Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is set to name his team to take on Wales in the next day or so, and there are a few key decisions that he has to make before then.
Meyer seems to be in line to name some experimental combinations with an eye on the World Cup in 2015, which is taking place in England. This then is the ideal time to see if certain individuals perform well in the conditions we can expect in two years’ time. Meyer has gone as far as saying that this tour is not about winning every match, but rather testing some players to see if they have what it takes to be with the Springbok squad come 2015.
With that in mind, and with news last week that Jannie du Plessis is not on tour with the team, the big question in my mind is: Who will be wearing the number 3 jersey this weekend?
Simply put, there are only three players who are in line, the hard part is knowing what Heyneke is thinking. The three players I am referring to are Coenie Oosthuizen, Frans Malherbe and Lourens Adriaanse.
I suspect Coenie Oosthuizen’s inclusion in that trio will spark some debate, as he is actually a loosehead, even though we have seen him tested in recent times as a tighthead replacement. Taking into account the above comments from the coach, do we then simply assume that Coenie will start at tighthead, as a trial run? This while two genuine tightheads sit in the stands and wait their turn?
Frans Malherbe was in the original squad set to tour, whether he was set to play second fiddle to Jannie du Plessis or just as a third tighthead behind Coenie, we cannot say. His inclusion above that of Adriaanse, who was a late replacement, should indicate that he is more fancied than the Sharks-bound prop.
In essence, I would then have to say that the battle for the tighthead starting jersey is between these two men, and it will interesting viewing no matter who Meyer selects. If Coenie does in fact get the nod, and fails to make an impression, whether he will then become available to play at the loosehead side, ahead of Guthro Steenkamp? For Malherbe, it will be his first start in a few months, as he has been limited to time off the bench for Western Province during the Currie Cup.
The other selection that is not quite set in stone is that of hooker. We know Meyer likes to rotate Adriaan Strauss and Bismarck du Plessis, so seeing as Bsmiarck started the last test match, against the All Blacks, is it now the turn of Strauss to start against Wales? It will be interesting to see if Scarra Ntubeni even gets a look in here, but I cannot see one of either Bismarck or Strauss agreeing to sit out a weekend.
If I could select my own front row to start against Wales, I would go for 1. Beast Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. Frans Malherbe, but we all know that Heyneke Meyer has a mind of his own, and we are sure to be surprised come team announcement time.
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I would go for Beast, Bissie and Lourens. I really feel Lourens has had a raw deal and he needs to be given the opportunity to play to show what he can do.
I suppose this applies to Frans as well, but Lourens has impressed me more.
@StevieS (Comment 1) :
I agree with what you are saying..
But, going for Adriaanse over Malherbe would make him question his inclusion in the first place, if you know what I mean?
Either of them is sure to make an impact greater than Coenie anyway!
Hi would go with Lourens he deserves it
Did anyone see the performance of Chillipip and Gurthro this weekend. They were so useless and replaced at halftime. I was very surprised that they weren’t replaced earlier. Chillipip missed his jumpers almost all the time and his first miss gave the opposition a walk in try.
@Bite me (Comment 4) : The selection of Guthtro over the Ginger Ninja from WP to the squad is one of the more bewildering choices.
Guthtro use to play for the bulls that is y he was selected
Malherbe as a Bok supporter he is a good leader and player. He is a really good player. As a Shark Adriaanse, we have all seen players evolve when they reach higher levels. The did this as a Junior into the Maties first team, he did this in Super rugby. And if he does it at the Boks, our Sharks will reap the rewards. Any way these 2 chaps are most probably the most lovable characters in the team. Funny and droog as he’ll.
Can anyone recall Coenie ever impressing at tighthead? Seems bizarre that Meyer would want to keep trying him in that position when he’s a decent loosehead.
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : The only time I recall he did OK at tighthead was in the first test last year against England when he replaced Jannie.
@vanmartin (Comment 8) :
I would be leaning towards starting Coenie at loosehead and giving the Beast some time off.. But I can’t see that happening..
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : Was about to say the same thing. Am really struggling to understand the persistence in having him play at TH. I can only imagine that it may be due to his previous shoulder problems.
I do suspect HM will throw Coenie in for the first test as a starter and have Frans on the bench.
I would play Beast, Bizzie and Frans against Wales with Coenie and Strauss on the bench. And Coenie, Strauss and Lourens against Scotland with Frans and Bizzie on the bench. Then rethink the combinations after those two performances for the next game. But then I would have brought the Ginger Ninja on tour instead of Guthro who is just making up numbers and I can’t see him getting game time with the form he is in. Also there wouldn’t have been place in my squad for a certain WP scrum half or Bulls fullback so what do I know.
Just one note on giving fringe players a chance against Scotland remember the Grand Slam tour of 2010 21-17 to Scotland after close games beating Ireland by 2 and Wales by 4 and finally England by 10 after we had thrown the Grand Slam away.
@markp (Comment 13) : Bok coach should give some more fringe players exposure in these games. That is the difference between us and the All Blacks – probably why we will never match them for consistency.
They develop backup in all positions and give them some game time in test matches. The AB’s have three flyhalves who got game time this year – our current reserve flyhalf gets 10 mins at fullback.
I guess it is easier if you likely to win those anyway.
