Fourie on fire in form XV

Fourie on fire in form XV

21 Sep 2011

MARK KEOHANE writes Frans Steyn has sizzled at this World Cup. And centre mate Jaque Fourie is proving to be as hot. They both make his Week 2 form XV.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has hinted Frans Steyn will stay at inside centre for the duration of the tournament, regardless of the fitness of Jean de Villiers, who started the tournament as his preferred No 12 option. You can’t fault De Villiers for being seduced by Steyn’s form and the Paris-based fullback/centre has again shown a dismissing South African public just how good he is and why his skills demand national selection.

In Durban, when the Boks lost to the Wallabies, Steyn was grilled on social networks for being overweight, too slow and a liability to the Boks. Post that match he cut his Fabio-type locks and the illusion (at least among so many rugby supporters) is he also lost five kilograms. He hasn’t but It is hilarious how the South African supporter can so easily dismiss the talents of a player one week and the very next hail him indispensible.

The reaction to the one point win against Wales was as predictable. The Boks were all crap. A fortnight later the same blokes were legends who would have no problem knocking over Australia and New Zealand in successive weeks. This on the basis of beating 15th ranked Fiji.

A few diehards were quick to remind me it was not that they beat Fiji, but the manner in which they did it. I must say the Boks looked twice as good in scoring 49 points against Fiji as Namibia did in scoring 25 – well almost twice as good.

On Thursday they’ll go close to a 100 against Namibia and life will be just swell for at least a week.

I can’t help but think of the struggle against England in 2003, when the Boks lost 25-6, how they pumped Uruguay and then produced sensational rugby in beating Samoa 60-8 in Brisbane. A week later the All Blacks crushed them by 20 points in a quarter-final.

I’ve seen this movie before, just like I’ve seen the movie of Steyn, who like All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter is a freakish international talent.

Steyn has given the Boks another dimension at 12, just like he does when playing fullback. You can play him in either position and he is a threat to the opposition. Just keep him away from flyhalf.

Steyn’s shift to inside centre has allowed for the introduction of Pat Lambie at fullback and it is good to see both players making a contribution.

De Villiers will struggle to get back at inside centre, but I’d still pick him at No 12 for the quarter-final and have Steyn at fullback.

I thought Steyn was very good against Fiji and outside of him Jaque Fourie confirmed his standing as the best No 13 at the tournament. World class!

When picking my form team every week I’ve looked at the quality of the opposition, the importance of the match and then the individual impact. Ireland v Australia and Wales v Samoa was the exception to a lot of mismatches.

Samoa, for example, are a tougher side than Fiji and Welsh inside centre Jamie Roberts ran strongly, but he hasn’t got the dimension to his game of Steyn and that’s why the Bok gets my vote.

Danie Rossouw, like Steyn, had a wonderful game and he couldn’t be ignored, but predictably there is a strong Irish presence on the basis of what their pack produced against Australia at Eden Park. Their loose-forwards, as a unit, had to be included, as did their front row.

Ireland and South Africa dominate the team and Fourie and Ireland’s veteran lock Paul O’Connell make the side for the 2nd successive week.

RWC Form XV (Week 2)
15. Lee Halfpenny (Wales)
14. Vincent Clerc (France)
13. Jaque Fourie (SA)
12. Frans Steyn (SA)
11. Shane Williams (Wales)
10. Morne Steyn (SA)
9. Fourie du Preez (SA)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ire)
7. Sean O’Brien (Ire)
6. Stephen Ferris (Ire)
5. Paul O’Connell (Ire)
4. Danie Rossouw (SA)
3. Mike Ross (Ire)
2. Rory Best (Ire)
1. Cian Healy (Ire)

RWC Form XV (Week 1)
15. Israel Dagg (NZ)
14. Vereniki Goneva (Fiji)
13. Jacque Fourie (SA)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11. Digby Ionie (Aus)
10. Quade Cooper (Aus)
9. Will Genia (Aus)
8. Tobey Faletau (Wales)
7. Schalk Burger (SA)
6. Sam Warburton (Wales)
5. Paul O’Connell (Ire)
4. James Horwill (Aus)
3. Ben Alexander (Aus)
2. Marius Tince (Rom)
1. Andy Sheridan (Eng)


431 Comments

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  • 401.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:30 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-394: Well you know I will be rooting for Scotland to win.

  • 402.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:33 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-400: hahahahaha. Damn funny post that……….. :)

  • 403.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:35 pm

    Okay I am off.

    Cheers HG and Jock.

    Catch up tomorrow.

    GO BOKKE GO. Though this should be a walk in the park. Just hope no injuries.

  • 404.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:36 pm

    @Kitchener(Kitchener)-393:

    Is it interesting to be Scottish? Wow, nice one.

    Lemme think, ancestry?

