Heyneke Meyer has made a single change to his starting line up to face England in the second test, at Coca Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
As predicted, Sharks back Patrick Lambie has been elevated from the bench to replace the injured Zane Kirchner at fullback. Lambie will earn his 13th cap and is sure to be a popular selection after impressing off the bench against England in Durban.
With Kirchner and reserve prop Coenie Oosthuizen both withdrawn due to injury, two new faces have been included on the bench; Bulls tight head Werner Kruger will look to earn his 3rd cap from the number 17 jersey, while winger Bjorn Basson comes in as back line reserve in place of Lambie.
South Africa: 15 Patrick Lambie, 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 (v/capt), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Bjorn Basson
Tweet
No Aplon. Stormers fans are not going to be happy! 😀
Watched the squad announcement and HM responded to a question re-ommision of Aplon and said that he felt Aplon has not been involved enough with the set-up to warrant inclusion.
And stated that any one of FS and Pienaar can cover fullback.
Its a good squad and shows consistency but for the life of me how many opportunities is Spies going to be afforded 🙄
Also why was Pat Cilliers not given a chance on his home ground and can cover both sides of the scrum.
I think Aplon would have been a better option on the bench if, like Meyer says, his bench is an impact bench.
I suppose Meyer is just being ‘fair’ in not selecting a new player to the squad ahead of some-one selected in the original squad. 🙄
@vanmartin (Comment 1) :
It can’t be a size thing as Basson is also “small” in HM standards …
Funny Ive never seen Aplon miss a tackle in international rugby and as Frik Du Preez said this week he preffered Aplon cause he is a big fan of a player that always keeps the opposition guessing what he is going to do.
Lets hope Lambie can last the full 80 cause other than Pienaar the bench replacements doesn’t inspire much confidence.
@csb (Comment 2) : Agree on both your points regarding Spies and Pat.
Gooi hom Bokke!
@vanmartin (Comment 1) :
I think most rugby supporters in SA would agree that Aplon offers more from the bench than Basson. 😉
@wpw (Comment 8) : But you’re comparing apples with oranges here. They aren’t covering the same position.
Aplon offers more from the bench in terms of fullback cover (but Basson isn’t covering fullback) but I’d be partial to Basson for wing cover because of the type of gameplan the Boks are currently employing.
@vanmartin (Comment 9) :
Dammit Van…..wpw was just becoming friendly again and then you throw that comment at him…..
I would put Aplon in the team any day of the week.
While both Aplon and Basson are elusive runners, Baason is better at contesting the kick chase. All said and done though, I would’ve preferred Aplon because he has never been shown up in defense, has a heart twice the size of his body, and doesn’t have that annoying cry-baby expression and “is that a rash on your chin?” goatee that Basson sports.
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : Sorry Wes!
By the way, I have nothing against Gio’s inclusion, love his attitude and the way in which he contributes. Just playing devil’s advocate.
@vanmartin (Comment 9) :
If Basson is there to cover wing only, and if the Boks are looking for impact off the bench, then surely Mvovo should have got the nod?
I thought it would be a toss-up between Aplon and Mvovo – surprised that Basson’s shaky defence is considered good enough for test rugby.
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : Neither are as effective at the kick-chase though and of the three Basson is probably also the best at fielding the high balls. I suspect HM may be expecting England to kick onto our back three quite a bit. All purely speculation on my part of course.
I take your point on his defence though. Hadn’t considered that.
@vanmartin (Comment 9) :
No, I’m comparing ‘Apples’ with Basson!! 🙄 😉
@wpw (Comment 15) : Badabing! Give that man a Bells!
Great team for Saturdays game, I agree Basson is a bit light would of liked to have seen Lwazi on the bench
@wpw (Comment 15) :
@vanmartin (Comment 9) : this is what meyer is quoted as saying
‘We thought about including Gio as a back-up fullback, but he hasn’t played much there this year for the Stormers. Frans Steyn has played there for Racing Metro and Bjorn has played there for the Bulls.’
can you recall basson playing fullback?
@Megatron (Comment 19) :
No
@Culling Song (Comment 16) :
Bells is kak…..you know that!!
As far as I know wpw doesn’t drink.
so rather ‘Give that man an Appletiser’
@Megatron (Comment 19) : Nope, that’s why I agree with csb’s view that he’s mainly there for wing cover. Both Ruan and Frans have played fullback for the Boks so I just can’t see him being preferred to them for fullback. As pointed out before though, if I’m not playing devil’s advocate I’m speculating. 😀
Enland 25 – Sa Baabaas 7
32 minutes in the 1st half
James Haskell already yellow carded! Didn’t he just come of a suspension?
