South Africa scored a comprehensive 44-10 victory over Italy in front of a sparse Kings Park crowd yesterday, to take an early lead on the Castle Lager Incoming Series log, courtesy of a four-try bonus point. Earlier in the day, Samoa recorded something of a shock victory over Scotland, wining by 27 points to 17.
The Boks got off to a flying start, with Morne Steyn stroking over a pair of penalties before hooker Adriaan Straus – in fine form as always – barged over for the opening try. Outside centre JJ Engelbrecht, in his first run-on appearance for the side, scored his maiden test try minutes later and with the scorelines at 20-0 after the opening quarter, the home side were cruising. Unfortunately, they then rsted on their laurels just slightly, allowing the Italians to take control of many of the proceedings for the next half an hour.
A try by Italian centre Alberto Sgarbi ten minutes after half time, coupled with a conversion and penalty by flyhalf Alberto Di Bernardo saw the Springbok lead halved (20-10) with a little more than half an hour to play; at this point, a piece of Bryan Habana magic lit up the match, with the veteran winger dancing through defenders to extend his own try record to 48. Jean de Villiers and Bjorn Basson scored tries in the closing stages to give the scoreline a little more respectability.
All-in-all, it was a solid opening hit-out for Heyneke Meyer’s team, but they appear to have lost scrumhalf Jano Vermaak for the remainder of the series, due to a hamstring injury.
SCORERS
South Africa– Tries: Adriaan Strauss, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers, Bjorn Basson. Conversions: Morne Steyn (4), Pat Lambie. Penalties: Morne Steyn (3).
Italy– Try: Alberto Sgarbi. Conversions: Alberto Di Bernardo. Penalty: Di Bernardo.
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did JJ Engelbrecht actually score a try?
Lets not get excited. This was Italy we played. Lets talk how good we are when we play Aussie and All Blacks. That will tell us IF we have
the players !!
Are teams allowed 8 substitutions now? I noticed that all 8 reserves got onto the field and not just for blood replacements.
Lambie’s involvement in the game was pointless. We had the game wrapped up and he could have been given at least 20 minutes!!! Hope HM doesn’t mess with his head again.
Botha played well! Would like to see Lappies at 8 with Flouw and Brussouw though. I think that’d be an amazing loose trio!!
@Uli (Comment 1) : Yes.
@DaveB (Comment 2) : It’s a good start.
@ChrisS (Comment 3) : Yes, teams are allowed 8 substitutions now. I agree, I was shouting at the TV for Lambie to come on. I think having 2 open-sides on the field can be advantageous but I reckon a team needs a good blind-side. I would go for Louw, Alberts, and Botha.
I reckon we played well enough to start the year with. Hopefully we can give some other players a chance against the wounded Scotland. Perhaps:
1. Oosthuizen
2. Strauss
3. du Plessis
4. Etzebeth
5. Kruger
6. Louw
7. Alberts
8. Botha
9. Hougaard
10. Lambie
11. Mvovo
12. Serfontein
13. de Villiers
14. Habana
15. le Roux
16. du Plessis
17. Beast
18. Adriaanse
19. Fl. van der Merwe
20. Labuschagne
21. Pienaar
22. Steyn
23. Engelbrecht
Coenie at TH – yeah like that result’s ever gonna change.
Our change of tactics on attack was a refreshing change and had me somewhat excited.
Our defense has me worried, very worried.
Strauss ahead of Bismark?? In which universe?! 😈
Habanna and Willie really played well, very excited about Willie and think he’s a real prospect for the Boks.
Lambie’s body language reminded me of when Pienaar played at ten behind Morné. Lambie is in desperate need of a head coach that can help him realise he’s not Morné and should stop trying to play like Morné. 😕
@David12246 (Comment 4) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : I don’t consider Flouw a true open-side, he’s a mixture so could fulfill the blindside role. I’d like Lappies at 8. The work-rate of Lappies, Louw and Brussouw would be amazing…nobody could touch us at the breakdown!!!!
I’d love to see Alberts revert to lock like he did at the World Cup. We could then use him and Botha/Kolisi as impact players.
