The Bok side to take on New Zealand on Saturday morning (SA time) in the opening Tri-Nations encounter has been named.
Enforcer Bakkies Botha, an injury doubt earlier in the week, has been cleared to start alongside his regular partner Victor Matfield, while namesake BJ will have to play off the bench. Jannie du Plessis has been handed the starting tighthead jersey for this game, in a strong front row containing provincial teammate John Smit as hooker (and captain) and the Bulls’ Gurthro Steenkamp at loosehead.
Ricky Januarie again keeps Ruan Pienaar on the bench, while there’s a somewhat surprising inclusion of Wynand Olivier at inside centre, with regular 12 Jean de Villiers picked on the right wing. Zane Kirchner is back at fullback, with the unlucky Gio Aplon dropping to the bench, alongside Butch James and Pienaar. The remainder of the backline selects itself (flyhalf Morne Steyn, outside centre Jaque Fourie and left wing Bryan Habana) as does the loose trio of Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Pierre Spies.
South Africa – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Jean de Villiers, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (capt), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Butch James, 22 Gio Aplon.
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I must say Jean’s persistant inclusion on the is mind boggling – good luck Bokke though !
Go all blacks!!!
Willa?
Ha ha, ja I’m a all black fan,
@willa (Comment 4) : 😯 🙄
I can’t believe Timotei Olivier has now played about 30 tests for the Boks and hasnt had ONE good game.
How many opportunities must he get??
I dont care if you win 10 S14 medals, if you don’t perform in the Bok jersey you’re not good enough!! Sheesh!! 👿
@6 agree, jdj has done enough to play ahead of him!
NO De Jongh 🙁
@willa (Comment 7) :
Not even De Jongh.
JDV should have started at 12 with Gio in the wing.
We all know Meisiekind doesn’t like passing and he is just not up to standard.
But I agree that JDJ should at least be on the bench!!
Wynand Olivier is just a younger version of De Wet Barry
It’s clear that Pieter DeVillers has gone for experience even if it means some player(s) being played out of position …
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 10) :
How can you insult De Wet like that?? 😈
Two sharks in the front row, but the rest of the team is all bulls and stormers. Makes it hard to justify getting out of bed for this one
I jjst hope Kirchener doesn’t wobble at full back !!
My head’s been in the soccer cloud for so long, i almost forgot there was a decent rugby match this weekend!
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Fully!
Don’t you think Beast would be a better impact player than BJ?? 🙄
I mean John can always play tight head if need be.
(cue grant10’s appearance) 😈
Arent the jean for the leg and not the wing?
@Comment 17 (WPW)
I totally agree … I think he’ll play an important role as the tournament progresses – Probably just easing him back into the Bok fold after his absence !!
@wpw (Comment 17) : BJ hasn’t looked anything special…
surely we can do better at full back? zk is improving but this is not the place to practise…
@Rahul (Comment 18) : :mr green: Took me a while to decipher that one!
I’m a bit concerned about JDV on the wing… these days I think too many teams (& coaches) tend to underestimate the value of a good finisher on the wing, and I’m not sure Jean brings that by a long way. I know why they’ve done, to bring height to the back 3 for the kick-and-chase game… but I think Aplon is actually quite a jack-rabbit when it comes to chasing the high-ball (he’s a little weak when it’s kicked onto him, but he’s good at the chase)… I also think he brings ALOT more to the game with ball in hand than JDV (on the wing).
@Rahul (Comment 18) :
the ‘jean pant’ 😆
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Horrible attitude Robbo
15 and 12 are fails of the highest order.
@wpw (Comment 12) : De Wet is one of the most underrated players, seems everyone’s forgotten how he and Joubert tormented many teams.
@Worcestershire Sauce ( Comment 26 )
Who would you prefer to see at 15 ?
@Dalz (Comment 28) : Frans Steyn. Gio Aplon anyone but ZK.
@molly (Comment 27) : Dude, we just taking the piss.The Law was awesome in his day.
@28 aplon,steyn,lambie,killian,pienaar,stefan,viljoen,daniller,basson
@molly (Comment 27) : @provincejoulekkading (Comment 30) :
Yeah, just ask Steve Kefu!! 😈
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 29) :
Lambie should have played against Wales and the two tests against Italy.
I have no doubt that he will be in the RWC squad come 2011.
Olivier @ 12 is a joke, when JDV is fit for selection, he shud be @ 12 and Aplon @ 14, Oliver warming his a$$. ZK @ 15, ok, but it will be our biggest weakspot, Steyn is never going to get in @ 15 whilst PDV is in charge, sorry. Their rift is too deep to include Steyn for selection. The Bokke committee need to sort this out, we have arguably the best attacking 15 in the world, playing 13 in France, but it is lost on PDV, and we need this issue sorted out before 2011. SARFU take note please.
