Spring Tour: South Africa v England -3rd Test. (23/06/2012 16:00 GMT)

[Gena_ZA]

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth (23/06/2012, 16:00 GMT)

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[TD]Jacques Potgieter © Gallo Images[/TD]
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Potgieter set for PE debut

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20 June 2012, 10:36
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Bulls flank Jacques Potgieter will make his debut for South Africa when they take on England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Potgieter was included in a starting 15 that shows three changes from the one that beat England in the second Test of the Castle Incoming Tour. Willem Alberts (flank) and Pat Lambie (fullback) were not declared fit for the Test.
Potgieter replaces Alberts, Gio Aplon has been selected at fullback for Lambie and Wynand Olivier comes in at inside centre for Frans Steyn, who is getting married.
There are two changes on the bench. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been selected in a Test squad for the first time and will earn his Bok debut if he gets game time, while Ryan Kankowski takes over from Keegan Daniel.
"Injuries have forced us to make a number of changes, which is never ideal, but this provides an opportunity for players like Gio, Wynand and Jacques to put up their hands," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
"Gio is our third fullback of the series, but he's experienced and has been part of our planning. Wynand came on as a replacement in both of the first two Tests and knows our game plan, while Jacques has impressed this year as a very strong ball carrier – hopefully he can continue with the good work Willem has done in the last fortnight."
Meyer explained the changes on the bench as follows: "Jacques has not played for a while and we felt Ryan is the right option for this game if he needs to take over from Jacques, with his explosive running. Keegan did very well in the first two Tests, but for this match we felt that Ryan is a better option.
"Elton comes in to provide cover at flyhalf and is a very good goal kicking option, something we will miss with Frans not available.
"Bjorn Basson still covers all three positions in the back trio, JP Pietersen or Bryan Habana can play outside centre and Jean will move to inside centre if needed, so we are covered in all positions in the backline."
Springbok team: Gio Aplon, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers (c), Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Jacques Potgieter, Marcell Coetzee, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtwarira.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Elton Jantjies, Bjorn Basson.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Nice thinking by HM (NOT!)

We have no sub for the flank-positions or full-back. I would have picked Joe Pietersen over Basson and Daniel to start in place of Spies to have a more versatile bench with more options to chose from. Happy to see Jacques Potgieter getting his chance though. Kanko on the bench goes together with a prayer to God for stopping the rain. I do agree with the strong line-up. No soft 3rd match like we had against the Lions.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Whoohoo!! I'm so glad for Jaqcues! Not even a brick wall will stop this guy!!

If Meisiekind can pass the ball this weekend, the we could see some very entertaining running rugby, with Aplon running such amazing lines.

Happy for Elton to get the bench nod, though I'd liked it more if Joe Pietersen was in the 22.

Big Surprize with Kanko... Guess that means that Marcell and Jaqcues are going to play the full 80?

 

[Gena_ZA]

I would have put little Jo in and Aplon on the bench as well, better all round cover but as all modern coaches they have a fear with too many short people in and thus is banking the taller Basson as counter for the up and under kicks
I hope his Kanko trick works as he seem to be the sole believer that he is the best no 8 cover in SA at present and he has never done great in tight games, he like Spies only shines when it is a running game
But lets see how it goes, when Vermeulen is back the no 8 problem will be solved at least

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Added the logo's and match details to the OP

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The good;

- I'm over the moon with the inclusion of Jacques Potgieter. A little worried that his coming back from injury and going straight into a Bok debut- starting even!- might be a lot to ask but I know Potgieter has the answers and I trust they wouldn't have had him if he wasn't 100% physically.
- I like that apart from the enforced changes we have opted for consistency. It shows respect to England as quality opposition and the Bok jersey both.
- I am glad Aplon and Pietersen have been included in the squad though a bit surprised with the way they have been applied.

The bad
- a weak bench; Kanko and Basson aren't very impactful or versatile players.
- I'd play Aplon only as a wing starting or on the bech to cover wing and fullback.... he is a great player but not a rounded 15. Awesome wing though and versatile bench option with loads of impact potential.
- No Joe Pietersen with Aplon at 15 and no 15 cover means we have 1/2 a fullback for 80minutes of rugby. Also no F Steyn to fall back on at a pinch (though I crap my pants any time he is not played at 12)
- Still not convinced at the legitamacy of the inclusions of Olivier and Spies. Spies has gone some way to redeeming himself maybe. But in SA we just have a ton of better loose forwards who are also line-out options. Olivier... well, how many chances at how many points in time does one player really deserve? And off the bakc of which recent performances?
- M Steyn needs to up the anti and can feel very lucky that both Lambie and Goosen are injured. Hope we see Jantjies given a go to release the backline.

