Bulls axis a must for Boks
1 Jun 2009
Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier have made a rock solid case for inclusion in the Springbok squad for the British & Irish series.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers won’t be able to justify their omission should he choose to overlook the Bulls duo, who were brilliant in the latter stages of the tournament, and never poor at any stage.
They were easily the best South African flyhalf and inside centre, and a strong case can be made for them being the finest in those positions in the tournament.
De Villiers has maintained that form will be one of the primary criterion for selection, and in a press conference last week, justified his selection of some of the players who fronted the Namibia XV saying, ‘If you’re good enough for the Super 14, you’re good enough to play for your country.’
Steyn and Olivier fit the bill comfortably.
It would be a travesty if Morgan Newman, the Stormers’ midfielder who De Villiers rates highly, is included ahead of Olivier. He is untested at Super 14 level, while Olivier has won two titles, has Test experience and a World Cup winner’s medal.
Olivier delivered a Man of the Match performance in the final, proving that he has the aptitude to not only front, but excel in pressure matches. If De Villiers was watching the entire tournament he would have noted that that performance was only one of a handful of outstanding efforts.
Newman’s selection is unlikely, but I’ve learnt never to underestimate De Villiers’ capacity for the unpredictable and illogical.
As it stands Jean de Villiers is the incumbent 12, with Frans Steyn likely to be included on the bench, primarily as cover for him, but also for his utility value. Continuity is key for any successful side, and in this regard, Peter de Villiers’ decision to remain consistent in his selection would be understandable. Olivier, however, has to be the official back-up to that duo.
Speaking to keo.co.za, Olivier said he wasn’t too focused on Springbok selection, but privately he will feel justifiably gutted if his name is not announced this evening.
‘I’d like to think that I’ve made a decent impression, but [Springbok selection] is out of my control,’ he said.
‘The last couple of months I’ve felt my form has been really good. But I never set out to win back my place in the Springbok side. Don’t misunderstand me, I still regard it as the highest honour to play for the Springboks. But I knew that [selection] would be a by-product of good form for the Bulls. So I set my stall to play well there.
‘I know what it feels like to be overlooked for Springbok selection, so while it will still be disappointing if I don’t make it, I think I’m equipped to deal with the disappointment a little better than I have in the past.’
Steyn shouldn’t be made to experience that type of pain this evening.
He commands a place in the squad on form. In fact, taking into account that he would have Bulls teammate Fourie du Preez, and experienced centre Jean de Villiers playing on either side of him, there is little to no risk in starting him.
That said, Ruan Pienaar should be retained at flyhalf for the same reason I support the retention of De Villiers at 12 with Steyn deputising ahead of Olivier, but Steyn offers as complete a repertoire as you could hope to find in a flyhalf. Neither Peter Grant nor Earl Rose boast his range of skills.
Steyn and Olivier’s selection are no-brainers, but nothing is ever simple in South African rugby. Here’s hoping common sense trumps stupidity.
By Ryan Vrede
318 Comments
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1 Jun 2009, 15:03 pm
#299 grootblousmile: Something Die BUL?
Ag nee man Toks is oulik……..wou net se hoekom daar ook dom girls moet wees
1 Jun 2009, 15:06 pm
#301 EEE: Toks het ‘n baaaie goeie hart…. wel ek hoop so, met daai groot lyf !
1 Jun 2009, 15:08 pm
#302 grootblousmile:
kan ons nie liewer oor vroumense praat nie?
1 Jun 2009, 15:09 pm
#302 grootblousmile: Bwahahahahaha ou snaaksie
1 Jun 2009, 15:10 pm
#303 Ashley: Nou maar laat waai, laat ons **** !!
1 Jun 2009, 15:11 pm
#303 Ashley:
Go ahead…..dis tog belangrik vir die malike psige…..vroumense, karre en RUGBY hehehehe, ek sal maar saampraat as julle die rugby ding doen
1 Jun 2009, 15:11 pm
#301 EEE: Amper gewees !
1 Jun 2009, 15:12 pm
#304 EEE: Hoorie… ek wou laaankal vra…. daar’s nou ‘n Facebook groep vir ons Klas van ’82… sien jy’s noggie daar nie… check bietjie
1 Jun 2009, 15:13 pm
#307 BEN DIE BUL: Ben je bedonnerd ??