@wpw (Comment 33) : Lets see how he goes in the CC and maybe blood him on the EOYT
I think a World Cup Squad is 30 Players.
It looks like PDV is doing with JDV what Henry will attempt to do with Kahui this season (play him out of position) expect Kahui to play wing and inside centre as well.
@CS (Comment 23) : Our best high ball chaser (and regatherer) is Bjorn Basson. By a long mile.
@wpw (Comment 33) : lambie lacks pace!
@rhineshark (Comment 37) : I have to admit I don’t know much about him… but I guess I’ll see him in action against the Sharks this weekend.
@Peekay (Comment 34) : francois is not the best attacking fullback in the world pique!
For once can you have something positive to say? You are an extremely bitter man, Megs… Can I mail you the number of a good shrink? To get it out and with the help of some good chillpills, I am sure u will feel better and might not die as a bitter lonely old fossil! 😉
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 30) : Yeah, you’re a province boy so of course you like him. But many others don’t rate him at all.
@Megatron (Comment 38) : … and experience!
@Megatron (Comment 38) :
Which test nation has an out and out speedster at fullback.
Even Mills is not that quick.
What’s with the All Blacks lately… are they becoming pansies or just playing mind games. I’ve never heard them talk up the Boks like they have been this week.
First it was Fitzpatrick telling us he’s scared of the Boks… then Conrad Smith waxing lyrical… Kieren Read commenting on Matfield’s aura… and now Nonu saying that Olivier was the best in the Super 14!
Geez okes… get a room
@Peekay (Comment 34) : Frans “Madonna” Steyn have to much demands especially form a financial perspective, that’s the main reason he is not in the Bok frame… 😉
I see on the sharks site plum says he can’t wait to see some players out of position this season
@Señora Hielo (Comment 41) : @wpw (Comment 44) : corey jane would leave our no.14 this weekend as if he is standing… Have you seen Ben Foden 🙄
@CS (Comment 45) : Meisiekind might have played well in the S14 but he can’t hack it at test level.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : I`m with you there Rob.
So what if they wear green in stead of blue? You still hear the commentators say their names and then my first instinct is to shout TACKLE !! Especially if it`s a certain Assegaai or Olivier . . 👿
But don`t worry, I still back our boys.
There are a few selection issues always surrounding the Boks, but the forwards look strong, BJ on the bench is also a solid 2nd half option… Zane Kirchner and Ricky Januarie would be skating on thin ice if they were representing a different team, but we will not go there… If they persist with Ricky after another average performance, then I will be at a loss, Ruan offers far more in that position… It does seem ridiculous to have Jean DV on the wing, as he has not much pace, but the Boks are not known to play it wide, so he might cut in and act as a 2nd No.12 – lets hope it pays off, this game is going to be titanic and overtly aggressive… Agree that Juan De Jongh is not there yet, not with so much to lose… A more open game against the Australians will be better suited for him to come on – horses for courses…
@willa (Comment 47) : he’s finally found the cribnotes that Dick Muir left in his locker…
@robdylan (Comment 52) : The Sharks side this CC will be very interesting the recipe for the forwards is much set, and as we all know the strongpoint in Sharks rugby, I don’t make too much fuss about players playing out of position in centres and wings, but flyhalf needs flyhalves, I shudder to think that Lambie might be played at 10 – but guys like Mapoe (if cleared to play) and Ludik in the centres are real options… What you think? I think Monty and Meyer need game time and Andre Pretorius… hmmmm…
JDV may not have much pace, but at least the AB’s does not have any real pace either. Rokocoko has lost a lot of pace and neither Jane or Mills have ever been speedsters.
@MysticShark (Comment 54) : Sure JDV is solid defensively and has exceptional playmaking skills and handling, so not a shocker of a decision to play him there… Wynand is more abrasive generally, so lets see what happens I ‘spose…
@Megatron (Comment 48) :
I agree that Foden has ‘toe’ 😈
Jane is playing at 14 for the Blacks though isn’t he??
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 51) : We can’t play Ruan at nine, because like Div the sharks have played shuffle the backline with him. No wonder he is leaving.
I really do not understand the constant need to play Olivier. He is, IMO, SH!TE! De Jongh and De Villiers are much better options…
My bok backline – 9 Pienaar, 10 Steyn, 11 Habana 12 De Jongh 13 Fourie 14 JdV 15 Aplon
I really like the look of aplon at 15 – he has more time on the ball to make his snaking runs..
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 57) : He`s leaving cause I finally caught up with him . . . wanted to chat about his performance last year. He booked the plane tickets himself . . .
@Mole (Comment 58) : can’t do that. How can you have a backline containing a non-WP or Bulls player?
