As you will know, Heyneke Meyer will announce his Bok squad for the England series on Saturday night, after the Bulls and Stormers have kicked 7 shades of excrement out of each other at Loftus Vesveld.
I’m not going to claim any particular level of deep insight into his thinking, or anything, but given the injuries he’s been forced to contend with, a fair few of the selections are likely to be pretty simple to predict. Assuming that Meyer picks a squad of 32 for the 3 tests, here is my prediction of who will make the final cut.
Tell me where you think I’ve got it right or wrong, but let’s also revisit this thread after the official announcement to tally up how far off I was.
Forwards:
Beast Mtawarira, Dean Greyling, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Chilliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Johann Muller, Heinrich Brussow, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies, Keegan Daniel, Ryan Kankowski
Backs:
Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Pat Lambie, Frans Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Gio Aplon, Zane Kirchner.
Good squad Rob. only one change i would predict, and that is for Josh strauss to take Kankowski spot. The hoff is short on game time and even though i think hoff is an awesome player when on form. But I think Josh would be a better pick for the boks at this stage. other than that i think u are spot on with your predicted squad.
And a nother thought i had today. There are so much awesome young talent coming into the bok setup and i think we will have and awesome team for the next few years. but one spot i can not seem to fill is the 13 spot. no one realy impressed me enough to say that they can be bok material, my only option would be tim whitehead. just think him and f steyn as a combo. just like to hear some thoughts ons that????
I would like it if Muller is there, he can then take the Captaincy and Hougaard can start then
I think you have it spot on, bar Keegs. Not sure if Meyer will choose him (I hope he does though!)
@Jakes 08 (Comment 1) : Think Josh is the only Lion that has a realistic chance(with Taute out)
Muller should be brought back in..put either hougaard at scrummie with pienaar as his deputy and rotate the two..flyhalf I’m a little worried about though..we so reliant on steyn and what happens if steyn gets injured..who would you throw in to the deep end?
@shaniboi (Comment 6) : Have you forgotten what site this is? Super Pat should be the Bok 10!
@KingRiaan (Comment 3) : Where is the like button?!
Looks pretty straigth forward. Think Coenie will make it ahead of wither Werner or Dean. Meyer likes him as a tigh head but presently still has enough Super Rugby games to play Loosehead.
Expect to see a losse trio of Brussow, Spies and Alberts. Although a great choice at 8 ahead of Spies would be either Coetzee or Daniel)
If Steyn goes down, Lambie is likely replacement.
Pienaar and Hougaard probably on bench.
Personally I am anti Wynand and Kirchener but they play according to Meyers philosophy.
Think he would opt for CJ Stander instead of Keegs. Think also Coenie is a better option than Werner Kruger.
Further I thin you’re spot on Rob.
@Jakes 08 (Comment 2) : did i steal your avatar or did you steal mine
@Die Kriek (Comment 7) : I still think he will be playing at 15 for a long time until steyn is injured or retires..or even until goosen comes back.didn’t lambie play 15 throughout his school career?
Either way I’m just glad to have the boy in the green and gold..next world cup will be a very interesting one!
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 10) :
Problem is you need a player to cover both sides of the scrum. Cant see Heyneke trusting Coenie with a bench spot given that he could have to come on at tighthead against a fairly powerful England scrum. Werner Kruger will be on the bench as he can cover both sides. Either that or Pat Cilliers, but i doubt it.
MJ dont know, haha. i have had this one since super rugby started.
I can’t remember where I read it, but I can swear that there’s a rumour that Heyneke is going to select the Sharks loose-trio en masse for the first Test.
I’m not entirely sure if I believe it, especially with Spies lumbering around the field doing nothing but pretending to be a fit rugby player.
@Butchie34 (Comment 15) : That would be a very good move IMO.
@Ice (Comment 16) : If he only has a few days to work with the guys before the first test, best thing is to select combos because they already work with each other in Super Rugby. So the team could really be:
Sharks front row
Bulls locks (Bekker injury rules out Stormers)
Sharks loosies
2011 Bulls halfbacks (Du Preez and Steyn)
Stormers centres (De Villiers and De Jongh) – might wait until 2nd test to bring in Steyn
Sharks back division (Mvovo, Lambie and Pietersen)
The problem is that there are far too many Sharks in there for a team that HM would select.
According the Brenden Nel the wings will definitely be Habana and JPP. I think its a no brainer.
Surely we should select our most experienced test side!!
I don’t see anyone selecting Brussow at 6.
@wpw (Comment 18) : because he will should be on the bench, Marcell should be on the field.
@wpw (Comment 18) : It’s really disappointing though – just think Mvovo is playing far better than Habs.
