Johan Ackermann has opted not to use any Springbok players this week as he’s rather focused on ensuring game time for all the member of his South Africa “A” squad. The team to face the England Saxons in Friday’s second match in George shows a good number of changes to the unit that lost in Bloemfontein last week.
Sharks forwards Thomas du Toit and Jean-Luc du Preez are both in the starting side, with Stephan Lewies sitting this one out as Ackermann goes with the established Bulls second-row pair of Jason Jenkins and RG Snyman. The Bulls are the big winners in this selection, with tight head prop Marcel van der Merwe and number 8 Arno Botha also in the starting pack. Lions hooker Malcolm Marx also starts, with captain Oupa Mohoje joining du Toit as the only survivors from last week.
Ackermann has also changed the entire backline axis, backing another Bulls combo in Piet van Zyl and Francois Brummer at half back. Sharks man Lukhanyo Am starts st inside centre in place of Howard Mnisi, while Sergeal Pietersen comes in at right wing in the fourth backline change.
South Africa A:
15. Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers)
14. Sergeal Petersen (Toyota Cheetahs)
13. Francois Venter (vice-captain, Toyota Cheetahs)
12. Lukhanyo Am (Southern Kings/Cell C Sharks)
11. Courtnall Skosan (Emirates Lions)
10. Francois Brummer (Vodacom Bulls/Steval Pumas)
9. Piet van Zyl (Vodacom Bulls)
8. Arno Botha (Vodacom Bulls)
7. Oupa Mohoje (captain, Toyota Cheetahs)
6. Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks)
5. RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls)
4. Jason Jenkins (Vodacom Bulls)
3. Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)
2. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions)
1. Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
Replacements:
16. Edgar Marutlulle (Southern Kings)
17. Coenie Oosthuizen (Cell C Sharks)
18. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls)
19. JD Schickerling (DHL Stormers)
20. Nizaam Carr (DHL Stormers)
21. Ntando Kebe (Southern Kings)
22. Howard Mnisi (Emirates Lions)
23. Travis Ismaiel (Vodacom Bulls)
Tweet
Any idea why Lewies is not playing? I was under the impression he was one of the stand out players against the Saxons. I was very surprised when he was subbed. Did he get injured or did my Black and White goggles miss something about his performance?
Ackerman still believes in that antequated system of rewarding players when they warrant it, and dropping players for not respecting the honor of selection for the starting 15.
So Garth April is out of the squad completely? That can’t be the greatest thing for his confidence.
@Culling Song (Comment 3) : The 4 Bok squad members went back to the Boks on Saturday. 4 were supposed to be sent down today but whether Ackers didn’t want them or whether they weren’t sent down I don’t know
A massive pack
8 Arno Botha: 103 | 1.9
7 Oupa Mohoje: 108 | 1.93
6 Jean-Luc du Preez: 113 | 1.94
5 RG Snyman: 117 | 2.06
4 Jason Jenkins: 121 | 2.01
3 Marcel van der Merwe: 128 | 1.88
2 Malcolm Marx: 115 | 1.89
1 Thomas du Toit: 132 | 1.9
Total weight: 937kb
Ave height: 1.94
Pity Lewies missed out! Good luck guys!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : ??? Did I miss something?
@JD (Comment 7) : Just me having a go at AC, for apparently wanting to select mostly the same team as the one that got schooled on Saturday.
Am i the only one not too upset about Lewies and especially April not playing this weekend? Means there isnt a chance of them getting injured so will be ready to go for the Sharks. Looking at this side, its a good pack but cant help but think all 3 loosies are exactly the same type payer so not sure how that will go. Also both props have some binding issues they need to sort out. Backline looks ok but not sure they can handle the pace and power of the english back 3 especially.
Odd how not many Lions forwards are in this team, nor in the Boks…
100% agree Sheldon. In my humble opinion April was rushed into the A team anyway after only 1 start for the sharks….lets put that into perspective. ..and he has a good spot with Pat to learn from and develop. I wouldnt even play Pat to be sure of brain damage in the 3rd test for Boks…with both rested a bit it could be good for the long run. Did you see the Irish arent happy happy that CJ got a 1 match ban? Thoughts? My feeling as it was more of a “nail the flyhalf so he is rattled for the rest of the game hit” that pubishment should be equal to the player injured lay off. Ja I saw that many feel he was challenging. ..but I am not buying it…it was meant to dominate and came off a bit more than he thought but if it was a challenge for the ball his hands weren’t up to make himself larger so no…anyway he apologised and its done nothing more but for Pat this unfair as he has been waiting since World cup to show his leadership and game management. .and now out due to aforementioned stunt.
