Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has named his squad for the important Tri Nations match in Hamilton this weekend.
The Bok coach has made just one change to the starting fifteen with France bound Francois Steyn coming in at number 15 with Ruan Pienaar dropping to the bench.
Pierre Spies and Bryan Habana are both expected to overcome their injury concerns and take up their spots in the starting lineup adding that the Bok medical staff had worked overtime to ensure that the two players would be ready for Saturdays crucial encounter.
The Springbok 22
15 Frans Steyn, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 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 Danie Rossouw, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Ruan Pienaar.
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Well at least some sanity prevails – although Ruan is too good to leave on the bench, I would put Odwa on the bench. He is just not physical or fast enough – no where near JP standards. I know RU and Frans are getting shunted around, but I would put RP on the wing in necessary.
I kinda predicted this one…
@robdylan (Comment 2) : me too
though i would have had kanko on the bench just in case no need for rickki and ruaan
Pienaar has proved conclusively he isn’t a fullback. Good call by Divvie…. And it would appear that without Bryan and JP our wing stocks are pretty low, Odwa isn’t bad but he isn’t the front liners
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 5) : No a “good call” from Divvy would to have been to leave FS at 15 in the first place….Divvy has no choice now….
@Just a Fan (Comment 1) :
Here we go again.
Ruan is not playing well which means he doesn’t deserve to start!!! End of!
@Fattmann (Comment 4) : Would DEFINITELY have had Kanko on the bench instead of Panic Mechanic. PDV is harming Ricki’s future rugby prospects by not sending him back to play in the CC – at least he could get back into shape and form.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 5) :
Nokwe should have been on tour in place of Odwa.
At least he has pace!!
@wpw (Comment 7) : PLays better than Odwa….
Really good article on the John Smit saga on 365 not sure if allowed to reproduce it here It is written by Howard Kahn and Adrian Garvey heres the link http://www.rugby365.com/opinion/phase2/1912041.htm
@wpw (Comment 9) : Nokwe is even weaker than Odwa – did you see him in the Lions game – that chap wont go near a tackle situation. Perfect example of a one show pony.
Unfortuately it seems that we dont have suitable replacements for Brian and JP
@Just a Fan (Comment 10) :
So you want our back up flyhalf (who has just played fullback in the last 2 tests) to be moved to the wing now!!!
Are you nuts??
@wpw (Comment 9) : pity he can’t tackle or catch a high ball…
It’s easy to score 5 tries against understrength Currie Cup opposition.
@Just a Fan (Comment 6) : it was a horses for courses policy Ruaan for aussies and Frans for AB’s Thinking behind that is Frans doesnt join the line enough worked in Perth didnt in Brisbane cos they beat us to the ball on the ground Frans shoul have come on after the first 20 mins when it was obvious we were taking a pounding in the loose
@Just a Fan (Comment 12) :
4 tries against Australia at Ellis Park is all i have to say!!!
@Just a Fan (Comment 8) : I totally agree, there is no place for Ricky on the Bench with Ruan there and especially if Spies is carrying an injury
@wpw (Comment 17) : go watch again, Eenoog de Bruin… Odwa made 3 of them for him!
@wpw (Comment 17) : Yeah THATS the “One show” i was referring to. he has never don anything since then.
Not to worry, Chavanga is back.
Unless he’s injured again.
Just send Mvovo
@Pokkel (Comment 22) : I am biased as hell, but I think he’s the most talented winger in the Currie Cup right now
@McLovin (Comment 21) : awesome avatar
@Just a Fan (Comment 20) : @wpw (Comment 17) : Nokwe has improved and he is qick but his defence is poor his handling is ok and under the high ball he is well lets just say he has a lot of work to do. I also dont think Odwa is so slow either and O’s off the ball stuff is brilliant
@Fattmann (Comment 25) : Oddie should be playing fullback. It’s so obvious, even I can see it
@robdylan (Comment 24) : I likes it too.
@McLovin (Comment 27) : Chucky’s back
It’s now 09:00 09/09/09.
At least where I am.
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : Be afraid…
And now it’s 09:09 09/09/09
Odwa is a better wing than Ruan Pienaar.
I don’t get this obsession to squeeze Ruan into the starting 15 at all costs. This is the national team , making the squad/ bench means you’re quite good.
He has to sit on the bench and fight for his place like Schalk and the rest.
@McLovin (Comment 31) : It’s 10:09 in RSA
And why is this article not on Twitter. I wanted to retweet…
@robdylan (Comment 26) : yep i think he will slide into that position once oom calls it a day and becomes part of the coaching staff @ the tank
@robdylan (Comment 26) : by the way did you get my e yesterday about the advertising
@blackshark (Comment 34) : It is
@Fattmann (Comment 36) : Dude, if you have a sec drop me a mail.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 38) : @ what e
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 37) :
Just saw it – didn’t expect it to be all the way down there…
@Fattmann (Comment 39) : Sorry dude was meant for blackshark.
@blackshark (Comment 40) : dude ,drop me a mail please.
Seems PdV has ‘upset’ the locals.
http://www.rugby365.com/all_news/sa/news/1913240.htm
I’m going to miss this game!
