Bok captain to be named in June
20 Apr 2012
Heyneke Meyer will only name his Springbok captain in the week leading up to the first Test against England.
It’s been said that Victor Matfield will come out of retirement to lead the Boks for one final season, while this website understands that Fourie du Preez could also return to the Test fold and take up the captaincy. Meyer said on Thursday that he will only make his final decision public on 4 June, a few days before South Africa play England in Durban.
‘I will announce that on the Monday before the first test against England,’ Meyer said at a Bok planning camp in Pretoria. ‘There has been a lot of speculation about who will be the captain, but I’ve made it clear the decision will not be made now.
‘A lot can happen between now and when we play. Players like Schalk [Burger] and Jean [de Villiers] got injured, so it won’t be wise to make an appointment now. There has also been speculation about Victor [Matfield] being made captain and there is also Fourie [du Preez], but I want to have a good look at who is available before I make a decision.’
Burger is expected to return to the playing field when the Stormers host the Cheetahs in round 12 of the Super Rugby competition. It is not known when De Villiers will be back with the official line from the Stormers medical staff being that he will be assessed on a weekly basis. Some sources believe that the hand ligament injury could preclude him from the England series, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Matfield hasn’t played any rugby since he represented the Barbarians in December last year. Du Preez has been playing his rugby with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, who recently won the Japanese league and the Japanese Cup. It is not know at this point if Du Preez will return to Test rugby.
56 Comments
20 Apr 2012, 10:45 am
Not as big a deal as many people think.
20 Apr 2012, 11:01 am
@willievz(willievz)-1: or is it? 1 possible candidate has retired and the other plays in japan? i’d say HM is making a big deal of it.
20 Apr 2012, 11:20 am
My Bok Side and Captain For England.
15. Francious Steyn / Riaan Viljoen
14. JP Pieterson
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Jean De Villiers (if ready)/Francious Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
10. Patrick Lambie / Morne Steyn.
9. Francious Hougaardt.
8. Pier Spies
7. Schalck Burger (c) (If ready)
6. Heinrich Brussow
5. Andries Bekker
4. Josh Struass
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
2. Bismark du Plessis
1. Tandai Mtwarira
16. Chilliboy
17. Jannie
18. Sykes
19. Alberts
20. Mcleod
21. Lambie/Steyn. (Very undecided)
22. Lwazi Mvovo
20 Apr 2012, 11:30 am
Sharkie10 – I agree on Burger for captian. Mcleod has not been selected for the Boks camps. Also your team is Dueane less, he deserves a shot this year. It is also Juandre Kruger less.
I would rather have Ruan Pienaar as backup, just too talented to ignore!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
Meyer wants to pick Vic. But only if Vic regains his form. Hence, he will see what Victor’s form is like in June.
Smart move.
20 Apr 2012, 11:34 am
Tacitus – I thought Meyer wa showing signs of laager mentality but i am beginning to his wisdom. WIth all these big injuries happening it makes sense to wait. He is also putting everyone in the know!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:40 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-6:
I think the final team will consist of fairly equal numbers of Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and a few Cheetahs.
20 Apr 2012, 11:41 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-3:
15. Gio (Taute on the bench)
14. JPP
13. de Villiers or du jongh
12. Steyn
11. Hougaard
10. Lambie (M Steyn on the bench)
9. Fourie (Best rugby player in the world a few years ago and now nack to fitness)
8. Alberts/Schalk
7. Schalk/Alberts
6. Brussow
5. Victor – Capt (Stop gap for the series)
4. Bekker
3. Jannie
2. Bismark
1. Beast / Guthro
20 Apr 2012, 11:52 am
Just remember, Richie hasnt played any rugby yet either?
20 Apr 2012, 13:31 pm
Wonder if HM will keep Victor in secret training until the week of the test and then spring him on us??
20 Apr 2012, 14:15 pm
@Bok fan(Bok fan)-8:
get rid of Jannie..
bring back BJ BOtha, Brian Mujati. Chuck in WP Nel.
20 Apr 2012, 14:27 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-11: BJ a bit hot and cold, but agree with Mujati and giving WP a chance
20 Apr 2012, 14:32 pm
Yes
Recall, Mujati, and Schalk Britz!!
20 Apr 2012, 14:41 pm
FDP
20 Apr 2012, 14:50 pm
1 – Beast / Guthro
2 – Bismarck / Chilliboy
3 – Jannie / Coenie
4 – Etsebeth / Elstad
5 – Bekker / Kruger
6 – Brussouw / Minnie
7 – Vermeulen / Alberts
8 – Burger (VC) / Spies
9 – Du Preez (C) / Hougaard
10 – Morne / Goosen
11 – Habana / Basson
12 – Frans / De Jongh
13 – Pieterson / Ebersohn
14 – Aplon / mVovo
15 – Lambie / Taute
20 Apr 2012, 14:53 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-13:
You guys just cannot get it through your heads eh?