Oh well…
I think no one is selecting Brussow is because Meyer is going to want more ball carrier and Marcell fills that better than Brussow and if he selects Bissie, he has his fetcher.
I think you guys are seriously overestimating the extent to which Heyneke Meyer is in love with Pierre Spies.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : I have mentioned HM’s love affair with the Muscles from Brooklyn.
@Butchie34 (Comment 22) : OVERestimating..
@Ice (Comment 23) : It’s a real BROmance!!
@Butchie34 (Comment 24) : no no… it’s the opposite.
Do I have to spell this out for you? Come on… don’t erode my face in the PBHS education…
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Haha, sorry it’s Friday and apparently my basic reading skills have started to let me down!! Read it as underestimating.
My only excuse is that it’s been a tough week and it’s Friday afternoon.
@Butchie34 (Comment 26) : Your EYES needs to be tested!
@Ice (Comment 27) : Ain’t that the truth!!
@Butchie34 (Comment 26) : it’s a pretty good excuse
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
Erode your face? Real prize-winning education you got there for sure.
@Big Fish (Comment 30) : @robdylan (Comment 25) : Hey Rob, at this point I think we’re just embarassing Mr Cilliers.
@Butchie34 (Comment 28) : Don’t worry, I also have an Eye problem….I cannot SEE us losing tomorrow!
@Ice (Comment 32) : Trying not to sound too full of our team, I don’t SEE us losing either but if we’re behind with 2 minutes to go I might just walk out so I don’t SEE us lose.
@Butchie34 (Comment 33) : I’m just being wintie, hope it does not come back and bite me!
@Ice (Comment 34) : Holding thumbs!!
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Is Butch a Boys High alumni too?
@klempie (Comment 36) : This Butch is.
Butch James did come up to Boys High and spent 3 days before he was accepted into Maritzberg College and moved back down to the coast.
Is Klempie a Boys High alumni as well?
@Butchie34 (Comment 37) : I was referring to the Butch that is you.
No klempie isn’t. But he *is* a Tukkie alumni. 
@klempie (Comment 38) : Me too. What year? What did you study?
@Ice (Comment 34) : Moenie worry nie. Ons verloor nie sommer teen die Leeus op Ellispark nie.
@klempie (Comment 38) :
@Butchie34 (Comment 39) :
Oh wow! This is great! It warms my heart to here that 2 Tukkies graduates have learnt to use the interweb!
@Big Fish (Comment 41) : Yeh and unlike UCT grads we learnt that there is more to it than videos of moffie gang bangs!
In fact, the guy who started and runs this site is one of us so watch your mouth buddy!
Oops! @ BF 41 – here, here? Hear, hear?? I expect proper spelling from you, thanks “big grin”
@Butchie34 (Comment 39) : was in elec eng from 99 to 2001. Dropped out of that and finished Comp Sci (same as Rob incidentally although he was ahead of me by a couple of years) in 2003. Part time Hons between 2006 and 2008.
@diablo (Comment 43) : And UCT is a soutie varsity.
LOL!
Ok – you guys have this on over me.
I retire with me tale between me legs.
@Big Fish (Comment 46) :
@Big Fish (Comment 46) : This “on” or “one”… I am also a Tuks of Niks!
@Ice (Comment 48) : I can tell; you only picked up 1 of the 3 mistakes I placed there.
Eish, I be a bit worried about a lot of those.
I don’t like the selection of Johann Muller at all, but yes, it could happen.
IMO the only overseas players (excluding the returning Frans Steyn) who should be considered are Gurthro Steenkamp, Fourie du Preez & Ruan Pienaar.
Props: Gurthro Steenkamp (assuming he’s fit?), Jannie du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira & Coenie Oosthuizen.
Hookers: Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle & Adriaan Strauss.
Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp & Flip van der Merwe
Loosies: Heinrich Brussow, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, CJ Stander, Pierre Spies & Keegan Daniel.
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar & Francois Hougaard
Inside-Backs: Morne Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Francois Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh & Wynand Olivier
Outside-Backs: Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Patrick Lambie, Bjorn Basson, Gio Aplon & Zane Kirchner.
@hendrikp (Comment 50) :
Meaning the guys I’d have missing out (from the squad of 42) are –
Props: Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger & Pat Cilliers
Loosies: Jean Deysel & Josh Strauss
Scrumhalves: Jano Vermaak & Piet van Zyl
Inside-Backs: Peter Grant
Outside-Backs: Lwazi Mvovo, JJ Engelbrecht, Akona Ndungane, Joe Pietersen
Injured: Andries Bekker & Jaco Taute.