@Bokhoring (Comment 14) :
Yet they still played both Carter and McCaw against Japan
I think the starting front 5 will be picked as a combo. So if he picks Beast, Coenie, Etzabeth, Van Der Merwe I wouldnt be surprised. I think Jannie’s withdrawl will mean PSDT takes a slight backseat unfortunately as HM wont want too much inexperience.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 15) : Both of whom had quite a bit of rest this year, plus McCaw not in his usual position at 8.
In fact with Tom Carter on the bench, they exposed 4 fly halves to test rugby this year – granted Japan is not much of a test.
We overplay our stalwarts and do not give the second level enough exposure. I know there is a fine balance between rotation and building combinations.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 15) : In fact out of that whole squad of 23, only McCaw and Hore featured in the 2011 WC final – granted Carter would have too.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Have to agree Rich, Coenie is not the answer at 3 and HM is wasting time and experience, which would benefit another player before the WC, by persisting with him there.
Start Bissie against Wales and France, Strauss against Scotland. After all Strauss got two tries in that same fixture last year including that hilarious interception! 😆
1. Beast
2. du Plessis
3. Adriaanse
16. Strauss
17. Oosthuizen
18. Malherbe
@David12246 (Comment 21) : I agree.
@David12246 (Comment 21) : That is our best choice on the tour and what we have available
On a different note….. does anyone know who the Western Province player is that got arrested for drunk driving?
@Bite me (Comment 24) : somebody must 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Touche Rob 😆
@Bite me (Comment 24) : 20 year old backline player, my guess is Kolbe.
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Rob, just a question, but what about our overseas tightheads, like BJ Botha etc. Are any of them, in your opinion, viable options for a Bok call up?
@StevieS (Comment 27) : really? If I may ask, how do you know that?
I mean, if you are right, then it isn’t automatically Kolbe. Could also be Howard or van der Spuy…
@StevieS (Comment 28) : I wouldn’t bother. We need to blood our next generation of up-and-coming 3s…. Mayer simply has to bite the bullet and give the likes of Malherbe/Adriaanse/Herbst game time to see how they go. Picking an overseas over-the-hiller won’t accomplish anything.
Other thing to be really honest about is that for all his amazing super 14 exploits, Botha never looked comfortable as a test prop.
@StevieS (Comment 27) : It is.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 31) : yeah, scratch what I said above.
Die Son leaked the name, which has now been confirmed.
I’m not going to do a story on it and further demonise the kid. It’s meant to be sub judice anyway… let the law run its course.
@robdylan (Comment 32) : Agree, the law is set to run its course in, wait for it,…. August 2014.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 33) : huh?
@robdylan (Comment 34) : Date he has to appear in court.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : @Pokkel (Comment 35) : Yep…its a long. long wait.
By all accounts Fourie is going to partner Jean at centre, which is a disgusting decision by Meyer. JJ proved in that last test against NZ, what an asset he is with ball in hand and Meyer rewards him by showing no faith and playing Fourie ahead of him, with Fourie having played in a weak Jap league for the past 2 years.
How insulting for a player like JJ and talk about pathetic player management. If he wants to give Fourie a go, play him against Scotland
@Saffex (Comment 37) : Must say ,for once ,I agree about this. Not a JJE fan but I do feel that that is poor poor player management…
Kolbe ,feel bad for him !Time ,however ,to realize he has a career to look after. Lets hope this is the last we hear of such shenanigans.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 36) : no way!
1Beast;2bosvark;3Adriaanse….I know its not gonna happen, but big lourens fan,even if he hasn’t prove himself at this level yet. He should at least get a turn. Tahs picked lourens ahead of coenie in s15. Coenie can be a great impact player off the bench, but only as a LH. Malherbe looks like a good youngster, maybe off the bench for now.
Hear what u say about jj,and think fourie is just very money hungry, but he still the best 13 we have[I think]. Jj not perfect, but think he made big big strides in a short time. His defends can improve, but he’s still young and has the length to add some muscle without losing too much speed…..and he’s very fast for a senter!!
@robdylan (Comment 30) : Good points Rob.
I think Herbst has really pushed on this year and deserves a call up. At times I thought he did a bit more than Jannie.
To be honest, I’ve never been impressed by Frans, the Ginger is more imposing when playing WP. That being said, Frans is still very young, and props get better as they get older, so let’s see what happens.
@StevieS (Comment 42) : Wors is unfortunately still prone to the odd shocker after a run of 2-3 really good games.
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Good point.
Rob talking about front rows and Beast, any idea what happened to his brother? Is he still at the acadamy?
@JD (Comment 45) : nope. Moved on to the Lions, then to oblivion.
Guess he wan’t a real dragon. I mean Beast.
@KingsArmy (Comment 40) : When you say ‘Tahs’ I think of the Waratahs, not the Cheetahs, but point taken.
@KingsArmy (Comment 41) : Disagree, while I have always rated Fourie, he is now past it and JJ has far more to offer. JJ started the year well with 4 good tries in as many games, had a solid middle patch to the year and then confirmed his status as our best 13 in that last test against the AB’s.
His beating of Savea with an in out and putting Willie away was sublime.
And Meyer chooses to reward this form by dropping JJ…….what a twit
@StevieS (Comment 42) : Disagree, Herbst got his arse kicked by Kitshoff. For me the best young tightheads are Coenie, Malherbe, Frik Kirsten and Nkanyane. Marcel v/d Merwe is another than can play 3.