Heyneke Meyer has named a largely unchanged Bok match 23 for Saturdays test against Ireland in Dublin, with only a single change on the bench.
The coach has kept faith in the side that recorded a famous victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park in their most recent outing, with the only change being injury enforced. Reserve prop Marcel van der Merwe has not been able to tour due to injury and is replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen in the number 18 jersey.
While doubt has been cast on Oosthuizen’s suitability for a role at tighthead in international rugby, coach Meyer defended his selection, saying “although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he’s still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the line-out calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well. Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It’s good to have him back.
“It’s only the fifth time in what will be the 34th Test since I was appointed as Springbok coach that we’ve been able to select an unchanged starting line-up,” added Meyer.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen.
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Rob, do you know who will come in on the bench should Schalk start? I’m guessing/hoping Warren.
“While doubt has been cast on Oosthuizen’s suitability for a role at tighthead in international rugby”
Doubt?? it is hardly doubt – he has consistently proven this to be correct. He is nowhere near international standard as a scrummager which is his primary job. Both of the current Lions tightheads Julian and Ruan Dreyer are far better at the scrumming fundamentals.
Pretty much as expected…still doubts of Coenie Oosthuizen…i would have gone with Redelinghuis…im sure he knows the calls by now. If our forwards dominate the Irish we should win as dont think their backs will win the game for them. The break down is reffed differently up north so will be interesting to see how the Boks deal with opposition flooding the breakdown with players even if they go off their feet etc
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : sorry, that was my bad. Schalk hasn’t been bracketed with Duane.
I copied the team sheet from the last game and forgot to remove his name. If you recall, Duane was initially in doubt for that test, hence the bracketing.
@steve (Comment 2) : I’m trying to be nice 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 3) :
The coach said he does not know all the line-out calls yet. You say you’re sure he does. How so?
The referees for internationals come from all over the place and adjudicate matches in both hemispheres. On what basis do you assert that they change interpretations as the games move north or south annually?
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
I like the famous victory line.
i just hope Redelinghuis does not forget the Lions line out calls why he is away …
@SheldonK (Comment 3) :
think the lineout calls might be an solve for x equation
Here we go. Anyway I’m pretty sure the HM is dying to get JR in the team but only HM and his coaching staff will know whether is he 100% ready to start a test right now.
While I do believe that JR is the answer to our lack of TH backups, personally I was not expecting him to be selected for the 1st test considering he’s only been in the squad for just over a week. I do however expect him to play from the bench in the last two and hoping he is ready for the next one.
Been a fantastic scrummager means squat if the player does not know the tactics, defensive patterns, line outs, various calls, along with his own roles when not scrumming, etc, etc, etc.
@gregkaos (Comment 10) :
Handre Pollard didnt seem to struggle with slotting in ?
@fyndraai (Comment 6) : Well if he doesnt know the calls now then what have they been doing? All players get emailled the lineout calls etc so no excuse at this level not to know…its a coaches way of saying to uninformed public i dont want to pick him. As for the refs- games in both Northern and Southern Hemisphere over last few years has shown that teams get away with a lot more up north, maybe due to the wetter fields but players go off their feet and dont release in the tackle a lot more up north than down south. Just watch and see.
@Zibbie (Comment 9) : How hard is it to learn “Throw it to Victor”? Redelinghuis is afrikaans so he prob knows it in English and Afrikaans
@SheldonK (Comment 13) :
i give up .. really i do …
@SheldonK (Comment 12) :
maybe the email was encrypted ?
@Zibbie (Comment 11) : True but with no Morne, Lambie and Goosen, HMs hands were forced to select him for the Scotland game with short notice. I don’t recall him having a particularly good game that day.
@Zibbie (Comment 15) : Maybe it was typed on an iPhone and it autocorrected to Vincent not Victor so Julian been asking who Vincent is all week?
@SheldonK (Comment 17) :
“Dam Julian ! you need to stop looking for this imaginary friend of yours … “
@SheldonK (Comment 17) : @Zibbie (Comment 18) : keep going! You guys are making this crap day seem almost bearable 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Well look Rob it could have been worse…HM could have said he needs to Play Morne Steyn becos Pollard hasnt been to Ireland so isnt sure how to get to the ground yet…
Im really looking forward to this year end tour, more so than the Rugby Championships. I just hope the weather holds and the respective teams play to their potential.
@fyndraai (Comment 6) : @SheldonK (Comment 12) : So basically he is saying that Redelinghuys is very thick. not 😎
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 22) :
Nope.
LO plays are pretty intricate and complex these days.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Check this out for a bit of rugga feel good 😎
http://www.rugbydump.com/2014/11/3954/barbarians-run-riot-in-entertaining-midweek-clash-against-leicester-tigers
@fyndraai (Comment 23) : My comment was to be taken with a big pinch of salt….but that doesnt change the impression that Coenie is seen as royal game.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 24) : Great highlights package, lots of skills on show and it looks like fun was had by all.
@Zibbie (Comment 11) : All calls and game plans are on the Bulls data base, non of the Bulls players will struggle with these things at the Boks.
@Chippa (Comment 27) : ” Liked “
@Chippa (Comment 27) :
so thats why Jano Vermaak became a bok the moment he moved to the bulls … he found the formula !!!
Damit HM !!! where have you hidden da Formula ???