Boks latest – PdV explains back row shuffle
20 Jul 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from the Springbok camp.
PdV explains back row shuffle – Peter de Villiers says that the uncertainty of Juan Smith’s availability for the World Cup has forced him to select Danie Rossouw at blindside flank for the coming Test against Australia.
De Villiers has picked Rossouw at No 7 and Ashley Johnson at No 8 for Saturday’s game, a strange selection given Rossouw has won the World Cup playing No 8 and Johnson has played all his rugby at blindside flank for the Cheetahs.
‘There is a reason for that,’ he said. ‘I know Ashley played superbly for the Cheetahs at No 7, but with uncertainty about Juan Smith’s fitness for the World Cup, I’m looking to Danie to fill in there if necessary.
‘There has been a revival in Danie’s career this year. His performance will be very important for us. I think Ashley could get us on the front foot from No 8.’
De Villiers added that he is counting on the forwards to lay the platform for the Boks’ exciting if untried backline combinations.
‘Our ability to bring that explosiveness of the outside backs into the game will depend on the kind of possession we get, our field position and how much momentum we have.’
Boks aim to surprise at scrum-time – Debutants Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger claim that the Bok scrum is firing as a unit and will test the Wallabies on Saturday.
The Boks will field an inexperienced pack, but the two Bulls props believe the scrum has what it takes to unsettle the Aussies.
‘We are going to surprise people with our scrumming,’ Greyling told Independent Newspapers. ‘As a prop, you know when you are getting it right as a unit. It helps that I know my tighthead, Werner, so well from the Bulls, and between us is one of the most experienced scrummagers of all time in John Smit.
‘We are going to attack the Wallabies in the scrum. This is not cockiness – you have to have an attacking mindset, and this doesn’t mean we underrate the Wallabies – they actually scrummed okay against Samoa. We are just feeling really good.’
Kruger said there’s no special technique he will be employing when he fronts his Aussie counterparts.
‘Scrumming is not always as technical as people make out. It is very direct and very physical. You put your head down and go forward – there’s no getting around it.’
81 Comments
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20 Jul 2011, 07:35 am
Makes perfect sense.
It would also solve Snor’s problem with Bekker, who would not make the matchday 22 if Rossouw was the lock reolacement. That might have made a few Cape Tonians unhappy.
Now letaks just hope he is reseving the no.6 position for Brussouw and not Burger, and we are set for a perfectly balanced loose trio.
20 Jul 2011, 07:38 am
This dang Blackberry frustrates the hell out of me. Apologies for the typos.
20 Jul 2011, 07:44 am
In the scrum, Johnson was packing down at 8 whilst wearing the number 7 for cheetahs
20 Jul 2011, 07:56 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1: agree.
Though with our usual 2 no.8s currently off form, Brussow’s inclusion may be at the expense of Spies, not Burger.
Not many people would have counted on this loose trio for the WC, but it’s looking a distinct possibility:
8: Burger
7: Rossouw
6: Brussow
20 Jul 2011, 07:57 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-2: You typo’ed “dang” also. I believe when referring to a BB the word starts with “f” and ends with “ng”.
20 Jul 2011, 08:01 am
@ali(ali)-4:I think Danie will be a back up to Alberts at 7 if Smith does not make it.
20 Jul 2011, 08:02 am
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-5: That’s when talking about Blue Bulls as well.
20 Jul 2011, 08:07 am
@garth(garth)-6: It’s possible, but one of the reasons Div sees Juan so integral to the loose trio is his ability to help command the lineout. Rossouw has a better ability to fulfill this function.
20 Jul 2011, 08:09 am
@ali(ali)-4: I like that trio. I still say every team needs 3 different backrowers. One playing towards the ball; first at the breakdown. Doesn’t have to be a “fetcher” or “turnover specialist”. Just enough to disrupt the opposition and protect the tackled player if his team is in possession. A bruising, hard running player. It’s a given…most teams have picked up on that already. Must also be a line out specialist and imposing at the ruck – a good cleaner. Danie and Juan fits this requirement best with our current crop of players. Juan is lethal at the back of the line out. We will miss him. I don’t recall him ever being shown up in the back. Not ever. Danie may be the next best option, as Div stated. Can’t believe I actually agree with him on something!
The we need a linking player, a guy that can explode off the back of set pieces, make some yards, sow some doubt as to what back line move is planned, arrives second or fairly early at the breakdown. Generally tasked with continuity and keeping the ball alive; perhaps also create a few things on the field. Burger? Perhaps…he improved his passing and vision dramatically the last few years. Who else fits this requirement?
