It has been brought to my attention by a certain “board member” of reports hitting twitter, sport24, Die Beeld (or JJ Harmse) and of course the awesome sauce that is wpw, that there is a late positional switch for the Boks this coming weekend.
Judging by drills run at practice and quotes from certain players it seems Pat Lambie will indeed be running at flyhalf with Morne Steyn playing at fullback. With thanks to wpw who broke the news earlier this week 😉
Steyn has had a little experience playing in the last line and doesn’t seem too worried about slotting in there, “I may not have played many games at fullback, but I’m confident that I could make a success of it,”.
This move will hopefully add a much needed spark to what could be a quite explosive backline, but one also has to wonder what this means for Steyn’s World Cup ambitions?
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Well done Wes for getting the inside scoop!
Tamato sauce !!! Well let see if it’s going to happen, actually an exciting prospect, can turn the whole game upside down ! 😉
@molly (Comment 1) : Sjoe Molly. I thought this would be a story about Nic Groom and Berton Klaasen being promoted to the WP bench or the return of Coleman to your u21 team.
Guess I’m so use to you doing the Province thang 😀
Hehehe! 😆
I’m actually excited about seeing Lambie go up against the Master that is Diane Carter. Now let’s hope the likes of De Jongh, Mvovo and Adi get some decent ball to spark things! 😎
@beet (Comment 3) : oh ja, I must do that still. And Dollie got the chop, poor lad, he never gets a chance. As the juniors guru, whats your thoughts on Klaassen? 😉
@Charlie (Comment 2) : no official press release yet, but JJ tends to keep an eye on all things Bull.
3DPat on full blast…Sharon is going to lose her mind hahaha 🙂
Lol @ Megatron.
Oooooh lovely 🙂
this could be awesome even thou our backline will be going up against the best there basicly is, but there is always hope. if this works well and SuperPat shows the whole world why he deserves the No:10 on his back more than Sten at the moment then there will be a lot of question marks behind Steyn’s name closer to the WC.
Wes… I’m impressed if you managed to call this one so early.
I do believe Steyn as played a few games at 15 in the past, and if he has to be played for his kicking, it could be the place to play him – we don’t have any stand-outs there at the moment.
Interesting. Predict a Steyn yank just after half time with Oddie to shine at the back.
It’s all over the media here….
… Coaches very happy to talk up Lambie as a fly half
… and Steyn could be at last chance saloon on Saturday at Fullback 😯
Lets go Lambie 😀
it doesn’t get any more difficult than an away game against the all blacks with an “injury ravaged team” thats just been klapped by the aussies, to make your run on debut. That being said if there’s anyone that can make a success of it its Lambie. I just hope our pack gains parity so Lambie isn’t constantly under pressure. Go Lambie Carpe Diem 🙂
Haha I told Keo the other day on Twitter this must happen and like always he argued
Morne cant tackle or defend to save his life. Still got a hole in defense and at full back he is going to be exposed.
@Rahul (Comment 18) : I foresee a disaster at the back.
This would be awesome. Goodluck Lambie.
@molly (Comment 6) : Molly, he seemed a bit iffy last season but I thought he was outstanding in game 1 against the Leopards u21 last week. I could see major improvements. Saturday is obviously a step up again but what’s good about him is apart from the physical dimension that he brings, he like most other WP centres knows how to distribute when required. Hopefully he gets onto the park for some decent game time and everyone can form an opinion of him.
I think its awsome that lambie is @ 10…I am not so convinced though with Morne at 15….surely Odwa could have covered that and if they seriously neede Morne on the field he could have slotted in on inside centre? or would that have been even a bigger risk?
E-News just breaking the same story 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : But not confirmed yet.
@Ice (Comment 22) : Yeah, I would have definitely put Odders at 15, Morne won’t have a clue and Odwas is Mr Dependable at the back.
i think it has been confirmed now that SuperPat will start at Flyhalf!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 25) : The problem I have with the switch the way it is, is that if Steyn is out of sorts then Lambie will be moved to cover Steyns ass at Fulback and we’ll end up with a 1D flyhalf again.
Maybe trying Steyn at FB is PdV looking for a way to keep Steyn in the RWC squad other than the #3 flyhalf.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : Ja but you can’t soema decide now that he is a fullback.A few years ago he would have had the kind of game where he could adapt but that boy is Liefling v2 and its hardcoded.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 28) : he has played 12 a couple of times? or is he also too 1D for that – specially against the AB’s – guess you need to tackle as well toplay there?
@RuckingFun (Comment 16) : I know, it’s a bit of a shame that Lambie’s first start has to be in this game. According To John Smit, he’s had a hard time lifting the spirits of this downtrodden lot, and while I predict the All Blacks to run riot, if there’s anyone who can shine in the face of such adversity it’s Lambie. Hope the kid has a good one.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) :
I heard Div say Steyn needs to take his chance now or it could affect his place at the RWC! 🙄
There is also the added advantage that Victoria is not on tour to keep whispering in PdV’s ear about how good Morne Steyn is at Flyhalf.
