SA touring squad.

[stormer2010]

Peter de Villiers is said to take a touring team of 37 players. That is a huge squad but he has indicated that he is interested in taking youngsters along if only to give them exposure to the "Bok culture". Here is my list of who I think should tour in order (based on Currie cup and 3Nations form);

Props
WP Nel
Wian du Preez
Tendai Mtawarira
Jannie du Plessis
John Smit (still not a prop IMO but can't see selectors facing it yet)

Hookers
Bismarck du Plessis
Adrian Strauss
Tiaan Liebenberg

Locks
Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha
Anton van Zyl
Andries Bekker

Flankers
Heinrich Brussouw
Dewald potgieter
Juan Smith
Francois Louw
Schalk Burger
Danie Russouw (can cover lock along with Juan Smith)

no.8
Willem Alberts
Ashley Johnson
Pierre Spies

Scrum half
Fourie du Preez
Jano Vermaak
Sarel Pretorius

Fly half
Morne Steyn
Ruan Pienaar? I fear SA's lack of depth at pivot will be exposed. Playing El Mago in the CC hasn't helped.

Centers
Jacques Fourie
Wynand Olivier
Juan de Jongh
Riaan Swanepoel

Wing
Bryan Habana
JP Pietersen
Gerhard van der Heever
Lionell Mapoe

Fullback
Stefan Terblanche (still the best player in the Sharks outfit but sadly won't see the Bok jersey again)
Riaan Viljoen

Francois Hougaard has to tour but I don't know wher toplay him.. 9, 11, 14, 13, 12??

Well, that adds up to 37 with a 21/16 forwards/backs split. Lets hope and pray Morne Steyn doesn't get injured and JdV and Frans Steyn returns before 2011.

 

[Charles]

No Jean Deysel ?

 

[Steve-o]

Juan Smith is injured till next season. Golden opportunity for Deysel to enter the fray

 

[Juggernaut]

Was watching a replay of Total Rugby and they had a story on blockbusting Cheetahs No.8.

Be really good to see him go on tour and test himself against the big boys in Europe.

Definitely a legend in the process.

 

[wayner]

Why did Francois Steyn leave for France? Did he want to play at scrum-half and felt that he wasn't getting the opportunity in South Arica?

 

[Ms.Burger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wayner @ Oct 26 2009, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Why did Francois Steyn leave for France? Did he want to play at scrum-half and felt that he wasn't getting the opportunity in South Arica?[/b]

Money + Experience!

 

[stormer2010]

Had to think long and hard about Deysel but I felt Potgieter and Louw's workrates are higher and then you have Alberts and Johnson who, incredably, are bigger runners and have set up and scored more tries this season than Deysel.

Pity about Juan. Probably the most underrated player in international rugby IMO.

Well as you said, golden chance for Deysel. Brussouw got his chance with Burger having a brain fart and has made the no.6 jersey his. For me its really hard to pick between SA loosies, though. You have the incumbents, Burger, Spies, Rossouw, Smith out injured, Kankowski and now Brussouw and then guys like Alberts, Johnson, Louw, Potgieter, Deysel and Vermeulen the latter three being formiddable against the B&I Lions for the emerging Bokke.

So in effect you have to choose around 6 players from a world class selction of 12 players. Brussouw and Louw are probably the premier fetchers with Grobbelaar passed his sell by date IMO and Brussouw has shown the unbelievers the pros of having a specialist fetcher in the squad. You have Spies and Kankowski for mainly speed at the back, Spies having a bit more grunt and Kankowski more flair (this guy should get more game time) and the new guys in Alberts and Johnson who are more classic no.8s IMO. Would actually like to see them have a go on the slower NH pitches this Autumn. For the no.7 jersey we are spoilt for choice, really and with Smith out it could realistically go to any of Burger, Potgieter, Deysel or Vermeulen with Rossouw a great option on the bench. Potgieter being my choice; reminds me of Schalla back in 2004.

So working towards 2011 my choice backrow would look like this: 6 Brussouw 8 Johnson 7 Potgieter ©. Yes I would drop John Smit now as we have plenty of natural leaders and class tightheads as well as 2 quality back up hookers to Bismark. as 2 years out this AI should be all about 2011 IMO.

 

[stormer2010]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Juggernaut @ Oct 26 2009, 12:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Was watching a replay of Total Rugby and they had a story on blockbusting Cheetahs No.8.

Be really good to see him go on tour and test himself against the big boys in Europe.

Definitely a legend in the process.[/b]

Ashley Johnson certainly is a prospect for the future. Hope he gets some game time with Spies and Kankowski having locked down the no.8 jersey for the last couple of years.