@Butchie34 (Comment 37) : is that for real, Butchie? Was that in 92?
@hendrikp (Comment 51) : must say, I’m not at all sure about Kruger as backup tighthead. I’d like to see Pat there, but I guess it’s possible that vuilgat will get it instead.
Given that Meyer wants experience and is known to rate the guy, I stick with my call of Hoff ahead of Stander, even though I realise it’s contentious on current form.
Meyer said on B&A that he will use the “outsiders” as a last resort… Will give preference to “local” players
Dammit, but I am so chuffed for Marcell. What a meteoric rise. Didn’t even play Craven Week, missed out for SA under 20, yet went from Sharks u19 to Super Rugby and then (touch wood) to Boks within under 2 years. Astounding.
Sometimes the stars just line up right
@Franshark (Comment 54) : that said, I simply can’t see anyone but Muller being called in as the fourth lock. Hendrik’s suggestion of Wilhelm Steenkamp is interesting, but I can’t see how it’s justified. That kid is a reasonable Super Rugby lock, but just don’t see him as test quality, even with so many players injured.
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Hey there Rob. I agree. He deserves to be a bok. Lets hope HM picks him in the starting xv.
@Quintin (Comment 57) :I should be studying
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Hey Rob, I have to assume it’s true. I met him in 2003 with JS. JS told him I was also a PBHS boy and he told me he’d been in School House for about a week before he was accepted into Maritzburg.
Having spent a short time in Pretoria I just cant come to reconcile the thought of any Tuks student or Alumni supporting the Sharks. Tuks and the Bulls were synonymous and symbiotic.
@robdylan (Comment 55) :
Rob, the fact that Marcell didn’t make the SA U20 is just confirmation that we have monkeys running the show – hence the poor results despite the talent.
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Mostly, but Im still waiting for him to get a MOM award – specifically the one that the adjudicators at the Newlands game gave to Koster. Where is Terry Pratchett when you need him.
@Salmonoid (Comment 60) : You’re just bleak that our team are Varsity Cup champs. Tuks of niks!
@Salmonoid (Comment 62) : haha… I’m actually not too fussed about that, but am eagerly awaiting his first Super Rugby try… that could come this afternoon.
So guys..if we had to pick a starting 22 from players who are on form at the moment who would it be for the bokke? Oh and don’t base selections on what they did a year or two ago..only base it on super rugby form!
@robdylan (Comment 64) : I shouldnt be too fussed either, but I was at the game and he really was head and shoulders better than anyone on the field that day – he deserved it.
@klempie (Comment 63) : Actually I was pretty chuffed that Tuks won, anyway the fact that some Tuks students support the Sharks (and other teams)is proof that progress is coming to Tshwane.
@Big Fish (Comment 61) :
Easy tiger.
Marcell Coetzee was left out alongside guys like Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni, Frans Malherbe & Jaco Taute… not because they weren’t rated, but because they were involved in SR and not released to participate in SA U20 training camps.
@shaniboi (Comment 65) : I`ll have a go!
Joe Pietersen, JP Pietersen, Habana, JdV, Basson, Lambie, Hougaard, Spies, Marcel, Kruger, Flip, Brussouw, Jannie, Chilliboy, Beast.
Subs: Bismarck, Werner Kruger, Etzebeth, Alberts, Fourie du Preez, Frans Steyn, Juan de Jongh.
You heard it here first!
@hendrikp (Comment 68) : They could still have been selected for the final group if the coach really wanted to though.
@hendrikp (Comment 68) :
All good leopard. I’m a-talkin’ about last year.
@Big Fish (Comment 71) :
So am I. Last year Theron refused to select any players who were not available for training camps due to SR commitments.
This year he’s obviously decided – or been told – to include players who are involved with SR teams.
@Salmonoid (Comment 70) :
As above. He wasn’t willing to pick players who he hadn’t spent any time with.
@hendrikp (Comment 72) :
I wasn’t aware of that!
Out: Kruger, Daniels, Kanko, Mvovo
In: Coenie, Stander, Strauss, Jo Pieterson
So let’s reflect Rob.
Greyling -> Coenie
Muller -> Franco
Brussouw -> Jacques Potgieter
FdP -> Vermaak
JdJ -> Engelbrecht
Gio Aplon -> Elton Jantjies
Not bad Robbo.
@Ben (Comment 75) : ah thanks…. I knew I needed to do that exercise, glad you beat me to it.
@robdylan (Comment 76) : How do you paste a picture on the site?
@Ben (Comment 77) : what picture?
I want to paste a picture of the Ludik “try” from last night. Showing the ball was indeed on the line..
@robdylan (Comment 78) : chexk the grounding article