Three former Springbok props believe CJ van der Linde is the right man to anchor South Africa’s scrum in the series against the British and Irish Lions.
Sport 24 reports that Van der Linde is currently recovering from a foot injury and is therefore unsure whether he will recover in time.
“A final decision still has to be made whether I will be operated on. If that happens, the operation will be done in South Africa or New Zealand. I will only then know whether I’m available,” Van der Linde told Hendrik Cronje in Bloemfontein.
Willie Meyer, Dawie Theron and Hannes Marais – all formerly among South Africa’s best props – believe Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will make a big mistake to pick a rookie tighthead against the Lions.
They do not believe John Smit is the right man for the job. Rather, Van der Linde has their backing.
Marais, who captained South Africa in their series defeat against the Lions in 1974, believes De Villiers will make a mistake by picking Smit at prop.
“John is a good hooker and captain, but not the answer at tighthead. If you weaken one position in the scrum against the Lions, it will be to the detriment of the entire pack,” said Marais.
“We have to identify the best tighthead early, and if that is CJ, we should try to get him back to the country. We’ll have to get him here as quickly as possible to ascertain his fitness and make him feel part of the team.”
Theron, who played against the Lions in 1997, warned that the Lions will be out to “dominate” at set-piece.
“There is a huge void at tighthead and that places South Africa in a vulnerable position,” he said.
“John is performing well at tighthead, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll stand his ground there against the Lions. CJ is the right guy, and if he is injured, Jannie du Plessis can be brought into the mix.”
Willie John McBride, captain of the victorious Lions side of 1974, already indicated in overseas newspapers that the scrums will be a crucial platform to attack the Springboks.
Meyer warned that the Lions would exploit the situation if South Africa did not play with a recognised tighthead prop.
“The Lions will do their homework and will be aware of the fact if we do not play with a recognised tighthead. We will be targeted there,” said Meyer.
“A good tighthead is of the utmost importance. You could still get away with props that do no more than scrum a few years ago, but these days they also have to be useful on attack. Jannie du Plessis offers a lot there and will be a good choice if CJ van der Linde is not available.”
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Willie Meyer, 26 caps
Dawie Theron, 13 caps
Hannnes Marais, 35 Caps
|All very experienced guys, and then maybe it is my inexperience that cannot make me fathom why they would want CJ v D Linde ahead of John Smit.
The only reason I can think of as why they wouldn’t want John Smit at TH would be because they feel Busvang Du Plessis would be a liability. ❓
Just as a matter of interest. SA’s test STARTED by a prop.
Os du Randt 75
Hannes Marais 35
CJ van der Linde 35
Robbie Kempson 31
Adrian Garvey 26
Cobus Visagie 25
Chris Koch 22
Fanie Kuhn 19
Mof Myburgh 18
Lawrence Sephaka 18
Willie Meyer 17
Eddie Andrews 15
Jaap Bekker 15
Balie Swart 15
Piet du Toit 14
Marius Hurter 13
Boy Louw 13
Gürthro Steenkamp 12
BJ Botha 11
Ollie le Roux 11
Fanie Louw 11
Richard Prentis 11
Phil Mostert 10
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : never really understood what was going on there anyway, they all seem to play a game within a game. but the one thing I do understand, is that the guys who wins that battle are normally on the winning side!!
all three of them played for Free State. Hannes Marais was one of the key figures behind Mac being fired. Wouldn’t pee on him if he were alight
ksa, that stat just looks at starting caps, not bench caps. CJ has over 50 in total
and Ollie also has 50 plus
cj also happens to be a kak tighthead
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
and that is why the word STARTED is in CAPS . 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : oh – oops
Only pick the team from whats available and playing domestically. Make that policy and stick to it, regardless of how dire the situation is.
@Salmonoid (Comment 11) : I take it tongue is firmly in cheek?
I see your pal SuperStirrer is back on the other side wreaking havoc. I love that guy!
