Spingboks World Cup hopes on the wane

[JJR]

Awesome having Underdog tag; cause we know the players have the potential to turn their star player status into part of a star team status. They need to work as a team; with the P.divvy there it seems to be individuals trying to win games by themselves; But it only takes one complete performance for Boks to gain momentum and to start playing to their potential.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am not a fan of blind squad naming but I will give you a more detailed opinion but I can say I am positively surprised by your 30-man squad.

1. Gurthro Steenkamp
I think I don't need to clarify this one. Best prop we have at the moment
2. Bismarck du Plessis
Best hooker, maybe even in the world. Together with Keven Mealamu though.
3. Jannie du Plessis
Ever since I saw him join the World Cup as a sub I have been amazed by his way of play. Joining the Sharks and pairing up with his younger brother made him even better
4. Andries Bekker
I know this looks weird but I just feel Bekker deserves a place in the starting 15. He is an amazing lock and to me the true captain of the Western Province/Stormers team.
5. Victor Matfield
Might have had a bad game in Timaru against the Crusaders but that doesn't make him any less of a lock. Amazing captain to have in your team. Together with Bekker a line-out certainty.
6. Heinrich Brussow
Depending on the fact he is fit to play. Was a true revelation against the B&I Lions in 2009 but has been struggling with injuries.
7. Willem Alberts
With Juan Smith out with an injury until the end of the year, we need a new option at 7. Willem Alberts has shown in November he is truly a remarkable flanker. Can really crack a game open
8. Ryan Kankowski
Now, this is a difficult one. Pierre Spies is not his old self, Danie Rossouw is better as a lock, Duane Vermeulen doesn't look experienced enough. Who else do we have? Luke Watson. No need to explain. Kankowski is a no. 8 with pace, strength and his ball carrying is, when it's dry, superb. If it is raining, I would put Alberts at 8 and Burger, Deysel or Daniel on the flank-position with Brussow.
9. Fourie du Preez
Best scrumhalf in the world, before his injury. Still have to see if he comes back to his old form. Will be his last World Cup before moving to Japan at the end of the year.
10. Patrick Lambie
As I clarified before. A running man at 10. Lambie is a modern fly-half who knows what it takes to participate in attacks. His drop-goal abilities are unknown to me but with him, who needs dropgoals?
11. JP Pietersen
After his injury he is back! Unbelievable how strong he has become. He is not the skinny fragile winger he was in 2007. He has pace, strength, a good hand-off and his dummies are a nightmare to opponents
12. Jean de Villiers
Intercept King, amazing leadership, experience galore! I think the best option we have at 12 and one of the names you fill in first before you start picking a squad.
13. Juan de Jongh
I know, Jaque Fourie is considered the best outside center in the world to a lot of people but I think Jean de Villiers with Juan de Jongh is a better partnership than JdV and Fourie. I also think we need a bit of young sparks in the backline.
14. Gio Aplon
Last year Lwazi Mvovo and Bjorn Basson were amazing in the Currie Cup but neither of them have shown to take their play to the Super Rugby level yet. Between them, there were 40 tries in 1 season in the Currie Cup but this year the Sharks have only seen Mvovo score 1 try and the Bulls are not a try machine at all. Maybe not Mvovo's and Basson's fault, but Aplon and Pietersen have shown before they can compete with the best. Aplon has an amazing boot to go with the pace and running abilities. It gives you something extra on the wing
15. Odwa Ndungane
I haven't been a fan of the guy at all but what I have seen lately, he is a true asset to the game at full-back. His running is of course good enough but I still cannot believe he is such a promising player for the nr. 15 jersey. Despite his age he is still very fast. I prefer Ludik at full-back but it's nice to have someone who can also replace a winger when you don't have any on the bench.

16. Gary Botha
To me a surprise how he is ignored by Peter de Villiers as a hooker. With Liebenberg out, Smit too old and Maku and Ralepelle not good enough, there's 2 options left. Adriaan Strauss or Gary Botha. To me Gary Botha is one of the few Bulls players who shows weekly he is still on top form. I still do not get how Ralepelle gets called up in stead of Gary Botha. I have an idea but I don't want to start that whole debate again
17. Tendai Mtawarira
Is there any prop better to have on the bench than this guy? Even the supporters of the opponent enjoy it when he is on the field. Even they cheer "BEEEEEAAAST" when he picks up the ball. Apart from that, a top notch scrummager
18. Danie Rossouw
Played no. 8 in the 2007 World Cup and is mostly a benchwarmer in the Bulls team. He is a utility forward. Can play lock, flanker and no. 8. Best position is lock for him and it's always nice to have a bench with players that can play in different positions. This is why I prefer him on the bench over Flip van der Merwe
19. Keegan Daniel
True revelation lately. Made his Bok debut in november and didn't do too bad either. Won the Currie Cup twice with the Sharks and despite the comments about him being to small to be a flanker, he has shown he can do it. Also able to play at 8.
20. Sarel Pretorius
To me a guy that deserves to be called up. I was surprised McLeod was picked for the Barbarians game last november in stead of this guy. Of the 3 Griquas-backs with potential (Naas Olivier and Riaan Viljoen being the other 2) this one is the most promising. A rising star at scrum-half. He has shown he is able to take his play to a new level this Super 15 season, unlike McLeod.
21. Ruan Pienaar
Scrum-half, Fly-half, Full-back. Wherever you need him, just put him there. Has shown in Ireland that he is a top class player and despite him being able to focus on the scrum-half position in Ulster, he is still able to play in different positions as well.
22. Louis Ludik
An unsung hero of the Sharks team that won the Currie Cup and that is fighting to reach the play offs this Super15 season. Came from the Lions together with Alberts and has finally given us the possibility to forget about Percy Montgomery, our last full-back that was true quality. We have Terblanche who can play full-back in our Sharks team but he struggles too much with the distances to run at his age which makes him more suited to be a center



