Adriaan Strauss has copped a three-week suspension for executing a tip tackle during last weekend’s loss to the Stormers.
The Cheetahs captain has thus ruled himself out of contention not only as captain, but (more importantly) as reserve hooker for the Boks games against the World XV and Wales.
I can hear Heyneke Meyer cursing from here, since it is now rather unclear who he has earmarked to wear the number 16 jersey.
Chilliboy Ralepelle, Tiaan Liebenberg and Scarra Ntubeni are all injured and it’s hard to see Bulls man Bandise Maku being recalled since he’s not even making the Super Rugby squad in Pretoria. Schalk Brits is a man whose name will surface, I’m sure, while Kyle Cooper is another who would certainly not let the side down if selected.
Update: The Boks have announced (big surprise) that Bulls hooker Callie Visagie will join the squad. Facepalm.
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Tantrum-Tubby would fit in well with the tantrum tahs. 😈
Who exactly is the 3rd choice? I think HM is thinking the same thing at the moment…If picked on current form is has to be Craig Burden or Schalk Brits- if Brits is still alive after those hits from Burden. If only local guys…Kyle Cooper perhaps but has he even played 40min in total? Who else…
Just not Deon Fourie please 😯
Man wasnt that a lovely hit on Brits by Craig Burden in the HC final.
Brits seems the most logical – not sure any of the local lads are up for it.
Cooper definitely being impeded by playing behind a captain and key player
Callie Visagie called up?
Eish.
@Shakes34 (Comment 6) : Really? Eish is correct
Burden has been part of HM’s squad before, I hope he’d rather get a call up than Brits, but would still like to see Cooper there rather
@Shakes34 (Comment 6) : I guess it makes sense in that he has thrown to Matfield and Flip (I assume they will be the starting locks for the Boks) for most of the season.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : Yip, guess that is fair enough reasoning.
Still would prefer even Brits for the sake of not handing out cheap Springbok caps.
To me Cooper is the third best hooker in SA.
@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : If you cant hit Matfield in a lineout then you shouldnt be a professional hooker. But i guess it means Bismarck will play the full 80
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : That was my immediate concern – was looking forward to him rotating with Strauss during June
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : You ideally would want your captain on for the entire 80 😈
I am not going to be surprised if HM is permanently on the phone to Matfield to check if he is satisfied with the selections
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : I bet you Deon Fourie will manage to miss him
The Bulls supporters don’t even think Visagie is good enough to play for them!
@Bokhoring (Comment 16) : Fourie is just saving time and trying to throw it straight to the scrumhalf thats all. @FireTheLooser (Comment 14) : Well that and good luck telling him he has to leave the field for Callie Visagie to come on…
@Bokhoring (Comment 15) : Matfield pulling the same crap he did with P.Divvie, like when he put pressure on him to pick that useless Stegmann. Just makes me dislike Matfield even more.
I still think that Visagie won’t be near the final 22. Pretty sure Brits or Burden will be there.
We are lucky that lard arse Ntubeni ran into Mattfield’s knee,or he would have made the team.
Mattfield will be the captain,Morne Steyn the 10,and Houghaardt the 9,maybe Spies will recover from his sore thumb in time to make it to 8.
For me black and white way before greeen and gold.
Seriously? Callie Visagie?!?! Can there ever have been a more useless Bok hooker…ever?!!!
@The hound (Comment 21) : Don’t worry, Spies will break another nail before he gets on the field again.
@KingRiaan (Comment 20) : I really hope he doesn’t get near the match 22…
@pastorshark (Comment 22) : Yes Hanjani Shimange,he with the huge opinion on T.V .
The guy turned serial bench warming into a T.V career
Calm down guys this is only a training group. It’s not to say he will be in the match 23.
@The hound (Comment 25) : Owen Nkumane…rubbish hooker, more rubbish tv/commentary presenter. The size of his head is only matched by the size of his rear 😆
@The hound (Comment 25) : Ai, it’s got to be a close-run thing between Shimi and Callie…because, as a friend of mine would say, “Callie are super kak”…
Three weeks is a bit harsh for that tackle. He didn’t lift the player that high and he fell on his back, not his neck. It just comes back to the same thing over and over, why do SA players get such harsh punishments when player from Aus and NZ can get away with it? (for example the eye-gouging incident)
@HeinF (Comment 29) : I thought that was a bit harsh too…maybe SANZAR just wanted to help Heyneke improve his depth at hooker…
I was hoping Bismarck would get a rest in a couple of tests…hopefully now Bissie.will play the first two tests in this window and then Strauss the last two when he’s back, so that Bissie is a bit refreshed when Super rugby starts again…
@pastorshark (Comment 30) : That explains it…SANZAR’s way of helping us prepare for the WC!Why can’t they rather ban matfield so Lewies can get a shot at playing for the boks 😉
The starting lineup (bar the centres) should be:
Beast, Bissie, JDP, Flip, Matfield, Flouw, Alberts, Vermeulen, FdP, Morne, ???, ???, Habana, JPP, Willie
The bench I am less clear on:
Coenie, ???, ???, ???, Coetzee / Burger / Kolisi, Hougaard, Goosen, ??? / Mvovo
Callie Visagie? Bwahahahahahaaaahaha…* Oh shit. just looked at the calender and realized this is *not* an April’s Fool joke…
Callie who? 😯
@Big Fish (Comment 35) : You see the thing is it does not matter if you know him – as long as Matfield does 😆
@The hound (Comment 21) : way way waaaaaay before!!!!!