20 Jul 2011, 08:11 am
@garth(garth)-7: Do not mention the berry and the bull in the same sentence…the latter in a different class!
20 Jul 2011, 08:13 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1: are you assuming that Bakkies makes the match 22?
20 Jul 2011, 08:20 am
@BuckT(BuckTrendy)-11: He will make the 22.
20 Jul 2011, 08:23 am
I would be gutted if Juan doesnt make it, I would still play him only from the last groups games if needed as he is that good. I remember when he came back from injury last year in the home tests (after we were getting smashed at the tackle and ruck on the away leg of the Tri-Nations) – and Juan came back and never took a backward step. You could see the team follow him as he does set the example.
If he were to miss the whole tournament, Danie would be the sensible replacement but the loose trio doesnt seem right with Brussouw, Roussouw and Spies – it doesnt feel balanced.
Does anyone think that Burger would start ahead of Brussouw or Spies? Not what you want to happen, but who is the incumbent 6 and would De Villiers ever pick Burger at 8 ahead of Spies without actually trying him there before?
20 Jul 2011, 08:26 am
agree, Bakkies and Victor WILL be the starting locks….
20 Jul 2011, 08:30 am
Interesting.
So Danie is PDV’s 2nd choice 7 then? Not Willem Alberts. Im not complaining.
20 Jul 2011, 08:30 am
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-9: Agree. Though he plays at 6 at Stormers, Burger pretty much fulfills an eighthman function by serving as a link man to backline nowadays – probably a move to prolong his career more than anything, because he’s far from a natural passer of the ball.
Only players who fit that multi-faceted bill in the current set-up is Johnson, though question marks still linger over his temperament and workload. Hopefully, one of the current batch of athletic loosies of Spies, Kanko or Koster will begin to man-up in the physical stakes and become well-rounded in that regard – because they’ve all got the physical dimensions to do so.
20 Jul 2011, 08:32 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-15: Ja I also saw it that way. I wonder if he has his eye on Willem for 8? Wishful thinking perhaps?
20 Jul 2011, 08:39 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-17: I’ve longsince seized to use my (admittedly convulsed) logic when pondering PDV’s team selections and thinking.
I just go with the flow and hope for the best.
20 Jul 2011, 08:42 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-18: I like that line of reasoning. I should adopt that more. I think I’m going to.
Hard not to micro-analyse everything though.
20 Jul 2011, 08:48 am
Here’s how it will be – if Juan as expected isn’t fit in time.
8.Spies
7. Rossouw
6. Burger
Bench:
Brussouw
Sadly.
20 Jul 2011, 08:52 am
Trying to analyse P.Divvy’s choices is something that can only lead to nosebleeds and migraines…..
20 Jul 2011, 08:54 am
You gotta feel for Vermulen who would have ticked so many of the boxes. Hard man, links well and covers loads of ground. Forget Bakkies, Danie is the man!
20 Jul 2011, 08:56 am
Div will play the following two combinations depending on opposition etc. and if Juan doesn’t make it back.
6. Brussouw
7. Rossouw
8. Burger
or
6. Brussouw
7. Burger
8. Spies
With Alberts covering.
20 Jul 2011, 08:59 am
How on earth does Stegman make the squad and the team?
Terrible form, just gives away kickable penalties and contributes nothing
on defensive side. Even in the so called B team we have so many better
options. Pocock is going to dominate
20 Jul 2011, 08:59 am
@scrumfan(scrumfan)-23:
Opinions are a dime a dozen. Has Snor EVER played Burger at 8?
20 Jul 2011, 09:00 am
I feel Wynand Olivier hasn’t received enough criticism – veiled or otherwise – yet today. Time’s a ticking away.
Stegman – tick.
Spies – tick.
Olivier – ?
20 Jul 2011, 09:01 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-20: @Tacitus(Deucalion)-20: spies…rossouw…Burger…
Farkit.
we will be done and dusted 6 love …6 love
all over rover
goodnite nurse. In our moer
20 Jul 2011, 09:02 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-26: Give it time. Its still relatively early in the day.
20 Jul 2011, 09:02 am
best 8 is Duane Vermeulen.
Sadly crocked
20 Jul 2011, 09:10 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-25: With Brussow now regarded as a player one “builds a team around”, it’s likely that Burger and Spies will be competing for a starting position.
They may both be Snor favourites, but I suspect that Burger is seen as more valuable.
When last has Burger been left out of the starting XV when fit?