Here, the fact that Johnson is black and with the political pressure on PdV to select more black players I hope he gets the nod to at least have a go in the midweek matches. PdV is very reluctant to make to many changes to his squad though and I unfortunately can't see him leaving guys like Chiliboy and Januarie, who haven't even regularly started for their provinces behind. Johnson can play at 2 though so maybe he gets a spot about of Chiliboy. Those two should get orders to stay behind and get into shape much like NZ did with Ross having to add bulk. But Januarie needs to loose weight; one would mistake him for Guthro Steenkamp on the pitch.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ms.Burger @ Oct 26 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wayner @ Oct 26 2009, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why did Francois Steyn leave for France? Did he want to play at scrum-half and felt that he wasn't getting the opportunity in South Arica?[/b]

Money + Experience!
[/b][/quote]

Think you might be getting confused with Ruan Pienaar who wanted to play scrum-half? Frans Steyn originaly wanted to play fly-half. But I think the main reason for his departure is money.

 

[wayner]

Sorry - I meant fly-half with Steyn. Sure money is one reason but presumably there are lots of players in the SH that could get more money playing club rugby in the NH - but they don't all leave. I bet Morne Steyn could make more money with an English or French club. Was F Steyn unhappy with his role in the Boks recently - he seems to be no longer thought of as a fly-half at all. But being able to kick goals from 60m gives the Boks an awesome weapon.

 

[bates]

SA squad seems a pretty dangerous opponent, pity F. Steyn is not in the team. Really like to watch him play.

 

[Steve-o]

I like Ashley Johnson but really do doubt if he'll get a Bok cap within the next 2 years. He might get a mid-week game, if even gets picked in the squad, which i highly doubt. He hasn't done enough to unseat Kanko as the 2nd choice 8th man, not even close... Mainly because Kanko should be the 1st choice 8th for the Boks but that's old news already...

 

[Juggernaut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ Oct 26 2009, 08:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I like Ashley Johnson but really do doubt if he'll get a Bok cap within the next 2 years. He might get a mid-week game, if even gets picked in the squad, which i highly doubt. He hasn't done enough to unseat Kanko as the 2nd choice 8th man, not even close... Mainly because Kanko should be the 1st choice 8th for the Boks but that's old news already... [/b]

True...probably unlucky of him to be around the same time as Spies & Kankowski. Only real chance of him as getting gametime with the midweekers or the Emerging Boks.

 

[munross]

Nine newcomers in Bok group

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Springbok touring squad 2009
(Test caps in brackets)

Forwards (20)

John Smit – Sharks, Captain (90)
Victor Matfield - Vodacom Blue Bulls, Vice-Captain (89)
Andries Bekker - Vodacom Western Province (18)
Bakkies Botha - Vodacom Blue Bulls (63)
Heinrich Brüssow - Vodacom Cheetahs (10)
Schalk Burger – Vodacom Western Province (53)
Bismarck du Plessis - Natal Sharks (30)
Jannie du Plessis - Natal Sharks (12)
+ Alistair Hargreaves - Natal Sharks (-)
+ Ashley Johnson - Vodacom Cheetahs (-)
Ryan Kankowski - Natal Sharks (10)
+ Bandise Maku - Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Tendai Mtawarira - Natal Sharks (19)
+ Dewald Potgieter - Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Chiliboy Ralepelle - Vodacom Blue Bulls (8)
+ Davon Raubenheimer – GWK Griquas (-)
Danie Rossouw - Vodacom Blue Bulls (43)
Pierre Spies - Vodacom Blue Bulls (28)
Gurthro Steenkamp - Vodacom Blue Bulls (22)
* Heinke van der Merwe - Xerox Lions (1)

Backs (17)

+Heini Adams – Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
* Meyer Bosman - Vodacom Cheetahs (3)
+ Juan de Jongh - Vodacom Western Province (-)
Fourie du Preez - Vodacom Blue Bulls (52)
Jaque Fourie - Xerox Lions (51)
Bryan Habana - Vodacom Blue Bulls (54)
+ Francois Hougaard - Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Adi Jacobs - Natal Sharks (28)
* Zane Kirchner - Vodacom Blue Bulls (1)
Odwa Ndungane - Natal Sharks (6)
* Jongi Nokwe - Vodacom Cheetahs (4)
Wynand Olivier - Vodacom Blue Bulls (24)
Ruan Pienaar - Natal Sharks (35)
JP Pietersen - Natal Sharks (30)
* Earl Rose - Xerox Lions (-)
Morne Steyn - Vodacom Blue Bulls (9)
+ Riaan Viljoen – GWK Griquas (-)[/b]

SuperSport.com

Very glad to see 2 Griquas players in the squad and then again I'm furious to see Earl Rose in the squad, starting to think PDV has something going with Rose(and not rugby related) :unsure:

 

[shazbooger]

All the big names there apart from Steyn and DeVilliers. Good to see the Boks looking to come up and dominate. Would round off the last two years quite brilliantly if they could go unbeaten.

