Allister Coetzee has released four members of his 31-man springbok squad to play for the SA A-Team in Bloemfontein this weekend.
The four, flyhalf Garth April, hooker Scarra Ntumbeni, flanker Sikombuze Notshe and scrumhalf Nic Groom are all expected to play key roles for Johan Ackermann’s side against the visiting England Saxons, before rejoining the Springboks on Sunday ahead of the second test against Ireland.
The Bok team for the first test (at Newlands) will be announced on Thursday.
Tweet
A bit surprised that Garth is going seeing Eltons still not 100% but on the plus side probably get some quality game time.
please let Mapoe play ahead of kriel … please please please
Hmm interesting. Think its risky playing Janjies- fractures dont heal that quickly. I would have preferred Scarra to Mbonambi. Notshe and Groom make sense. A lot of journalists saying the team will be : Beast, Strauss, Malherbe, Eben, Lood, Louw, Kolisi, Vermuelen, Faf, Lambie, Mvovo, De Allende, Mapoe, JPP, LeRoux. Bench: Nyakane, Mbonambi, Redelinghuis, PSDT, Whiteley, Paige, Kriel, Combrinck
@Zibbie (Comment 2) : HEY !!!! GOT MY STAR !!!!
@Zibbie (Comment 2) : Well if the reports from some who watched the training session are accurate, sounds like Mapoe spent the majority of the time at 13. Grats on star 🙂
@Zibbie (Comment 4) : nice work! Well deserved
I would love to see Jantjies at 10 and Lambie at 12 at some stage. Doubt that we will but it could be a fantastic combo along with Faf at 9 and Mapoe at 13. Two great distributors at 10 and 12 and a hard running 13 who has an eye for a gap.
@Fox (Comment 7) : People would complain lambie is out of position and doesnt play there for his provincial side. (I would be a fan of it though.)
@Zibbie (Comment 2) : Mapoe has to start, no doubt about that, he is our form 13
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : Has PSDT not pulled his hamstring?
@Vonno13 (Comment 10) : That was initial report. Apparently he took part in full training yesterday though and they reckon he will play off the bench
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : PSDT is like that Monty Python knight from In Search of the Holy Grail,both arms cut off,both legs gone,sword in mouth shouting comes you bastards Ill take you all on,Well at least Alister and the Newlands faithful think so not going to let a small thing like a hammy keep him off the park.
@The hound (Comment 12) : hahaha. Well think PSDT with a dodgey hammy is still a notch better than Elton with a broken hand…
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : I think Lewies is better than Ethebeth and PSDT and his hammy are both alright.
@The hound (Comment 14) : Bit of a biased call that. PSDT has been probably the best lock in Super rugby. Eben possibly not at his best but he is usually better for the Boks than his provincial form. Same goes for Lood. Lets see how Lewies does against the Saxons.
Can we presume that Ntubeni will now start ahead of Marx for the A team and Notshe ahead of Jean Luc
I see the Baby Bokke has the same problem as the Sharks as they’re camping on the Japan 22m but mistakes stopping them from scoring!
Davids scores a very good individual try and Bosch converted. 7-0 after 10min.
Geez the Japanese 14 is big and fast for his age as he break from halfway to score! 7-7 after 22min.
And the Baby Bokke is very luck to not concede another try as Bosch chips the ball straight into Japanese hands and the from the lineout Japan steals the ball again and then miss another opportunity!!!
This is the poorest Baby Bok side I’ve seen in many years.
And the Japanese 14 scores again this time from a cross kick. Japan leads 14-7 after 25min.
Nkosi is also yellow carded for a dangerous tackle!
Japs 14 – Bokkies 7
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 21) : ja not looking really good!!! Getting a bad feeling about this game!!!
Already 6 turnovers conceded and also one tighthead.
Japanese players stealing the balls at the breakdowns seemingly without any effort!?!?
And the Japanese 14 scores again!!! Must say I do think it was two movements but the ref does not agree!?!?! Japan leads 19-7 after 32min
Hattrick for Moeakiola as Japs score another.