    Hmmm, there’s my Mother, My Father, both Grandmothers and one Grandfather (one was English) that spring to mind. I was born in Glasgow, grew up in Edinburgh, went to Primary, Secondary and University there.

    Should I go onto Great-Grand parents because it’s getting a bit hazy now?

  • 405.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:36 pm

    @Puma(Puma)-403: Cheers Puma. Catch you tomorrow mate

  • 406.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:37 pm

    Tea anyone?

  • 407.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:37 pm

    @Puma(Puma)-403:

    Cheers bud, catch up later ;)

  • 408.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:38 pm

    Kitchy kitchy koo

  • 409.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:39 pm

    Looks like this has just turned into a date site for jock and bitchen …oops oh golly miss molly that was a naughty typo, I meant kitchen old chap ;-) I’m outa here

  • 410.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:41 pm

    @Kitchener(Kitchener)-393:

    AND Boche??? Wtf is that you silly man, it’s undoubtedly and definitely ‘BOSCH’, maybe with an ‘e’ at the end if you want to be fancy.

    You’re showing your Irish roots now Paddy. Are you sure you weren’t taking pot shots at British soldiers instead of helping us root the Germans?

  • 411.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:41 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-406:

    Spiffing.

    Crumpet?

  • 412.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:43 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-406: And Jammy Dodgers…

  • 413.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 21:54 pm

    These foreigners are such PITA’s.

    Skop please educate yourself on the reply button otherwise you will be dubbed stupid.

  • 414.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:01 pm

    Where’s he gone now.

    To educate his butler?

  • 415.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:05 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-414:

    Probably to give him a jolly good seeing to.

    I know I’m going to regret this, but what’s a PITA?

    And don’t say a piece of bread ;)

  • 416.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:08 pm

    Pain In The A s s.

    Just invented it!

  • 417.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:11 pm

    Goodness there is mighty testosterone on this sniper programme.

    Terminal velocity.

  • 418.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:11 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-414:

    Spivs like kitchy don’t have butlers.

    They have personal shoppers.

    The curse of modern Ingerland.

  • 419.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:11 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-416:

    Cool. Topical and relevant to Kitch and his butler…

  • 420.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:16 pm

    Long day and a few chapters to get through before beddy byes, so g’night folks.

    And you too Paddy, my brother in arms, if you are out there looking in ***

  • 421.JockBok: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:18 pm

    @JockBok(JockBok)-420:

    Good grief, how can three kisses be censored???

    Hey ho…

  • 422.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:22 pm

    Wasn’t like this in the good old days!

    No *******!

  • 423.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:23 pm

    @ jock, because men don’t do virtual kisses on a blog, always keep it real ;-) … No seriously, its a porn site as well :-)

  • 424.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:29 pm

    Toodle pip?

  • 425.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:39 pm

    HG mhlathi wakho why are you looking for me in every post, i am not NRG & he is not i…

    bloody cane rat fiddler! :lol:

  • 426.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:44 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-425: mhlati wami…? :lol:

    ja, i’m fiddling this one igundwane right here

  • 427.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:44 pm

    @ Trans, he must have a crush on you ;-) did you see he tried to communicate with me in isixhosa or amazulu :-)

  • 428.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:46 pm

    So nice to see a couple reunited ;-)

  • 429.bokke bo: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 22:55 pm

    You guys all thought I was bullshitting about my skype call
    with Snorre last night- well tell me what you read in the media
    this morning (yes, I know Keo decided not to get involved).
    Gary had to paper over the cracks and emphatically state that
    they would never rig the match against Samoa. What he did not
    mention was that the team argued till about 3.00am. Even
    some of the girlfriends got involved. Why do you think practice
    was delayed by 3 hours this morning? Luckily sanity prevailed
    and a team decision was made to go the 7/7 route as the 2
    previous teams had taken that route. FdP was quite pissed off
    as he stated that in total it may cost the team R22mill if they
    went out in the ¼’s. Thank goodness Snorre pulled the team
    together and stated that pride and honour could not be bought.
    Trying to currently skype Snorre, but breakfast being served late.
    Will keep you updated…………

  • 430.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 23:00 pm

    “pride and honour could not be bought.” Oh the irony! Bokke bo, please don’t keep us updated as your info is outdated and ridiculous. Good night (for real this time) ;-)

  • 431.bokke bo: Reply to this comment
    21 Sep 2011, 23:11 pm

    Guru, I’m serious man. The guys are getting way ahead of themselves. Talk is
    around Morne being kept out of equation alltogether against AUS. FdP states he can’t do 2 player job and wants Butch next to him. Fears they will target 10 in the1/4s as they did this year and last. Put it to the team I said…………..
    More comming. Snorre can’t stop chatting. He loves his new IPad.

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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