 

[Moonfire]

Where is WP Nel?

Brandise Maku? EARL ROSE?

EARL ROSE?

Where is Mapoe? Where is Sarel Pretorius?





Springbok team vs Leicester Tigers

1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Captain), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Danie Rossouw, 5 Andries Bekker, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 8 Ashley Johnson, 9 Heini Adams, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 12 Wynand Olivier, 13 Juan de Jongh, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 15 Earl Rose. Reserves: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

Ruan Pienaar at 10...

Looks like Adi Jacobs is going to start at 12...

I've got a bad feeling, a really really bad feeling. I think I'm going to start supporting someone else.

 

[Boggle]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Opperstopper @ Nov 2 2009, 05:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Captain), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Danie Rossouw, 5 Andries Bekker, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 8 Ashley Johnson, 9 Heini Adams, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 12 Wynand Olivier, 13 Juan de Jongh, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 15 Earl Rose. Reserves: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.[/b]

What -the- f*** ?

WHAT -THE- f*** !?

 

[stormer2010]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ Oct 26 2009, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I like Ashley Johnson but really do doubt if he'll get a Bok cap within the next 2 years. He might get a mid-week game, if even gets picked in the squad, which i highly doubt. He hasn't done enough to unseat Kanko as the 2nd choice 8th man, not even close... Mainly because Kanko should be the 1st choice 8th for the Boks but that's old news already... [/b]

Bit late now to say 'Ashley Johnson will get selected because he is a quality black player' but there. Even with Kanko, Spies and Alberts playing better rugby at 8, Johnson is good and could become great and I'm not dissapointed as I know what pressure PDiv is under to select black players. This is a reality SA has to deal with. I feel the same about Adams; probably a few step behind Pretorius and Vermaak but I can't argue that he will let the team down like Earl Rose is sure to do.

I see PDiv is considering playing Kanko at 7 (6 for other countries) and Burger at 6 against the French with Brussouw in the midweek squad. Although I am all for playing some incumbents in the midweeks and some newbies in the tests, I am not so sure about this combo; playing running rugby against the French?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Intercept King JdV @ Oct 31 2009, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Nine newcomers in Bok group

Very glad to see 2 Griquas players in the squad and then again I'm furious to see Earl Rose in the squad, starting to think PDV has something going with Rose(and not rugby related) :unsure:[/b]

Yeah, but those two Griquas players should have been Riaan Viljoen and Sarel Pretorius. raubenheimer? Nah, rather give me FLouw, Frans Viljoen, Deysel, Alberts, Vermeulen, Mbiyozo or even Deon Stegman would have made better sense.

Rose is a son of one of PDiv's close friends. Not really surprised with his inclusion. On the other hand, Raubenheimer? Hargreaves? Where did he get these names from? Ralepelle we know has gotten included instead of Liebenberg, Strauss and Kuun before and has 'potential' if no bulk but Maku? With Gary Botha returning, Maku is the 4th choice Bulls hooker and the 9th choice SA hooker! Yet he walks into the SA squad...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Nov 2 2009, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

All the big names there apart from Steyn and DeVilliers. Good to see the Boks looking to come up and dominate.[/b]

I seriously doubt any domination. We could have gone up to look for making a few points but I feel that some serious class has been glaringly left at home. But then again I do feel we need to address the issue of color in SA as we look to right the wrongs of the previous goverment to some extent and I feel giving more black players a chance would hopefully address the issue of rugby being seen as an Afrikaner sport in the minds of the other 95% of our population and stimulate the development of the game throughout the entire population. I can only imagine our potential if we are currently only utilizing a small percentage of our total population even if we have to suffer this period of players not really being picked on merit and I hope it doesn't have an influence on those players who are, in fact, deserving of their spot besad on their performances.

 

[stormer2010]

Boggle, opperstopper, just grin and bear, just grin and bear. I've been seriously doubtful as well but am over it and trying to look on the positive side as we can't influence the selections.

 

[shazbooger]

Whos missing from the test side that just beat the Lions and won the Round Robin thingy? aside from those the two that have moved abroad?

 

[stormer2010]

.. and please don't come calling me a racist as I have been on other blog sites; I am a white Afrikaner male with an indian girlfriend and my favourite players are Bryan Habana (Wp, jou lekker ding), Tendai Mtawarira (for his personality because I think there are better props in SA) and Jean de Villiers (the legend).