One of the positive things about Peter de Villiers’s reign as Springbok coach has been his willingness to heed wake-up calls when they arrive, and it looks like he has done it again in the wake of the Leicester Tigers debacle at the weekend.
Admittedly, as with the fortuitous arrival of Heinrich Brüssow, Jaque Fourie and Morne Steyn as first choice players earlier this year, the path to getting the right combinations was paved by injuries. But the Springboks will at least go into the build-up week to the first test match of their European tour with most of the front-row players the critics believed should have been there in the first place in the squad.
And that includes big CJ van der Linde, the World Cup-winning tighthead who has been left on the outside since last year’s Tri-Nations because he is playing club rugby in Ireland. Most scrumming experts have for a long time been convinced that leaving Van der Linde out is a mistake, particularly as Bok skipper John Smit has clearly struggled to make the conversion from hooker to the No 3 jersey.
Van der Linde, who last played for the Boks against Australia in the final Tri-Nations match of 2008, will join the squad this week following the withdrawal through injury of Jannie du Plessis. Having genuine back-up for Smit at tighthead should quell the misgivings of South African fans who would have been abjectly disappointed by the scrumming effort of the midweek team against Leicester Tigers.
The Bok team went down 22-17 to an under-strength Tigers team that set up the victory with an emphatic scrumming performance that induced possibly the worst performance from a Bok pack in several seasons.
Most critics questioned the omission of the Cheetahs front-row that had done so well in the Currie Cup when the squad was announced last week, and all those fears and concerns appeared vindicated as Gurthro Steenkamp, Chiliboy Ralepelle (later replaced by Bandise Maku) and Du Plessis wheeled back under the onslaught.
As it turned out, Steenkamp and Ralepelle joined Du Plessis in being injured during the mauling, so they too will be flown home, with the replacements being two of the men most thought should have been there in the first place -- Cheetahs loosehead Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss. The only missing member of the Cheetahs front-row contingent is tighthead WP Nel.
It is anticipated the two Cheetahs will go straight into the test match squad of 22. Theoretically Maku should be on the bench because he was selected into the initial squad ahead of Strauss, but it is unlikely any of the front-row men who were shown up at Welford Road will get a look-in for the test matches on this tour.
The scrumming performance against the Tigers brought another reaction from the Bok management -- they have decided to call in Pieter de Villiers, the South African born former French prop, to help them drill the scrum in the Johannesburg training sessions that remain ahead of Tuesday night’s departure for France. The Boks play the first test of the tour against France in Toulouse on Friday.
Meanwhile the Boks were further boosted this weekend by the news that SA Rugby’s legal representatives had managed to negotiate a solution to the impasse that threatened to keep Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira from touring.
It was learned late last week that the Sports Ministry were unhappy that the Boks had not complied with requirements specified in the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act of 2007 which stipulated that the Bok management had to furnish them with details on why they required the services of a player who is not a South African national.
Although Mtawarira, a Zimbabwean, has a three-year work permit which enables him to play for the Sharks, he is not as yet in possession of a South African passport. But late on Saturday the South African Rugby Football Union communication department confirmed that the matter had been sorted out ammicably and that Mtawarira would be touring.
Did Peter de Villiers make the right call? Give us your thoughts.
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Well, bringing in Strauss and Du Preez was a good call. But he would probably not be brave enough to axe John Smit (this would be the best call)
by T. November 9, 2009 09:08 GMT
It is great to see C.J back in the team but if he is good enough now to be in the team why wasn''t he selected in the first place. With reference to selection of the dirt trackers. Why wasnt Anton Vanzyl selected At least there would of been a lock partnership that have played together. Its seems that all the springboks that are performing well are the players that were not the first choice of the selectors and coaches. Brussow, Fourie, M.Steyn are all players that the public and pmedia have fought to see included. Lets get a poll going with all sa players listed and grouped according to position. You fill in your id and select what you think is the strongest springbok team. At least the selectors will beable to see what we as the public feel about players at the end of the day we have to buy the tickets. On another note if you are going to put a youth side in make sure you do not call them springboks. In years to come no one is going to remember that this was not the full strength side. I also would like to knw why Tiaan Liebenberg was not selected with Strauss. Both these guys had cracker season as well as Liebenberg having some form of experience playing over there.
by Henry November 9, 2009 09:09 GMT
How many more times must Gurtro Steenkamp and Chilliboy be exposed before the penny drops for the selectors? I also cannot believe that Adriaan Strauss was chosen ahead of Tiaan Liebenberg - the latter''s stronger scrumming is what the Boks need on this tour.
by Jonathan Golding November 9, 2009 09:09 GMT
The two best front rows in the Currie Cup were Free State and WP. None of these players made the squad. The two best hookers in the Currie Cup were Libenberg and Strauss.
