The Springboks host the English in a three test match series, an event we haven’t seen take place in almost a decade, which kicks off coach Heyneke Meyer’s tenure as coach. The first match takes place at Mr Price Kings Park on 9 June 2012, and we are looking towards the possible selections by Meyer.
The third instalment of our series takes a look at the loose forward trio that will run out in Durban in three weeks’ time. The current injuries to loose forwards have been much publicised, but I will just give a brief summary. The following players are unavailable due to injury:
Juan Smith
Schalk Burger
Duane Vermeulen
Nick Koster
Deon Stegmann
Jacques Potgieter
Two of the above, Juan Smith and Schalk Burger would have, if fit and playing, walked into the Springbok starting line-up and few here would have argued, but alas, both are crocked and neither will be able to play, nevermind lead, the Springboks this time around.
This does leave us with a brand new trio of loose forwards, which if not exciting, is a bit scary. This must be coach Meyer’s biggest headache along with the captaincy, in trying to find the correct combination of balance, form and experience to fill these three positions.
The options and variables are almost unlimited, but there is a certainty in there, or so I would think, in that Heinrich Brüssow will feature at 6. He has been the lone star in an underperforming Cheetahs outfit, we all know what he is capable of and we saw that during the World Cup in New Zealand last year.
Then there is Pierre Spies. He has been playing pretty well, taking his new appointment as captain in his stride and leading a pretty ordinary Bulls squad to the top of the Super Rugby log. He seems set to take his place at the back of the Springbok scrum, and for the first time I can personally agree with this selection, as he will give the pack a load of experience from the back of the scrum.
That leaves us with one more jersey to fill, that of the seven flank. Here we have a whole host of players putting up their hands. We have Dewald Potgieter from the Bulls, who has played in this position for the Boks before, and even though he has been injured, he has the experience.
Then there is Willem Alberts, who proved useful for the Boks at the World Cup last year, but has been off the boil so far this year, struggling to overcome a niggling shoulder injury. Will coach Meyer have faith and play a player purely on reputation, or will he back form over experience.
Speaking of form over experience, two young players have been playing out of their skins, both of which will secretly be hoping for a surprise call up to the Springbok squad. You will all know who I am talking about, Siya Kolisi and Marcell Coetzee. Both players have had amazing seasons for the Stormers and the Sharks respectively thus far, and are clearly both in line to represent the Boks in the not too distant future.
There is one other outside chance, and I particularly like this player purely based on his relentless nature and never say die attitude, which he needs captaining the Lions. I speak of Josh Strauss of course. He has played almost every single game for the Lions at full tilt this year, putting his body on the line in an attempt to get his team to show even half the heart he does. I am not sure what Meyer thinks of Strauss, but I wouldn’t be overly surprised if he somehow squeezes into the squad.
As I said at the start of this article, this is a very tough selection, a selection that could very easily go wrong for the Boks. We can count on the English to really test our loose trio, so these three players will have to play out of their skin, whoever is selected.
Meyer’s probable picks:
6.Heinrich Brüssow
7.Dewald Potgieter
8.Pierre Spies
19.Willem Alberts
20. Marcell Coetzee
Ferguson’s form picks:
6. Heinrich Brüssow
7.Marcell Coetzee
8.Pierre Spies
19.Siya Kolisi
20.Josh Strauss
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I like the bearded menace at 7… The sooner he jumps off the sinking Snoil ship the better for his career…
Man if Josh makes the pick i would cry for joy !!!! but i dont have to much hope …
You guys think he`ll go with Potgieter?
Man if Potgieter makes this squad its fairly obvious that Meyer is favoring the Bulls players. I’d sh*t my pants!
I have more faith in Meyer than him choosing Dewald Potgieter. I think you pushing the experience thing a bit now. The guy has 6 tests caps to his name – probably most of the bench. Willem Alberts probably had more game time this year I think
You goefed or wat? No Chance Meyer will go for Potgieter, where did that come from…just cos he is a Bull doesn’t mean Meyer will pick him, and he hasn’t played for yonks. Same for Jacques Potgieter, both r crap, they not proper Blindside flankers.
Our Bok number 7 for England will be a Shark. Coetzee/Deysel or Alberts, IMO.