I’m still confused though as to why Botha gets selected ahead of Dewald Potgieter when Potgieter plays ahead of him at the Bulls…anybody care to explain.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : Strauss ahead of Bismarck because do you really want to throw Bismarck into the starting line-up before he gets back into his grove and back to full fitness? It would just be temporary. The end of the SR season and the championship should see Bissie back in the 2 jersey.
@ChrisS (Comment 7) : Alberts isn’t tall enough to be a regular test level lock. He is a blind-side flanker and can provide the go forward that neither Brussouw, nor Louw can offer. I agree about Lappies, although I would start off by benching him.
Meanwhile in other news I`ve decided to leave the country out of protest.
Will check in periodically to see if there`s any news on a new Sharks Coach.
Later Guys and Girls
@David12246 (Comment 8) : I am not entirely sure if Bissie deserves his place that easily. Strauss is really cementing his spot at the boks, the way he is playing and the added benefit of being a good captain also counts in his favor. Bissie will need to hit top form quickly if he wants that no2 back.
@ChrisS (Comment 7) : if the Bulls coaching staff are to stupid to utilise Arno Botha properly, should Heyneke not select because of that?
@Uli (Comment 10) : thank you, people tend to look at it with black and white shades, Strauss at the moment has no match in rugby as a hooker in play ability alone, add the superb leadership role and you have potentially the best hooker in rugby for the next 3 seasons
@Uli (Comment 10) : I agree. But when have we ever seen Bissie have a truly bad game. Should he not be on form I don’t think he should start ahead of Strauss, but a Bissie on top form is still better than anything I’ve ever seen from Strauss. For the series though, stick with Strauss.
plum gone?
John Plumtree’s job appears to be under serious
threat after Nick Mallett was approached about
his availability to coach the Sharks.
Mallett told City Press newspaper that he was
not interested in the job and was happy to
continue in his role as a SuperSport analyst.
‘I did have an approach from Natal, but I’m
very happy at SuperSport and want to
continue what I’m doing until 2015 [the year
of the next World Cup]. After that I may be
interested in returning to coaching with an
international team.’
Plumtree has coached the Sharks for the past
five years, during which time they have won
two trophies, the Currie Cup in 2008 and
2010. He took the Sharks to both the Super
Rugby and Currie Cup finals last year, but the
injury-plagued Sharks have struggled in 2013
and are 10th on the log.
@Megatron (Comment 14) : will cover it tomorrow…. kind of an open secret that Plummo is dead in the water. Seems to becoming less secret now.
@David12246 (Comment 8) : No, That’s not what I mean, just certain individuals on here claimed that Strauss is better than Bismark, which he clearly isn’t.
@Megatron (Comment 14) : @robdylan (Comment 15) : :doing-the-happy-dance:
😆 😀 🙂
Rob, your vote of confidence sure did the trick 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : BTW, I think you will finally get your wish. Time for a new username? 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 14) : @robdylan (Comment 15) : Thank God…never thought Mallett would take the job though. (would have been good though)
@FireTheLooser (Comment 16) : Too be honest mate I think Strauss is a more complete player…Bismarck is definately the more imposing physical figure, but Strauss brings a head to the pack – leader, smarter on attack (not just a bulldozer) – look at the long ball he threw to Habs, and wont lose his cool which Bissie can at times…HAVING SAID THAT – Bissie on top form will always bring starting spots into question. It is a hard one
Piet van Zyl called up for scrumhalf cover, JJ fluffing those tries were really bad
@ChrisS (Comment 7) :
You shouldn’t assume that the Bulls start with Potgieter because they think he is the better player.
They tend to have pecking order system based on seniority and agreements with players on game-time that they will stick to throughout the season. It creates an environment of trust and enables them to better recruit and hold onto talent.
@Megatron (Comment 14) : Who is next on the list ? Brendan Venter?
@pienaar111 (Comment 19) : The thing is, Bissie plays the role of Hooker, chief ball carrier, and fetcher. I would say he is far more valuable than Strauss. Besides, Bissie is perfectly capable of quick and efficient distribution.
@David12246 (Comment 23) : He cant pass like Strauss, and not as great leader either. The basics of hooker play I recon is 50/50. Its a very hot topic actually considering what both bring to a team. Personally, I rate Strauss to take the helm for the next WC, I don’t see JDV lasting out until then. There are just no other contenders other than him if JDV is injured.
