Springboks add some OOMPH to their squad for the Australasian tour

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I think Francois Steyn has to watch out for Tim Whitehead. Imagine Steyn becoming the 2013 version of Marius Joubert...

 

[Draggs]

I think Francois Steyn has to watch out for Tim Whitehead. Imagine Steyn becoming the 2013 version of Marius Joubert...

Yeah, I've been very impressed with Whitehead for us. Strong player and good in defence. A fantastic signing by the Sharks.
I don't know about international honours yet, but he was constantly improving.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

At first, I was a bit hesitant to see him play. A benchwarmer in Cape Town but he was behind JdV-Fourie at the time. Imagine Francois Steyn ending up on the bench in Durban. He picked up a lot of weight and needs to get back to form. When it comes to centers, we have some special ones coming through in Serfontein and Jordaan. I hope we see some others getting their chance in the EOYT. Robert Ebersohn for example.

 

[Draggs]

At first, I was a bit hesitant to see him play. A benchwarmer in Cape Town but he was behind JdV-Fourie at the time. Imagine Francois Steyn ending up on the bench in Durban. He picked up a lot of weight and needs to get back to form. When it comes to centers, we have some special ones coming through in Serfontein and Jordaan. I hope we see some others getting their chance in the EOYT. Robert Ebersohn for example.

Agree on everything here.
People were praising Steyn after the Bulls and Cheetahs matches in July; I thought he was rather poor. He needs to change his way of thinking if he has any hope of succeeding as an inside centre long-term.

 

[admartian]

A player is never too young to be a Leader. Graeme Smith is a great example of this in world sport. But all the guys you mentioned doesn't seem to have the leadership capabilities. So based on the squad, JDV is not the best option, he's the only option.

YEah, this.

Sometimes it's probably better for the squad.

i can basically say the same about mccaw...

lol wut?

McCaw is anything but a hothead. Concedes penalties, sometimes, sure - but that comes with the job of being a flanker.

 

[Darwin]

Sorry guys... I really can't understand the reason behind Flo's call up!

I mean, basing on performance (first 2 TRC)

- Alberts played fairly good in first test, anonymous in second test
- Coetzee played very well in first test, horrible in second test
- Daniel played anonymous in first test, but quite good in second test
- Potgieter played decently in first test, good in second test

So they are all on the same level.

Looking at covered positions:

- Alberts uses to play blindside, but covers well both 8 and 4 spots
- Coetzee is a blindside that can cover occasionally openside position at Super Rugby level
- Daniel is a openside that has good vision and skills to play 8 at Super Rugby level and maybe at test if given some other chance
- Potgieter is a pure blindside

I can see Vermeulen as he's a specialist 8-man, but why calling Louw, who's mainly a blindside who can cover openside, exactly like Coetzee, and dropping Daniel?
I don't think for his experience, I know few tests can make difference, but this is not the case, Louw has not that amount of caps that make you say "He will bring the experience this team need in the backrow" and justifying the calling...

Louw is by far the closest thing that South Africa have to a genuine openside right now (as Brussow seems to be out of favour / injured right now), so I think his inclusion is definitely warranted (as SomeOke has already mentioned). I would consider him a openside first and foremost - he is capable of playing on the blindside because of his size, but his style of play is that of a genuine openside flanker (e.g. hitting every breakdown, running great support lines etc). I probably would have kept Daniel in the squad too, but I do think Louw is a much better openside than Daniel in my opinion.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

True, Coetzee is not a fetcher but a more versatile player. I think the selection of Louw is the result of Bismarck being out injured. I said this on Sunday already here on TRF. Either Brussow or Louw would be called up. Bismarck with his fetching skills opened the door to a Coetzee-Alberts flanking combo.

 

[Draggs]

Heinrich Brussow was injured last I had heard, so we can't call conspiracy just yet.
As I have said, give Meyer a year or so to see how it introduces new players. My biggest issue is more of the gameplan he wants the Boks to execute. Some say it is supposed to just be 'Bok rugby' but to me is looks clumsy and clueless. I honestly can't recall a single very effective line break. Let's look at South Africa's tries:

1. Kirchner, first test, 16 minutes: Free kick from a scrum ten metres out. Ball moved to M Steyn and then F Steyn, who is stopped and driven back. Second phase: Alberts gains ground to roughly 6m from the goal line, ball passed to M Steyn and then Kirchner, who steps inside and crosses (approximately 7-9 metres out)

2. Coetzee, first test, 27 minutes: Rolling maul inside the 22 stops 10 outside of the Argentina line. Coetzee breaks off from the tail and crosses in the corner.

3. Habana, first test, 56 minutes: Cross kick 15 metres out by M Steyn finds Habana 5m from touch on the Argentine line.

4. F Steyn, second test, 65 minutes: Argentina kick charged down outside of Argentine 22 by F Steyn. All Argentine players inline with kicker, Steyn gathers and scores under no pressure from the opposition.