Whilst I am delighted that CJ, Du Preez and Strauss are on there way , spare a thought for Libenberg. Put a weak scrummager in the middle and your numbers 1 and 3 will still battle. This was a huge part of the other night''s problem.
by Lee November 9, 2009 09:12 GMT
We needed to see South Africa''s depth. The result on friday is not a reflection of South Sfrica''s full capabilities, rather an eye opener to what what we have in the future! We couldnt judge or compare the 15 that played on friday, to that of our usual 15-no team can pull off world class performance with 10 new caps and with only 4 days to prepare!
by dean marais November 9, 2009 09:23 GMT
leave all this politics out off rugby it is actually embaracing on behalf off the player who looks like total idiots and if not playing players overseas then then play those at home who show us every week during the season who should be up front we are proud to be south african and it starts at 1 2 3 that should be our pride and joy to have the best front row in every international not look like clowns how embaracing on friday night to be a proud sa rugby supporter and poor dick muir looked confused good luck futher boys
by nar November 9, 2009 09:26 GMT
Pieter called on CJ, why can''t he call on the rest of the South African stars playing over seas? If he calls on the for international duty, the boks will be unstoppable......
by Dylan November 9, 2009 09:44 GMT
you cannot axe smit, we need his leadership, the only option left is to put bizmark on the bench, he still has a long career ahead of him, we need a better front row, smit is one of the best scrummaging hookers in the world but is not up to scratch at no 3. CJ deserves to be there.
by Sheldon November 9, 2009 09:52 GMT
Poor performance, there are better players in SA. I can pick 15 better dirt trackers. Is this a side based on giving more previously disadvantaged players a run or is it truly the next best 22? I dont think so! We cant blame players for leaving our shores and going overseas. Every youngsters dream is to play for the Springboks, but when you know your the best at a certain position and dont get picked thats when they leave our shores and go play overseas. The Leicster Tigers Coach was correct when he said " today we beat the world champs". Just because they are known as a dirt tracker side does not mean they must be a weak unit. Can we truly say our best 40 players are in Europe on tour right now?
by Morne November 9, 2009 10:09 GMT
The problems wasn''t just the scrum, the forwards did not play as a unit. ariving late at breakdown points, not supportive in attack and lineout was like a lottery. We did defend well but problems started with bad tactical kicking and poor scruming. you can''t go and blame just the front row it takes all 8 forwards to work together. four days to work on scruming will get you nowhere with new caps. i noticed that when our backline is on attack the whole line was just moving forward, no dummy runners, inside runners and defnitly no creative play. you could sense that the team was not playing as one unit. that comes with a lack of trainning and not a full ballanced side. the team was too mixed up with players not knowing each other well.
by Brett November 9, 2009 10:13 GMT
What about BJ Botha who has been going a great job for Ulster ?
by Fanshawe November 9, 2009 10:16 GMT
Make that 4 days and a BLIND Referee
by Kevin November 9, 2009 10:21 GMT
Where is BJ Botha..we need him too!!