@beet (Comment 21) : I also saw a little bit of him last week, he seemed pretty impressive, will be interesting to see how he goes against the big boys, its a tough step up to senior level, and then against a really strong team.
@wpw (Comment 31) : i hope he is not just saying that…but I have to give the man athumbs up for sticking to what he said about Calender-man!
GUESS WHO’S A HAPPY BUNNY!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : Bless old Victoria… She looks so good in fishnets and high-heels too! Along with her friend Bakkiesha with the push-up wonderbra! 😀
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 35) : Easter is long gone, Shazzie! 😆
@Ice (Comment 34) : I’m bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! And one of the most wonderful things about Lambie is he’s the only one!!!!
What a HAPPY day!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 35) : Are you wearing the bunny uniform? 😯 Let me try and get that image out of my head 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : Anyways… to hell with Victoria. I been a whispering in P Div’s ear too. So has half the world with good eyesight and no particular bias for the colour blue!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 38) : Hello baby 😛
has the team confirmed 3DPat is on blast at pivot?
So the Steynstiles…ag I mean turnstiles are now the last line of defence.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : Eish! My Playboy days are LONG over… Did a shoot once as a bunny-girl, way back when…! With electric guitars to boot! Those were the days! 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : don’t be a wet blanket 🙂
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 43) : really?
@Megatron (Comment 41) : Sweet-dream bunny! How ARE you? To be honest I don’t care. Fullback… flyhalf (although I’d prefer flyhalf) – thing is that the Turnstile “points machine” is on borrowed time and close to drawing his last breath, as I predicted so many months ago in one of my first glowing eulogies on this marvelous site… Destiny is a BEAUTIFUL Beeaaatttcchhhh!
Personally i believe this move should have happened a year ago!! Since Frans Steyn decided to have a holiday in France there has been no real fullback contender for the Boks and I think Steyn would fit this role perfectly as his kicking out of hand is pretty good. And for those that say Steyn cant run, cast your minds back to the beginning of his career when he was in fact a running flyhalf before the Bulls brainwashed him. Perhaps the space and time at the back will be just the thing he needs to rediscover his running ability.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 43) : what???? where are those photos? trust me i will find them, i know people who know people that can do things… 😈
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 46) : john smit vouching for 3DPat:
Patrick Lambie might be having his first start for South Africa on Saturday in Wellington against the All Blacks but he goes into the game with a huge credit from his captain.
John Smit said in his regular pre-Test media conference that Lambie, who is from Smit’s Sharks franchise based in Durban, that Lambie was ‘an amazing young man’.
“I always say to people who want to know what he is like that if you had a daughter who was about 18-years-old and he came to knock on the door as a rugby player he’s probably the only one you would let her walk out the door with.
“He’s an absolute gentleman, he’s really well brought up, really intelligent, respectful. He commands his position even as a 20-year-old. For me he’s shown ability at 10, 12 or 15, he’s the kind of guy who’s got all-round skills and composure that is not the norm for a guy of his age so I do think he’ll be around for a long time.
“He’s got a huge amount of potential for leadership as well and it will be wonderful to watch him grow even more,” he said.
Smit said that he had been involved with him for two or three years yet in the short amount of time he had at the highest level he had slotted in very quickly.
@robdylan (Comment 45) : Really! Also did a Page 3 shoot for The Sun. As a fresh-faced alternative to Sam Fox. Now I’m really showing my age! Was 18 and a rock-chic. What can I say! 😆
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 46) : hehehe 😉
@Megatron (Comment 49) : I can vouch for everything my Captain says there. A truly special soul. All joking aside, perhaps the most awesome individual I have ever been privileged enough to meet and spend time with. A lovely young man in every sense of the word. 😎
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 46) : i’m good on this cold morning.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 50) : wow, alternative to samantha fox, damn shazzie you were woes 😀
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 52) : is this the cougar in you talking 😉
@Megatron (Comment 53) : And top heavy in those days! Thank Gawd for plastic surgeons!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 52) : more praise for 3DPat from the highest echelons:
“Steyn is probably the most proven at international level but in saying that James won the World Cup, he’s a fierce competitor but I’ve been impressed with Lambie this year and how he’s played.
“The thing that I’m impressed most about is his all-round game.
He’s not one-dimensional, he’s got a fantastic kick on him but he can also run the ball as well and he’s a real attacking threat.
“If they’re looking to use the ball he’d be a valuable part of that side if he got the nod for the 10 jersey so it’s good for the South Africans, they’ve got a lot of competition there which brings out the best in players,” he said – Daniel Carter
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 55) : ok stop talking shazzie, my mind is running at Mach3 now!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 50) : Sam Fox as in “touch me”sam Fox?? 😯 I loved that chick! 😆 😳
@Megatron (Comment 56) :
Good luck Pat 😯
@Megatron (Comment 54) : No. Actually not. Pat is a perfect soul. His soul’s physical packaging has nothing to do with his magnetism, not for me, at least.