@robdylan (Comment 60) :
You can if the rest of SA teams ended in the bottom half of the S14 log. 😈 😆
In an ideal world (well in my heathen opinion anyway), taking injuries into account and putting petty player-coach squabbles aside, my backline would be:
9.Pienaar
10.Steyn (Was really hoping we’d see this combo against Italy)
11.Habana
12.de Villiers
13.Fourie
14.Aplon (I was never a fan, but he’s shown so much heart)
15.Steyn
@willa (Comment 2) : And HH thought he was all alone ❗
@robdylan (Comment 60) : JdV should be at 12 and Meisiekind should be back in Tshwane
Hahaha how true it is that absence makes the heart fonder ,people have forgotten that frans steyn at fullback can yes win you a match but can also lose you a match ,people on this very site used to call for steyns head ,if we were talking about frans at inside center then his the best ,they should start bringing lambie into the squad because he is the only good fullback by a mile on the radar not play him but start bringing him in the squad why ,why do the sharks have the two future springbok fullbacks stupid
@zvision10 (Comment 65) : Sure, agreed, Frans can blow hot cold, but is better than Zane Kirchner blowing cold, freezing – a fullback needs X-factor, not only doing the basics… Conrad Jantjes is coming back from injury (yes, he is playing)… but is making his comeback, he could be in contention for the home leg of the Tri-Nations, it is what it is, Frans Steyn’s boot is his biggest assest – at centre he is very very good, but unfortunately not good enough to dislodge any current Bok (according to the selectors anyway) – his saga can be called Fransgate…
Look, I don’t dislike Zane Kirchner or Ricky personally, Ricky was a great scrumhalf, but his form, his attitude towards the game and his physical shape are not anything deserving of a Springbok place, Zane Kirchner has waxed his S14 place and is the best option there for the Bulls, but his Green and Gold is concerning… If he duffs his own game in Auckland, then Gio Aplon is the next in line, and we have to get used to seeing the best inside centre in world rugby, playing on the wing… Why not put Wynand there, more pace – stronger on crash ball, could be used as a phase play wing… Anyway, opinions are like arseholes… we all have one…
Where there is smoke…
We as Bok supporters have to become accustomed to the way of the administrator – the all powerful, all political… blah blah blah – everyone is tired of that… Lets just back the boks regardless if our favourite players are there or not… Realism trumps make believe…
With the amount of comments I’ve posted… Would’ve thought by now that the selectors might have spotted a talent at under 9’s… 😛
@MerckZ (Comment 62) :
Considering injuries – I think 97% of supporters out there back you on that…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 69) :
Wow! 😯
97%?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 70) : Open to debate, and of course a bit of piss-eyed over exuberation… It is Friday… Your ideal backline?
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 71) : Well I agree with your backline… so there’s 1% towards your 97% 😛
Which means there are only 100 supporters out there?
@Big Fish (Comment 73) : Well on this site anyway 😆
Very impressive scramble. 😆
Well we did say considering injuries… but if I were selector this would be what my backs would look like:
15. Frans Steyn
14. JPP
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Jean DV
11. Habs
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie DP
20. Ruan Pienaar
21. Juan De Jongh / Wynand Olivier
22. Gio Aplon / Francois Hougaard
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 76) : I think Aplon brings more of the x-factor than JPP
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 71) :
9-Ricky
10-Steyn
11-Habana
12-JDV
13-TWG13
14-Aplon
15-Kirchner
Frans Steyn is not available which is why I chose Zane!!
I hope he proves a lot of people wrong and builds on his good performance against Italy!! 😉
Dropping JPP makes no sense whatsoever.
Aplon has had 1 decent season, after a number of ordinary ones – how does he suddenly offer more?
What next – Francois Louw is a better bet then Juan Smith?
You don’t discard guys who win you championships.
@Big Fish (Comment 79) : Discard them
Do you think the Bok have selection issues in the front row ?
No one seems to say much about it…..come crunch time will Smit play tighthead or not.
1. Beast
2. Bismark
3. Smit
…..or not ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 80) :
I’m sure you would just love that. 😈
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 81) :
The team make-up is in the article. Bismark is injured, so Smit is at 2.
Cue “turbo-reverse” comment…
With John Smit pretty much set as skip for the RWC…
Bissie will be in the RWC squad, but due to whatever you want to call it – Chilliboy will be a Bok, if he remains injury free…
The props will be rotated between the 5 specialists selected… Beast, BJ, CJ, Gurtho, Jannie etc.
An opinion…
Bissie has to accept that he grew up in the times of John Smit…
Smit is the skipper, Master and Commander – when he steps down it’ll be Chilliboy – who knows, Bis might become a prop… He will battle to gain first choice hooker for country… It is what it is… Don’t discuss player quality etc…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 83) :
Oh dang – I missed the boat on that one didnt I. 😳
I reckon Smit will be at 1: much more effective there. Other props, on current form, are likely to be Guthro, Jannie and Beast, with one place still open.
