Sharks prop Coenie Oosthuizen has been called into the Springbok squad ahead of Saturday’s third test against Ireland, after injury forced Trevor Nyakane to withdraw.
Nyakane joins Duane Vermeuelen and Lood de Jager in being ruled out of the PE decider, but with sufficient depth in the loose forward and lock positions, no replacement has been summoned.
Allister Coetzee has additionally released three members of the squad – none of Scarra Ntubeni, Nic Groom or Garth April will feature in this weekend’s clash and all have been sent back to their franchises this week.
Tweet
I assume Coenie is the ‘utility prop’ mentioned in the media earlier this week?
Makes sense on the utility and pecking order front but really makes no sense on scrumaging ability side.
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : Utility? 😯
Coenie has done well in the SA A games so hope the extra week of scrumming with the Boks will help him even more. Unlikely he will play this weekend. Although interesting that he is deemed a utility when i was under the impression he could no longer play loosehead due to health concerns
@BarendL (Comment 3) : Meaning a player who covers both sides of the scrum as I understand it.
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : That’s my feeling too. He’s an insurance policy should one of the other props be ruled out at the last minute.
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : I forgot about that. So in actual fact he isn’t utility at all.
@Hulk (Comment 7) : Well that was my understanding. Perhaps i have it wrong. And if so then why is he only used exclusively as a TH at the Sharks. Irrespective he did do well in the 2 SA A games, will give him credit for that
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : @SheldonK (Comment 8) : by the skin of your teeth!when I read this headline my first thought was you 😀
A tighthead in place of a LH/TH prop?
@vanmartin (Comment 5) : @SheldonK (Comment 8) : Yeah,apparently his physician has banned him from playing LH due to health issues
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : When you mentioned it I did recall the same thing and that was my understanding he was told not to ply loosehead and that was why he has played at tighthead exclusively for the Sharks. I haven’t seen the SA A games but what I saw at the Sharks he’s not even close to being a Bok. That is my opinion, but if he’s done well with SA A give him his shot. I’d be willing to give him a shot off the bench at this point before I include Malharbe at all.
@Hulk (Comment 12) : Ive seen a few guys mention it now that a physician has said no loosehead for him, so interesting. Coenie’s form for the Sharks hasnt been that great but for the 2 SA A games he was really good both in the loose but more so in the scrums where he seemed to concentrate and smash his opponent. Im not sure if him only playing off the bench had something to do with it but yeh i have to give him credit. Some people suggesting that one of the tightheads in the squad may have a niggle or be uncertain of their place hence the Coenie call up. To be honest i thought either Marcel Van Der Merwe or Thomas DuToit would be called up.
Could someone clarify these health issues? Why would playing loosehead be an issue but not tighthead? Coenie routinely did his neck in when moving to tighthead. Surely TH is the more risky of the two positions?
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : I assumed Coeine was going to get the call because he seems to be next in the pecking order. I’m not sold on Thomas at TH yet but he is a “utility” option. Thomas also hasn’t had much game time this season in SR so it’s hard for me to decide how he’s progressing.
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : At TH the angle of the pressure is different to LH. At LH the pressure is from a specific angle where as at TH it is more even pressure. Thats my understanding. I think there is also a risk of injury with him at TH but perhaps the risk is less than LH
I’m almost certain that Coenie played LH in the second half for SA-A.
Maybe he got a second opinion.
@Hulk (Comment 15) : Im really not a fan of Thomas to TH to be honest…but if i look at his binding at LH in the SA A games i can perhaps see the merits of it. I think if he got his binding issue right he could be a very good LH. I dont think he is a good TH
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : Coenie and Gqoboka replaced Thomas and Marcel. Is Gqoboka a TH or LH?
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : I haven’t the foggiest…wikipedia merely says he’s a “prop”…clearly written by someone with zero comprehension of the position.
@Bokhoring (Comment 10) : @Hulk (Comment 12) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : @SheldonK (Comment 4) : @vanmartin (Comment 6) : @Hulk (Comment 7) : like FiresTheLooser said I’m sure he played loose head for the A side and also found it very strange as I also was under the impression that he can no longer play loose head due to neck issues?!?! Ifhe can play loose head I would use him as cover for Beast with Adriaanse and Thomas at tighthead.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 20) : haha very extensive information that…clearly hours of research was done
@JD (Comment 21) : Yeh if he can i would agree. Although Thomas at TH needs a LOT of work
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : I’m just perplexed that an injury could be aggravated by playing LH but not TH. Sure, the pressure from certain angles may vary more when comparing one position to the other but in the end, you’re still experiencing pressure from pretty much everywhere.
Anyone have a link to a story reporting on Coenie not being able to play LH anymore? I remain skeptical for the time being.
@SheldonK (Comment 19) : Lizo is a loosehead
@robdylan (Comment 25) : You should update the wiki page 😉
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : What I can recall, it had something to do with the fact that at TH he has someone on both sides of his neck where at LH it’s only one side.
