Belligerent bolter will lend Boks bite
19 Apr 2011
JON CARDINELLI expects Duane Vermeulen to be named in the World Cup planning group on Wednesday and believes it could be a telling selection in a World Cup year.
The official World Cup group of 50 will only be named in June, but don’t expect it to differ from the ‘planning squad’ named this Wednesday. Coach Peter de Villiers has made it clear that he wants to get the right group of players together as early as possible, and has even scheduled meetings and planning camps for the select few while Super Rugby is still on the go.
This Wednesday’s announcement is thus significant. We already know of 23 players who have made the cut, as De Villiers announced his contracted group of Springboks in late March.
Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield, JP Pietersen, John Smit, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies were in the original group, while Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brüssow, Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Tendai Mtawarira, Wynand Olivier, Danie Rossouw, Morné Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde and Gurthrö Steenkamp were only recently handed one-year contracts.
The Bok coach will name between 45 and 50 players on Wednesday, and what this means is that as many as 27 places are up for grabs. De Villiers will make a statement with the players he includes, but he will also make a statement with the players he leaves out.
The contracted group itself deserves closer scrutiny. One can only believe that De Villiers made a promise to Adi Jacobs when they were at the Valke all those years ago, because his apparent guaranteed selection has very little to do with recent rugby exploits. At least Wynand Olivier has played for the Boks in the last year, but his performances have been so poor, you would have expected him to drop out of the World Cup reckoning. Unbelievably, he’s been awarded a Bok contract in a defining year. Go figure.
De Villiers is likely to call on many players that have been in the Bok mix over the past three years. Locks like Alistair Hargreaves and Flip van der Merwe will make the cut, and loose forwards like Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts and Keegan Daniel surely deserve to be part of the larger squad. What’s less clear is whether the Bulls’ loosies deserve spots ahead of their Stormers counterparts.
It’s not a provincial argument but a national one. Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann featured for the Boks in 2010 without making any great impact. Francois Louw was a key figure in the Boks’ Tests against Wales, Italy and France, and then was unceremoniously dumped after one sub-standard showing in the Tri-Nations. Louw has shown good form in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, and is certainly among the elite players in the country.
One man has been among the elite for the past three seasons, although the absence of a national call-up would suggest otherwise. Picking Duane Vermeulen for the World Cup planning group is a no-brainer, and he could play a big role at the World Cup. He provides the abrasive alternative to Spies the Boks have been searching for, that is a No 8 that drives opposition players back on defence and makes good ground with ball in hand. If the Boks include men like Vermeulen and Alberts in their final World Cup squad, they will improve their chances of winning the tournament.
Some will suggest that Ashley Johnson deserves a place, but this season has shown him to be a liability. He contributes with some powerful runs and gets through a lot of work, but his high error rate has cost the Cheetahs matches. There is no reason why he should be included ahead of the Bulls’ loose forwards, let alone the form men at the Sharks and Stormers.
I fear that politicians will demand that Ricky Januarie get a look-in, even though he’s unlikely to travel to New Zealand in September. The overweight scrumhalf hasn’t been contracted to the Boks, a sure sign he is not in the World Cup plans. He’s not the first-choice No 9 at the Stormers, and to pick him for the Boks would smack of window dressing.
Sarel Pretorius is a player who’s impressed in a struggling Cheetahs side, and Charl McLeod was a late call-up for the Springboks’ 2010 end-of-year tour. If it’s a toss up between the two, De Villiers needs to show some consistency in picking the latter, who has to date enjoyed a solid Super Rugby competition.
McLeod’s halfback partner Pat Lambie will also make the squad, but there is another player who comes into the flyhalf equation. Butch James has confirmed his move back to South Africa in May, a fact that confirms he is in the World Cup mix. James is the Boks’ best bet at flyhalf, as he not only has the experience but the ability to switch between a conservative and attacking game plan.
De Villiers has a fourth flyhalf option in Ruan Pienaar, who excelled at No 10 for the Boks in late 2008 and in the 2009 British & Irish Lions series. Pienaar has been alternating between 9 and 10 at Irish club Ulster, and has to date produced some match-winning performances with the boot.
Frans Steyn is the other overseas-based player guaranteed of selection, and his return could solve the Boks’ problems at fullback. Zane Kirchner will be picked for the planning group, but doesn’t deserve to go to the World Cup.