@robdylan (Comment 12) :
Now thats a name I havent heard for a while. 😉
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : me neither… although I heard it again just yesterday.
Seems to be a man for the big occasion…
During last year’s Tri Nations CJ was a walking yellow card.
I hope Jannie is selected along with possibly Werner Kruger. 😯
He seems a very good prospect!!!
Hmmm Ja
isnt it poetic
those okes who wants to puLL a knive in a gunfight!
JaNNieDup to start
@ least he is the BloembOOi that have spend the “least” time in DeBBen
CJ on the bench
Beast and “The Captain” to start!
Give them serious locks for the first 60 minutes of the Lions Tour 09
BaKKies & MuLLer
Then PK to pack @ 8
SchaLLa and Juan @ flank.
Then, and only after you had not lost the series in the first 60 minutes- do you start shifting the ball- in order to take the coLLision contest out wide.
My “brainchilde” NAH
BOKRUGBY
incoRRectly aPPlied in ‘74 and ‘97
OH
and of course- pick a kicker
even if its Monty!
General instruction
taKKel die “foKKen empAAier” uit die bleDDie lEEus uit.
PS
My apology to the Oirish!
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
WeLL spoTTed then!
@Whindy (Comment 4) :
Whindy
Some glamour okes around should rather start suPPort the 13 man code
Union is a bit “upfront” for them.
🙂
@wiLLem (Comment 16) : agree that Smit must start @2
Give them serious locks for the first 60 minutes of the Lions Tour 09
BaKKies & MuLLer
😯 😯
Bakkies and Victoria IMO
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
Yes KSA
MuLLer to start the two first tests
Big Vic on the bench
suSSing out the lineouts
Remember- this series isnt played on ELV’s
Its always beTTer to not lOOse @ the start- and then having to go back to the ploDDers to start saving
go read on ’74 and ’97.
Have a plan of first establishing at the least even par upfront and then to start playing the “Klevah” expansive game.
Not that I believe that MuLLer is stupid- far cry from that
I just believe that as a grafter- I would rather expend him early and then bring on Matfield.
Likewise PK @ 8.
Remember- this series isnt played on ELV’s ❓ 😯
No I think you have that wrong.
it is not being played on the S14 HYBRID ELV’s but it is being played on the ELVs
@wiLLem (Comment 21) : with you 1000% on that, Willem.
Excuse me while I go flog myself 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) :
Ok then- I got it wrong
StiLL the intention was that the Super style of game isnt the requirement.
@robdylan (Comment 23) :
Dont woRRy Boet
Isnt traFFic a big iSSue over there?
“redemption” is just a busy strEEt corner away!
😎
@robdylan (Comment 23) :
Oh and dont forget to post a podcast of that floGGing on YoutjOObe and publish the URL!
I know of some Okes who would find it huge entertaining!
😈
@wiLLem (Comment 25) :
If you are lOOking for a place where traFFic is a big iSSue then you are at the wrong aDDreSS. There is another place where the mere mention of the word traFFic gets censored. 😀
@Salmonoid (Comment 27) :
GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Salmonoid (Comment 27) :
😀
Always Quality over Quantity…
But relaxation is gOOde!
PS
In proper Orakeleze that iSSue in post 27 should be i$$ue!
😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) :
Surfwear, or did you land a big one?
@wiLLem (Comment 26) : my bulls article yesterday is all the satisfaction I’m prepared to give said okes
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : he he he! Told ya!
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
😎
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) :
Beached a whale.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) :
Just watch out for grEEnpeace then!
@wiLLem (Comment 35) :
😆
@wiLLem (Comment 29) :
I know about Orakeleze, I just can’t find the $$ sign on the keyboard.
@Salmonoid (Comment 37) :
hehehe
shift + 4
The “grEEnspan” key!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) :
In more ways than one
I could echo that!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) :
Make sure that you really have the right whale though.
@Salmonoid (Comment 40) :
I’m probably wrong, I tend to jump to conclusions 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : salmo is cagey… you’ll never get a straight answer