by jack russel November 9, 2009 10:22 GMT
let john smit play hooker.CJ at tighthead.beast loosehead.With bakkies and matfield behind them france will not bully them
by Lyle November 9, 2009 10:28 GMT
One or two players who players who are not up to the required level can make a huge difference to the overall performance of a team. We have all seen the match winning performances of Brussow and Morne in the Lions and Tri Nations series. It can be equally said that if some players can be match winners then others can be match losers. Now I mean no disrespect to the players who are selected who are not up to standard; because they certainly try their best. But I believe that Ralepelle and Maku are not up to physical standard as test match hookers. They would have been best serve to stay at home and put on a strength conditioning program to get them up that level so that they can feature more regularly next year. Earl Rose is in the same category and he needs to develop consistency in his game with coaching at home. I can''t see how touring in unfamiliar and constantly changing conditions will help him to develop consistency. Van der Merwe should have not be selected. He has only just come back from injury and exposing him to international rugby when he is not 100% form/condition is not fair on the him. It''s a different story if he has 20 test matches under his belt. There are a few other players I could mention in this post but this just highlights what in my oponion were selection flaws. There are others which I think are great. I for one agree with the selectors in moving John Smit to tighthead. His leadership is too valuable to be left off the field. The fact that he makes 14 other players 10% better is well worth the 2-3 scrum penelaties he might give away in my oponion.
by David November 9, 2009 10:31 GMT
Does anyone know the answer to this: If CJ is eligible, is there any reason why Frans Steyn and Jean de Villiers can''t join the squad?
by A.D. November 9, 2009 10:40 GMT
To axe John Smit would be the biggest mistake any coach could make.. CJ will be a revelation to the bok side but any person who knows anything about rugby would know that John is a must in any international side. Forget about the few times he struggled in the scrums and think about the try he scored after dominating a scrum, or the grubber through against australia which put us back in the game. John Smit is the player you select your bok team around. Finish and klaar!
Bokke will beat the French, the side that lost to the Tigers did not have one single currie cup combination in the whole team... How could you expect them to win?
by ashley November 9, 2009 10:43 GMT
why isnt peter grant being bread as our number two flyhalf? he is being waisted at centre! give him some gametime in a bok jersey after morne and they will do us proud!!!!!!!!!
by Concerned November 9, 2009 10:44 GMT
The question has to be asked, how long are our Bok coaching staff going to continue making excuses for picking picking players that everyone in the country knows are useless, except our selection panel. Chilliboy is probably the 6th best hooker in the country and can''t even make the BUlls starting XV. Earl Rose despite his best game (and that in itself aint saying too much) for the "Springboks" is a good provincial rugby player at best.
Why do we not consider players overseas, when they are clearly the 1st choices in their positions. Playing overseas has shown to improve our players - Percy Montgomery!!!
It is time we stop picking players for "other reasons" and pick the best we have available.
having said that, if we do not rest our top 22 players, they will burn out before the 2011 World Cup and we will not compete.
by Hendrik November 9, 2009 10:59 GMT
There is a few other players that should be on the plane back to SA! De Villiers said that this squad was chosen on form in the currie cup, so why is Earl Rose, Heini Adams and Bandise Maku there? Earl Rose shows week in week out that he is not good enough but still they keep on picking him. As for the other two, if they are in form why aren''t they the first choice players for their provinces? It just amazes me... I really feel sorry for players like Janno Vermaak and Tiaan Liebenberg who play awsome rugby every week but is still overlooked! I can understand why quality players like these take the trip to play in the UK or Europe and it saddens me... If they play like that against Saracens they are going to get an even bigger hiding than against Leicester!!
by Luc November 9, 2009 11:28 GMT
theres something wrong with u PIETER - why on Earth would u wantt o axe John Smit???
by JA-JA November 9, 2009 11:44 GMT
The way I would have picked the Bok 15:
Excuse the spelling if it’s wrong
15: Joe Pieterson 14: Geo Aplon 13: Juan De Jong 12: Wynand Olivier 11: Lionel Mapoe 10: Jaque Louis Potgieter 9: Francois Hougard 8: Ashley Johnson 7:Dewald Potgieter (C) 6: Francois Louw 5: Andries Bekker 4: Seven Sykes 3: WP Nel 2: Tiaan Liebenberg 1: Wiam du Preez
16:Jean Dysel 17:Adriaan Strauss 18:Wikus Blaauw 19:David De Villiers/Anton Van Zyl 20:Sarel Pretorius 21:Francois Brummer/Burton Francis 22:Robert Ebersohn
The bench is a 4/3 split, don''t know if 5/2 would be better.
by Peter November 9, 2009 11:44 GMT
What about fullback were is frans steyn ,he needs to be there and the fullback from Stormers
by Nick November 9, 2009 11:46 GMT
John Smit is the captain and a bloody good one at that!
