If reports from the Bok training camp are to be believed, Heyneke Meyer looks set to include at least seven Bulls players in his Bok starting team to face the Italians this weekend – with five of the seven backline positions going to men in blue.
The story comes from Die Burger, though, so it’s always possible that its sole purpose was to wind up Cape readers; that said, injuries to the likes of Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh make it all the more likely that Bulls Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht will start in midfield, with the other somewhat surprising selections those of Jano Vermaak at scrumhalf and Bjorn Basson at wing.
If the anticipated backline is indeed selected, it will leave poor Bryan Habana and Willie le Roux (yes indeed!) as the only non-Bulls in the back division; Morne Steyn being a clear favourite to wear the number 10 jersey. Pierre Spies stands alone as about the only fit eighthman in the squad, while Juandre Kruger’s lineout prowess should see him selected in the second row to complete the Bulls contingent.
Adriaan Strauss (former Bull) is expected to captain the side from the number 2 shirt, while Beast Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis and Willem Alberts are likely to be the only Sharks men in the starting line-up.
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Well, they are the form team at the moment.
Would be very happy to see Serfontein get a shot..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 1) : I actually have no major issues with that backline, other than Basson. Simply don’t rate the oke.
Lets face it, the Bulls are top of the SA conference, so lets pick winners. It would be nice of course if Pat Lambie actually got picked this series.
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
Mvovo has shown some good form, so I do agree with you on that!
You know the world has gone completely mad when The Bok backline read 9 Bulls, 10, Bulls, 12, Bulls, 13 Bulls and I sit back and think, yeah that can work nicely. 😯
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 5) : 😯 And the worst is I agree.
So HM is basically hoping to transfer the Bulls’ winning culture to the Boks, because let’s face it, the Bulls really haven’t done anything significant or breathtaking to see off their opposition. 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 6) : I think we all do, hence the sense of resignation, rather than outrage
Please let sanity prevail and lets hope HM picks Mvovo instead of Basson. I also hope that he rather plays Lambie seeing that Morne will most likely not play in the RC
@KingRiaan (Comment 9) :
Thing is that Basson is brilliant under the high ball and he understands Vermaak and Steyn very well. If that is going to be the tactic then Basson is the logical choice.
I would rather have Mvovo personally but I understand the thinking.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : 😡
@Pokkel (Comment 6) : The end is near
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand Vermaak and Steyn. They will be kicking. 😈
Basson is however the only one to consistently field the high ball without fail, so his inclusion should be in combination with those two.
@KingRiaan (Comment 9) : He will go with Basson for the simple reason that nobody can collect a kick quite as well as Bjorn, he may be a one trick pony but he is damned good at that trick
@FireTheLooser (Comment 13) : preach
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 14) : and any trick that result in Bok tries is a good trick
Oh dear…
Meyer just blady pick all the Bulls like you want to ,stop beating around the bushes .He honestly thinks that the Bulls institution is head and shoulders above the rest .The worst thing that possibly could have happened, happened ;the Bulls ,by default ,became the best team in the SA Rugby conference and Meyer now feels vindicated in his selections.
Hope they do well. Couldn’t care less who Mr Meyer picks as long as they win.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Basson and Krusty. One of which is almost guaranteed to be in the squad.
If wishes… 11 Movovo, 14 Habana, 15 Le Roux
@robdylan (Comment 16) : Yeah but when said player doesn’t have the particular trick called “tackling” it may end up in “against bok tries”.
NO MORNE STEYN!
Its not that bad for a wing
@McLovin (Comment 18) : Every coach of an international team should strive to produce “the best ever team” not just win. Just winning isn’t good enough…just winning is acceptable if its against the all blacks( the mind set we should have)
The Springbok team to face Italy in Durban (with caps) is:
15 Willie le Roux GWK Griquas 0
14 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 83
13 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 1
12 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 84
11 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 42
9 Jano Vermaak Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
8 Pierre Spies Vodacom Blue Bulls 50
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 20
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 17
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 8
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 11
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 42
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 21
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 41
Replacements
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle Vodacom Blue Bulls 21
17 Trevor Nyakane Toyota FS Cheetahs 0
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 2
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 23
20 Arno Botha Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
21 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N-Ireland 63
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 20
23 Jan Serfontein Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
From the sa rugby