Mujati is now an Zimbo/English citizen and lives there with his English wife and English child… he has stated he has zero intention of coming back to RSA and naturalising again.
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-3:
If Frans Steyn’s team makes it’s through to the play-offs of their division (whihc they will) he will not be available until after the English tests.
20 Apr 2012, 15:36 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-16:
wow
better life over returning to play test rugby. I can understand that
20 Apr 2012, 15:39 pm
4 Race of tan… Mcleod was selected for the camps…
20 Apr 2012, 15:42 pm
Mcleod is playing well IMO.
FDP is not selected to return. Then Mcleod best backup to Hougaard
20 Apr 2012, 15:46 pm
Vermulen is a carthorse / slowest loose FWD in super rugby
tough as nails though
20 Apr 2012, 15:49 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-16: if heyneke meyer went and had his famous “one-on-ones” with him, he’d be back for the boks i guarantee you. heyneke did psychology boet and he knows how to get into a player’s head.
20 Apr 2012, 16:27 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-17:
New 3 year contract with Northhampton and a side project (boutique beer)…
@Transformation(Transformation)-21:
Hehe not sure if you’re taking the piss or being seriousssss?
20 Apr 2012, 16:38 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-22:
He’s taking the piss.
Transie doesn’t go in for that psycho nonsense.
The ancestors tell him everything he needs to know.
20 Apr 2012, 16:50 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-23: i have no communication with the ancestors, they had TurkCell as a their network.
20 Apr 2012, 16:52 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-24:
I would imagine they would be balls deep into MTN?
#keepingconnectedpeopleconnected
20 Apr 2012, 17:07 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-22:
He’s come longway from Zim!!
20 Apr 2012, 17:13 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-26:
they brew beer in zim too.
20 Apr 2012, 18:40 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-19:
McLeod is a headless chicken. Duvenhage way more intelligent.
20 Apr 2012, 19:29 pm
First time on Keo, my 2c as a Bull supporter, I’ll like Jean de Villiers as Captain, not sure he will be first choice at 12 though with Frans Steyn a possible first choice. I’m not keen on Schalk Burger, I don’t think his eye gouging record makes for Bok Captaincy material imo. I don’t think we have to look at a longterm captain. Not one of the candidates are sure to be there for next WC.
20 Apr 2012, 19:52 pm
@Bullstakenoprisoners(Bullstakenoprisoners)-29:
Doesn’t have to be.
20 Apr 2012, 19:55 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-28:
But twice as limited.
Both are good provincial players, but wouldn’t go with either. I would probably look to the following:
Du Preez & Hougaard
then Hougaard & Piet Van Zyl
20 Apr 2012, 19:57 pm
@YoMama:
Who will be your first choice?
20 Apr 2012, 20:03 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-28: So substantiate why you think Mcleod is a headless chicken. Making a statement like that is quite easy but where is the evidence that he is headless. I think personally that he takes too long on the pass (takes 2 steps always) but the one thing he does well is link quickly with his backline and plays the typical Kiwi/Ozzie scrumhalf role which means the flyhalf has to be more of a playmaker, but headless I beg to differ.
20 Apr 2012, 20:20 pm
@Bullstakenoprisoners(Bullstakenoprisoners)-29: This man knows his sh’t as most Bulls supporters do who see rugby as the winner FIRST and Bulls blue eyed laager kruipery a distant third…
when the English commentary went down today we switched to Afrikaans.. and wasn’t it a relief to hear real rugby kenners who know wtf is going down on a rugby field extolling the virtues of Duvenhage, De Jongh, Grant and Vermeulen…. now ain’t it a cinch to know that other rugby kenners know quality when they SEE it.. unlike black and white snot nosed rooinek soutie schmuckaroos who can’t see sharkshit for toffee apples…
20 Apr 2012, 20:22 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-28: Preach the truth till these schmucks SEE the reality for all the fiction ******** their brains to hell and back again..
20 Apr 2012, 20:23 pm
screw-ing is a dirty word.. ooh gats and I thought ******* was worse…
20 Apr 2012, 20:26 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-35: So Skoppie tell me who your halfback pairing and dont tell me its Duve and Grant, because that is where the Stormers balance is weakest in their team. Their natural games do not suit the way they are being asked to play in tthe Stormers. Duvenhage is a good scrummie and Grant a good flyhalf but they do not suit each other, thats my opinion in any case.
20 Apr 2012, 20:37 pm
Heyneke couldn’t have a more difficult task to produce a team to beat England.
Both teams are in a post RWC rebuilding phase, but his counterpart Lancaster, has the luxury of coaching the Saxons so he knows the younger players, plus he’s had the 6N to start moulding the side.