@Sharkfinn (Comment 11) : I also think pat should not play the rest of the series to make sure he is fully healed. And because thats a doubt im glad April is not playing against a physical Saxons side. Same with Lewies who the Sharks need badly. In terms of Stander- red card fully justified, even if yellow would probably benefit game more- perhaps yellow cards could carry different lengths of time off the field for various offences…thats how hockey works. In terms of Stander’s ban…he plead not guilty…they found that the red card was correct so he was in fact guilty…so in my opinion only a 1 game ban is him getting off very lightly. His challenge could have ended a players career.
@gregkaos (Comment 1) : If I had to guess I’d venture that it’s Ackermann trying to give everyone in the squad some game time? I assume the mission of the ‘A’ side is more about allowing the next-in-line some exposure to Bok level rugby, and in the process gauging their potential, than it is about winning but I could be wrong.
@Hulk (Comment 10) : yea . dont understand …
I like the look of this pack, but the backline doesn’t inspire much confidence, hope I am proved wrong.
@stevovo (Comment 15) : How Esterhuizen and Paul Jordan are not in that squad amazes me,it wouldn’t surprise me if those two don’t up sticks at the next semi decent off shore offer they receive,they must see the writing on the wall.
I wonder if Lewies is just being rested or ice is injured.
@The hound (Comment 16) : Its laughable.
I presume that Notshe will be involved with the Boks this week.
@Vonno13 (Comment 18) : I think Notshe will be watching the Boks from the stands this week with April,Groom, Scarra, Mostert, Combrinck, Kriel and Kitshoff
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : After the lackluster performance of last week I hope AC makes at least a change, although 3 or 4 would be deserved.
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : not so sure about that. Duane is apparently under an injury cloud.
@Hulk (Comment 20) : Besides Jantjies i dont see him making any changes apart from possibly PSDT starting and Lood benching.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Oh really…well thats could make quite an interesting selection conundrum. No Duane means Whiteley will start..but does he go Kriel or Notshe off the bench…bearing in mind Notshe can play 8 too…
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : I’m a revolutionary, but I would start Kriel at 6 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 24) : How revolutionary…would you play Kriel, Louw and Whiteley (assuming Duane not fit)
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : I’d play Kriel, Notshe and Whiteley 🙂
Don’t rate Louw. Never have.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Id take that Lots of speed in that loose trio. I feel Louw was at his best the year before the RWC i think so 2014…but since then i dont rate him. Think he is lucky to be there.
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Any truth to the Jordaan departure rumour? (as spread by Brendan Nel)
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : dunno yet. Nobody is saying much
@FireTheLooser (Comment 28) : Now you got me choking on my coffee. That would be bad news if it is true.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : & @ Bokhoring: At the rate SA is bleeding players, I’ll probably go with the “true until proven untrue” view on all these departures.
@The hound (Comment 16) : Jake white would love having a nother Frans Steyn at Montpellier. Esterhuizen is big and kicks it far – he’s a carbon copy of Frans .
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) : sad but true.
@SheldonK (Comment 9) : Good thinking. Also not too upset that we aren’t risking Pat on injury while Coetzee flounders and tries to find a plan that works.
@coolfusion (Comment 34) : Also hope Pat stays out of the rest of the test. I don’t rate any of our current bok flyhalfs at his level.
@schrodingers cat (Comment 32) : yes,and aggressive tackling.
Try! Jean-luc smashes his way through a number of Saxon players to put SA 5 – 0.
Bummer misses his 3rd kick for poles.
@gregkaos (Comment 37) : Lol. Bummer. …
@coolfusion (Comment 38) : oops. Not fixing that unless he slots something soon
17 min in. SA looking very good. Handling and physicality much much better. JA must given them what for this week.
Agh Brummer kicks a penalty out past dead ball line. He is having a shocker.
@gregkaos (Comment 41) : There i was thinking that Ackers made the right call to replace Sharks players with Bulls after seeing who is the ref…
5-3. Cipriani slots a straight forward penalty.
Trust in Brummers kicking is down. They went for corner and gave away a penalty.
Saxons try. Mauled from 5m.
5 – 8
37 min
Oupa off and Carr on.
Try! Sergeal finishes off some great attacking play. Lots of good rugby in the build up to that.
12 – 8
Holy moly Brummer slots the conversion! Crowd goes bananas!
That’s half time.
@gregkaos (Comment 46) : not watching the game.thanks for the updates.how is jl dup playing?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 47) : Very well so far. Making an impact.