@fyndraai (Comment 21) : Thanks, didn’t know that but it makes sense. Can we please import that environment of trust to the Sharks!
@pienaar111 (Comment 19) : @David12246 (Comment 23) : @Uli (Comment 24) : You remember a time when hookers had to be able to find their jumpers in the lineout? Strauss messed up a few times last night, that’s a basic hooking prerequisite in my book.
Bissie is yet to fail in any department at international level – Fact! 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 26) : Rubbish! Bissy has missed quite a few lineouts. Gee but you are blinkered!
@KingCheetah (Comment 27) : Ag Yaaaaaaaaawn….pot calling the kettle black 🙄
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : I’m with King Cheetah. Bissie’s lineouts are poor at times.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : At the Sharks – yes; for the Springboks? once in a blue moon, but not as many as Strauss yesterday.
Anyways, point is Bissie is a superior hooker to Strauss…finish en klaar.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : again, with the greatest of respect, I don’t think it’s quite as clear cut as that.
I don’t rate Strauss as a better rugby player than an on-form Bismarck, but when it comes to the basics of the position, my view is that Strauss edges him slightly…
@robdylan (Comment 31) : You know, I don’t mind people disagreeing with me on something, but a tjieta supporter calling me blinkered for saying a Sharks players is better than said tjietas player does come across as being slightly hypocritical, don’t you think?
But we’ll agree to disagree, Strauss has improved substantially over the past two years, with this year being his pinnacle thus far.
Bismark in my book (to everyone looking for offense, this is my personal opinion, something I’m sure I’m allowed to have without being told it’s rubbish 😉 ) is superior in all aspects of the game, and has the class that puts him in the league of Habanna and Frans Steyn.
@robdylan (Comment 31) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : I like both Bismarck and Stauss as they’re the best hookers in the country, but I have to say at the moment I would stay with Stauss as he has been playing and Bismarck is only getting back from injury. Stauss strong points are his basics (line-out and scrumming), for me that’s were his better that Bismarck but Bismarck has more fire and for me the rest of his game better than Strauss. I don’t think there’s a lot to choose between them at the moment as they both are really good and would perform for the Bokke.
@JD (Comment 33) : Keep Strauss at 2 for the rest of this series, Bismark needs to regain fitness and get to where he fires on all cylinders.
Bismark will prove his worth by the time the rugby championship starts, I’m just making sure ahead of time that I’ll be able to say “I told you so” 😈
@robdylan (Comment 31) : Hey Rob from afar I’m starting to see my third star. 😛
Still backing Strauss to see out this international season as number 1 hooker and I hope for the next 2 season, he can also be called on to lead the Boks
@FireTheLooser (Comment 34) : My friend you don’t have to tell me “I told you so”. All I’m saying is that Strauss is playing some seriously good rugby at the moment and that he deserves to be the Bok hooker at the moment. If and when Bismarck is 100% things will change as Bismarck at 100% is a monster and I think the best hooker in the world, but that does not meen that he is assured a place in the Bok team, the guy that performs must be give the jersey andat this moment it is Strauss. In another month or two we will see how Bismarck is doing.
@JD (Comment 37) : That’s what I said from the beginning…
@Uli (Comment 22) : haha where did u hear? perhaps we should start a list….and vote
dawie theron, brendan venter, just not another nz lander. had the share of quotas now. JS connection with Venter?
@JD (Comment 35) : so how do u earn your stars on this site than? Just asking
Very unprofessional by the Sharks to approach candidates before announcing the status of the incumbent coach.
@Stiko85 (Comment 41) : Number of posts you make.
@Uli (Comment 43) : thank you for your kindness, sir
“‘I did have an approach from Natal, “…hmmmmm when last was it called Natal, get with the times colonialist Nick. 😈
@robdylan (Comment 44) : My plesier 😉
Strauss should start before Bismarck at least until Bissie is back on form.
@Uli (Comment 46) : good man, good man.
I’ll give you some points in return.
@Uli (Comment 43) : thanks Uli, lol guess its time I comment a lot more then, so far I’ve just really enjoyed reading the post, especially the comments and debates.