Other than that and considering the amount of players unavailable I'm pretty happy- though I think we could have had a lot better rounded team with Daniel given a fair go for a change (starting at 8 where he has played his rugby rather than being thrown in with no time out of position) and Joe Pietersen at 15 with Aplon ahead of Basson.

 

[TRF_heineken]

If it's any consolation, Jacques Potgieter was ready for the first test, but HM decided to get him ready and make sure he was properly fit and healed.

So my guess is they told him that he's gonna get a rest first and then later on get the start he deserves.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England side:

15 Alex Goode (Saracens)
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
13 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
12 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
11 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins)

1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2 Dylan Hartley (capt, Northampton Saints)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
6 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
7 James Haskell (Otago Highlanders)
8 Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)​

Replacements

16 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins)
18 Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
19 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
20 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
21 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
22 Brad Barritt (Saracens)​

Some dodgy choices (Foden back on the wing - I'd have worked May in somewhere, either on the wing or at 22) but glad to see Care, Corbs and Haskell starting.
We'll lose a bit at the breakdown without Robshaw, but Haskell isn't bad there, and with him and Waldrom we'll be a bit more physical in the loose-trio as well.
Good to see we've got a #4 who can actually defend/carry the ball up as well - he's no enforcer, but considering he's supposed to be a lineout specialist and Botha is supposed to be an enforcer he's 10x the "hard man" that Botha is.
I'm interested to see what Goode can do - despite absolutely lovely the old Sarries kick and hope, he's good ball in hand and great at beating defenders on the counter. Hopefully he actually does that]
I'm a little surprised that the centre partnership has stayed as it is from last week, but maybe it'll work better after more time as a unit.

 

[Patchey]

The backline looks the most attacking we've fielded so far, although I agree May should be in there somewhere.

Its going to be interesting to see how the loose three fare, anyone else doubt that Waldrom has the fitness to play 60 minutes before Dowson comes on?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Waldrom plays 80 for Tigers quite a bit, but he is often blowing out his *rse by the end, and international rugby is a step up from club.
Dowson's not the most intimidating of impact players, as well.

I'd rather have had Fearns or Morgan on the bench, to be honest - though Fearns played the full 80 (I think?) on Tuesday so that was him gone, and Dowson (theoretically) plays all across the back row so that helps his case.

 

[Peat]

That bench. Christ. That back-row. CHRIST. Everything else. Interesting to good.

 

[Patchey]

Waldrom plays 80 for Tigers quite a bit, but he is often blowing out his *rse by the end, and international rugby is a step up from club.
Dowson's not the most intimidating of impact players, as well.

I'd rather have had Fearns or Morgan on the bench, to be honest - though Fearns played the full 80 (I think?) on Tuesday so that was him gone, and Dowson (theoretically) plays all across the back row so that helps his case.

I can just see him being knackered by the physicality of the 'Boks and as you say, the increased intensity of international rugby.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well with Waldrom there at least you guys will be the heavier pack at scrum time!

 

[Gena_ZA]

That bench. Christ. That back-row. CHRIST. Everything else. Interesting to good.

Yup, you need the Him for the match, some divine intervention or you are going home 0-3 and they have to change the logo again

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Good 15 apart from the Goode thing, what's the bloody point in that?
That bench will terrify the living daylights out of South Africa.

Annoying Robshaw is out as I would have loved to see him play with Haskell in the backrow.

Yup, you need the Him for the match, some divine intervention or you are going home 0-3 and they have to change the logo again

Well done.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Change the logo? Eh?

 

[SomeOke]

This is the best starting 15 England have fielded so far. Without F Steyn, Willem, and a few others we also look a bit weaker. This could be very tight.

I'll be at the game screaming my lungs out. Really want this clean sweep...

Forecast is RAINY. I'm afraid and the weather this week has done nothing to persuade me it won't be.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Rain and Kankowski is on the bench. AI!!!

 

[Peat]

Good 15 apart from the Goode thing, what's the bloody point in that?

Eh?

That bench will terrify the living daylights out of South Africa.

What about that bench is remotely terrifying?

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Eh?

Well Goode may be an alright player but two full-backs is never going to be a long-term option, it's just prevaricating the act of trying out an actual winger. I know Wade and May both played on Tuesday but I'd still have preferred to see one of them feature with us keeping Foden where he belongs.

What about that bench is remotely terrifying?

Did that go completely over your head? Its another way of commenting on how awful our bench is.