As South Africa’s best attacking player, Gio Aplon should travel to New Zealand. If Aplon pays more attention to his kicking game, he can provide a good alternative to Steyn. He has a big boot and it’s a shame that the development of this area of his game has been neglected in the last few seasons.
It’s great to see JP Pietersen finding some form, and right now he’d be my favourite to start at No 14 for the Boks. Bjorn Basson is prime candidate to replace Bryan Habana, although it is a foregone conclusion that the veteran will be taken to the World Cup.
631 Comments
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19 Apr 2011, 22:32 pm
@Puma(Puma)-546: rather a p rick than a farken whinging choir boy….
19 Apr 2011, 22:32 pm
@sohojo(sohojo)-550: Not that again.
19 Apr 2011, 22:33 pm
@sohojo(sohojo)-550: Jake White, Skoppie: coming soon to a TV near you …
19 Apr 2011, 22:34 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-542: I know mate. Agree.
19 Apr 2011, 22:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-545: haha, what are you, the modderrotter?
why dont you go pat gwede and julius on the back and sing dubula ibhunu with them?
(see how ridiculous your rudi statement is when it is reversed?)
anyways, grow a pair, support a team and maybe, MAYBE we will take your advice seriously.
ok?
@Puma(Puma)-546: @PissAnt(PissAnt)-547:
a pr ick worth holding on to?
not for me thankyouverymuch, i am not from capetown.
i nominate jr for the role
19 Apr 2011, 22:35 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-542: hiyas piesangs , i agree but hell just mention a sharks player on here and say you think he is good and see the rage of insults etc
i dared saying deysel will cause havock ,
19 Apr 2011, 22:35 pm
@grant10(grant10)-551: Must be hitting the right nerve? Plenty reaction…..hehehehe.
19 Apr 2011, 22:35 pm
People who preach should never stand on cardboard boxes. Hell haven’t we all done that once in our lifetimes
19 Apr 2011, 22:36 pm
Oh and kaksioek, never apologise on differences of opinion dude, I am more often wrong than right with mine, so I don’t mind if you offer an alternative opinion especially if it makes sense – material to write more **** on my side which is great!
Ciao all.
19 Apr 2011, 22:36 pm
well with the arrival of the Chairman Of The ‘Biggets C nuts on Keo ‘ brigade i bid you all a fond goodnite.
outta here
19 Apr 2011, 22:37 pm
Take the imports out the Sharkie Varkie and wtf you got left, a bunch of no name brand semi ripened bananaboytjies going belly wobbling back to betchu wana land.
19 Apr 2011, 22:38 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-559: Cool, that’s a great attitude. Cheers.
19 Apr 2011, 22:39 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-556: No need to defend the indefensible (you can’t **** against thunder), all these players have “feet of clay” as Skoppie would say so get on and support them despite what others say based on YOUR confidence in their abilities. GO SMITTIE.
19 Apr 2011, 22:39 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-555:
Howzit Ranger.
Jislaaik! we having champagne weather right now. Awesome to be here this time of year.
Saw today a bushbuck putting its head threw my open window to my office. Brilliant. About 5pm today. They come out about that time. Also this morning about 20 or so Impla in my garden with plenty so many ******* about. Great place this. How you doing? Hope well buddy.
19 Apr 2011, 22:39 pm
@sohojo(sohojo)-561: Come on Skoppie. I showed you how silly that opinion was on the weekend.
19 Apr 2011, 22:40 pm
1 last comment.
if jake going to do the brumbies job george smith must be relieved he is no longer there.
jake would have dropped him for a lock at opensider!
farken ignoramus
19 Apr 2011, 22:40 pm
@sohojo(sohojo)-561: are you vloeking me now Skop
19 Apr 2011, 22:40 pm
@sohojo(sohojo)-550: and the stormers are all cape tonians??
hhahahahahahaha ur a funny fella
19 Apr 2011, 22:43 pm
@grant10(grant10)-560: well its an improvement on “unspeakable filth” i suppose.
i feel like an outlaw in the old west, the bigger the reward poster, the better outlaw i must be
now go have your nightcap grampa mouse, the cat is back so no more stomping around you hear?
