Pick Butch James at flyhalf. That was the advice on Monday from former Springbok assistant coach Gert Smal to the Springbok selectors ahead of the Test series against the British and Irish Lions in June and July.
Smal is now Ireland’s forwards coach, but still does not want to see the Boks lose a series by making the same mistakes as in 1997. That means South Africa should play with a reliable goalkicker.
“You can’t play test rugby without a goalkicker. Butch’s temperament and presence can create space for the South African backs,” said Smal.
“He may not maintain an 80 percent success ratio in his kicking at posts, but he’s reliable enough. His form is good and he has the right temperament. Butch gives the players around him a lot of confidence.”
Stephen Nell writes in Die Burger that Ruan Pienaar, who was entrusted with the No 10 jersey on South Africa’s tour in November, has not played since the Sharks’ defeat against the Reds on 14 March.
He has been sidelined with a knee injury. He only kicked for posts against the Stormers and Lions.
Scrumhalf Rory Kockott took over from him in those games and has subsequently handled the goalkicking.
“The Lions will definitely test Ruan’s defence. They won’t do that with Butch,” said Smal.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers recently told Sport24 that he would like to see the Sharks show more confidence in Pienaar as goalkicker.
Smal believes Kockott could be a “dark horse” for South Africa because of his kicking boot.
“Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie are, however, established,” said Smal.
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I agree that we need him back.
Butch will add valuable experience, great defence and as proved with Bath he still has what it takes to play test rugby.
15-Stefan
14-JPP
13-Adi/Fourie
12-Steyn (JDV if available)
11-Habana/Nokwe
10-Butch with Ruan on the bench
9-FDP
8-Spies with Kanko on the bench
7-Juan/Deysel
6-Brussouw/Burger
5-Matfield
4-Bakkies
3-Jannie
2-Smit
1-Gurthro/Beast
@wpw (Comment 1) :
22man 85minute rugby please??
Morning… little tyke got you up early?
@wpw (Comment 1) :
Yip.
Now let’s hope the right person hears this suggestion.
With RP there we may rumble the Lions, with Butch there we WILL send them packing with their tails between their legs.
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 2) :
Nope, I’m at work already.
So who would you add to the bench??
Bismarck
Jannie
Vermaak/Ricki/Rory 😕
Danie Rossouw
Olivier
Kirschner
Kanko/Spies
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) :
I’m sure Rob has got his cell number. 😈
@wpw (Comment 4) :
No Ruan on the Bench?
My team
15- Stefan
14- JPP
13- Adi
12- Jean Div
11- Habana
10- Butch
9- Du preez
8- Spies
7- Juan
6- Brussouw
5- Matfield
4- Bakkies
3- Jannie
2- Smit
1- Beast
16 – Bismarck
17 – Guthro
18 – Burger / Kankow
19 – Johan Muller
20 – Ruan
21 – Fourie
22 – Steyn
My 44 man squad for Snor to include/keep ‘in tune with’ the same structures for the Boks and ‘real’ A side to take on the Lions (allowing for injuries and his 3 OS person rule and only one less than his initial 45 man squad last year)…
Beast, Steenkamp, Heinke
Smit, Bismark, Wepener, Strauss, Liebenberg
Jannie, BJ, CJ
Bakkies, Roussouw
Matfield, Bekker, Muller
Schalk, BRussouw, Botes
Smith, Deysel, (Roussouw)
Spies, Kanko, Vermeulen
FDP, Kockott, January, Vermaak
Habana, Mentz,Nokwe
James, RP, Morne
JDV, Steyn, Meisiekind
Fourie, Adi
JPP, Ndungane
Kirchner, Ludik, Goose-step
But I’d pretty much pick your 15 injuries permitting…
16 CJ
17 Bismarck
18 Danie
19 Kanko
20 RP
21 Steyn
22 Fourie
At 14:30 today we will hear who is in the Lions touring squad. 😎
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) :
I forgot about CJ. CJ in for Guthro PROVIDING he can stop being a walking yellow card. (1 yellow and you dump him from the squad)
Have to agree with Gert, there is no doubt he will bring stability, and why not bring Ruan off the benchhe can play anywhere in the backline. kockott, no thanks, keep him at the Sharks, give me Fourie anyday, with Pienaar to back him up!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
CJ is my TH/LH cover… otherwise I’d start with BJ and have JDP on the bench…
And I’ll stress this… I hope to see none of this Smit at TH after playing hooker…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) :
You chose Bekker?? 😯
@Whindy (Comment 10) :
I have to disagree with Ruan being used anywhere. by all means use him elsewhere if needed, but keep him as principal cover for 10 with the previso that he can help out at 9 if FdP get’s injured. Let him settle there.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : I AGREE TOTALLY, he must not become another Frans Steyn jack of all trades, he is the answer in terms of the long term out look, but against the Lions I would advocate we go with Butch, he know these guys and he plays the more physical game, that I think is required against them. I am like an excited child waiting for the team announcement. Looks like O’Connell will be captain
@wpw (Comment 12) :
Nope I named my 22 above…
@Whindy (Comment 14) :
He’s definitely the captain…
@Whindy (Comment 14) :
posted a thread on him being appointed captain. The team is being announced at 16:30 your time, live on Supersport. (15:30 my time, 14:30 SA time)
I have a “meeting” today and will be out of the office during the announcement 🙄 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : Bummer, I don’t think there are going to be any huge bolters anyway, Ian McGeechan IS A TRADITIONAL coach and won’t stuff it up the way “Sir Clive ” did.