OK for some reason I’ve Loslappie stuck in my head. So I looked up the lyrics and here’s what they are:
LOSLAPPIE (Ek Wil Huistoe Gaan)
O ek wil huistoe gaan na mamma toe
Die rivier is vol my trane rol
‘n Bokkie wat vanaand by my wil lê
Sy kan maar Iê, ek is ‘n loslappie
Ek wens ek het vlerke soos ‘n engeltjie
Dan vlieg ek deur die tronk se tralies heen
Dan vlieg ek na die arms van my moeder
En daar sal ek bly tot die dood
Koor
Ek wens ek het vlerke soos ‘n arend
Dan vlieg ek maar verewig oor die see
Dan vlieg ek na die arms van my moeder
En daar sal ek bly tot die dood>
Now as far as I can tell, this song only makes sense if the chief protagonist is a convict with a serious Oedipus complex who wants to sleep with his mother! And this is a hit song? You dutchmen sure are a strange bunch!
@klempie (Comment 43) :
Why?
@blackshark (Comment 45) : Will probs be going through immigration in the UK. :’(
@klempie (Comment 44) : Deep very deep.
@McLovin (Comment 47) :
@klempie (Comment 46) :
Too bad…
@blackshark (Comment 32) :
AMEN!!!
Rhythmic gymnastics, no there’s a waste of time.
@klempie (Comment 44) : you’re the one who has the song stuck in your head…
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Hey you’re in Pomland where I’m sure it’s not getting NEARLY as much airplay as here.
@klempie (Comment 53) :
That’s a real song?
@blackshark (Comment 54) : Dude are you kidding me??
It’s Kurt Darren’s latest and greatest. Even Bongani on Highveld did an Afro remix of it. 
@blackshark (Comment 54) : http://www.musiek.co.za/modules.php?name=Lyrics&file=song&c_id=3685
@klempie (Comment 55) :
I don’t think it gets much airplay on MetroFm / 5FM & East Coast…
@blackshark (Comment 57) :
@blackshark (Comment 54) : A question often asked about afr songs.
I picked a NZ victory on SB – but with a BP for us and no BP for NZ…
I hope I’ll get ZERO SB points…
@blackshark (Comment 60) : I did the same and I hope the same
@klempie (Comment 53) : even in SA, I never listened to the sort of radio stations that would play that… it’s up to you
@blackshark (Comment 60) : I dont want to win the 3N with a loss.How kak is that.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 63) : better than not winning it at all, I’d say
I think we gonna struggle on Saturday.
I doubt we have what it takes to beat them at home!!
@klempie (Comment 44) :
Those lirics must be way to deep for you.
Try this:
My heart does the
tango, with every little move you make. I love you like a mango…
We’re gonna take them to the cleaners. Bakkies will see hurt in the eyes of the bloke sitting in row z.
@fyndraai (Comment 66) : … and my favourite fish is hake?
@fyndraai (Comment 66) : Are those boobs real or fake
How about this one:
…
Funky, Funky Chicken [ooh]
And the Mashed Potato
Do the Alligator
Let’s do it together
….
Shit. This stuff is stuck in my head now. Will be unproductive all day.
@Fattmann (Comment 4) : Agree with you on that!
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Me2, Rob…really rate the young man…great future if properly handled!
@robdylan (Comment 26) : OMG…Rob>>>I’m agreeing with you again
@robdylan (Comment 68) :
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 71) : is it really that unusual?
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 63) :
That would dampen the mood (a bit) – but then a few beers later I’ll get over it and still party…
Ideal scenario – win the game and win the cup…
@robdylan (Comment 62) : It was on Highveld. A station supposedly not allowed to broadcast Afrikaans content under its broadcasting license.
Leading bookmakers Ladbrokes are backing the All Blacks to beat the Springboks in Saturday’s crucial Tri-Nations Test in Hamilton – but still fancy South Africa for the overall title.
Maybe Januarie will repeat his heroics from Dunedin…
From the NZ Herald blog
Question: Should be the ABs (?) chase a bonus point against the Boks?
Comment : Slat (Northern Territory)
9 hours, 11 minutes ago
Where are the experts, all those who criticised the AB’s for this that an the other, the expert coaches and players who sat in the stands who thought the AB’s were useless. We now come down to the match that the AB’s will win to take the tri nations for the firth year. Silence is golden, go for the kitchen sink boys and belt the boks by heaps.
Comment :
JAdams (Epsom)
6 hours, 46 minutes ago
Slat from Northern Territory needs to learn some basic numeracy skills, must be one of the people contributing to the numeracy problem identified by a UOA maths lecturer. To win the tri-nations the ABs need to win their next two games with a bonus point, we can’t just win this game with a bonus point and leave it at that. All that South Africa has to do to win is get a single bonus point in this upcoming game, or hope that we lose to Australia, or hope that we fail to secure two bonus points in our victories. Furthermore, what everyone seems to be forgetting is that Australia’s victory has actually created the possibility of us coming LAST in the tri-nations. If both Aus and SA beat us we’ll have a nice wooden spoon for the cabinet. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch! Look what happened last time we did that (1999, 2007).
@blackshark (Comment 77) : LMAO. That’s a fantastic find BS.
@klempie (Comment 78) :
I know dude – I was starting to think all NZ’ers are idiots – but the response from JAdams means some of them are not…