Try! Sergeal gets his 2nd. Great inside pass by Venter to set him up.
19 – 8
Zas gets the conversion! Yes thats not a typo.
43 min
@gregkaos (Comment 48) :thanks.
TMO called in to check grounding for a Venter try….
Our counter attacking mindset is on song today.
Wow Venter got it by a whisker! Lovely grubber by Sergeal and Venter just gets his hands down on it first
Brummer slot the most difficult kick on the night!
26 – 8
46 min
Penalty infront for Saxons.
Going for the corner
Try. Another driving maul by the saxons. Jeez they look well drilled in that aspect.
26 – 15
48 min
Sergeal scores a spectator try! Didn’t hear whistle. Called back for a foot in touch way back in our half.
Saxon driving maul milks penalty and they put it in the corner again.
SA stops the maul! Marx turns over. Ball lost and Saxons pounce and get the try.
26 – 22
56 min
@gregkaos (Comment 56) : would be nice to see sergeal in a sharks jersey next season.
Oupa looks OK. Chatting to media on the sidelines. He’s fairly sure it’s not bad but will get checked out after the game.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 59) : And Venter! He’s been superb in getting Sergeal into space.
Marutlulle on. Marx off
Bit of a mixup in Saxons lineout in our 22. Hooker never threw looked around confused. Free kick to SA.
@gregkaos (Comment 61) : he has also showed good attacking form the past two seasons.how is the venter/am centre combo doing?
Great turnover by Carr.
Then Saxons turnover.
Saxons break our line and accidentally pass to one of ours.
Jean-luc smashes through some tackles and ball goes just forward when places it to pick it up again.
20 minutes terrible reffing
@gregkaos (Comment 65) : sounds like jl dup is carrying the ball strongly?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 64) : Also very good. Am not getting as much space so far.
Great defence from our 5m. Pushed them back to 22.
Zas fluffs a kick straight to Saxons.
Great tackle by Venter.
Defence has pushed them back to 10m.
@gregkaos (Comment 68) : am playing inside and venter outside,right?interesting.am has been in quite a few positions this season.wing and outside centre for the kings in superrugby,and now inside centre for sa “a”.
Brummer puts in a great tactical kick. Quick cheeky throw in and we give away a penalty when we had them under huge pressure.
@gregkaos (Comment 71) : how is thomas doing in the scrums?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 70) : Yup. Am inside and Venter outside.
@gregkaos (Comment 73) : am is a sharks player on loan to the kings.be interesting to know where he will feature in the sharks cc squad?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 72) : Much better tonight. Scrums have gone both ways tonight though. well matched IMO. Thomas has been good around the park too.
Great break by Am! Cut through Saxons like a knife through butter. Unfortunately pressure back on SA
@gregkaos (Comment 75) : good to hear about his workrate.who is the saxons no3?
Try for Saxons.
26 – 29
76min
@gregkaos (Comment 78) : from a maul?
Francois Brummer – Useless twat! Should never be allowed anywhere close to a green jersey again. 🙄
Game over.
26 – 29
Missed penalties, penalty kicks not going out, and a lack of tactical kicking cost SA ‘A’ side.
How exactly did Ackerman see it wise to have only 1 fh in his 23 today?!
Anyone with a vague form of sanity would have subbed Bummer after 20mins….but we had nothing to replace him with.
Poor poor rugby.
@gregkaos (Comment 82) : Francois Brummer, basically. 🙄
Pieterson robbed of a try by poor linesman call which became a 14 point turnaround. Followed by a try that involved a blatent offside. England first try was obstruction by no4 who was infront of jumper at maul. POOR REFEREEING!
A much improved performance but subs were unable to give us go forward.
Jean-Luc, Venter, Sergeal were great.
Also maul defence was not good / Saxons very strong maul.
We played way too expansive and from deep in 2nd half. Saxons did not. They only played when in our half.
Oh add Snyman too to the good players list. Thought he made a good impact.
Marx wasnt shabby
@FireTheLooser (Comment 83) : There was only one flyhalf selected for the SA A squad
@Baylion (Comment 89) : Ludicrous…sheer madness. Oh well, Bummer proving what’s wrong with bulls rugby – back three proving what’s wrong with SA kicking game.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 90) : Don’t blame Zas too much. He played fullback because there wasn’t a fullback in the squad
Wow! What a semi between Clermont and Racing in the Top 14. 27-27 at full time. In extra time Clermont looked in charge taking a 33-27 lead…but a minute from full time Racing score and Carter converts to win it!! Great stuff…