I suppose this isn't too deep, but it shows that the tries have not come from long lasting attacks or executed attacking set pieces.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Heinrich Brussow was injured last I had heard, so we can't call conspiracy just yet.
As I have said, give Meyer a year or so to see how it introduces new players. My biggest issue is more of the gameplan he wants the Boks to execute. Some say it is supposed to just be 'Bok rugby' but to me is looks clumsy and clueless. I honestly can't recall a single very effective line break. Let's look at South Africa's tries:

1. Kirchner, first test, 16 minutes: Free kick from a scrum ten metres out. Ball moved to M Steyn and then F Steyn, who is stopped and driven back. Second phase: Alberts gains ground to roughly 6m from the goal line, ball passed to M Steyn and then Kirchner, who steps inside and crosses (approximately 7-9 metres out)

2. Coetzee, first test, 27 minutes: Rolling maul inside the 22 stops 10 outside of the Argentina line. Coetzee breaks off from the tail and crosses in the corner.

3. Habana, first test, 56 minutes: Cross kick 15 metres out by M Steyn finds Habana 5m from touch on the Argentine line.

4. F Steyn, second test, 65 minutes: Argentina kick charged down outside of Argentine 22 by F Steyn. All Argentine players inline with kicker, Steyn gathers and scores under no pressure from the opposition.

I suppose this isn't too deep, but it shows that the tries have not come from long lasting attacks or executed attacking set pieces.

Isn't this a bit premature? Against England we broke the line a lot, but against the Pumas not at all. and yet the game plan was a bit different. Maybe HM was testing something out and now he knows he has to tweak it. Like JDV and many others said there's still a lot of improvement that needs to happen.

"We definitely don't feel like it's a dictatorship. Heyneke is a new coach trying to get his message across as to how he wants us to play. But we're all grown-ups, if we disagree then we'll stand up and say so.

"We believe in what the coach is trying to do, if that changes, then I believe our environment, the system the team operates in, allows us to have the space to express our views."

"But we're at 50-60 percent of where we want to be, so obviously we have to improve. The margins are very small in test rugby and it's the small things that make the difference."

- Jean De Villiers - Yesterday at a press conference

 

[Jeanre]

I think the loose trio will consist of F.Louw, Alberts and Vermeulen with Coetzee dropping to the bench. Sad that daniel was dropped and Potgieter kept his spot. Goosen needs a few more weeks at currie cup level to get fit again, the players arent conditioned properly these days.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I hope not! Coetzee has been the form loosie this year and in his 5 Tests he has been one of the most consistent players on the field. Dropping him would be just plain stupid. Louw coming into the starting line-up is a good option but I would like Coetzee to move to blindside with Alberts at lock or 8. Vermeulen is not ready yet to start. Coming off the bench he can have a major impact. Sending Daniel home was a good call. However, Potgieter should have been sent home as well.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Yeah we must keep Marcell in the starting berth where he belongs... One bad game out of 5 at international level for a 21-year old is no reason at all to drop him. 6. Flouw 7. Coetzee 8. Alberts. I agree with Eze on not starting Vermeulen. The same can be said for Goosen. After just coming back from injury, they'll need some adjusting and to start them is just going to injure them again. and then we're back to the predicament we were.

 

[Icemn]

Yeah we must keep Marcell in the starting berth where he belongs... One bad game out of 5 at international level for a 21-year old is no reason at all to drop him

Agreed, he is a brilliant player!! Eben has actually let me down on a few occations :? i have high hopes for him, cuz i rate him as 1 of the best players in his posistion in the world... i rate him higher than Sam Whitelock and Ratlick...

 

[SomeOke]

Agreed, he is a brilliant player!! Eben has actually let me down on a few occations :? i have high hopes for him, cuz i rate him as 1 of the best players in his posistion in the world... i rate him higher than Sam Whitelock and Ratlick...

The great thing about Eben (and I agree he hasn't always been flawless) is he's 20.
That's incredibly young for a tight five player.
Bakkies started at 23 and Victor at 24, and not as regular members of the squad. Touch wood he has the time and potential to surpass them both.

 

[Draggs]

The great thing about Eben (and I agree he hasn't always been flawless) is he's 20.
That's incredibly young for a tight five player.
Bakkies started at 23 and Victor at 24, and not as regular members of the squad. Touch wood he has the time and potential to surpass them both.

Provided he stays relatively injury free.
I like Etzebeth, certainly not the worst second row in the squad.
Now that Bresler has cut off his mullet, can he at least be considered?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

A lock-pairing of Etzebeth-Kruger is the best option we have, with Bresler on the bench. Bekker needs to work on his... Well, every aspect of his game. He is pulling a Morne on our second row.

 

[psychic duck]

A lock-pairing of Etzebeth-Kruger is the best option we have, with Bresler on the bench. Bekker needs to work on his... Well, every aspect of his game. He is pulling a Morne on our second row.

I wasn't impressed with Bekker at all last match, missed more tackles than any other player on the pitch.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

He did. On top of that (no pun intended) he missed most of his line-out calls, got pushed aside by smaller opponents and just didn't bring the experience we desperately needed with the absence of Bismarck du Plessis.