Hooker from the Lions has been performing better than any other , other than Bismark
@Chippa (Comment 38) : Yes, Coetzee from the Lions did well this year, but it’s his first SR season?
Visagie selection is quite a surprise, but if the overseas players come into the picture, I doubt – very much – that he will be anywhere near a 23-man Boks squad.
Burden/Brits should make it to the bench. Lets just hope nothing happens to Bissie this weekend.
Wouldn’t mind if Juan Smith gets picked after Saturday’s performance either.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 40) : Brits has been selected for the World 15, but I am sure country will come first. My choice would be Brits to deputize.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 40) : There is more chance of Uli Schmidt making it onto the bench than Craig Burden,Chilli boy would be recalled before that,and if that can’t be done Greyling will be retreaded as a hooker.
@The hound (Comment 42) : Hehe. I think Chilliboy is injured, as far as I know. HM did pick Burden once before. Our hooker stock in SA is very thin at the moment, so he may not have much of a choice.
@The hound (Comment 42) : yes don’t see Burden getting picked. Don’t know who HM will pick.
Folks, I think you need to brace yourselves for the possibility of Visagie been picked as backup hooker. Brits’ named has been punted so many times during recent Bok selections but nothing has ever come of it. I don’t think Burden is in the picture. Morne mentioned that overseas selections are only considered based on prior Bok experience (i.e. that won’t give a player his first Bok cap while he’s playing overseas). Brits qualifies in that regard but he was last selected in 2012.
@vanmartin (Comment 45) : Victor last played in 2011 before he was included – with 2 years of not playing any rugby at all. So Brits can be picked.
I just can’t believe that Visagie is the 2ND BEST available hooker up for selection.
@vanmartin (Comment 45) : Was flo a bok before 2012? I thought he only came into the selection frame when meyer took over as coach… Visagie??? Nee man sies, first he decides he would like to look into playing a 12 in the 13 jersey just for the heck of it (forgetting that not so long ago he was against playing pat in the 10 jersey cause the sharks played him at 15) and now he calls up stront to the bok camp?? Nee man this man makes it hard to support the blue-boks, ay
@Blue Centurion (Comment 46) : hey isn’t, he’s just the starting hooker for you guys lol. A case of playing for the right time at the right time… Its like meyer woke up this week and decided all this crap just for the heck of it lol
This has Matfield written all over it…..that man is an arse.
@Blue Centurion(Comment39)I think Serfontein was given a chance in his 1st season and the All Blacks are giving Fikotoa(Hillanders)O/C a chance in his 1st season,my point is if you are good then you have to be given a chance to prove yourself
Two south African played in the final of the Heineken Cup over the weekend and HM sees fit to call up the 3rd choice bulls hooker?
WTF is going on in that man’s head.
Brits is probably only second to Bismarck in the world hooker rankings and Burden has nailed down a starting position in the richest and most talented club side ever put together.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 51) : bear in mind that neither Brits nor Burden is able to attend a Bok camp this week as both are preparing for domestic finals.
That is not to say that Visagie would actually be selected ahead of either of them when it came to the crunch.
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
Yeah fair enough – they both have their second final in 2 weeks.
I just dont understand why they are even creating the expectation.
In my mind its a no-brainer that those two should be selected.
I mean, FFS, Pienaar gets selected year in and year out and almost never performs.
Both Brits and Burden are at the very top of their game at the pinnacle in their respective leagues – in my mind they’re probably in better form than Bismarck and Strauss. And they both have better temperaments.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 53) :
And just to add to this – if we’re busy prepping for a World Cup in England next year…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 53) : Nothing is in better form than the Bismarck…..
