Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says he had to make some tough choices when selecting the starting XV to face the Wallabies in a Vodacom Tri-Nations clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The starting line-up shows two changes from the one that went down 22-29 against the All Blacks last week with Frans Steyn starting at fullback in place of Gio Aplon and Jaque Fourie returning to replace Juan de Jongh.
De Jongh moves to the bench, in place of Wynand Olivier, whilst Aplon falls out of the match 22.
“How do you tell a guy who has played well that he is not part of the team, or is on the bench?” De Villiers lamented at a press conference in Pretoria on Monday.
“But that is part and parcel on my job as coach that sometimes I must make unpopular decisions. The reality is that there are only 15 places in the starting line-up and I have to do what I believe is best for the team.
“Juan (de Jongh) will be a great one day but Jaque Fourie is one already. He has played 60 Tests and, with the exception of his yellow card in Brisbane, has done well for us all season,” De Villiers said.
“Gio did not do anything wrong but we have an opportunity to see Frans play. He also offers us another kicking option which will take some pressure off Morné Steyn.”
Frans Steyn last played a Test against Wales in Cardiff on 5 June and rejoined the squad this week after being unavailable for the All Blacks Test. Fourie, meanwhile, returns from a four-week suspension after he was yellow-carded in the opening minutes of the previous clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane last month.
Juan Smith, who was the only injury concern after the All Blacks game, has been cleared and is included in the run-on XV.
There is one change amongst the reserves with Ryan Kankowski, who joined the squad on Monday, preferred as loose forward cover ahead of Francois Louw. Kankowski looked sharp for the Sharks in their win over Vodacom Western Province in the Absa Currie Cup last weekend and his speed could be a factor if he is used from the bench at the weekend.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Aplon, Olivier and Louw will be released to the provinces and will be available for Absa Currie Cup selection at the weekend.
The Springbok team: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (capt), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp. Reserves: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Butch James, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Issued by SARU Communications
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the real loser here is Juan de Jongh… he was all over the park on saterday.
@VanWilder (Comment 1) : I disagree…real LOSER here is PdV…idiot.
So Delusional Div drops Aplon right out of the match 22? Habana’s still there. Spies still there. Still no fetcher. Still three players on the bench that shouldn’t be near a Bok squad in Chilliboy, January and James. Still Smit and Matfield not getting a much needed rest.
Why won’t this be better?
15. Steyn
14. Aplon
13. Fourie
12. de Villiers
11. JPP
10. Steyn
09. Hougaard
08. Alberts
07. Smith (c)
06. Louw
05. Rossouw
04. van der Merwe
03. du Plessis
02. du Plessis
01. Mtawarira
16. Steenkamp
17. Liebenberg
18. Hargreaves
19. Kankowski
20. de Jongh
21. Mvovo
22. Lambie
And lets be honest, Aplon probably hit more rucks than Spies. I’d play him at loosie if I could
@molly (Comment 4) : I boggles the mind that Spies and Habana are still both in the team.
I’m just glad the pipedream of Victoria becoming the captain for this test was not realised.
@molly (Comment 4) :
@Pokkel (Comment 5) :
Yip He dropped the wrong wing. Habana needs a wakeup call and this should have been it.
@rhineshark (Comment 3) : Because then the Sharks might lose against the Griquas and then the Bulls. C’mon man leave out Sharkies alone.
I have to agree with the above comments. Spies has had the monopoly on the no8 jersey, but Im not convinced. Add to that Habana’s poor form – yet he is still retained.
We have lost the Tri-Nations, and are just over a year away from the RWC. Why not experiment with some fringe players? What do we have to loose? We are so scared of exposing our youngsters to Test level to early, why?
Alberts, van den Heever, Mvovo, Lambie all, IMO, should have been given a shot.
If we look at the squad it is remarkably similar to the 2007 RWC squad, it seems to me that there hasnt been much in the way of thinking outside the box…
This selection of old, tired, out of form players reminds me of the Italian soccer coach and we all know how well Italy defended their world title – im getting pessimistic about our chances in RWC 2010!
Mole
Not a bad list u got there but VD Heever??
