South Africa End Of Year Tour (EOYT) 2012

[TRF_heineken]

I hope this will cheer up Eze...

Cape Town - Youngster Patrick Lambie will have a chance to prove his mettle as flyhalf in South Africa's upcoming Tests in Ireland, Scotland and England during November, coach Heyneke Meyer said on Wednesday.

"He is tried and tested at Super Rugby level but I want to go forward with two flyhalves from here and I want to use this opportunity to see what Pat can do at this level," Meyer told a media conference here.

"For me it is very important at Test level that your flyhalf be a good tactical kicker," Meyer continued.

"I wasn't impressed with Pat's tactical kicking before and I asked him to work on that aspect. He showed me in the Currie Cup that he has done the necessary work and I have been very impressed."

Meyer stopped short of appointing the 22-year-old Lambie the starting flyhalf against Ireland on November 10, which remains a three-way struggle with current second choice Elton Jantjies and recalled Morné Steyn to replace the injured Johan Goosen.

Injuries will keep several senior players at home. Centre Frans Steyn, wing Bryan Habana, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and loose forwards Schalk Burger and Pierre Spies were not considered for the tour, prompting some soul-searching over how the Springboks play the game.

"Without wanting to be critical of the way things are done here, I would like to see changes in the systems going forward," Meyer said.

"I think New Zealand have got it right. They intend to rest (Richie) McCaw on their European tour," he added.

"The injured players can do a lot for the team, they are important for us. The (incoming) youngsters do well but when you have names like Habana and Steyn in your backline you have a really good team."

But this won't...

Cape Town - Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has been declared fit to play for the team on their end of year tour to Ireland, Wales and England.

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said on Wednesday that De Villiers as well as hooker Adriaan Strauss had proved their fitness after responding favourably to treatment.

"Strauss has been running and he's ready to take part in a full training session," Roberts said.

"We'll see how he goes in Wednesday's afternoon session.

"I'm happy with Jean's progress. He's been working out with Western Province and their staff informed me that he has recovered. He's ready to have a full training session now."

Strauss, the Bok vice-captain and hooker, injured his knee last weekend when he played for the Cheetahs against the Kings in the Currie Cup promotion/relegation playoffs.

Meanwhile, De Villiers suffered a hamstring strain during a training session with WP nearly two weeks ago.

The other injury concern in the Bok camp is flanker Francois Louw, who injured his neck in an English Premiership game while playing for Bath over the weekend.

"I spoke with Flo (Louw) and his neck treatment has gone well, and it looks likely he'll be playing for Bath this weekend," said Roberts.

"He's suffered a pinched nerve some time ago and it may have flared up when he took a knock in a (recent) match.

"It's been a long, hard season and therefore the end-of-year tour is always going to be a challenge.

"At this stage of the year, the focus is to get the best of the players."

Bok coach Heyneke Meyer said the matter of injuries rested heavily on his mind and he felt the time had come to change the systems in place for the national team.

The heavy workload of the Boks in recent months have resulted in numerous injuries and as a result the side will tour without the likes of hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Andries Bekker, Pierre Spies, flyhalf Johan Goosen, Frans Steyn and wing Brian Habana.

Meyer felt South African rugby should take a leaf out of New Zealand's book and rest the players for extended periods in an effort to ensure good health.

"Without wanting to be critical of the way things are done here, I would like to see changes in the systems going forward," Meyer said.

"I think New Zealand have got it right. They intend to rest (Richie) McCaw on their European tour.

"There are some great players with injuries when one looks at Frans (Steyn) and Bryan (Habana).

"Okay, JP (Pietersen) is back from injury, but the injured players can do a lot for the team, they are important for us.

"The (incoming) youngsters do well but when you have names like Habana and Steyn in your backline you have a really good team."

 

[Draggs]

I have no issue with JdV starting, who else is there right now? Brache, Bosman?
Serfontein by 2015, partnering Jordaan...

 

[TRF_heineken]

I have no issue with JdV starting, who else is there right now? Brache, Bosman?
Serfontein by 2015, partnering Jordaan...

Yeah, true, I was just kidding about JDV... I saw both articles at the same time and thought I'd put them up together.

It looks good so far for our guys... no injuries about the players selected. that will give us proper preparation time...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, true, I was just kidding about JDV... I saw both articles at the same time and thought I'd put them up together.

It looks good so far for our guys... no injuries about the players selected. that will give us proper preparation time...