Probably be 6.Brussouw 7.Coetzee 8.Spies 19.Alberts/Deysel.
@JJR (Comment 6) : Deysel won’t be there..
@Original Pierre (Comment 3) : Hell No! He doesn’t have that much experience so that doesn’t warrant selection,he hasn’t been on form for ages, been injured for a while, can’t trust him to get you over the advantage line,not a proper blind side flank, he’s a half breed looseforward (identity crisis), etc.
He sucks. 🙂
If anything I expect Meyer to be extra tough on Bulls players for selection. I believe he has said something to that effect in an interview
@JJR (Comment 8) : Agreed. Dewald Potgieter is k*k!
@Ben (Comment 7) : Maybe…he def. has a better chance than D.Potgieter…I mean Deysel is the classic blind side flank.
Yes, Coetzee and Alberts will be ahead of him in the pecking order as it currently stands.
Richard,why are we forgetting Deysel & Botes or even Daniel as a long shot? Kanko seems to be out of the picture. Ever thought of Justin Downey or Michael Rhodes as outside choices or even Luke Watson? Just thinking out loud.Marcel would be an excellent choice.What about choosing Craig Burden as a loosie?
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : That’s great news!
Meyer should only select Chilli, Greyling, Kruger, Spies and Hougaard as Bok players this season. He will pick M.Steyn, i’m just tired of his balddy kicking
@markm (Comment 12) :
If I gave every player in the country a chance, the article will turn into a book.. 😉
Honestly though, I don’t think either of Deysel, Botes and Daniel stand a chance, but that is just my opinion though..
I like both Justin Downey and Michael Rhodes, they are great guys, but with the other loose forward we have, I don’t think they will see Green and Gold anytime soon.
As for Luke, the less said the better..
I reckon Kolisi will be in the squad
@markm (Comment 12) : Out of the names you’ve mentioned the only guy who has a chance to wear the Bok jersey, again is Deysel. I will be surprised if any of those other guys make the Boks, again.
Deysel has not been given the recognition his play has deserved,IMO. I really hope he gets some more Bok caps in the next couple of years.
@JJR (Comment 6) :
You seem confident .
But i remember you guys talking about dropping Marcell to the bench at some stages this season ? or am i not remembering correctly ?
@Richard Ferguson – 😉 🙄 I know. just adding my input. Meyer will favour the Bulls, but sensibility should prevail.Alberts,Brussouw,Coetzee,Spies & maybe Strauss. I really don’t think Dewald P has enough form to crack the nod.I think he will choose Spies as captain with de Villiers as vice. Once again, my opinion.
@JJR 🙂 I agree about Deysel, but history tells us that you should play experience & we don’t usually pick them. IMO. We need to look at horses for courses.
@Zibbie (Comment 17) : Not that i can remember…since the start of the season Coetzee has been our best looseforward. And if we did say he must go to the bench, was probably regarding rotation, because at one stage he had played a lot of rugby without a rest.
I don’t stutter… 🙂
My Fav Sharks trio would be 6.Coetzee 7.Deysel and 8.Alberts…that would be awesome for me 🙂
@The Quirk (Comment 1) : so long as he doesn’t come to us!
Love the guy, love the way he plays, but that 7/8 position is so hectically overcrowded as is.
Josh should go to the Kings.
I think talk that Meyer will pick Dewald Potgieter is probably wide of the mark. I know that we like to think he’ll prefer Bulls guys, but he’s not stupid and AFAIK Dewald is nowhere near his plans at the moment.
With Smith out, he’s going to go for Alberts at 7.
@markm (Comment 12) : funny thing, though… reading some media reports, it sounds like Meyer rates Kankowski far more haighly than many of the punters here seem to.
Why do you guys think Brussow’s place is set in stone ? I’ve heard Meyer say he is going to choose big forwards .
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Also remember an article where he said he would find space for both Spies and Kankowski in his side.
I think these players will be considered;
Spies, Kankowski, Coetzee, Stander, Alberts, Deysel, Vermulen, Burger, Elstadt and Smith.
@Talent (Comment 24) : Both Kanko and Spies in the same 22 or same 15?