That guy is so weak defensively he reminds me of a young Earl Rose.
@wpw (Comment 11) : young – this is when he still managed to pretend to make tackles – not like in his old days
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 10) : yip . and I do not think they are as motivated as younger players.
@rhineshark (Comment 3) : I disagree, it is not fair to throw Lambie into the mix now. Let him play out the Currie Cup at flyhalf and get some time under his belt there then take him on the EOYT.
@wpw (Comment 11) Fair enough, (and this may be dependant on the way the Bulls play) but the lad can finish… Bit of a walking yellow though…
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 10) : Didnt the same happen to England when they where defending their 2003 RWC title?
@Mole (Comment 15) : i was thinking the same. very ageing squad and somehow managed to get to the final, hhhhmmmm….
@lostfish (Comment 14) : That´s why I would pick him on the bench. Get him used to things for 10-20 minutes at a time so that, come EOYT time, he´s settled enough to make an impact. We need to take the Grand Slam and build up winning momentum. I´m very scared that we´re going to try that with a too green squad of players.
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 16) : Yeah, just dont want to see us collapse at the final hurdle. The time for experimenting is disappearing fast… 2nd is still the 1st loser…
@Letgo (Comment 8) : After I posted I also looked at the side and thought, oh crap, I´ve just screwed our Sharkies there
Mole, Rekinek exactly. Motivation and even passion wont help you against motivated younger players
@rhineshark (Comment 17) : I would agree if it was a winning team. It is too much pressure to place on him now especially as he is still finding his feet at 10. That is why I think it would be better to wait until the EOYT to have a fresh start for everyone as well as getting him the experience at 10 in the Currie Cup which is a less pressured environment.
@rhineshark (Comment 19) : I was thinking that when I saw your team.
@lostfish (Comment 21) : I understand your POV, but I think the guy´s got the temperament to handle being thrown in at the deep end.
Our bad start to the S14 showed just that. He can slot into a losing side and add value where it´s sorely needed.
He doesn´t need the Boks, but the Boks probably need him.
@rhineshark (Comment 23) : I think as far as Lambie goes, it might be a little to early to play him at the boks, not because he’s to young or won’t be able to take the pressure, just because he’s gaining some momentum at 10 in the CC, after a season of CC rugby and a semi and a final behind his back…he will be ready to make that Bok 10 his own.
Letgo
I don’t agree. He should have been selected already. Look at Cruden as an example. Last year he played U20 rugby and after a few S14 games they decided to rope him in…
I agree that they should bring in some youngsters to blood. I would put Basson on the wing, Butch at flyhalf (If Morne had kicking cover he should’ve been dropped after the first Tri-nations game), leave De Jong in and have Gio on the bench at least. I would also rest Smit and some of the big guns, however, this is Victors 100th test I think, and so I’m sure that they keeping his inner circle in the team to play with him.
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : heheheheheheeeeeeeeee
Ek stem saam ou pel!
@klempie (Comment 27) : Ja swaer..ek is besig om die bietjie respek wat ek vir Divvie gehad het te verloor…en dit is nie baie nie
@Pokkel (Comment 28) : Ek bid hard dat ons albei wedstryde teen die Aussies sal verloor. Dan kan hulle die management uitvat en roep vir Jake en Eddie om ons te kom red. Miskien kan John ook bedank (I think he’s past it
) en Jake en Eddie help.
@klempie (Comment 29) : Ek hoor jou maar dit is blerrie moeilik om vir die Aussies te skreeu
@klempie (Comment 29) :
Ek stem tot n sekere maat saa met jou, mar ek dink nie PDV sal sommer uitgeskop word nie..
Ons moet verloor teen die Aussies sodat die span weet dat hul hul gameplan moet vernader. Want klop ons vir Aus in die volgende twee weke, dan gaan almal dink als is goed en wel, wanneer on eintlik in groot kak is!?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 31) : Jake White also had a shocking Tri Nations in 2006 – yet we retained him as coach. There is no way that PdV will be fired. Our best bet is a reshuffle in the support staff..
