Sarel lacks defensive skills, Mujati and Brits are not better than the other hookers and props besides Ralepelle and Oosthuizen. The first being guaranteed a call up as the illegitimate son of Mr. Pringles
Yeah, Sarel to get a call-up and battle it out with Hougaard and Pienaar post RWC.
I also understand the ommision of Brits and Mujati; we have better anyway and while I would prefer both ahead of Oosthuizen and Smit/Ralepelle as back-up think of the message we are sending (have allready sent actually but it needs some tempering at least); guys, it's okay to go overseas, you're likely to make it anyways and you boys battling it out here, you might as well go as you have nothing to achieve here that you can't do earning more bucks.
I've seen and expected far worse! I'd happily take that team to the RWC.
No January is a huge change of habit for PdV. Well done that regard.
HOWEVER we still got a Tri-Nations coming up so who knows how close this is too the RWC squad. Very strong squad nevertheless. With the exception of John Smit <_<
Exactly. No Januarie or Kirschner is HUGE IMO. And considering this is 37 we might see some more wood being cut although 2 of the big 4 culrpits IMO have been cut allready. I would have been happier with Spies and Smit out but hey, like you said it could have been worse.
Of these 37, who will likely make the fianl 30? Is there someone who is missing?
The forwards:
What stands out for me is that there are too many loosies;
Burger, Brussow, Smith, Spies, Alberts, Vermeulen, Johnson and though utility Rossouw. That makes 8. 6 at the most are needed. Burger, Smith and Rossouw select themselves; Smith the best there is, Rossouw is just such quality back-up and it would be great to have him start though his versatility is a curse and Burger can play 6-8 well and you need his energy. Brussow has had little gametime but he needs to be there if only to see what he's still got in the 3N. That leaves Spies who we all know gets a free pass. Alberts, Johnson and Vermeulen are too similar anyway for it to be worth it taking more than one 'em along. Their roles are similar to Burger and Smith and even Rossouw so I think it might have been a good idea to take another specialist fetcher in FLouw. But anyway, cut 2 loosies out of Johnson, Vermeulen and Alberts. Difficult; Alberts has had the test experience EOYT and passed off of the bench but the other 2 have been in better S15 form...
4 hookers.. eh, it seems like a lot. Chiliboy and Strauss will probably not see play in any case. Smit they won't drop and that I think everyone has accepted. The question is hwat does it do for a team to know your captain deserves to be on the bench (at best). Smit is an able hooker but needs to sharpen up. He should NOT be considered at prop. Cut one. Would it be suicide to cut Smit at this stage? I guess only the players would know.
The locks pecking order has been sorted for a while now and if the old firm in Botha and Matfield can keep up the improvements they have shown towards the latter stages of the S15 then they will be invaluable. 5 for two spots is fine when considering Rossouw cover the backrow as well.
Steenkamp, Jannie and Beast have been the go-to test props for SA and have stood firm, hell, Steenkamp was the best Bok by a mile in 2010. No reason reason why they shouldn't continue to do so. I am very happy with Werner Kruger getting in ahead of CJ and BJ. It shows a good balance in showing faith in the core players but here and there also rewarding form and Kruger has been great this year. Oosthuizen has been the best around the park and I'm happy to see him there but his scrummaging is a worry. I don't know the tech side of it but he gets blown up a lot and that is not a good thing for a RWC fianl.
The backs;
FdP, Pienaar and Hougaard. Morne Steyn, James and Lambie. It seems they see Pienaar at 9 which is good IMO. It is where he has played. 3 for each is more than enough. Pienaar, Hougaard and Lambie bring versatility so I wouldn't say 6 players to cover the halves is too much. The question mark will be what is the pecking order? No Januarie!!!
I can hardly belief it!
JdV, Fourie, JdJ, Olivier, Jacobs. Nah, drop Olivier; JdJ can play both 12 and 13 and with Steyn and Lambie there we really don't need 5 centers. Oliveir gets the cut IMO because he is a dead end when it comes to moving the ball. Simple as that. He does what he does well but it won't be effective at test level. Jacobs a a far better creative force which is what we need more of in midfield.
Habana, Pietersen, Mvovo, Ndungane, Frans Steyn, Aplon. We only need 4 of these players; we only need 2 specialist wingers and here I'd go with Pietersen and Habana though it would have been nice to have Basson as an option. Steyna and Aplon cover 15 and also center and wing respectively. Hougaard can cover wing and Lambie or Pienaar 15 at a real pinch. Drop Ndungane and Mvovo. Here I am glad we have seen Kirschner dropped! The real miss for me here is Riaan Viljoen. I would have rather dropped Steyn and played Viljoen as first choice 15; The man has what makes Steyn valuable, a freak HUGE boot and accuracy at goalkicking. Viljoen is better at dropped kicks though and is a far more potent attacking force. With Steyn having played at 12 and in France I think picking him is a bit of a gamble. It's not as if he had set the field ablaze the last time he ran... sorry, jogged out in a green jersey.
Hmm, I see I only cut 6. I wouldn't know who else. I might be able to say closer to the time who I would like to see (Spies but I can't see it happen). All in all, I am a happy camper at this stage.