@Bokhoring (Comment 25) : Cant remember,may have been 15
@Talent (Comment 26) : That would be really scary. That would worry me more than Meyer picking all Bulls
The english are going to be tough 😕
Good article as always Rich!! 😉
Brussow will definitely start at 6.
I have a feeling Marcell Coetzee may start at 7 but that’s if Alberts doesn’t get game time or regain the form he showed in 2011.
Spies at 8 is a no brainer.
I’d love Kolisi involved somehow even if it is as a squad member.
He’s been immense this year!! 😎
@Bokhoring (Comment 27) : I know, no hard grafters .But behind the right tight 5 and with a real work-horse on the other flank and the right game plan it may just work. But I doubt it…
@Talent (Comment 30) : maybe against italy
I have a feeling Brussow won’t make it ,not that he doesn’t deserve it .
@wpw (Comment 29) :
Thanks Wes..
@Bokhoring (Comment 31) :
who knows
@Talent (Comment 32) : Brussouw will be there. He has not been as effective at steals this year, but his work rate is pretty decent – 7th on tackles made, 2nd on ruck attendance
Who I think Meyer will choose ,just my opinion;
6.Coetzee (Schalk when fit)
7.Alberts(If his form returns 😕 if not Vermulen/Elstadt) Smith in the long run
8.Spies/Kankowski-Vermulen dark horse
18.Elstadt (covers both lock/flank)dark horse Rossouw
19.Vermulen(Deysel)
@Bokhoring (Comment 35) : I hope so ,does he fit into Meyers plans??
I think if Schalk was fit, would have been:
6. Brussouw
7. Schalk
8. Spies
7 could be Alberts now depends on his form – otherwise I hope for Coetzee
Smith is not going to make it back
@Talent (Comment 36) : if Meyer does opt to go with a bigger guy at 6, I reckon Marcell could definitely be in with a shot there
@Talent (Comment 36) : Did you read the article? Vermeulen is injured..
@robdylan (Comment 39) : agreed
@Ben (Comment 40) : Skimmed
Why do you completely ignore Deysel, Kanko and Daniel? Granted the latter two are mainly 8th men but Deysel has played 7 for the boks.
@Talent (Comment 36) : why not choose all the losies?? You almost did anyway! 😆
@Ice (Comment 43) :
in my books jaques botes a better flanker than the burger replacement,botes just unlucky in many ways.this bloke is another chilliboy.i know botes is not in contention for bok place.just a thought.
@King Shark (Comment 42) : diplomacy ,otherwise he may be called out as being sharks biased discrediting his article
@Ice (Comment 43) : ice that was cold …
http://www.unionsportsmag.co.za/adriaan-strauss-to-captain-the-boks-via-ballzradio/ – Just received this. What do you make of it.
@Talent (Comment 46) : just kiddin, hun! 😆
Nice one Ricardo.
Like your thinking. IMO Deysel, Kanko and Daniel are not gonna get in unless there are more injuries.
@Talent (Comment 32) : meyer would be out of his mind if he didn’t pick brussow
@markm (Comment 47) : This is according to one of Tank Lanning’s
imaginary friends‘sources’ – don’t put any money on it.@vanmartin (Comment 51) :
😆
Good point!
Man, but as Shark supporters we are tough on our own. Blogs on other sites on the same no7 issue have only 2 names,Strauss and Marcell, with the latter pipping it. His offloads are probably our biggest concern about him, but think of Juan & Andre Venter, 2 of the best Bok 7s ever, but never the most keenest of offloaders in the tackle. Marcell will do a Bok jersey proud!
No mention of Ashley Johnson in here 😉
I agree with Marcell Strauss Potgieter Brussow even Deysel or Johnson but please can we leave Spies out of this mix!
@markm (Comment 47) : Union sports mag do nothing other than trying to promote the players they represent. I’ve unliked the kankowski and Ndungane pages because all THEY try and promote is unionspsorts mag
@etler (Comment 55) : He-he! Agree with Ferg. For the 1st time we have to play Spies, and make him interim captain. Truth hurts!!
@etler (Comment 55) : Spies is the form 8 in SA at the moment, like it or not.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) : Exactly KSA, he seems to be playing a tighter and more structured game. No longer lurking in the backline as much!