1 Jun 2009, 15:15 pm
#308 grootblousmile: sal bietjie gaan kyk…..
#307 BEN DIE BUL: vroulike intuisie hehehehehe…..welkom Ben
1 Jun 2009, 15:20 pm
#309 grootblousmile: Ja, veral teen die Chiefs Saterdagaand !
1 Jun 2009, 15:22 pm
Het vir my gelyk Toks staan daar met n semi ereksie
1 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
GBS ek dink dat ons jare van nou af gaan terugkyk na saterdag as die dag toe SA rugby/ Wêreld rugby vir altyd verander het. ons het jare lank fondamente gelê. this is the next level. ek dink die BOKKE die haaie en ons bergbriesies kan ook so speel. aggresiewe verdediging dodelike aanval. ek voel dat die verskil tussen 2008 se bulle en 2009 se Bulle is die ektra dimensie wat pieter rossouw op die aanvallende spel gehad het. die bulle is baie meer onvoorspelbaar en die haaie en die crusaders kon dit ook nie hokslaan nie. almal maak dit af asof chiefs swak was, dis hoekom ek wil hê die game moet op die net beskikbaar wees sodat mense kan sien
1 Jun 2009, 15:37 pm
312. Kalahari KidReply to this comment Goto comment :
June 1st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Het vir my gelyk Toks staan daar met n semi ereksie
sies man waar kyk jy? kyk ‘n man in die gesig, nie waar sy klos hang nie… het jy dit gefreezframe?
1 Jun 2009, 15:46 pm
#313 hnkjnr: Ja, stem saam.
Maar nie net met die dimensie wat Pieter Rossouw gebring het nie…. laasjaar het dit die Bulls spelers minstens 8 weke gevat om tot volle aanvaarding met Ludeke te kom EN die ELV’s te omhels…
Onthou jy, ons het die laaste 4 Super 14 games laasjaar op ‘n ry gewen…. 3 daarvan op Loftus
Hierdie seisoen was ons onoorwonne op Loftus….
Voorspel net goed !
1 Jun 2009, 17:45 pm
Jean DeVilliers, Pienaar and Steyn….have either been injured way to often this season and are horribly short of match time or are currently showing poor form.
Likewise I think Skalk Burger is horribly off form which must be a concern.And I’m not convinced about Smit at prop? Why, if he is not good enough at hooker agfter 70 odd tests why would he be better at prop? And saying that….Bismark has been pretty kak as well.
1.Guthro Steenkamp
2.
3.
4.Bakkies
5.Matfield
6
7
8.Spies
9.DuPreez
10.Morne Steyn
11.Habana
12
13
14
15.Kirchner
16.Dannie Roussow
17.Dewald Potgieter
18.Wynand Olivier
19.
20.
21.
22.
That is the backbone of a form and winning Springbok squad that is needed
1 Jun 2009, 17:58 pm
#316 St.Petersburgbok: guthro?? yeah right take off the blue **** stuck on your eyes
guthro in most games has had his head shoved up his *** at loosehead
in the loose he has done well yes , but so has beast , difference is beast is a stronger scrummager
dewald potgieter is not bok material yet , i reckon will get there
kirchner has not been the best all season , stefan and ludick have been far better
infect stefan the steadiest and his up and unders cause more havock then any other fullbacks , so you base it on what ???
1 Jun 2009, 18:11 pm
Ja ek dink dit was amper meer die “letting go of Heyneke” ding. asof hulle nie geglo het hulle kan groter hoogtes bereik sonder hom nie, of dat hulle conflicted was oor wat dit sal sê van Heyneke as hulle nie affekteer word deur sy vertrek nie. die loftus faktor in laaste 4 games laasjaar het hulle wakker geklap en al daai spinnerakke uitgeblaas. dis nie vir my soveel oor pieter rossouw die persoon nie, maar wel die meer kreatiewe onvoorspelbare tipe rugby filosofie wat hy simboliseer. op die oomblik is die bulle die perfekte kombinasie van konserwatiewe basics first en counter attacking uit enige situasie.
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