@JD (Comment 26) : Ja it’s pathetic
Japs 19 – Bokkies 7
And Japanese team also lose a player to a yellow card
And the baby Bokke lose another ball at the break down!!!!
Nkosi is back on.
😯
And Jackson scores under the posts after a nice hard driving maul by the forwards!!!
Japan leads 19-14 after 38min.
Eventually the Bokkies manage to use a brain cell and Jackson scores under the posts from a nice little chip by Libbock
Baby Bokke milks another driving maul penalty!
Jeez the passing is rubbish!
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 38) : been watching the Sharks “how to videos” ?!?!
Japan leads 19-14 at halftime.
@JD (Comment 39) : 😆
Much better by the Bokkies!
Bokkies 21 – Japs 19
Baby Bokke leads 21-19 after 42min
Davids scores his second. He’s a great ball carrier, but his defence is not up to scratch.
Much better and Davids scores his second try!!! Bokkies leads 28-19 after 45min.
Bokkies 28 – Japs 19
And it’s again 15 against 15.
Intercept by Libbock on the 22 and Ward gets his second The Bokkies pull ahead.
Bokkies 35 – Japs 19
Nice interception by the Baby Bokke and Ward scores his second! Bosch lkick to poles has been good so far.
Lead now 35-19 after 49min
Would love to know what Theron said in the change room!?!?! Seems to work so far.
@JD (Comment 52) : Ja, but some of the passing and ball retention is still shockingly poor.
Wow Curwin Bosch has a boot on him!
Huge kick from Bosch as he easily clears a 52m kick!
Baby Bokke leads 38-19 after 55min.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 53) : yes for sure but seems as if they have a bit more fire.
@JD (Comment 56) : One has to wonder why not from the start?
Scrums are much better now.
Must say Bosch is really looking good.
@JD (Comment 59) : And Davids
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 58) : yes huge improvement!
Shit and again they lose the ball!!!!
Again muscled off the ball at a ruck! WTF!!!
Japanese no 14 not give any room to start running!
Libbok scores and now the Baby Bokke leads 45-19 after 64min.
@JD (Comment 64) : Nor their number 8, who gave the Bokkies a hard time in the first half as well.
Very interesting to see when the Japanese players leave the field they turn and bow almost like they do in martial arts.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 66) : they seem to have improved a lot.
@JD (Comment 67) : Didn’t see that. Interesting!
Mafuma scores. Lead now 52-19 after 71min.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 69) : saw it first when the Japanese prop was playing for the Cheetahs. Not sure if all of them do it but I have seen a couple doing it.
Davids really needs work on his defence. He gets handed off way too easily. Just shows how good the rest of his game is as he’s awarded Motm.
Wonder how legal the Japanese tactic of keeping the jumper in the air is?
And another try as Sadie scores! Must say Bosch had a super break to set up the try.
Final score 59-19!!!
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 72) : did you not hear apparently his defence was superb?!?!
All in all a good result. I don’t even want to speculate how such a bad first half would have played out against better opposition.
Great second half as they scored 45 points to zero!
@JD (Comment 75) : Hey??? Did the commentators say so?
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 76) : yes Japan had a couple of good chances but somehow fluffed it but it was the first game and the Bokkies won so I will take it!
@JD (Comment 79) : For sure. Can only get better from here.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 78) : yes was what one of them said.
@JD (Comment 81) : Wow 😯
Right, now for the Proteas, who apparently is good on paper.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 83) : shit but they’re playing on grass again 😉
@JD (Comment 84) : The way they are playing its looking as if they are smoking it and not playing on it
@Henkb (Comment 85) : hahaha rather not watching it!
@The hound (Comment 16) : I think Notshe has been picked as an 8 – with Oupa captain, I think JL will be there, but maybe as a 6?
@Vonno13 (Comment 87) : Doesn’t sound like a well balanced trio. I’d rather Jean-Luc be benched than play at 6. Granted I’d rather he starts.
@Hulk (Comment 88) : you get your wish 🙂