@sohojo(sohojo)-561: shut it halfwit.
19 Apr 2011, 22:44 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-569: hiyas ranger . you been scarce?
19 Apr 2011, 22:45 pm
@Puma(Puma)-564: Why censor that. Jeepers. Can’t we say m on keys?…….. They are real things that live in Natal????????? I see the real life animals here all the time. Damn to censor tha here is being silly.
19 Apr 2011, 22:46 pm
@Puma(Puma)-571: lol and the bigger versions live here in the Cape
19 Apr 2011, 22:47 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-555:
the difference here rasheed staggie your lackeys ACTUALLY know rudi 
now me, i don’t know juju & gwedw bwahahaha.
now think up another stereotypical retort kid
19 Apr 2011, 22:47 pm
some breaking news….
mujati seems to be back in bok mix….see intersting arcticle on news 24.
See Cobus Versagie saying schalk brits should be used as impact 2
far better than the leaden footed plod who cant run anymore…..
now schalk brits as an impact player…with bissy starting…..now thats farken awesome….
19 Apr 2011, 22:49 pm
Ludick (GL)
Ndungane (EP)
JPP (WP)
Terblanche (SWD)
Jacobs (WP)
Bosman (FS)
Mvovo (EP)
Lambie (KZN)
JLP (FS)
McLoed (KZN)
Kankowski (EP)
Alberts (GL)
Deysel (GL)
Botes (
Daniel (EP)
Sykes (KZN)
Hargreaves (KZN)
JdP (FS)
BdP (FS)
Beast (Zim)
2 locks and 2 half backs from KZN
no wonder Sharks always flatter to deceive when crunch time truly comes around, they forget they are actually Sharks and hanker back to their real heritage and who wanna die for any cause that ain’t really theirs at all to begin with?
19 Apr 2011, 22:49 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-572: now thats farken racist SL….you just never learn hey….take that kak back to Durbs….we dont want that s hit here in CT man!
19 Apr 2011, 22:50 pm
@grant10(grant10)-574: mujati cannot play for boks he is not an SA citizen , unless he applies which he has not
19 Apr 2011, 22:50 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-572: hahahaha. I know.
Once many years back I climbed Table Mountain. Had a young b a b oon jump on my back. With its mother just at the back. Damn was scared, but it just went on and no trouble. Thank goodness…..hehe. Think they have taken them off Table Mountain now. Think none are left there these days. Think mostly at Cape Point you see em.
19 Apr 2011, 22:51 pm
@grant10(grant10)-576: oh ffs moron is the cape not full of babboons ?? like the ones being asked not to be fed at cape point??
ur ******* mad moron now piss off with that blue gum tree on your shoulder
19 Apr 2011, 22:51 pm
@Puma(Puma)-564: howdy man, ja strong like russia.
cant wait for the weekend, i will be in the water for at least 20 hours.
the couta and bugs must beware!
19 Apr 2011, 22:52 pm
@Puma(Puma)-578: see grant jump on the race wagon???? so ******* typical
puma i shat my self for a few babboons at cape point , they actually get aggro there if you eat anything near them
19 Apr 2011, 22:53 pm
@Puma(Puma)-578: they have moved most of them from TM puma , people keep feeding them , just like the ******* there in durbs , and they start depending on that feeding
19 Apr 2011, 22:57 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-580: Enjoy the bugs Ranger. Love em, but I myself have to buy em. So if you can get a few down there enjoy it.
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-581: I know, it is silly. We were talking of the animals. Jeepers one has to think before we type or say things these days. Ag, crazy man. Those ba boons have serious canine teeth. Scary stuff. Once on table mountain while climbing up one young one jumped on my back. Got a huge fright. Also they used to be on Chapmans Peak. No longer there. They have moved them off. Only see them now at Cape Point.
Here in the estate where I live we see the mo n keys almost daily. A pleasure to see em. Naughty buggers but enjoy em. Saw a Bushbuck about 5pm at my office window and this morning many Impla. Awesome. Love it here.