Thus: 1) beast 2) john smit 3) cj van de linda
bizmark can hit the bench! he''s good don''t get me wrong possibly the best hooker in the world buuuuuuuuuuuuut, the conditions in the north suit a bigger, heavier pack, with the added weight of john smit at hooker it will give us an edge!
unfortunately PdV will not make the change!
by T November 9, 2009 11:50 GMT
Chilliboy is good enough for commentating, days for rugby is over, injury looked like an excuse because his unfit and was tired in 13min. Leave Ruan at a specific number, cannot play at his best if he is moved all over the show. Wynand is not very goog at distributing the ball, could not see de Jongh running at his best, try Ruan at 12. Viljoen good option on fullback, solid.
by Irene November 9, 2009 12:21 GMT
When will the selecters'' admit they have made the wrong selection of players? Why no WP front rowers in team? Springbok''s reputation thrown away by wrong players in team....shame on you
by mielie November 9, 2009 12:24 GMT
The Wallabies, All Blacks and recently the Western province and lions have exposed our scrummaging. The Cheetahs destroyed the springbok frontline when they played for the Sharks and then PdV still believes that he has got it right. Are people afraid to tel him he`s a fool?
It is time to get rid of John Smit. Let us remember him for his greatnes, that led to world cup glory, and not for the way he is scrumming now.
What is wrong with a dignified retirement?
We are sitting with one of the best captains that we could have in Victor Matfield.
by ERIK November 9, 2009 12:29 GMT
Have to agree with some comments - only 4 days to prepare! There can be no unity in the pack. The Province and Free State front rows did not become a success overnight. They also had locks behind them that can scrum - excluding Andries Bekker. Most props - especially at international level - will go backwards with Bekker scrumming behind them.
Chilliboy has become a bit of a luxury these days - no wonder even PdV gives him so little game time.
by Corne November 9, 2009 12:51 GMT
It seems to me most of the people that claims the team only had 4 days to prepare forgot something. Of the pack that played Fridaynight , 4 comes from the bulls side. Numbers 1,2,4 and 6. Wich mean they should know each other rather well. Then number 3 and 5 is for a longtime part of the springboks, so i would thought that they were capable of preparing only in 4 days. My point is that number 1,2,4and 6 shouldn,t have to prepare that much as they are already a combination with the bulls. 4 and 5 is also the back-up combination for the boks for a while now. If they all were the 2nd best in SA it would have shown on Fridaynight. PdV claim they will be the future after 2011. In other words this youngsters will become good. Isn,t Straus,du Preez an WP Nel also younsters. Wicus Blaauw must surely be the oldest youngster in SA. To young in years but to old for the boks but who will say he is not good enough. Look at the scrumhalfs. Adams surely isnt our 2nd best. Even Januarie mustbe better. Youngsters for after 2011 must include Vermaak (lions) Potgieter (griekwas) and Hougaad( bulls) Earl Rose wasnt good enough for a struggling wp. WP now pay the lions to keep Earl in Jburg. Again if PdV looks for youngster for the future Joe Pieterson is a must. So now lets explain PdV choices as I see it. All the players that most of us complain about is coloured. Are we racists? I dont think so otherwise most of us would also complain about Beast, Habana, Pieterson exc and nobody would complain about Pienaar,Smit exct. We all just want to see that a team representing us is the best we can offer. Please remember Mr PdV a child who shows talent in maths at age of 4 cant be put in a university and hope he can make the step up from there. Just as that cant transformation be fored from the top downwards. These oke must come through the rank. I agree you will get the exception like a Jean de Villiers but it will always be an exception and you cant apply that rule to all the players in SA. Please stop the politics and just make us proud. It means always select the best there is to select no matter the colour.
by JA-JA November 9, 2009 13:07 GMT
My team is the mid week team not the first choise Bok team!!!
by joe November 9, 2009 14:51 GMT
1stly jano vermaak is injured and heini adams does deserve 2 be there he is second choice at his province because the greatest player in the world is number 1 scrummie...
Rose dsnt deserve it agreed but joe pietersen has never showed he can do it at super 14 level... You cant judge a player by currie cup form!!!!