Andriaan Strauss
Who else? See my explanation with Gary Botha
Brok Harris
This was a close call between this guy and CJ van der Linde. I have to admit this was a coin toss for me
Flip van der Merwe
To me one of the most impressive hookers to replace Bakkies after the World Cup. My favourite 2nd row is van der Merwe-Bekker. This guy is one that can live up to the expectations
Schalk Burger
Jean Deysel is my favourite nr. 7 in the World but with his injuries, I am unsure if he can pick up where he left off. Burger to have in the squad is always nice.
Francois Hougaard
Winger and scrumhalf. Both of which he does perfectly.
Peter Grant
We need people who can do more than just kick! No Morne Steyn for me
Lwazi Mvovo
Close call between Mvovo and Basson. I guess my Sharks-heart made me decide in this tie-breaker
Francois Steyn
Just in case we get penalties in our own half haha

 

[Seaton]

I know Ndungane has been playing well of late, but... well I don't know, thats about as much as I would say

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Who else do you want as fullback? Francois Steyn? Zane Kirchner? Conrad Jantjes? Maybe you can switch Ludik with Ndungane?

 

[Shaggy]

Totally stupid to right off any of the top teams, particularly when the Super season isn't half way through, and the Tri-Nations hasn't been played yet

... The Bulls aren't the Springboks, and all players in contention for the World Cup will be aiming to peak later in the year closer to the Cup kick off.

 

[FlukeArtist]

@ Ezequial:

"No seriously. If we fail to win the World Cup, it's not because of the aging players in the squad, it's because the coach doesn't know how to pick the best team."

Well, that or you could be beaten by a better team perhaps?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Of course. I didn't mean it in an arrogant way. Don't get me wrong. I just fear we don't travel to the RWC with the best 30 players available.

 

[Shaggy]

I love the fact that he plays like that, opposition don't target that channel which is great; Allows a team like SA to choose Larger loosies cause they don't have to cover the 10 channel the whole time. Eg. Danie Rossouw in 2007. We have only had one "small" loosie since then and that is Brussouw; we need him back if Pdivvy wants to play M. Steyn at 10...i really dislike Steyn, i think he sucks, so one dimensional. James and Lambie will give our 10 a X-factor which will be key in tight Knockout games.

I hope they do play Butch James against the ABs, he's at least a penalty waiting to happen when he tackles like that ... not saying the ABs don't have their own worries in that area, with the likes of Nonu going high, and SBW's no attempt to use arms, but hopefully both those players are working to eradicate that from their game

On the Bok squad ... If P Div is going to persist with the kicking game like he says, I would start Bjorn Basson on the wing, as he seems to be the best at chasing kicks and contesting for the ball in the air

EDIT:- They also may not have accounted for what F.Steyn and M.Steyn can do with the new world cup balls

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/New-RWC-ball-could-favour-Boks-20110414

 

[JJR]

I hope they do play Butch James against the ABs, he's at least a penalty waiting to happen when he tackles like that ... not saying the ABs don't have their own worries in that area, with the likes of Nonu going high, and SBW's no attempt to use arms, but hopefully both those players are working to eradicate that from their game

On the Bok squad ... If P Div is going to persist with the kicking game like he says, I would start Bjorn Basson on the wing, as he seems to be the best at chasing kicks and contesting for the ball in the air

EDIT:- They also may not have accounted for what F.Steyn and M.Steyn can do with the new world cup balls

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/New-RWC-ball-could-favour-Boks-20110414

Ya, you right, Basson very good at the kick and chase; but i do think our gameplan will change a bit. Also more Sharks and Stormers will be involved, so hopefully we see less kicking...it makes no sense to kick the ball away once you have gained forward momentum...very stupid. The squad will be mainly a balance of Sharks,Bulls and Stormers. If we had someone like Rassie Erasmus as the Head Coach i would be very confident that we will play the right game. They have not named P.Divvy assistants yet, but the word is that Rassie Erasmus and Eddie Jones will take the Roles. Both like the running game and are very good at coaching the right tactics. Boks will be at their best if they can just be allowed by P.Divvy to keep ball in hand and Build the Phases, aswell as focus on a strong lineout maul without having to kick a up and under after forward momentum has been gained. The Boks will surprise many this year; they have not been on top form, but the talent and class is still there; Just takes 7 form games to win the World Cup, again.