@Big Fish (Comment 85) : Probably BJ Botha although he hasn’t impressed me that much since he’s been back. Jannie is actually outplaying him at the moment.
@Big Fish (Comment 85) : It will be interesting to see when The Bismarck regains form and fitness, the rugby world is kicking up quite a fuss with Smit being back “where he belongs” – much to think about, but if it were a perfect world it would be very different…
@Big Fish (Comment 85) : @Pokkel (Comment 86) :
Brok Harris as the dark horse?? 😈 🙄
@wpw (Comment 88) : unfortunately not dark enough…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 89) :
Bru, if you haven’t read the rules of the site I suggest you do so!! 😉
We don’t discuss politics here!!
@wpw (Comment 90) : I think you might be overreacting there… I’m sure DD meant that Brok is nowhere near good enough to come into the reckoning for Bok selection at this stage, even though he does play for WP!
Right DD? You’d know better than to bring up race here, right? 🙂
Hey bud, I wasn’t being political… I was playing on words of him being a dark horse… But not dark enough as I think we have 5 good options in the Boks selected… I apologise unreservedly for the misinterpretation… One thing I am enjoying about this blog is the clear absence of political mud-fligging ala Rugby 365, keo etc… and I am happy to oblige…
@robdylan (Comment 91) : Yep… I enjoy the policy and happy to oblige… Once again apologies over the play on words, a bit silly in retrospect…
Now hopefully my alias won’t come into disrepute… Its after my avatar… Heavy breathing destroyer of worlds… (Darth Vader)… The Dark Destroyer… 😉
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 93) : it’s ok… some of us are a little trigger-happy and tend to look for things where they don’t exist 🙂 I’m not going to mention wes’s name here… (oops)
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 92) :
You skate awfully close to the wind skipper.
And for some reason I suspect you did venture into the reeefs there. 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 96) : I resign myself from this topic… I put my hands up and step away from the vehicle, hopefully in the trial I am found innocent… 😐
Back to the rugby – I don’t rate Harris ahead of the Big 5 selected, but the RWC is next year, and he has time to prove himself… 😉
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 94) :
hehehe
No worries dude!! 😉
@Big Fish (Comment 96) : let it pass, sail on by.
No need to ruin a good Friday
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 97) : Must say, Brok has surprised me. Still don’t rate him as one of the best, though, although he is better than Werner Kruger. And WP Nel.
Ok, maybe Brok IS actually one of the best. Sigh.
Sigh. 🙄
wpw rates anybody who plays for WP or buys him a gatsby.
@robdylan (Comment 100) : We are blessed with depth at the moment, but in a squad of 30 I don’t see place for him – unless we decide to take 6 props to RWC – he is, and I agree with you better than Kruger and Nel, BJ is in a race to prove himself for next year and needs to put in some huge performances to show his quality… But who would you replace from the current mix:
Beast: Nope, he is a complete ‘baller and offers much.
CJ: Nope, although he joins WP soon, so Brok will get better…
BJ: Needs to prove himself…
Jannie: debate
Gurthro: To quote John Smit: The G UNIT – I rate him this season…
If SARU get stricter on overseas based players and not dwell in the beauty of grey, Brok might get the nod ahead of BJ…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 102) : I reckon Jannie is silencing his critics at the moment. My clear first-choice.
Agree that BJ has fallen off the pace somewhat, althoguh if we’re honest, he has never really been as dominant at test level as he was in the Super 14. Kanko syndrome…
@robdylan (Comment 103) :
Maybe PDV was right about the NH just being off the pace. He broke a few when he was still here.
@robdylan (Comment 103) : This is true… Maybe Brok gets called up for home leg of 3N if BJ has a dissappointing tour, but they say that BJ has that team aura about him; good for morale etc… But can you pick a player for that alone… Hmmmmm…
… But the Brok call up is unlikely, Div likes referring to “knowing what he has in players”… Anway Adieu… Good weekend to you all, enjoy the rugby this weekend and thanks for the entertainment on this fine Friday…
@robdylan (Comment 100) : 🙂 😆
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 105) : John wil get BJ sorted. It’s not that he’s a liability or anything. Just doesn’t have that air of dominance these days
I think in a World Cup squad there is only room for 6 front rowers not 7.
That’s where the AB’s are trying in the next 18 months to turn Afoa into a Smit.
So it looks like:
Smit and Bismarck are nailed on;
Then 4 of the following 5 ……one misses out …. i doubt if they will take 7 front rowers.
Beast
Guthro
CJ
BJ
Jannie