Ruan Boshoff should be the number 2 fly half but lets just see what he does at super 14 level-Give him game time!!!!!!!!!!!
Francois Steyn doesnt desrve to be considered, he is the most inconsistent player in sa-let him grow and improve first and then consider him...
The 1 guy that has proved over again that he should play is Wynand and he has been amazing in every game hes played- he might not have been great in tests but hes never been given the chance to grow...
WP nel and coenie oostuizen are the strongest scrummages in the country and scrummed province off of newland- that province front row is full of arrogant no performers!!!!!
My Starting team for France 1. W.du preez 2. j smit 3. wp nel 4. bakkies 5. victor 6. brusouw 7. dewald 8. kanko 9. fourie 10. morne 11. habana 12. wynand 13. jacque 14. jp 15. Zane
by Bees November 9, 2009 15:00 GMT
How about this second team
15.R.Viljoen 14.L.Mapoe 13. 12.W.Olivier 11.J.Nokwe 10.J.Potgieter 9.F.Hougaard 8.R.Kankowski 7.J.Deysel 6.F.Louw 5.G.Britz 4.R.Matthee(Big lock from the leopards.Plays like bakkies) 3.WP.Nel 2.A.Strauss 1.W.Du Preez
Any sugestions for 14.Juan de jong is ok but too small and jaco pretorius is to predictable and uncreative
by Buffel November 9, 2009 17:03 GMT
Joe you really dont know anything about rugby....scrummed them off of newlands you say.....hahahahahah and adams is the worst scrumhalf in the country and wynand is n joke
by Nizaam November 9, 2009 19:03 GMT
ok, firstly, none of the WP and cheetahs forwards in the bok team is pathetic. We all know they were the best scrummagers during the currie cup. Secondly, Earl Rose, c''mon, there are much better fullbaks than him, example Joe Pietersen, with electric pace and unpredictable counter attacks, then Riaan Viljoen, with a boot that could probably match F. Steyn''s. Thirdly, Adrian Jacobs, what iz PdV thinking. Ah, guess we will just have to wait till the boks lose again to find out that some of the players that are there shudn''t be
by rehanb November 9, 2009 19:06 GMT
firstly Bees size should not be a considering factor, otherwise people like giteau barnes and even carter would not be playing. Juan de Jongh has shown that he can handle whatever hand he is dealt defensively. with more experience and the right management he will be a class player. Zane Kirchner is the most over rated player i have seen. He is definitely not an international fullback by a longshot. Dewald Potgieter is like a smaller version of schalk, all you see is the here and take more notice but is not nearly as effective and is certainly not international material.
by BOKKE!! November 9, 2009 19:45 GMT
Joe you are talking rubbish - Kirchner, Nel, W du Preez and Potgieter are too inexperienced - the French will kill us - we have not beaten them for 3 or 4 years, don''t be as arrogant as you make the Province front row sound.
by Nev November 9, 2009 23:45 GMT
Not much wrong with our team that won the Tri Nations guys,good thing more Cheetahs up front,but Deysel a bit slow I think,Kanko good at 8,is Burger there?Brussouw NEEDS to be there!
by Jake November 10, 2009 01:16 GMT
Surely the coach should have learned by now to pick the "in form players" ---less favouitism needed.
Good idea to tets new blod but all they achieved in the last test against the Liona sand nwo the "cok up agianst Leicetsr is toe give the new guys a negative entry into test rugby> Get them in the field when , and only when , we dominate.
Are we in Sa a bit too cocky about our recent achievements ---over confident in my opinion ---agianst relatively weak Australia and NZ.
Who cares where an ex Bok is playing now --if he is South African and good enough to play then he should be in the squad.
by Bees November 10, 2009 08:07 GMT
Yes Rehanb but firtly cater giteua,barnes are still bigger than de jong and they play alongsude massive players,Nonu,Mortlock etc.I have a lot of respect for Juan He really plays his hard out but the big hits he takes in the beginning of the game is going to rire him out by the end.Zane,dewalt,wynand,chiliboy,maku,rose.Hargreaves,raubenheimer are not good enough.I remeber a lot of these odd choices used to play for PDv when he was under 21 coach......