I agree we have a decent enough squad to take 3 from 3 in Europe though it's gonna be tough and I feel for HM being stuck with some tough choices. It made think that a team of current playing Bokke either injured or unavailable due to difficulties of being overseas based look quite good on paper actually;

1 G Steenkamp
2 B du Plessis / G Botha / {A Strauss JUST back from injury}
3 B Mujati / C Oosthuizen
4 B Botha / G Mostert
5 A Bekker / D Rossouw
6 H Brussow / F Louw (Injury concern)
7 J Smith / S Burger
8 P Spies / E Joubert
9 F du Preez
10 J Goosen
11 B Habana
12 F Steyn / {J de Villiers JUST back from injury}
13 J Fourie
14 {JP Pietersen JUST back from injury}
15 ? Louis Ludik (form 15 in the country not selected LOL)

That'd make a decent Bok 'B' team LOL and most of these players have been top in their position in the world at some stage IMO (some just not as recent as others LOL).

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, true, I was just kidding about JDV... I saw both articles at the same time and thought I'd put them up together.

It looks good so far for our guys... no injuries about the players selected. that will give us proper preparation time...

Another birthday present for Eze:
http://keo.co.za/2012/10/31/kirchners-days-numbered/

I'd like to see that SA Injured XV take on the Aussie Injured one from a few years back.

 

[RWC2011Fan]

Where's Heinrich Brussow at these days?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Where's Heinrich Brussow at these days?

Still at the Cheetahs and still not able to string 3 games together without getting injured.

 

[Draggs]

Where's Heinrich Brussow at these days?

Not in Meyer's plans either.
Too much of a penalty risk, apparently.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, things are not looking too well for people wanting Mujati in the Bok team. Yes, he played for the Boks before but he doesn't hold SA residency anymore. Being born in Zimbabwe, he had to apply for citizenship to be able to make his debut back in 2008. SARU managed to get all the paperwork sorted but since moving to England to represent Northampton, he lost the chance to apply for SA citizenship and an SA passport.

This time, it's a lot harder to get things sorted since the regulations regarding eligibility changed since 2008. If Mujati, who Meyer wants to add to the squad, is not eligible, Frans Malherbe will be added to the squad.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, things are not looking too well for people wanting Mujati in the Bok team. Yes, he played for the Boks before but he doesn't hold SA residency anymore. Being born in Zimbabwe, he had to apply for citizenship to be able to make his debut back in 2008. SARU managed to get all the paperwork sorted but since moving to England to represent Northampton, he lost the chance to apply for SA citizenship and an SA passport.

This time, it's a lot harder to get things sorted since the regulations regarding eligibility changed since 2008. If Mujati, who Meyer wants to add to the squad, is not eligible, Frans Malherbe will be added to the squad.

And another thing makes it harder for Mujati is the failed attempt last year by PDV before the World Cup.

 

[psychic duck]

Leinster prop Heinke van der Merwe is on standby for the Springboks squad because Gurthro Steenkamp has some slight injury concerns.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

If van der Merwe is replacing Mujati as a back-up it is ridiculous. Mujati is a tight-head, Heinke a loose-head. If you want to replace Mujati as a standby prop, pick BJ Botha!

 

[TRF_heineken]

If van der Merwe is replacing Mujati as a back-up it is ridiculous. Mujati is a tight-head, Heinke a loose-head. If you want to replace Mujati as a standby prop, pick BJ Botha!

Guthro is a loosehead. Heinke is there for back-up if GUTHRO is injured...

 

[Icemn]

I nogal feel for meyer sometimes... his job is a bit more difficult that then a guy like steve hanson... in NZ picking a starting 22 is easy, as you have +-22 players that are way way ahead of all the other players in NZ... but in HM case and SA, the players here are mostly all on par... hence the diff views from all the fans and the coach... if you guys know i'm trying to say... eg. in SA you have lambie, goosen, jantjies and maybe maybe morne aswell all on the basically the same level... in NZ you have carter and cruden, taht is it... they are way above the rest... with Barrett coming in at 3rd... now you have idiots liek the ANC (http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Spri...Meyer-not-keen-on-picking-blacks-ANC-20121107) making crap statements like this about black players... you need to select on form.. if the entire squad is black based on form so be it, if the squad is white cuz of merit so be it... but it has to be fair...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Racial motives will be a part of South African sports for years to come. I don't see any changes regarding that in the near future. Some fans argue that if the ANC wants to play the race-card, then why was there only 1 white player in the national football team during the World Cup 2 years ago?

@ Hein: The same day it's announced Mujati is not available, Heinke van der Merwe is named as a back-up. It just sounded like van der Merwe was there because of Mujati's ineligibility.