The Bok team to face New Zealand in Durban contains a single change to the run-on 15, with Ruan Pienaar out injured and Bulls kicking machine Morné Steyn starting at flyhalf. Captain John Smit, Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers will all reach important milestones in this match.
Smit, playing in his 86th test match, will captain the Springboks for the 60th time, thus breaking the record for most appearances as an international captain that he currently shares with Will Carling and George Gregan. Both de Villiers and Habana will be playing in their 50th test.
Aside from Pienaar’s omission, de Villiers has made two further changes to the match 22, with Andries Bekker taking over from Ryan Kankowski on the bench, while Adrian Jacobs comes into the squad in Pienaar’s place. The latter will wear the number 21 jersey and cover flyhalf and outside back.
15. Frans Steyn
14. JP Pietersen
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morné Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Pierre Spies
7. Juan Smith
6. Heinrich Brüssow
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. John Smit – Captain
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Reserves:
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Andries Bekker
19. Danie Rossouw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Adi Jacobs
22. Wynand Olivier
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Rob, nice go you had at Ryan on Voldy. Voldy really stuffed it up this
time.
No comment about Ricky still being there. I am worried that we don’t have another quick loosie. This type of game won’t suit Bekker IMO.
Oh Ruan is still injured. phew!
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : agree… BTW, what type of game actually does suit Bekker?
He’s great coming on when we are already winning by 30 points, so he can fart around scoring tries on the wing…
I can’t believe Frans Steyn is playing his 31st test already
And go Barney!
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : Insane…
Adi at 10? if M Steyn is targeted and injured, we have a problem!!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : good point
it is amazing how one player lost can weaken a team. with ruan gone januarie is cover for du preez. not only that frans is now cover for morne. and to add insult to injury, morne stands back compared to ruan which means we need loosies that tackle and juan and spies are average in this sphere. ruan’s injury has just swung the game into the all blacks favour.
Does this mean the hoff for the sharks
@Rahul (Comment 7) : Adi will be fine at 10
I wonder if Ryan is man enough to apologize on Voldy for his error
@willa (Comment 10) : alas, I doubt it
more like… Januarie at 9?? if the AB’s target du Preez we’ll have a problem.
kidding, Januarie saves his best performances for the AB’s
@Pokkel (Comment 12) : what would your guess be?
@robdylan (Comment 11) :
Your taking the piss, arent you?
On a bit of a diff note – and i dont know if anyone has actually said something – but – I think Fransie had a pretty decent game on Saturday – he was looking more like the “wunderkind” he once wasmade out to be..
@Prof. Ice (Comment 17) : He was great.
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) : So nice to see Fransie at fullback where he belongs innit??
@Pokkel (Comment 19) : innit??
You been chatting with Rob? 
I’d rather stick with Kanko as loosie cover and keep Rossouw for lock cover.
And well done to all the milestone reachers.
If only Ricki can shed a few and get back to his best!!!
@Salmonoid (Comment 16) : not really
i say this is gonna cost Div…and us…
@McLovin (Comment 21) : +5
@wpw (Comment 23) : If Only!!
@klempie (Comment 20) : Bad peer pressure,innit
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : If you’re going to cave in to it then do it right boet. In Chavland they say “inni’”.
@wpw (Comment 23) : Ricki’s best is still not better than the Rocket.
Looking ahead and doing a bit of speculating, who do you reckon will still be around for 2011?? I can’t see 12. Jean de Villiers making it and I would be surprised if 7. Juan Smith, will be around, and I am not sure Schalk Burger will be still going, other than that it is pretty solid, whether John Smit still wants to be there will also be debatable. Not sure young Bekker is the answer at lock either??
@robdylan (Comment 24) :
Ive never seen him playing at 10 before, I suppose trying it out against the All Blacks is not a bad idea – yeah right.
@Whindy (Comment 31) :
Agree on all accounts..
@Salmonoid (Comment 32) : He is a good distributor!!
@klempie (Comment 30) :
Are we talking about boxing???
@klempie (Comment 30) : you comedian. kockett isn’t good enough to be a bok. he may be better than januarie, but that is about it. vermaak is the guy that should be in the squad.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 36) : Agree totally he will take over from du Preez, but please leave him a while longer he is the only decent player left at the Lions.