….the American military is currently running tests on his DNA, claiming that extracts from his DNA will enable them to create the first ever super soldier, capable of withstanding bullets, fire and even nuclear bomb blasts. 😈
@VinChainSaw (Comment 53) : better form then bissie?? Yoh the rules on this site says attack the comment not the man lol but I do think u may have smoked something there lol. no one is better form then bissie ever.. I think visagie is just called up coz he’s a bull, wonder if meyer would really have looked into him if he played for say the lions, he’s lion-out throwing is crap next to fourie he’s probably the worst hooker in the competition, he can hook the ball yes, but that’s bout it. He hasn’t done a single thing to suggest he deserves to be on this camp, but clearly, if not for now meyer has him in his plans coz otherwise, why the hell would u call up someone to your camp if u don’t plan on using him in the future
@VinChainSaw (Comment 53) : I think it’s more that they have to have a guy available to scrum against Bissie 🙂
@FireTheLooser (Comment 55) : @Stiko85 (Comment 56) :
Boys boys boys. When Bissie wins the SR trophy we can talk again.
When Bissie stops getting carded we can talk again.
Different strokes for different okes i suppose.
But how can you tell me the two foremost hookers in Europe dont have a shout? That stinks of home-town bias.
Both Burden and Brits have been playing outstanding rugby.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 58) : I’m all for Brits and Burden to come in ahead of VisAgie….but they’re no match for the all conquering Bismarck.
How many guys in rugby have the kiwis been scared of? I mean poop their pants, drop the ball before he even touches them, kind of scared? 😈
That’s how I like to measure my number 2.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 58) : BLASPHEMY!! Lol fine let’s continue this conversation in a few weeks time ne, but till then no more outrageous blasphemy okay. They good, especially brits he’s brilliant, but not better then bissie punt klaar
@VinChainSaw (Comment 58) : hometown-bias on SHARKSworld?? Impossible lol
@FireTheLooser (Comment 55) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 59) : Even Chuck Norris is scared of him
@Stiko85 (Comment 47) : Flouw was capped in 2010 while still playing in SA. Look, I think Brits may get a call-up simply because I think that Meyer is a coach who avoids risk at all costs and he may consider Visagie’s inexperience a risk. I don’t however think Burden has a chance earning his first Bok cap while playing overseas.
I personally dislike Britz ,that little rubbish side step to the left ,then the right, then run straight into the tackler.He started it and Zane perfected it.
Both over hyped players.
Bismark is playing himself into some serious form this year,he gets better every game,as a leader and in his marshalling of the Sharks defence.
Lewies and Ooosthuizen were able to make such an instant impact because they know he has their backs on the field,what a boost for a young player.
What an insult it will be to sub this immense rugby player in an international with a panel beater like Callie Visagie.
@benji (Comment 62) : When Chuck Norris is scared to sleep at night, he grabs his Bismarck toy to make him feel safe. 😆
Spiderman wears Bismarck pajamas at night. 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 65) : Bakkies Botha wears Bismark pajamas as well.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 58) : @VinChainSaw (Comment 53) : @The hound (Comment 21) : Gents are you really that surprised by HM(huge mistake) a dinosaur in his own era,CLUELESS,as I said before the Sharks have way more important things to do like win SR ,not this Bok rubbish
@FireTheLooser (Comment 65) : schalk brits and richy mccaw fought over a bismarck action figure the other day in reggies
@benji (Comment 67) : and so say all of us…
@benji (Comment 67) :
The thought for the day,BLACK AND WHITE BEFORE GREEN AND GOLD.
In fact I am thinking of donating my season tickets for the Welsh test,have no desire to watch Habbanna posing on the wing,Morne sitting way back from the action or Houghaard with another tattoo.
I have lost all interest in Bok rugby with Heyneke as the coach. This selection does not surprise me at all. Matfield will probably be named Bok captain and I think he influences the selections more than we can imagine. 😐
Black and White. Nothing else matters. 😎
@The hound (Comment 70) : Someone would have to pay me to go and watch a Bok game. Not the other way around.. 🙄 😆
@The hound (Comment 70) :
Dont get me started on Bryan Habana.
That dive on the weekend was just embarrassing.
I was ashamed he was a saffa on Saturday night. And I was watching with a Frenchman (in Rome) and even he had a giggle. When a Frenchman laughs at your histerics then you know its bad.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 73) : 😆
😆
Just because…
Rugbydump had this to say about Burden… Whether you think it was legal or not (wrapped, offside line etc), it’s no doubt one of the biggest hits of the season, from one of the strongest, most mobile and underrated hookers in world rugby.
http://www.rugbydump.com/2014/05/3740/craig-burden-smashes-schalk-brits-not-once-but-twice-in-heineken-cup-final
@lostfish (Comment 75) : Wow…that was just great. Love it…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 73) : 🙂 🙂 🙂 brilliant…
@lostfish (Comment 75) : foooock that first hit was HUGE!!!!!
@JD (Comment 78) : This is pretty funny too. Brits getting knocked on his arse by Wayne Barnes http://www.rugbydump.com/2014/02/3613/midweek-madness-schalk-brits-runs-into-brick-wall-wayne-barnes
@VinChainSaw (Comment 73) : I live in France and I have had people who know I am South African come up to me and say how they are embarrassed that he is even playing in France behaving like a soccer player.