I am a wordsmith, and I find it hard to put into words just how much he touches and impresses everyone he comes into contact with. And he does it all unwittingly, with no conscious knowledge of what an amazing, positive effect he has on people. He’s truly special. And if the world had more like him it would be a much better place. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : how exciting 🙄
but c’mon he will struggle to repeat his defensive performance of last week – it must be difficult to be so useless twice in a row
@rekinek (Comment 61) : He’s been managing it fine pretty much all season… but with the likes of FdP etc plastering over the cracks no one has really noticed!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 62) : FdP was out for quite some time this season. I don’t think he’s the best fl (the Bulls coached out all the ball skills of him) but I really think that his kicking will be important come WC and then he will not be in the company of Meisiekind on the field (so there may be some possibility of covering up
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 60) : just joshing love, no sweat… 😀
@rekinek (Comment 61) : BWAHAHAHA!
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
I’ll sort him out at next weeks CT event.
Hy sal wys raak!! 😈
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 59) : Ja kry vir julle 😉
@Uli (Comment 67) : ❓ ❓ ❓
Catch all you excellent SW dudes and dudettes laters… Got some work to do finishing up August’s Rugby Mentor! See yuzz! 😆
@Megatron (Comment 64) : I know. I’m just VERY proud of Pat.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 59) : 3DPat doesn’t need luck 😀
@Megatron (Comment 71) :
I hope they look after him tomorrow, there is a real chance he may notice the step up in class, especially if he plays flyhalf. 😉
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 68) : I think I got half a story there lol.
@wpw (Comment 66) : everybody – say good bye to KSA
@Megatron (Comment 71) : we shall pray then 😆
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 72) : Head on over to the ITM thread, if you don’t mind ❓
@Greg (Comment 76) : ok 😎
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
@wpw (Comment 66) : Bwhahahahaha Once you meet my Little Hitler (kette) you will be to scared to even look at me in a funny way.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 69) : you already have the best article, though… 🙂
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 72) : yeah, i know. cruden also had a lukewarm first start last year agains the aussies, but i blame that more on piri, who was taking 2 steps before he passed to the kid, allowing the aussie defence t o cut his space…
lambie must sink or swim, he is a shark so he is a deepwater kid.
Great news. Though I would have had Odwa or Ruan at FB. McLeod could have gone to scrummie. Lambie and Ruan played all season together it would have made sense.
Anyhow good luck to Lambie.
@Puma (Comment 82) : Lambie and Charl you mean?
@Ben (Comment 83) : I think he means IF lambie and ruan had played together.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 79) :
You’re right about the little part.
I wonder, is she even shorter than Ice?? 😈
@wpw (Comment 85) : She IS, I think by a cm or two! So be afraid,….be VERY afraid – the wrath of us shorties is not pretty!
@wpw (Comment 85) : Yip she is.
So I dunno what Blondie is moaning about being short.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 87) : Moaning?? You dont want to hear me moan!!! Aint seen NUTTING yet! 😈
This must rank as one of the toughest (if not the toughest) of debuts as Bok flyhalf. You have my support Pat!
Talking of short I think I may win that particular comp 🙁
@vanmartin (Comment 89) : I agree! And the most fantastiv part of it is the positive manner in which he is taking this challenge! I hope he comes out tops!
It’s a pity the Bok management couldn’t have kept this positional change under wraps until kick-off tomorrow… it would have given us a HUGE advantage because it would have changed the way the Kiwi’s would have prepared for us.
Instead of them taking the day off today, now they’ve got some work to do
Although this is a very positive move… I just feel that it is again showing the tactical naivity of the Bok management that they couldn’t see the benefit of keeping this under wraps?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 90) : i will be sticking out at this brekkie 😆
@rekinek (Comment 93) : 😯
I LIKE!!
@wpw (Comment 94) : she does not mean ‘stiek uit’ – she means she is way taller than the rest of us! 😉
But – perhaps I am wrong too! 😆
@CS (Comment 92) : I think they were trying to, then Sport24 “leaked” it…
@Ice (Comment 95) : what does it mean “stiek uit” or should I rather not ask 😀
Im sure Lambie and Steyn will interchange during the game depending on what is required at that particular time.
@Ice (Comment 95) :
I think you may be right!!
@rekinek (Comment 97) :
Cape Flats slang for ‘come hither’ LMAO 😆
@wpw (Comment 99) : 😯 😆
@wpw (Comment 99) : “Come hither”. 😆
@Salmonoid (Comment 98) : But how would Morne Steyn know that Lambie simply wants to kick away possession so they could swap positions? Is the deer-in-the-headlights look the signal?
@vanmartin (Comment 102) : Nah. It’s the Steyn Turnstiles manoeuvre, otherwise known as “The WTF Was That? Signal. 😆
😥 @Salmonoid (Comment 98) : I’m sure you might be right, I certainly hope Baa-Baa Black Sheep gets better service than what Steyntjie got last week-end