In news unlikely to surprise many, big Willem Alberts has again been ruled out of action and has thus not departed for Perth with the rest of the Springbok Rugby Championship tour squad.
Alberts was withdrawn on the eve of the opener against Argentina at Loftus, having tweaked a hamstring in training. He missed the tour to Argentina for the return leg, but was included in the side named for the trip to Australia and New Zealand. However, a late press release from SARU has confirmed that he will miss this trip too, with his place going to Lions captain Warren Whiteley.
The latest issue for Alberts is “nerve irritation in his lower back”, according to Bok team doctor Craig Roberts. He now faces yet another round of specialist consultations to figure out what the hell is going on.
Meanwhile, veteran Juan Smith apparently asked not to be considered as a replacement, opting to rather work on his fitness after a poor return to the test arena in Salta. Amazing that Heyneke Meyer will not only pick a has-been who has played no test rugby in four years than back the likes of Oupa Mohoje, but also won’t bother to ask whether said player is even fully fit before naming him to start a test.
The mind boggles.
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Good on Juan Smith for owning up.
Hope this means Oupa gets a bench spot at the very least.
Seems the players will have to force HM’s hand….he seems to struggle with the pressures of international rugby, hence his propensity for picking old war horses instead of entering into the unknown.
@vanmartin (Comment 2) : I dont think HM intends playing Mahoje at all. Not sure why he even picked him. Alberts needs some serious rest and conditioning. Not even sure the End of year Tour is a wise option. As for Smith, and the other foreign guys, they havnt had any domestic rugby for ages so i dont think its actual fitness but more match fitness thats lacking.
Why not pick a player like Jacques Potgieter? Not that I like the oke but he was in some serious form for the tahs this year!
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : I think it’s a fair question regarding Oupa and absolutely agreed on Alberts. I can’t believe Jannie du Plessis is still going though.
@SuperShark (Comment 5) : Also wondered about that but at the same time I’m not unhappy with Whiteley’s inclusion at all. I wouldn’t mind seeing a 6. Coetzee 7. Vermeulen 8. Whitely combo at some point. Nice mix of mobility and brawn.
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : that’s probably the best combo we can pick
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Agreed @vanmartin (Comment 6) : I honestly feel coaches are scared not to play Jannie and that unwillingness to give another player a run means that are both playing Jannie into the ground so he isnt as sharp and at the same time no depth is created. As for Mahoje…he would have benefitted more from playing CC than holding tackle bags
There is a difference between ‘fully fit’ and ‘match fit’. Juan by his own admission wasn’t sharp against Argentina, having played the Top 14 final at the end of May which to my knowledge was his last competitive match.
Meyer did not select an unfit player.
@Morné (Comment 9) : One two, princes kneel before you, that’s what I said now
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : That would be our best combination but I’d like Vermeulen and Francois Louw rested completely. We know what they can do so why risk them? Give Mahoje a chance to prove himself and play Smith back into fitness or call up Potgieter. He performed well for the Waratahs.
I also think that Sithole should be in the squad and starting at 13 instead of De Allende. His performance against Argentina was not convincing!!
@Morné (Comment 9) : Was it Juan or HM that decided that Juan needs to work on his fitness?
Trying to determine whether HM is just saving Juan some embarrassment by making this the official story behind him being unavailable?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) :
These things are seldom an individual decision, but having read comments from Juan following the match I reckoned the call came from him initially.
HM will probably go with Serfontein at 12 and JdV at 13.
@SuperShark (Comment 14) : He has to! De Allende was ineffectual on attack and defense.
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Blast from the past that. Who’s the band again? 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 6) : Vermeulen really plays like a blindside anyway.
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : Spin Doctors – Two Princes
@ChrisS: I Agree! but really think Jean and Sithole would have made a nice combo!
@SuperShark (Comment 19) : They would!! Sithole must be invested in for next year’s World Cup!!
@ChrisS: As much as I would love to see that, I cant see it happening. Especially with Frans Steyn back in the bok picture next year.
@SuperShark (Comment 21) : And Jacques Fourie
@ChrisS (Comment 18) : exactly, with the name of the band being a reference to Morne’s comment 🙂
@SuperShark (Comment 21) :
How do we know Steyntjie is back in the picture next year… was things resolved – for next year?
@Letgo (Comment 24) : there is absolutely no indication that frans will be back in the picture.
Frans has played his last test, if you ask me.
You never know, we all know how Frans plays at world cups, that must mean something! Jacques Fourie is definately an option but he has’nt played for the boks for how long. If he isnt part of the eoyt I cannot see him coming back in time for the world cup.
@Ossa (Comment 1) : No choice really, own up or be found out ala last weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 25) : I’m sure it’s been mentioned before… but where is Frans Steyn at the moment? Did he go to Japan?
@SuperShark (Comment 26) :
Sure, but in your previous post you stated it as a fact, which really isn’t the case. I think Rob is probably right.
If Frans and the Boks really wanted Frans to play for the Boks again, they would have tried to resolve this issue (whatever it might be, exactly), quietly and while he was part of the squad. He would not have left with immediate effect, as he did.
@CS (Comment 28) : yes, he’s heading to Japan. Not sure if he’s actually arrived yet
@Letgo (Comment 29) : there’s is close to zero motivation on HM’s part to resolve the issue. He’s very happy without strong personalities in his squad.
@Letgo (Comment 29) : When JDV gets injured just before next year’s World Cup they’ll come running to Frans Steyn… watch 😆
@robdylan (Comment 31) : One could fairly argue it’s a sorry state of affairs but I reckon it’s best for both parties concerned.
They’ll start with Coetzee definitely and obviously Flo.
Not a bad thing to have 2 high tempo flankers against the Ausies.
Apologies @Letgo: meant it as an assumption! 😉
Who was the incumbent 13 before DeAllende? hmmmm oh right it was JPP. Do all you rugby geniuses think he may feature next year at the RWC? Apparently not because his name has not yet been mentioned. 🙄 😛
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