Bok coach Peter de Villiers made nine changes to his match-day 22 and looking at the selections the Boks are seemingly preparing to run what is bound to be a ring-rusty Aussies outfit off their feet.
In two weeks the Boks gifted New Zealand 10 log points in a competition that has been won by a team scoring only 14. With this in mind the Springboks now know if they stand any chance of winning the Tri-Nations trophy a couple of bonus point victories is an absolute must, starting this weekend against the Australians.
The first thing that will jump out at any person going through the starting 15 will be the fact that no specialist fetcher will be starting, unless of course you believe Schalk will fulfil that role which seems unlikely given his role in the Stormers this year which was more of a linking, ball-carrying loose-forward.
De Villiers has gone with two attacking minded loose-forwards in his starting 15 opting to start Ryan Kankowski in the number 7 jersey with Pierre Spies, having been a bit anonymous in recent tests against the All Blacks retaining his number 8 jersey.
In addition to this De Villiers also dropped Ricky Januarie from his match-day 22 completely opting for a more attack minded and quicker Ruan Pienaar at 9, with the young but exciting Francois Hougaard providing cover from the bench.
Gio Aplon is also included on the wing albeit for a forced change for the suspended Jean de Villiers. De Villiers also could have opted for a more game-breaking option of Juan de Jongh at 12 but one has to remember that Olivier and Morne Steyn has combined well in the midfield as part of a Bulls team that scored a number of tries in the recent Super 14.
The Boks are obviously banking in getting ascendency at the set pieces against an Aussie tight 5 that struggled in the scrums against England in their recent tests and with all three loosies also being line-out options in addition to the obvious lock options it is clear that they would expect solid platforms from where to attack the Aussies from everywhere.
Even Danie Rossouw at lock who has covered loose-forward a number of times in his career is a ball-carrying and linking option for an attack-minded Bok side.
De Villiers has cover on the bench if this backfires with Dewald Potgieter being able to bring more balance to the loose-trio but I believe the message is clear – the Boks are going for a 4-try bonus point win before they return home to regain some respectability from their overseas leg of the tour and set themselves up for a chance to retain the Tri-Nations crown when they will host both nations at home in August and September.
Springbok team:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Ryan Kankowski, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Butch James, 22 Juan de Jongh.
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This could backfire spectactularly.
So basically it is ONE Change Kanko to play out of position ? Ridiculous
….sorry forgot Ruan….good luck lads think you may need it !
….oh and i’m getting my BJ and CJ mixed up.
….i think i have my head around it now ! 😉
The heading should be “Boks selections suggests all-out attack.. but there is still room to improve the team”
As Pokkel’s selection from the other thread shows. Hougaard, De Jongh and Potgieter should be in there NOT Aplon, Meisiekind and Spies.
Scoring 4 tries is no use if the opposition scores 6.
If you wanted full blown attack surely you would have started with de Jongh, Hougaard and maybe Aplon at fullback. You also need quality ball FIRST before you can attack and I’m afraid that Brown and Pocock aren’t going to let us have a lot of quality possession.
A very very bad feeling about saturday… 🙁
@Mole (Comment 7) : Same here – ai, tog! 😡
You Sharkies had a bad feeling for your own team last week!!!
@Morné (Comment 9) : Nie ekke nie !!! 😈
@Morné (Comment 9) : 😯 Always backed the Sharks on Sat! Plum finally got the team selection right – had a good feeling about that Bulls game!!
I hope that the boks are left out of the team when they return – last year is the perfect example. The team seems to be on the right track, no point in trying to fix what itsnt broken…
The problem for me lies in the fact that Div and his selectors were too hasty to reward Super 15 form. You can plainly see that Zane, Gio and Wynand Olivier are not world class players. Yet here they are chucked in against the AB’s and now the Aussies on the back of one good season for their provinces. Test Rugby is such a different kettle of fish. At least Jake White knew who could handle Test Rugby and who couldn’t. And now when the chips are down Div chucks in the mercurial Piennar and Kankowski, so that once again these Sharks players become convenient scapegoats if the team loses. I’m honestly enjoying watching the Sharks in the Currie Cup more than this lot.
Headline should read “Boks selections suggests all-out panic”
@Mole (Comment 11) :
So far you guys have 1 loss and 1 victory. No need to get ahead of yourselves!! 😈
@CapeShark (Comment 12) : Hit the nail on the head there mate. If I can add one more it would be that Januarie should never ever have been the first choice 9, there are atleast 3 players ahead of him (excluding injured DuPreez).
Think I’ll go fishing on sat instead of watching this game… Sad I know…
@wpw (Comment 14) : 😀 Bring anyone, the Sharks will triumph! 😉
@CapeShark (Comment 12) : so when do you suggest younger players should be introduced to test rugby??
@CapeShark (Comment 12) :
Disagree on Gio, he hasn’t been half bad, with the limited opportunies that he has received.