@Whindy (Comment 31) : Jean & Juan will ‘only’ be 30 in 2011. Barring serious injury both should be there imo.
@Pokkel (Comment 19) :
Absolutely, and I really dont mind him attempting a drop from his own half (under the correct circumstances) every now and then.
@McLovin (Comment 38) : I am going by how long their bodies will last, both have taken a huge pounding and I cannot see div coming back from Ireland and playing competitive rugger again. Smith just carries such an extra huge burden by playing for the Cheetahs as well, which he will pay for in the years ahead!!
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 36) : LOL. Januarie is a Bok. If Kockott is better than him then by implication, Kockott is too.
@Whindy (Comment 37) :
it is amazing how such a rich union has imploded due to stupid adminstration. i wonder what is left to get the lions back on track. as i have said numerous times before, maybe a change of venue could be the answer.
And I thought Jean de Villiers was going to be off for 3 months after that injury last Saturday. Man it looked like last rites stuff to me, and lo and behold he is fine to play this week. What was the injury?
@klempie (Comment 41) : then Kockott is good enough too.
@klempie (Comment 41) : i am not allowed to say why januarie is a bok. its in the site rules. but it ain’t skill that gave him the spot.
@Whindy (Comment 40) : Ja but only when the hit 40.
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) : cramp. the province poefter limped off with cramp.
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) : Cramp.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 42) : Agree move to a more favourable ground and create a decent vibe, but we do have the boys from the south to deal with(only joking) Lets see what happens under Hans or should that read Jake!!
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 47) :
@Prof. Ice (Comment 25) :
I hope you are wrong, but looking at that bench, it will need special prayers that the 10 or 15 or both dont get injured. TT is so right, all of a sudden we look very vulnerable.
@Whindy (Comment 49) : maybe even look at linking with the falcons and building from there. ellis park belongs to pirates now, so move the lions closer to their fans.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 45) : MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
CRAMP!!!!
Wow it must have been a whopper.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 42) : The only time the get big numbers there is when the Sharks are in town.
How’s the ticket sales going?
@klempie (Comment 55) : or the bulls. it is concerning. now how much money can be spent on players if the running costs of ellis park were dropped and a more favourable ground found. i love the tradition of ellis park. but it isn’t drawing the fans in so get rid of it.
@McLovin (Comment 56) : i think they have dropped now that ruan is out. i don’t think we’ll see a full house on saturday. thank goodness there are a lot of season ticket holders that will fill kingspark.
@Salmonoid (Comment 51) :
eggsaketillie…
Maybe this wil work out – but I’ve learnt long time ago that you dont stuff too much with a winning team…you cannot ‘experiment’ someone like the AB’s..
one thing that is bothering me is how the media is going on about how great morne’s boot is, but they have ignored how poor the backline looked on saturday when he was on, nevermind how poorly the backs looked against the b&i lions in the 3rd test.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 58) : Give us your choice 16-22 ( I’m battling to get a nice mix together myself.)
@Pokkel (Comment 61) : Maybe
16 Liebenberg
17 Jannie
18 Danie
19 Deysel
20 Vermaak
21 ????
22 Adi
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 45) :
Dude, all players lose form.
Juan, Burger and even the likes of Habana were not the same players they were at the RWC in 2007.
Januarie had a very good season last year and if Div had to drop each and every player based on S14 form then quite a few RWC Boks would be missing.
And dear PdeV, if you really dont plan to use Kanko, can we please have him back, please.
@Pokkel (Comment 62) :
16 Liebenberg
17 Jannie
18 Danie
19 Deysel
20 Vermaak
21 ???? Willem de Waal( geez we are short on flyhalves)
22 Adi
@wpw (Comment 63) : Dude, not all players gain 30kg’s
@Pokkel (Comment 65) :
Peter Grant??
@wpw (Comment 67) :
@Pokkel (Comment 66) :
Its muscle
@Prof. Ice (Comment 59) : I presume you will be there and will give us a flash from the crowds
@Salmonoid (Comment 64) : amen!
@Whindy (Comment 69) : Make him a prop then IF that is muscle( should be good tighthead nice and short)
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 52) : I agree take it to a place where people do not feel threatened(if that is possible in JHB) and it can be a more family friendly!!
@Whindy (Comment 73) :
50 000 people took part in the Walk the Talk fundraiser in Johannesburg this last weekend. That is massive and Im sure many of those same people would be regular Lions supporters if only it was a pleasant experience.