@vanmartin (Comment 24) : YEh look im not a doc so just going on what ive heard and believe. I think he is at risk just playing but perhaps TH is less of a risk. I see Tiaan Liebenberg is playing again after he was initially told he shouldnt play ever again. So either something has healed/changed or he is rolling the dice. Maybe same with Coenie.
I really hope Coenie gets moved to LH permanently even at the Sharks , he played LH for A-side this weekend.If he scrums better at loose head and even dominates the opposition he could be a great asset to any team because of his mobility in the loose, with all due respect to beast who is a great scrummager but lacks other values in the loose, he apparently made 0 tackles this weekend which is not a good stat and even though he made a few carries the crowd hardly has a chance to get to the third letter of beast without him going to ground
@schrodingers cat (Comment 29) : Who was at TH when Coenie played LH for the SA A side?
One comment on another site says Coenie can play LH but not for 80min and not every weekend. So seems he can do it in spurts but not a long term consistent option for him.
I shudder to think of the implications of Connie and Malherbe in tandem,people will be clamouring for the calm fair playing Jannie du Plessis after 10 mins,of these two penalty machines .
What is the status of Kitshoff,why was he even brought back.
@The hound (Comment 32) : AC reckons he has a plan for Kitshoff thats why was brought into the loop. Said he would like to see Kitshoff playing his rugby in SA though. From what i believe he will be on the bench this weekend.
@vanmartin (Comment 24). Yes me too.seems very strange.rugby is a contact sport.does this mean coenie can only join ruck and mauls from a th position?or even when making tackles or being tackled high?
@SheldonK (Comment 30) : Didn’t Lizo play TH?
@SheldonK (Comment 31) : Fair enough
@schrodingers cat (Comment 35) : I thought Lizo was a LH…thats why was asking. I remember both of them coming on and Coenie doing well but i just assumed it was at TH..now doubting that
@SheldonK (Comment 37) : was sure I saw Co3nie playing loose head but now I’m also doubting myself. Will try to catch a rebroadcast and see on which side he played.
my guess at the Bok team: Beast, Strauss, Malherbe, Eben, PSDT, Louw, Kolisi, Whiteley, DeKlerk, Jantjies, Pieterson, De Allende, Mapoe, LeRoux Bench: Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Redelinghuis, Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Paige, Steyn, Jesse Kriel
@SheldonK (Comment 39) : Combrink at 14 ? (i see you have jpp at 11)
@SheldonK (Comment 39) : @Zibbie (Comment 40) : also sounds like it will be the same team , except for Whiteley replacing Vermeulen .
@Zibbie (Comment 40) : Yeh i have a feeling thats where they could be deployed. My personal Bok team preference would be quite different to be honest
@Zibbie (Comment 41) : I have heard that too.
Team i would want; Team that will be picked;
1- Kitshof 1-beast
2- Marx 2-Struass
3- Redlinghuis 3-Redlinghuis(dont think allister would give Frans a 2 chance)
4-Eben 4-eben
5-Mostert 5-PSDT
6-Kriel 6-Flow
7- PSDT 7-Kolisi
8-Whitely 8-Whitely
9-De klerk 9-De klerk
10-Jantjies 10-Jantjies
11- Sergeal Pieterson 11-JPP
12-Venter 12-De allende
13-Mapoe 13-Mapoe
14-Combrink 14-Cobrinck
15-Jesse Kriel 15-Willie
@schrodingers cat (Comment 44) : not a bad team.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 45) : my team or the probable team
@schrodingers cat (Comment 46) : your team is not bad.
@schrodingers cat (Comment 44) : I like your team and I hope you’re right about Redlinghuis being given his shot. I’d like to see Kriel at 15, but would keep Willie and move him to 11. He would probably be more comfortable at wing as every time he gets the ball his first reaction is to run straight to the touch line 😈
@schrodingers cat (Comment 44) : I like your team but would make a couple of changes. I would pick Beast at 1, Willie at 11 and JPP at 13 (Mapoe can bench).
@Hulk (Comment 48) : @JD (Comment 49) : think Willie at wing not a bad idea, we would then have a 11,14,15 that are really good in tactical kicking having all played 15 and being good in the air . Don’t think it will ever happen though.
@Zibbie (Comment 41) : I thought Whiteley also an injury scare. Has he been cleared?
@schrodingers cat (Comment 44) : Redelinghuis twice. How about Adriaanse? In my mind he is in better shape than Coenie. Or his brother.
@coolfusion (Comment 52) : I think Redlinghuis is the best TH we have even better than Adraanse (in terms of scrummaging).I would never play Coenie ahead of anyone at TH he gives too many penalties at scrumtime . But I think he scrums better at LH so wouldn’t mind playing him there of bench with Kitshoff starting .
@schrodingers cat (Comment 50) : jpp is also quite good in the air.played fullback also.
@schrodingers cat (Comment 50) : must say I also can’t see it happening but one can hope!
the guys we signed replaces the player we should have signed
@schrodingers cat (Comment 44) : Sergeal Pieterson definitely