20 Jul 2011, 09:16 am
there was a full page exclusive with PDV about a month ago in the Cape Times….PDV was hell bent on a loose trio of brussow…juan smith and schallk at 8…
I am not sure if he will continue down that road as he may have wanted to test schalk at 8 in the tri nations….now not sure with schalks injury if that will be possible….and it may be too risky to do so in the WC without a few ‘ practice ‘ runs…
20 Jul 2011, 09:18 am
I would play Alberts at 7 if Juan can’t make it. Rossouw at 4 and leave Bakkies on the bench. Bakkies gonna cost us I feel with yellow cards.
20 Jul 2011, 09:21 am
Stegman – tick
Spies – tick
Bakkies – tick
Olivier – ?
20 Jul 2011, 09:23 am
@ali(ali)-30:
When last has Burger been 100% injury free? Seems to be injured plenty these days.
If Brussow is our first choice 6 then Burger will play 8. Doubt PdV will leave Burger out ever. But really looking forward to seeing Johnson play 8 on the away tour. He was superb for Cheetahs though he played 7 then. So have to see.
Pity Vermeulen is injured.
20 Jul 2011, 09:23 am
@grant10(grant10)-31: i think it will ultimately rest with Brussow’s match readiness.
Brussow may have leapfrogged Burger for the starting 6 berth, but Schalk is still probably seen as the next best option – Stegmann and Flo don’t seem to be favoured for a starting first XV role.
In Div’s thinking, player rankings for no.6 will look like this:
Brussow -> Burger -> Stegmann -> Louw.
If Brussow is fit, space will be made for Burger somewhere else.
20 Jul 2011, 09:25 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-33: Spies won’t play 8 if Brussow is 100% over his injury. Brussow to start as our number one choice at 6 and Burger will play 8. PdV will never leave Burger out.
20 Jul 2011, 09:26 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-26:
come on now ‘your tactfulness’ even you have to admit that wo has been (to put it nicely) an ‘enigma’ in test rugby? come on?
20 Jul 2011, 09:33 am
What about Burger at 7??
20 Jul 2011, 09:34 am
i dont know why people try to squeeze in Burger. he doesnt offer much, very limited and is likely to cost than to produce anything meaningful.
other players have more qualities than Burger, namely;
Alberts, Ashely,Flow and Spies in all their respective positions. ie
at 7, Ashley and Alberts are much better,
at 8, Spies, Ashely and Alberts are streets ahead and finaly
at 6, Flow has more turnovers than Burger and you can build a gameplan around him. the perfect sub for Brussow.
20 Jul 2011, 09:43 am
genius
20 Jul 2011, 09:43 am
@ali(ali)-35: yes….although personally I would start with Steggmann / F Louw before Schalk at openside…
20 Jul 2011, 09:44 am
schalk far more playing like a blindside these days than an opensider anyway.
20 Jul 2011, 09:45 am
@ali(ali)-30:
i remember snor indicating at some point in S15 Burger may be considered at 8.
a world cup squad usually has 5 loosies – hopefully rossouw goes as the 4th lock and adds versatility. we dont need 4 locks with him one of 5 loosies.
alternatively snor may go light on props with smit covering (please nooo)
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
@grant10(grant10)-42: even there, he does not deserve a place in the starting 15.
20 Jul 2011, 10:03 am
@grant10(grant10)-41: The times Burger has made a success of the no. 6 berth have been the times when he has shared the fetching duties with other players in the team.
In 2004 and 2005, De Wet Barry helped slowing the ball and making the odd turnover, and recently Bismarck has helped when he has started. Obviously Flo and P. Louw help out at a provincial level.
With no other player to help out, Burger simply cannot be expected to fulfill these duties on his lonesome. Hopefully, i suspect Snor is beginning to realise this
20 Jul 2011, 10:06 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-43: Think it will depend on whether CJ is fit enough to make the RWC squad. We have no others who can competently cover both 1 and 3, so if he doesn’t make it, it will mean that we will have to bring a full tally of props.
20 Jul 2011, 10:07 am
@cab(cab)-40: Cabbie..
You are totally loyal to PdV have to respect you for that. Most of us have doubts though.
20 Jul 2011, 10:16 am
@SHARKattack(mabu)-44: Are you crazy? Schalk is a legend.
20 Jul 2011, 10:19 am
@grant10(grant10)-42: Yes, He is even playing like a 8th man. I think we can firmly say Schalk is not the 3 players in 1 anymore….he is more like 2 players in 1.
20 Jul 2011, 10:21 am
I wonder if even P Divvy knows what he is going to say before he says it. I doubt it.
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