19 Apr 2011, 23:00 pm
@Puma(Puma)-583: lol brilliant
i like them too but **** the ******* here are scary , reckon if one attacks you you in deep Cr*ap
the ******* in durbs etc climb into many homes and cause ****
had it on tv the other day , but yeah they cute the smaller ones
19 Apr 2011, 23:01 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-570: howdy man, busy busy busy.
got a fishing ski a couple of weeks ago and planning a trip to mozam with my spearfishing club so little time for chatting with work thrown in
@Transformation(Transformation)-573: rasheed staggie?
if you dont like it, why dont you run along and blog with your comrades, boy.
19 Apr 2011, 23:01 pm
@Puma(Puma)-583: ******* is mon**keys
19 Apr 2011, 23:02 pm
would never vloek you bananaboy, there are far more vloekable premenstrual prima donnas amongst the sharkievarkie brethren around here that are far more deserving of 4 letter worded vloekery, you are far too humble and honest for that, unlike some your illustrious schmuckadilly moegoe medeguppies like his Heinous Gwathole and his merry band of foefie sliding sharkievarkie vernekeryers, and like this little idiot punkadilly ranger prude piepiejoller over here.
19 Apr 2011, 23:03 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-585: awesome mate , you cant beat nature man , its awesome
people brad about the cape coast and yes its very beautiful
but eish they dont know about the nothern natal coast etc and places like lake sibaya
19 Apr 2011, 23:03 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-582: That is the thing, once they rely on humans to feed them then they can get aggresive. Still feel for the m o n keys here. They are hungrey mostly. See they have some feeding stations at points here now for them. That is a good thing.
19 Apr 2011, 23:04 pm
@Puma(Puma)-589: meant – hungry
19 Apr 2011, 23:07 pm
@Puma(Puma)-589: so there should be as its man thats destroyed their natural feeding habbitat
19 Apr 2011, 23:07 pm
@Puma(Puma)-583: well if things go well i will let you know puma, may have a few bugs i can spare you buddy.
but this weekend i must feed my in laws and my boet and his wife who are flying out from pomland.
lots of mouths to feed.
19 Apr 2011, 23:09 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-584: Had some of the m on keys trying to attack my pugs yesterday. They can be aggressive to smaller dogs. Pugs are very placid. So had to move off the veranda and bring em in.
Still enjoy the wild life here. This place is amazing with wild life. To think the city is just outside. Heck feels like it many km away. Also now the weather is now brilliant. Humidity still here but much lower. Enjoy it this time of year.
19 Apr 2011, 23:10 pm
@Puma(Puma)-593: wow , yeah you will have to be alert as they attack with speed , and a small dog wont have a chance
19 Apr 2011, 23:12 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-588: man, the more of our coast i explore, the more i love it.
and that goes for cpae coast and natal coast both.
its just that i am more used to the natal coast.
19 Apr 2011, 23:13 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-592: Don’t worry about me buddy. Feed your boet and family that are coming over. Where can you buy great seafood here? I used to go to a brilliant portuguese fishery in Joburg. Heck it was like getting it straight out of the sea it was that fresh, not sure where one gets to buy it that fresh here.
I am off to your grandfathers land of birth in a few weeks time. Can’t wait. The fish there is brilliant. Don’t get better than that. Probably the Cape we do here in SA.
19 Apr 2011, 23:13 pm
@Puma(Puma)-593: durban weather now at its best , not hot not cold and also not that windy
19 Apr 2011, 23:15 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-591: For sure bro.
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-594: I know they won’t have a chance and they getting old now. So have to keep em indoors when we are out or working in the office. Something I hardly had to think about in Joburg. But still love it here. Also saw a massive snake he other night in my garden………….This is AFRICA…. LOVE IT!!
19 Apr 2011, 23:15 pm
@Puma(Puma)-593: puma, you should encourage your neighbours to plant a variety of bushes and trees that fruit at different times of the year (some summer and some winter).
indigenous of course, instead of alien plants.
try a red ivory, berchemia zeyheri. a beautiful smallish tree with delicious fruits much like raisins.
the ******* will not need feeding stations then.
19 Apr 2011, 23:17 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-597: Champagne weather now. NO weather in the world can beat Durbs this time of year ever. Love it. Will be like this for the next 4 months. Gets a bit windy come Aug, but still great. Can never really call this Autumn or winter when it comes but heck it is marvelous. Makes up for the heat and humidity I have to put up with in the summer months…….hehe.
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