@wpw (Comment 14) : Julle sukkel om 4 tries te score, os het dit al back 2 back reggekry, wat praat jy 😈
@CapeShark (Comment 12) : “At least Jake White knew who could handle Test Rugby and who couldn’t.” That is a bold statement as P Div has a better record than Jake White. If you recall Jake White had two shocking years after winning the tri nations where he almost got his butt booted out the position. Jake White also had a tendency to select some average players, but it was Eddie Jones that helped Jake White make the right selections to win that RWC trophy. Had Jake gone it alone I wonder if the Boks would have been champions (although they did have an easy run during the tournament).
@Charlie (Comment 19) :
So nou is 4 tries meer belangrik as om te wen?? Oh, ek verstaan nou!! 🙄 😉
@try time (Comment 20) :
Dude, I agree 100%.
Jake selected the likes of Mal Jaco at flyhalf even though he proved he was out of his depth.
Danie Rossouw at flank in 2006 anyone??
Albert VD Berg
Jacques Cronje (puke)
Ruan at 15 and on the wing!!
Solly T at flank
Andre Snyman on the wing!! HELLOOOOOO!!
Anyway, I agree with you!! 😉
@wpw (Comment 21) : it is, how many home semis or playoffs have the sharks missed for dropping bonus points. look at the value of bonus points in light of the currie cup log positions. we are one point behind the stripey queer folk and that is with a loss. don’t make plumtrees old mistake and ignore the bonus points.
@wpw (Comment 22) : damn you agree with me as i pick a fight with you. 😆 😆 😆
@try time (Comment 23) :
Not ignoring it at all boet!!
I’m just saying that I’d rather have 8 points from 2 wins (WP) than 1 bonus point win and a bonus point loss!! 😈
@wpw (Comment 25) : oh in that case…
so after round three the log positions will be wp 12 sharks 12. so agree i would rather have three bp-less wins. 😆 😆 😆
Will be interesting if PDV uses his entire bench and where they may play. Does he have any great impact there…..surely there must be a better impact bench available.
….Australia’s looks quite good. 😕
@wpw (Comment 21) : Wel os het in elk geval 2 punte gebag yt daai verloor en is 1 punt agter julle, verstaan djy ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 28) : Potgieter, de Jongh and Hougaard could have a decent impact on the game.
@Pokkel (Comment 30) :
It lacks a little impact up front….. after all that’s where they will really be blowing on Saturday.
Do you think he will use Houggaard at Half Back ❓
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 31) : Hougaard hasn’t played 9 in a very long time….I’d be hesitant to use him there but then again I’m not PdV
@wpw (Comment 25) : I am looking forward to the 21st of August when the Sharks (for the 2nd time this year) dominate WP!! 😆
Kanko at 7 is a kak option. Same as Lambie at 12. Same as Butch as 12. Same as Ruan at 10. Same as Smitty at 3. Kak.
Mole
Like the CC last year when we beat you TWICE??
This is not the S14 boet! 😀
@Morné (Comment 9) : ek het geweet ons gaan wen en hoop ons gaan die beker ok vat 🙄 😉
gee me got a bad feeling but [email protected] if we loose this one then me don’t know what we can do 👿
Well for whats its worth GO BOKS
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 34) : c’mon lambie didn’t choke at 12 against the buls!
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 34) : dude, sorry to have to spell this out so bluntly, but anyone who says Lambie at 12 is a kak option is either blind, stupid or both.
@robdylan (Comment 40) :
Agreed
I think they are underestimating the likes of Pocock and Elsom – once again I think our loosies will be shown a thing or 2.
@robdylan (Comment 40) : Lambie could be the spark that the backs have been missing – finally a passing 12!!! I was really impressed by the way the 9,10,12 axis played on Sat. What happens if Meyer has an absolute cracker Currie Cup – what happens to JLP??
@MB1810 (Comment 42) : We always seem to forget what quality those two are.. We could be in for a torrid time on sat…
@Mole (Comment 44) : @MB1810 (Comment 42) :
Gee ….if you think their forwards are going to give you a torrid time
…… wait until their backs get hold of you !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 45) : I meant that in general – I have had a baaaaaaad (couldn’t help myself) feeling about this game. Everyone seems to have written off the Aussies… Big mistake… Not exactly opposition that you can test combinations against. Cooper and Guiteau are going to show us what Olivier really is – useless…
As an outsider i can’t get my head around why Januaire, Kirchner and Olivier get such a hard time they all have been good value over the last few weeks…..sure i understand that people would rather have FDP, Steyn and JDV. Which obviously will happen in time….that’s a given (i think).
For me it should be a real cracker of a game if the Boks come to play up tempo rugby… not slow, boring, kick and chase 2009 rugby.
The Aussies will be sharp and will hold onto the ball. Let’s hope Steyn does the same thing inside of sending up Garry Owens for the entire first half.
For me Giteau the man to target….hate to say it but Olivier could be a key man on Saturday.