Power back in the pack
5 Jun 2006
Front-rowers John Smit and Os du Randt are among eight players back in the mix for the first Test against Scotland.
Coach Jake White will be hugely relieved to welcome back some of his first-choice players who missed out on the action at the weekend following the below-par display of his so-called B squad.
The eight players bring with them a remarkable 300 Test caps, but more importantly they are world class performers in their own right and will be required to fire on all cylinders to combat a Scottish outfit that will test them in most departments.
Smit (51 caps), du Randt (61 caps) and Victor Matfield (45 caps) will all be considered for selection and will add considerable weight and height to the tight-five.
Others who joined the squad in Durban on Monday include: Juan Smith (flank, 21 caps), Fourie du Preez (scrumhalf, 21 caps), Jacques Cronje (flank, 20), Schalk Burger (flank, 25 caps) and Breyton Paulse (wing, 56 caps).
Both Burger and Smith are expected to be recalled to the backrow and the Western Province man is sure to make a big difference after the Bok XV struggled at the breakdowns against the World XV.
Paulse’s return after his season in France will add some speed – something that was sorely lacking at Ellis Park – and experience with Percy Montgomery.
The Scots, meanwhile, were busy settling into their team hotel. They will have their first training session in Durban on Tuesday morning, where a number of niggling injuries will be inspected.
By Andrew Hollely
128 Comments
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5 Jun 2006, 23:55 pm
Then you should call me uncle, I’m turning 27 October.
5 Jun 2006, 23:56 pm
ha, moved away like in 2001..i coulda played for craven u’13 but we moved
5 Jun 2006, 23:58 pm
lol..
5 Jun 2006, 23:58 pm
I could play every age level at craven week, but i was not good enough.
5 Jun 2006, 23:58 pm
sup uncle
5 Jun 2006, 23:59 pm
Midnight here in SA.
6 Jun 2006, 00:00 am
where in SA are u from?
6 Jun 2006, 00:02 am
Hey, I have work tomorrow.
No college life for me nor US midday.
Post yah again.
6 Jun 2006, 00:03 am
Boksburg
6 Jun 2006, 00:04 am
Where in the US you living now?
6 Jun 2006, 00:05 am
Do they play college rugby?
Only in certain states or everywhere.
6 Jun 2006, 00:06 am
Your not as quick to respond to posts as you run hey.
6 Jun 2006, 00:06 am
certain states. the one im going to at is KU ..its in kansas
6 Jun 2006, 00:09 am
yeah im kind off doing other things while im doing this too lol
6 Jun 2006, 00:09 am
Cheers bro. Gotta go.
6 Jun 2006, 00:11 am
later.
6 Jun 2006, 01:55 am
how terrible is it that jake is admitting that we dont have a speck of depth in sa rugby at the moment when we have to select the big guns to play against scotland.
all this hogwash about scotland performing well in the 6 nations. its the 6 nations for ***** sake. you will never see an all black first choice XV against scotland. what a joke that would be.
we should be in the position to start a 2nd XV against teams like scotland, otherwise our first choice big guns are gonna get played back into the ground.
come world cup time, how embarrasing it would be if jake has to play the 1st team to ensure victory and bonus point to make it through to the next round.
i hope those big guns are left on the bench for scotland. we need to blood guys badly. start ruan, start olivier, start P3, start butch, start whoever is cover for percy. those are the guys that we need cover in. start aj at lock with vd berg.
we need to use scotland as an opprtunity to test our up and coming options. no use relying on the tested for fixtures that involve minnows. ok scotland around 6th in the world these days. yay!!!
6 Jun 2006, 05:42 am
Post 5 get real stirring again.Yeah rite bud.
6 Jun 2006, 05:51 am
Oop’s read your udder postings and I take it all back you are da man .You sure know your sh*t.He he he.
6 Jun 2006, 08:19 am
If everybody was fit this would be my team:
15.) Percy Montgomery
14.) Ashwin Willemse
13.) Jacque Fourie
12.) Jean de Villiers
11.) Bryan Habana
10.) Jaco van der Westhuysen
9.) Fourie du Preez
8.) Joe van Niekerk
7.) Juan Smith
6.) Schalk Burger
5.) Victor Matfield
4.) Bakkies Botha
3.) CJ van der Linde
2.) John Smith
1.) Guthro Steenkamp
I think Jake should also look at a second tier development team:
15.) JP Pietersen
14.) Akona Ndungane
13.) Ronnie Cooke
12.) Wynand Olivier
11.) Tonderai Chavanga
10.) Meyer Bosman
9.) Ruan Pienaar
8.) Jacque Botes
7.) Luke Watson
6.) Pierre Spies
5.) Ross Skeate
4.) Andries Bekker
3.) BJ Botha
2.) Cilliboy Rallepelle
1.) Deon Carstens
6 Jun 2006, 08:50 am
RugbyStudent, your first team is good, I will get rid of Willemse and replace him with Russel.
6 Jun 2006, 09:47 am
Paulse ran the 40m in 5.20-5.30 in 2004/5. He’s a bloody snail!!
6 Jun 2006, 10:26 am
Gosh londons, that is slow for a wing.
Sure this is accurate?
6 Jun 2006, 10:38 am
I think they meant that Breyton Paulse will be smuggling ‘speed’ from France.
Apparently the ‘speed’ is much needed in our camp.
why dont they just use amphetamines?
6 Jun 2006, 11:28 am
i wish we could make Greame Smith a motivational speaker in the Boks pre-match team talk this week.
6 Jun 2006, 11:32 am
Pedrie instead of Cronje.
Cronje must be one of the most played and knackered players in SA.He must be heading into his 4th season now with no proper break?
Seriously,I think Jake **** himself after last Saterday. The Scotland series was going to one of the times he “risked” games.
….and quite rightly in my opinion.We should be klapping 2nd tier sides like Scotland with our 2nd choice 15. They have not beaten us 100 years of rugby in South Africa?
Jakes poor selections are coming back to haunt him. Wikus….opensider??? ******* please!!!
This would be a perfect time to give Watson a full game and responsibility.
Shimage is not international quality, was,is and never will be.
Botha should be given a full 80 minutes for a change and not 15 minutes at the end of a fucked up game.Scotland would be an ideal situation.
Why the hell is Brent Russel not on the wing? He has been sensational there the entire season?
So basically we are playing our best 15 against Scotland.
Oh ****…is it going to be a long season or what.
6 Jun 2006, 11:38 am
Rugbystudent, I disagree with your number 10 choice. Heineke Meyer knew something when he didn’t play him on flyhalf in the Super14. I hope Andre Pretorius will be back and ready for action soon, we’re missing a flyhalf!
6 Jun 2006, 12:09 pm
ruggadolla, Jaco will be the best 10 we’ve seen in ages once he gets going. You only need to watch him play to see the potential. Jake knows this and is giving Jaco the chance to prove him right.
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