Okay I am a bit slow, got it 😳 😆
@Whindy (Comment 19) : 🙂
Ruan will do fine. But having Butch wouldn’t be a bad idea, though people may argue that Morne Steyn is putting his hand up.
Testing Rory at Lions tour – i hope not.
ohh and forgot to say “good morning” 😳
@rekinek (Comment 21) :
Morning 😉
Morne Steyn doesn’t suit PDV’s running style of game. (That’s what I think anyway 😉 )
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : me agrees but there is no other flyhalf cover really – unless we will have re-introduction of earl rose.
will people lynch me if i say that after some consideration i came to conclusion that earl the pearl would do better at FL than Pretorius, he just needs some extended run.
@rekinek (Comment 24) :
As 3rd flyhalf, IF PDV selects 3 then I would go with Morne Steyn yes.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : and who are your first 2 ?ruan & butch ? – or the other way round
@rekinek (Comment 24) :
Peter Grant 😳 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 26) :
Butch and Ruan in that order.
@wpw (Comment 27) :
Peter Grant is not ready yet, let him spend a season Durban first. 😛
@wpw (Comment 27) : put him out of his misery
seriously I don’t know what’s happening with him – maybe just his teammates getting in the way but he just disappeared.
hehe – when I saw this little kick against the canes last week thought it was brilliant and then backfired so badly.
Morning all!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : why would we want him ❓
and when you explaining pls do it in blonde 😉 i already know that i will struggle to understand whatever reasoning behind
Andre Pretorius has been playing some decent rugby….if he can keep his butt injury free 😯 …..I would happily accept him at the Sharks if Ruan can’t play 🙄
@Rahul (Comment 31) : cool cup
reminded me i need more coffee
How rude of me……Morning all
@rekinek (Comment 34) : 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : Peter Grant will never be ready! Why do we want him?
@Pokkel (Comment 35) : 😛
@Rahul (Comment 36) : my question exactly
@Rahul (Comment 36) :
Because both the RWC victories for SA were achieved with PMB College flyhalves who had played for the Sharks at the helm.
Grant needs to get to Durban Sharpish if he wants to make the 2011 RWC squad. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : can we have blonde explanation now
Peter’s stats…
Bok debut: 2007 v Australia Test caps: 3 Test points: 0
Test tries: 0
@Rahul (Comment 41) : He realy stamped his authority on the game and made the flyhalf birth his own 😛
@Rahul (Comment 42) :
Dudette
How many of those games did he start??
How many minutes played?? etc??
Stats is a wonderful thing isn’t it? 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : Pienaar should not be in the SA squad if he is not kicking. And Kirschner is not an option!
@Rahul (Comment 41) :
He actually has 5 tests caps bru and all of them as a sub. 😕
@wpw (Comment 43) : I know its only stats, but I dont even remember him playing for the Boks at all! Thats the impression he made.
@Rahul (Comment 44) : jeeez that’s bit harsh.
@Rahul (Comment 46) : he never really got a chance but there must have been a reason why.
i wouldn’t mind to see him starting once or twice against let’s say italy or so. after all he is not worse than fransie really
@rekinek (Comment 47) : Which part was harsh?
Seems Im not in a forgiving mood today
Something to do with the injustice of sport maybe.
@Rahul (Comment 48) : about ruan , don’t care much about kirchner.
@Rahul (Comment 49) : “injustice of sport”
@rekinek (Comment 50) : you are right, He shouldn’t wear no. 10 if he is not kicking. He can be used elsewhere. I think No 10 should be a kicker and tactician.
@Rahul (Comment 51) : Ruan can kick. Think tactically is quite good. post wise – i think i said it before did well in CC and EYT. But people seem to remember only Lions & Stormers games.
@rekinek (Comment 40) :
All three of Stransky, James and Grant are PMB College old boys and all played flyhalf at school.
Stransky and James played for the Sharks.
ERGO for the Boks to win the RWC we need a PMB college flyhalf who has played for the Sharks in the team. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 53) : that one I got 💡
you are not seriously believe in this 😯 if you do – what about third time lucky
i want to know really why we would like to have grant – what so good about hime (except the school entry on the cv 🙄
@rekinek (Comment 52) : Yes he can. But hes out of form and relegated to third center. He must get kicking practice during games.
@Rahul (Comment 55) : I agree that he must get kicking practice during games- should we tell it to Plum – oh, wait – i think PdV already told him.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 53) :
I know you rate Grant dude and I agree with you.
He has however not been great all season but then again who has been great in the Stormers side?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 57) :
ZAGGLY!
Give him a good side to play for and then we can talk again.
Give him a side where he doesn’t have to play inside center to Luke Watson all the time and then we will talk again
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) :
Surely you mean Andries Bekker and Schalk Brits!!! 😕