SA Baabaas score a try.
36 min England 25 Baabaas 14
Not too shabby considering!
@Pokkel (Comment 24) : yeah HasCam just got back from 4 weeks suspension!
@Pokkel (Comment 25) : 😆
Half time Eng 25 – Baabaas 14
Tries for Baabaas by Jacques Engelbrecht and Hannes Franklin.
@vanmartin (Comment 22) : frans played fullback for racing in their last game of the season, aplon played fullback for the last 2 games the stormers played and basson has (to my recollection) not played fullback for the bulls but the coach uses the fact that he’s played the BEFORE as a reason? 🙄 tenuous…
@Megatron (Comment 29) :
Maak die Bulle…
@Megatron (Comment 29) : Indeed!
If we were looking for a out and out winger with some x-factor Mvovo should have been on the bench. Dunno how long I’d be able to handle the obvious Bulls bias in Bok selection.
Basson is pants on defence and if he has to come on at any point and its a close game England would do well to target him.
Aplon has played if Im not mistaken mostly at 15 for the Boks.
@Megatron (Comment 29) :
When I saw that I wondered if I was going mad ..doubt Ive ever seen Basson play fullback.
This selection makes sense to me if we consider the way the Boks want to play ,skop n jag. Aplon is a gutsy defender but I have seen him miss tackles –remember tri nations last year vs. Digby Iaone? Considering Basson is a Bull and to my mind allot better in the air than aplon, Ill back Meyer with this decision.
@Talent (Comment 33) :
The one and only in a bok jersey and I rememmber that missed tackle ..there isnt a player on earth that would have stopped Digby in that situation.
Alas skop and jag its gonna be.
Hopefully Lambie does the ‘stuff you Heyneke’ and doesn’t kick an up and under from every ball he gathers at the back.
@Ben (Comment 35) : Actually HM encouraged Lambie to play the situation according to a Supersport article.
@csb (Comment 34) : Lambie would have
The way Lambie kicks reminds me of pro golfers and how they get back spin on greens with their irons, more class and talent than anyother kicker in south africa
@Talent (Comment 33) :and you’ve never seen basson miss tackles? hehehe
none are so blind as the ones who don’t want to see.
@Megatron (Comment 39) : What Basson? Never… 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 36) : Let’s hope that is true..
@Talent (Comment 37) : Chuck Norris as well! 🙂
Gutted for Coenie who had an excellent game when he came on!
Can say what you want about his personality (and yes, he has one of those faces that just p1ss you off), but we’re all the better with that sort of mongrel in the team.
I for one am happy with the team. No more debutants from the remaining 5 uncapped who are part of the 32-man team included, which is always good news!
And if we win this weekend, Heyneke better not be resting anybody the following week 😕 EVERY WIN COUNTS!!!
The England rugby team visited a Soweto orphanage today: ” it was heartbreaking and sad seeing their little faces without any hope” said Sipho age 6
@shaniboi (Comment 44) : 😆 😆 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 43) : I don’t think Heyneke does the B team thing. Must say I was impressed with Coenie’ scrummaging last weekend.
@shaniboi (Comment 44) :
😆
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
Lot of the Cheetahs scrummaging problems comes down to the unit as a whole IMO. They definitely need a fresh face as scrum coach who will drill them hard.
But if we can get that sort of scrummaging from him, to go with his accuracy and incredible workrate around the field, we’ll have one hell of a player for the next 7-8 years.
Still reckon he should be a part-time hooker as well. He’s got the workrate, so being able to play there will only up his value to whichever team he is part of.
Actually kind of bummed that Lambie is selected at 15, it means he’ll never get to displace Morné at 10.
We’ll maar have to wait for Goosen to do that.
Just hope Lambie gets to stand in at ten for the moves that’s supposed to end up in tries – he’ll make it happen, as apposed to… 😉
@hendrikp (Comment 43) : @robdylan (Comment 46) : Up to now, I’ve pretty much used every opportunity to put the boot into Coenie.
Coenie’s response? Let his performance on the field do the talking and make me eat humble pie. Very, very impressive!
Now if only Marius Joubert could take a page from that book 😈
@Culling Song (Comment 50) : or on Marius’s case, stone tablet…
Happy Birthday to Sbusiso ‘Sbura’ Sithole…enjoy it to the fullest boy!
@shaniboi (Comment 44) : 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 49) : Me too, at least he didn’t bring in any cover for 10 on the bench, so still if needed I suppose Lambie would shift to 10.
@shaniboi (Comment 44) : This is going on Facebook
@Megatron (Comment 52) : wrong thread 🙂
@Talent (Comment 33) :
im tempted to miss skop and jaag …