The Depth that was being praised at the beginning of the year, while still in the squad/CC, was not given a chance at a higher level, and by sticking with the tried and tested instead of giving the younger/fringe players a chance we have shot ourselves in the foot…
I wouldnt take the majority of the senior players on the EOYT. They have played so much rugby and need a rest. Send a B/C team filled with those that should be given a shot.
Just as I thought. Klempie, you sir are not a true SA supporter!!
@wpw (Comment 33) : Jy ondersteun Garage Pie Januarie…who doesn’t even have a Province contract!
I’d say there’s more evidence that you’re not a true SA supporter! 
@Mole (Comment 32) : Jake White also had a shocking Tri Nations in 2006 – yet we retained him as coach. There is no way that PdV will be fired. Our best bet is a reshuffle in the support staff..
The major difference is that people could see what Jake was trying to accomplish. No one knows what the f*ck Div is thinking.
@Mole (Comment 32) : Like your avatar dude. hehe
@Letgo (Comment 24) : People seem to want to throw him because he seems to have the temperament but he was thrown into the S14 playing at 15 a position he had been playing in for the past few years.
Yes he has the temperament but it would serve him and the teams he plays in better if he is given more game time in a new position (yes he played there until Std 8) in a less pressured environment.
Klempie
I support all Bok players irrispective of where they choose to play ther rugby or their form.
That’s what ‘support’ means.
No Bok player selects himself and I sure as hell doubt they give less than their best whenm representing their country.
The fact that you’re hoping we lose our next two tests tells me a lot about your character.
@wpw (Comment 38) : Woah fellah!!
@klempie (Comment 35) : Look, Im not exactly the biggest fan of old Divvy, but being realistic, SARU will not fire Div, it just wont happen… After the WC we may see a new face coaching the Boks, but Div will take us to NZ next year…
Current Springbok Management Team
Coach: Peter de Villiers
Assistant Coaches: Dick Muir and Gary Gold – Out for Rassie Erasmus and Frans Ludeke
Technical Assistant: Peter Maimane out for Jacques Nienaber (WP)
@klempie (Comment 36) : Haha, thanks, I really proud of my work…
Hi all, i`m not at all a P Div fan, but give him a chance. He took over a side that won the WC, and continued on that trend (more or less) by winning in NZ, a B&I Lions tour and a tri nations. We all stoned Plumtree at the beginning of the year, and Van Zyl for signing him up for a further 3 years, now we are all signing Plums praises cause we are winning again. (remember how plum sticked to our old war-horses and wouldnt give a youngste a chance?) it was bound to happen that div should get u slump in the springboks form, the question now is, can he rectify it… New blood and new gameplan…
@VanWilder (Comment 41) : what i`m trying to say is, even the mighty all blacks had a slump last year, so it is to be expected, but it is how you get yourself out of it that matters… if we can get a new gameplan for next year that effective, there wont be any time for the other sides to counter it… (as we saw with our up-and-under gameplan). Question is, is div a good enough coach to realise that and to rectify that?
@klempie (Comment 39) : concider yourself kakked on!
@VanWilder (Comment 42) : I recon the best thing Div can do is to start dropping underperforming players because I get this idea that the likes of Habana, Matfield, Spies are complacent…they will come back better and stronger when they find out that they are not irreplaceable.
@Pokkel (Comment 44) : i agree… i remember when Schalk Burger was dropped for 3 games because of form, and he came back a man possesed…
but at the moment it feels like Div is trying to lean too hard on the tried and tested…
@VanWilder (Comment 45) : Ja, but the tried and tested have been trying but failing the tests
I think what Div wants is to win the next two games. If we lose all six Tri Nations games it will be the end of him I think. He knows this, the media know this and I bet his employers know this.
What are our chances of winning such an NB test match without our senior players?? Kanko should have started ahead of Spies but surely Pierre will have a better game on his home ground??
I honestly cannot see Div being fired.
@wpw (Comment 47) :
Don’t panic there is no way they will sack PDV, they have gone into bat for him far too much already this year !
He’s safe with 6 losses on the trot as long as they are not too embarassing !
HH
We won’t lose 6 in a row that I can promise you!!
@Pokkel (Comment 43) :