guthro Steenkamp, Butch James, BJ Botha, Wynand Olivier and possibly Jean De Villiers all out due to injury I don't give the Bokke second string much of a chance. If they do well it will bode well for the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

 

[SavageLez]

I wouldn't pick Burden for the hooker position but more as a flanker.

1. Ralepelle
2. B. du Plessis/Liebenberg
3. J. du Plessis
4. Hargreaves
5. Rossouw
6. Burden
7. Alberts
8. Vermeulen
9. Hougaard
10. Morne Steyn
11. Mvovo
12. Lambie
13. De Jongh
14. Basson
15. Aplon

This would be my side to try. Some new talent would be great working towards the World Cup next year.

Ralepelle is a Hooker not a Prop and Burdon is by no means a fetcher? He is actually a wing retreaded to the Hooker position. He is in fact the 3rd choice hooker for the Sharks after Bismarck and John Smit. Very interesting selections at Test level?

 

[coonor]

I think Aplon is the most threatning south african back, Ireland will have to cover the gaps to make sure he doesn't find space. Steyn will have a tough challenge trying to structutre the backs and make sure he kicks well. SA will have to be clinical if they want to do well this year.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

@ SavageLez: Burden played as a flanker several times and did pretty well at that position. He's not a good hooker.

As for Ralepelle, I meant Mtawarira. Got caught up in typing several posts at once I think

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads looking back I think Varley O'Brien and to a lesser extent Earls Toner and Court are unlucky.

I think Varley has been Irelands best hooker on display so far thisseason and deserved a shot.
O'Brien and Wallace are both on form but Wallace is experienced and I think this would be a game we shouldve tested O'Brien.
Earls deserved a start but well it hard to see who to omit
I agree Ryan is lucky as Toner had better form but I presume fact Ryan is versatile helped.
Court I think deserved shot ahead of Healy but well no issue at selection.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

With John Smit, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Juan De Jong, Fourie Du Preez, Jaque Fourie, JP Pieterson, Andries Bekker, Guthro Steenkamp, Butch James, BJ Botha, Wynand Olivier and possibly Jean De Villiers all out due to injury I don't give the Bokke second string much of a chance. If they do well it will bode well for the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

Getting your excuses in early. I could name you a big list of injured Irish players too.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I wish PdV would make the Bok line-up public allready; I can't take it any more. Lambie training at 12 sounds good. Very good. With JdV, JdJ, Olivier injured and Steyn not available for the Ireland clash its the way to go. We are going to have a very VERY inexperienced backline, though. Probably something like this:

9 Francois Hougaard
10 Morne Steyn
11 Bryan Habana / Lwazi Mvovo
12 Patrick Lambie
13 Adi Jacobs
14 Bjorn Basson
15 Gio Aplon

20 Ruan Pienaar
21 Elton Jantjes
22 Zane Kirschner

LOL; with this line-up i'm most concerned about the experienced guy TBH; Adi Jacobs hasn't played rugby since forever and Steyn is off the pace at the mo. Maybe resting during the CC final will have helped him. Mvov > Habana ITO current form as well and I have the suspicion these young okes will be up for the step-up to test rugby. Ireland has a strong looking starting XV despite some injuries and I think this will be our toughest game for the AI's.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Just hope lambie doesn't become the next F Steyn; playing 10, 12, 15 depending on where we need a stop-gap. Although I think he looks great at 15 and 12 I think it might be good for SA for him to play his club rugby at 10 since we have need of a back-up to M Steyn. Long way off but looking towards 2011 this is what I would like to see the Bok backline look like:

9 F du Preez
10 P Lambie
11 B Habana
12 J de Jongh
13 J Fourie
14 B Basson
15 G Aplon

20 F Hougaard
21 M Steyn
22 F Steyn

with Pienaar, de Villiers, Jantjes and Mvovo the back-up players.

 

[munstermuffin]

Jean De Villiers has to start

 

[Jer1cho]

Jean De Villiers has to start

He is injured at the moment... Anyway, my starting team would be the following:

15. Gio Aplon
14. Bjorn Basson
13. Adi Jacobs
12. Patrick Lambie
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morne Steyn

9. Francois Hougaard

8. Pierre Spies
7. Juan Smith
6. Deon Stegmann
5. Bakkies Botha
4. Victor Matfield
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Beasti Mtawarira

Bench:

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. CJ van der Linde
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Willem Alberts
20. Ryan Kankowski
21. Ruan Pienaar
22. Elton Jantjies

 

[lynam1104]

Pack looks strong but the back line lacks international experience Lambie is no doubt a good player but this would be his first cap right? Playing your first cap against BOD and D'Arcy has got to be daunting. I personally don't rate Jacobs at all i think hes useless Habana has been useless all year Aplon is a great player who was illogically dropped after being one of the only players to play well against the AB's. I don't know to much about Basson though. I think Ireland will pull this one out of the bag with the backs being the difference as i think the packs are the same in every but the line out.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland I think will win this by 7-10 points and well for first time I really feel confident we can rattle the All Blacks too.

Mushy vs The Beast I will be watching that closely