Heyneke Meyer explained his decision to include Schalk Brits ahead of Chiliboy Ralepelle on the bench when he announced his team to take on Ireland yesterday.
Meyer was quoted as saying that the Boks lack substitutes that can make an impact late in the game, a role that Bob Skinstad fulfilled successfully.
As a result, Meyer said that Chiliboy will never let the team down as a starting player, doing the basics very well, but that Brits is in good form and knows the Northern Hemisphere conditions.
Whether Brits will be involved with the Springboks in the long term, as Ruan Pienaar and Francois Louw have been used so far in 2012, remains to be seen, especially as Bismarck du Plessis is expected to be back in the fold for the June Internationals next year.
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If impact is needed off the bench why select Morne Steyn? I’m sorry but I don’t think the man will be able to add anything off the bench and is definitely not an impact player.
@Butchie34 (Comment 1) :
More to that than impact..
Meyer was quoted as saying Morne is his insurance policy..
How does Chili go from being 3rd choice behind Bismarck and Strauss to I’m not sure if it’s 4th choice now, behind Brits who was never really in Heyneke’s plans before this tour??
And if Heyneke is looking for impact why not use Burden who is younger than Brits and has experience playing alongside Beast and Jannie??
Brits has amazing hands, acceleration and a step that’s probably the best in the Bok squad at the moment. He’ll definitely make an impact off the bench against tired legs when the game is more open. He should have played way more than 3 games for the Boks!
Personally I think he should have been retreaded into a centre years ago. Watch his man of the match performance in the Premiership final from last year. He was amazing!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : The only insurance policy Morne offers at the moment is poor kicking, both goal and tactical, and the complete lack of attacking guile.
@wpw (Comment 3) : A fishing expedition?
@wpw (Comment 3) : Burden needs to realise that he is not only on the rugby field to run with the ball, but he occasionally needs to hit his jumpers in the lineout.
He’d make a better flank imho.
@wpw (Comment 3) :
In all honesty, if Meyer wanted a player in Bismarck’s mould, he should have gone for Deon Fourie – who can hit his jumpers and still steal a ball at the breakdown.
I reckon Pieter Dixon is more likely to play in the Boks jersey than Craig Burden..
@FireTheLooser (Comment 7) : Sort out his lineouts and Burden will be the ideal hooker! Robust on defence and skillful on attack!
@ChrisS (Comment 9) : Personally I rate Cooper more for the future provided he can sort out his set piece issues.
@Bokhoring (Comment 10) : I rate both! Burden’s a bit more mobile and is more ideal as an impact player. Cooper, for me, is a starter who will soften up the opposition. Burden will then come on in the last 25-30 and run amok!
From what I remember Brits never had the fundamental basics to cut it at test level ;according to Jake White?
My concern is Meyer will substitute Strauss and Jannie with replacements who have never been proficient at set-piece, and we will be scrummed into the dirt by the Irish in the last quarter of the game…
While Chiliboi hasn’t played in a while ,that didn’t stop Meyer from picking Duane and Goosen, double standards?
Of all PDV shortcomings ,Player management was never one of them, for the most part.(Ruan Pienaar)
If Meyer is bemoaning impact off the bench then why start with Alberts instead of Coetzee? Alberts has proved his worth as impact player in Northern Hemisphere conditions scoring a try in nearly every one of his cameos off the bench on the 2010 end of year tour.
@Talent (Comment 12) :
‘While Chiliboi hasn’t played in a while ,that didn’t stop Meyer from picking Duane and Goosen, double standards?’
AMEN!
I may be cynical but to me the discussion on who is on our bench is pointless as they only play the last 2.5 minutes anyway.
@Orelando_G (Comment 15) : I have a feeling that won’t be the case with Heyneke’s love child Morne.
Well then I am only watching as much as he is off the field. If we are in the lead by the time Morne comes on then that is a victory in my books.
@Ben (Comment 16) : Well then I am only watching as much as he is off the field. If we are in the lead by the time Morne comes on then that is a victory in my books.
Well just my 5c… I think Hyneke Meyer remembers Chilliboy’s last UK trip where he and Guuthro Steenkamp got their heads shoved where the sun doesnt shine! And at least 1 coach is realising the value of a bench! Steyn is there as insurance simple as that, and I would possible have done the same if i was in Hyneke’s position.
If impact is what he needs, Then he should’ve played Alberts of the bench as well.