@Salmonoid (Comment 74) : I wonder what a stadium like that would cost and whether the Lions would even consider such a stadium, would mean giving up our Ellis Park hoodoo over the All Blacks though?? I do believe it is the only way back though.
@Whindy (Comment 70) :
i would have if I could – but I am not going…my husband clients is takink him, because they do not know he has a wife that enjoys rugby even more than her husband – so I have two lil’ones to look after…
@Pokkel (Comment 61) : jannie, gurthro/deon, sykes, roussouw, vermaak, adi, wynand, willem de waal (i know, but we don’t have much choice)
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 77) : sorry it is supposed to be willem/wynand.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 76) : Thats not fair
Oh well, next time!!
@Whindy (Comment 75) : you can still use the stadium for semis/finals and internationals. but get a smaller stadium with development potentual to start. you aren’t going to get 50000 at the ground in the first few years.
Earl Rose at flyhalf??
I’d rather have him than the overrated Willem De Waal!!
@Whindy (Comment 79) :
Hahaa – that’s myfavorite saying!! “That’s not fair”!!!
Next time me myself and I am going alone!!!
@wpw (Comment 81) :
What is so overrated about Willem??? He’s pretty damn nasty with that boot of his..
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 77) : You think like PdV…where is your loose forward replacement Danie???…to slow IMO
How about
Jannie
Guthro
Rossouw
Deysel/Stegmann/Potgieter/vermeulen
Vermaak
Adi
Willem
@wpw (Comment 81) : willem is better under pressure. rose has a tendency to panic. i only suggested willem as a stand in. he probably wouldn’t see game time, but if steyn was injured he is the safer option to bring on.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 77) : but you right…Pienaar leaves a huge gap
@Whindy (Comment 75) : Ive read some guys saying RAU could be a good bet to start with, I dont know that stadium at all so cant comment.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 80) : I disagree , if you create a ground like Kingspark, lots of fields around it and have the right vibe, you will be amazed at how many would come. People love being part of something and with the right marketing you could easily have those sort of crowds, think of a test at Ellis Park, now if people did not feel threatened and have to wonder if there cars would still be there or if there families might get attacked then they would come and you could develop diehard fans, who would scramble for season tickets!! Which currently does not happen. However in the currnet economic climate, small would be good!!
@wpw (Comment 81) : NEVER Earl Rose
@Pokkel (Comment 84) : you’re right. i forgot my loosie. scrap roussouw and put baywatch in. he is a cross between deysel and brussow. so he could cover both sides.
@wpw (Comment 81) : I would select Luke before Earl
@Salmonoid (Comment 87) : To small and trafic would be a nightmare, I dont think it even holds 10,000, but the right sort of Idea, I would go for Midrand next to the new gautrain,
@wpw (Comment 81) : You are just bating me are’t you
@Whindy (Comment 88) : i agree the stadium would need outside fields. where is there still open land in joburg? hang on seeing that wanderers isn’t being used for cricket anymore, why not move there.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 94) : Perfect and the Gautrain is just up the road
@Whindy (Comment 92) : not a bad idea. midrand has some space. went to the orbital, leftfield 5fm bash there a few years back, it has potential.
@Whindy (Comment 95) : although the cheapest option is to put a lethal batch of drugs out at ellis park. it should kill off most the problem and clean up the area.
but that is just to facist.
@Whindy (Comment 92) : Hummmm….that would take them to the same side of the Jukskei as die Blou Masjien.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 94) : Cheeky!
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 97) : No it wouldn’t Earl Rose would hoard them all for himself.
another option is one of the mine dumps that are being cleared away. there are a few in joburg south near the ring road that would be ideal. the land would be cheap.
@klempie (Comment 100) :
@Whindy (Comment 93) :
Nah dude.
I don’t rate Willem De Waal.
At CC level maybe but not for the Boks.
@try time (superrugby’s kryptonite is SANZAR) (Comment 101) : Dude anywhere south of Auckland Park is an abortion.
I still say they shoudl come to Roodepoort way…Thats where lions belong – in the Wild West!!
Eng to host 2015 world cup
Japan to host 2019
@McLovin (Comment 106) : Shit.
Congrats on the achievements guys, may u all stay well to make a 100 caps