@lostfish (Comment 79) : hahaha that’s funny. Think Brits felt a real ass coming of second best against the skinny Barnes.
@lostfish (Comment 80) : he’s always been an asshole never liked him and very glad he never played in the Black and White! !!!
@lostfish (Comment 79) : how’s mommy feeling?
@lostfish (Comment 75) : I always liked Burden and I’m very glad he seems to have sorted his line out play. To established himself as first choice hooker in a super strong club like Toulon is a superb achievement and well deserved! !!!
Well well well HM dips into his Bulls lucky packet and pulls a Callie Visagie – bloody hell..
@The hound (Comment 70) : Yeah I agree – esp since JW was replaced as Bok coach I cant give S**t. Now with this Blue Bull puppet reviving careers of 37yr old has-beens it’s even worse.
@lostfish (Comment 75) : Goeie bliksem – dis mos nou hoe jy tackle
@JD (Comment 78) : I’m sure his brain is still rattling inside his skull lol 😉
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 85) : that was a HUGE hit!!! I’m sure Brits has night mares about that first hit!!!!!!
As good as Burden is and I always rated him,I would not pick him ahead of Cooper,not as a hooker anyway.
When they retreaded him as a forward they should have had him play 6,he has the goods to be a brilliant 6,fast and incredibly strong,in the Phil Waugh mode.
@The hound (Comment 87) : yes I do think you’re correct he would have made a good 6, but it was only his line out play that was bad the rest of his play at hooker was good, so now that it seems to be sorted I would pick him as Bok hooker.
@JD (Comment 88) : burden looks like a terrier on steroids at toulon, he’s doing great man, no chance the sharks would get him back again hey. He could come play here during the curry cup just so meyer can cap him for one game then he can go back to toulon, coz that would be bout the only way he’ll make the green and gold
Its just so sad how history is repeating itself in the hooker berth at the Sharks… 😀
@VinChainSaw (Comment 90) : does a certain john smit/bismarck feud come to mind?
@Stiko85 (Comment 91) : Nah neva
@Stiko85 (Comment 91) :
Yeah, thats the one…
@Stiko85 (Comment 91) : @benji (Comment 92) : @VinChainSaw (Comment 93) : it’s called competition for places not a feud!!!!!!!!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 93) : although, you would be implying than that cooper is the better hooker but since bissie is the captain cooper is left with scraps as was the case with JS and bissie in black and white and green and gold
@Stiko85 (Comment 95) : ja boet Cooper is good but nowhere near Bissy or JS.
@The hound (Comment 87) :
How many time syou seen Burden play this year?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 97) : not enough he’s been huge for Toulon!!!!! Just makes me wonder why Plum and co could not sort his game out and the guys over there did it in a couple of weeks?!?!?!?!?!
Burden left too quick if u ask me though lol
@JD (Comment 98) :
Personally I think its because nobody gave any hooker the time of day the minute Bismarck was in the drivers seat.
There’s been alot of talk about the influence of the Dup brothers at the Sharks, their deamnds etc.
Perhaps they just didnt want to foster the same sort of environment in that position that existed when JS and BdP were competing for the position.
He seems untouchable in the eyes of most. I think he’s a great player, but dont think anybody is untouchable.
Quite simply i dont think there was any motivation to develop him beyond a bench sub. Toulon obviously saw something special in him and gave him the chance. And he took that chance with both hands and has been playing unbelievable rugby.
I mean, everybody thought Matfield and Bakkies were the best there could ever be. Then suddenly there was Eben, PSdT and Lewies.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 100) :
Nah dude, Burden didnt leave because he was playing behind Bismark, he left because he was playing behind Cooper.
It was a bit of an open secret that either Cooper or Burden was going to leave – until Cooper took the injury-created gap, he was the most likely one.
Nothing sinister here – just 3 damn good hookers at 1 union.
@Big Fish (Comment 101) :
Erm… Fish… Burden joined the Sharks in 2006… Cooper 2012…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 102) :
Erm… actually, no.
Cooper made his CC debut in 2010, and had been through the Sharks age group ranks since 2008.
It a moot arguement. In 3 years time when bizzy has the world cup, super rugby and a couple more currie cup winners medals locked away safely he will be on his way to europe for a provident fund top-up the name we will be talking about will be Franco Marais
@Big Fish (Comment 103) :
Dont get all lawyer on me Fish!
Was referring to SR and you know the point I’m making, youre just being deliberately obtuse.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 100) : I can’t help but agree with you that under previous coach that was a problem. With JW it seems that it might be a different story and that he will bring in specialist to help with coaching.