If the combination that Heyneke Meyer’s Springboks have been running in at training are anything to go by, then impressive Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee should cap off a remarkable rise over the last two seasons with a starting role in the Test side this weekend.
With the surprise omission of Heinrich Brussow now old news, I guess it’s not surprising that Meyer is looking at Coetzee as his starting option at 6, with provincial team mate Willem Alberts likely to be his foil on the blindside. Perhaps less expected, though, is the selection of Zane Kirchner, who many now say looks likely to start at fullback ahead of Pat Lambie.
Meyer looks likely to focus on combinations that know each other well… the entire Sharks front row, the Bulls 8-9-10 combination and a set of wings who have played 30 tests together. While many were expecting the same to apply in the second row, with Flip van der Merwe’s test experience making him a lower risk option than Eben Etzebeth, not to mention a provincial team mate of Juandre Kruger, according to the scribes at practice, it appears as though the 2.03m Stormers monster may get the nod after all – as one of three debutants in the side.
Possible Bok startiing lineup:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (capt), 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
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if we just take zane out and put lambie in, then it’s a pretty decent side
Good team!
I would love to see how Alberts, Coetzee and Spies combine. It could be brutal!
The 3 possible debutants fully deserve their inclusion in the starting 15 and well done to HM for showing faith in them.
GO Marcell!!
@Viking (Comment 3) :
That is if Alberts and Coetzee are prepared to carry Spies then sure …
If ever there was a match for Spies to prove himself its this game ..
@Viking (Comment 3) : A post with Spies and brutal in it 😛
Playing infront of his home ground as a Bok …wonder how many times Marcell has given himself a pinch ?
@Bokhoring (Comment 6) :
😆 looks Brutal .. 🙂
If this is the staring 15 the who would the reserves be.
16. Strauss
17. Coenie
18. Flip
19. Keegan.
20.?? dependes on the split.
21. Ruan
22. Lambie
@Viking (Comment 3) : My dream Bok trio would be Brussouw, Alberts and Coetzee
@Pokkel (Comment 9) :
20. Meisiekind 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 9) : My guess is Meyer would go with a 5-2 split. Hougaard can cover wing = so you could get away with 2 backs
@Pokkel (Comment 9) : Good call. I think it will come down to 5/2 split with HM going with another prop. Werner kruger most likely IMHO.
@Bokhoring (Comment 12) : I agree. Lambie and Ruan can cover all the backline positions and the England pack will be brutal.
Who would go in there then? Kanko or Jacques Potgieter (is he fit?)
Dont you guys think we have better options at 13? I dont know how JDV plays at 13. So I cannot rate the guy there. I know hes the captain but if we had to choose someone except JDV?
@Viking (Comment 13) :
He could possibly go for a whole new front row on the bench too.
What a dream journey for Marcell!?! Can’t wait to see him in The Green and Gold!
Think im going to give this one a miss …
Pat starting on the bench is no bad thing: to my mind he’s undoubtedly a better fullback than Kirchner but, BUT if Meyer is thinking of him as a flyhalf, and perhaps the future Bok flyhalf, then playing the last 30 minutes at 10 is probably better for him.
@Zibbie (Comment 18) : ❓ ❓
Either that or Meyer is wearing his blue blinkers!
@Pokkel (Comment 20) :
i read Zane Kirchner i loose interest …
@Zibbie (Comment 22) :
Oh OK!
@Flashman (Comment 19) : I’d love to see Lambie given a go at 10! Even at the expense of him starting.
Well HM will be wasting probably the most talented player in his squad if he does not include Pat from the start.
I will wait and see…..but I have never rated Zane Kirchner as anywhere close to being a Bok.
@vanmartin (Comment 24) : To give Lambie a go at 10 means a complete change in game plan, I don’t see that happening, sadly so…..
@Silver Fox (Comment 26) : A complete change in game plan? How so?
@Silver Fox (Comment 26) : Agreed that Lambie’s inclusion would allow the style of play to become more attacking but hopefully Meyer will send us out with more than just a Plan A. Pat could be plans B and C and once he refines his kicking he can also play the usual Bok flyhalf role of kick or pass either to the fatties on the inside (for the crash) or Jean/Frans (for the crash).
@Silver Fox (Comment 25) : Just saw that Zane is 3rd in turnovers conceded – not a good stat for a test fullback
Anybody got any idea when the team will be announced?
@vanmartin (Comment 27) : Flashman answered that.
@Flashman (Comment 28) : Yes although I do not think playing a different style player to change the game plan is the answer, the player(s) that you send on should be able to change it at will.
Imo Pat should have been the starting 10 with Elton to take over later. Morne was good enough till he was drilled into a kick and chase 10 only.
The young ones are our future anyway. I personally would have loved to give Goosen a go at 15 once he is over his injury.
@Silver Fox (Comment 31) : What morne does have is a settled partnership with hougaard and a better tactical kicking game. With only a week in preparation I can understand Meyer’s thinking. I do agree that Pat, Elton and perhaps Goosen are our only flyhalfs capable of playing plans A,B & C so should take over. Maybe in the 2nd test?
@Silver Fox (Comment 31) : Assigning letters to hypothetical game plans was not really the answer I was looking for. I’m after a more concrete example of how you think the game plan would completely change.
Scots beat Aus ..9-6 😆
@vanmartin (Comment 33) : Morne = kick and chase ONLY
Lambie = distribution, attack and optional kicking
Sorry better than that I cannot explain myself. 🙂 We don’t really know what HM’s game plan is going to be, but I cannot see it differ from what we had in the recent past, Boks or Bulls. I admit that when he coached the Bulls they played an attractive mix of rugby, at times devastating, so all I can hope for is that he starts off with what is known and in place and progress towards what he had going with the Bulls.
@Flashman (Comment 32) : Agree, although HM has not remotely indicated that is his way of thinking.
@Silver Fox (Comment 35) : Thanks but I don’t see how Lambie can’t be used in a kick-chase and tactical kicking type game plan. Granted, he may not be as accurate and experienced as Morne Steyn in this type of game plan but still, the Sharks have employed it successfully in at least two games I can recall this season.
Yes, Lambie could add extra dimensions to the game plan playing at flyhalf but I find it hard to believe that the game plan would have to change completely as you claim. I disagree that it’s an “either/or” scenario.
Went to primary school with Marcell. Played together in the first team. I’m so glad how his career has panned out till now.
Good team. Of course, Pat is 1,000,000 times better than Kirchner, but the adage on tried and tested applies when you have 1 week to prepare. Plus, Pat off the bench offers much more than Kirchner.
@Argex (Comment 37) : correct me if i`m wrong, but according to a comentator a few weeks back, Marcell`s family are Bulls supporters…
@VanWilder (Comment 39) : I can say for certain that they WERE bulls supporter…BUT they are all Black and White to the T! Bulls were not interested…and the Sharks took the change.
@VanWilder (Comment 39) : @Ice (Comment 40) : Bulls had a chance to sign Marcell, but passed on it and the Sharks obtained his services. The Sharks had a chance to retain Daniel Adongo, but passed on it and the Bulls signed him.
Wonder who got the better end of *that* deal??
Bok team is out
@Bokhoring (Comment 42) : Hopefully the SW article is up soon. Plenty to discuss!
All I can think is that Meisiekind must have some info on HM 😛