By contrast, Meyer doesn’t know which of the senior players will be injury free from the S15, and he has no idea how the leading contenders will meld as a team.
Personally, I’m prepared to forgive any loss as school fees, and look forward to the future.
20 Apr 2012, 20:51 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-37:
Bok half back pairing should be Hougaard – Goosen.. with Duvenhage as No.9 back up unless he goes for Pienaar as a utility back… Lambie as utility back off bench or starting at 15..
Grant should have been Bok fly half in 2008 and De Villiers tenure as coach would have seen a formidably different result to the fck’d up hopeless case of a LOSING setup we had under that fatfuck idiot Smit and his band of cherry picked bumchums… where we LOST more than 70% of our encounters against top 5 opposition under Smit – FdP with either Butch in the saddle in 2008 or Morne Steyn since EOYT 2009
20 Apr 2012, 20:57 pm
@David(David)-38:
If Meyer goes for his insurance policy of Matfield and FdP and f’ng LOSES first series up against England he should be axed for being a cowardly chicken second grade bang broek and not going for broke and taking the BULL by the horns and riding it into the goddamn turf….
If he went with form young players and lost he can be forgiven for being courageous in the face of inexperience and throwing the young guns into the cauldron only for them to learn and grow from the exercise.. BUT if he goes for retrograde rear guarded cowardice and picks Matfield and FDP and LOSES he should be turfed out on his ear for being a conservative coward .. just like most of his fear of losing psyched out predecessors before him…
20 Apr 2012, 21:56 pm
Matfield is lass really ur !!!
20 Apr 2012, 23:11 pm
My Bok squad for the England series:
15 Jaco Taute
14 Gio Aplon
13 Juan De Jongh
12 Francois Steyn
11 Bryan Habana
10 Peter Grant
9 Francois Hougaard
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Schalk Burger / Willem Alberts
6 Heinrich Brussouw
5 Andries Bekker
4 Eben Eztebeth
3 Jannie Du Plessis
2 Bismark Du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Chillyboy Ralepelle
17 CJ Van Der Linde
18 Juandre Kruger
19 Joshua Strauss
20 Jano Vermaak
21 Patrick Lambie
22 JP Pietersen
23 Adriaan Strauss
24 Coenie Oosthuzyen
25 Steven Sykes
26 Derrick Minnie
27 Fourie Du Preez
28 Elton Janjtes
29 Johaan Sadie
30 Lwazi Mvovo
20 Apr 2012, 23:23 pm
The team I think Meyer will go for:
15 Zane Kirchner
14 JP Pietersen
13 Juan De Jongh
12 Francois Steyn
11 Bjorn Basson
10 Morne Steyn
9 Fourie Du Preez
8 Pierre Spies
7 Schalk Burger
6 Heinrich Brussouw
5 Victor Matfield
4 Danie Russouw
3 CJ Van Der Linde
2 Bismark Du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Jannie Du Plessis
18 Juandre Kruger / Andries Bekker
19 Willem Alberts
20 Francois Hougaard
21 Patrick Lambie
22 Johaan Sadie
21 Apr 2012, 03:34 am
So the candidates for Bok Captaincy are 1. a retired player, already way passed his best; 2. a player way passed his best, thats why he moved to Japan; 3. a good player, albeit one with half a brain whose team are playing better in his absence….
why not recall that fat knut who did so well as Capt at the RWC ?
squeeze lemons = lemonaids
21 Apr 2012, 03:36 am
Matfield, FDP, Burger and JDV should not be captain. Captain must be selected from players that will definitely make the starting lineup. None of these players are good enough to be guaranteed this. The captain needs to be one of Biz, Brussouw and Bekker. All these players will also most likely be the first choice players in their positions at the next RWC.
21 Apr 2012, 06:08 am
@garth(garth)-45:
You seem too smart to be a PrickBoks supporter – Mum’s a foreigner ?!
Bekker would be a sh*t Capt, cant last a game; Brussow is a thespian cheat. Bizmarck is the obvious choice, and he’s a serial thug cheat.
21 Apr 2012, 09:56 am
I Agreee with Garth.
If we had a all the choices available to us and all the players are FIT – JDV/ Burger would battle to make the bench
Loosies
Brussow / Smith
Centre
JDJ / Steyn
Might play Burger at 8 – as Spies is just not on the game, but Vermuelen and Daniels should get a chance – Daniels is playing good rugby and could captain just for England tests but doubt he will even get a look in….He would def be a better option than bringing VM out of retirement.
Instead of fighting to get FDP back they should try and get Sarel Pretorius back that boy has some skills, and he will be around for at least 2 W cups..
21 Apr 2012, 09:59 am
All your teams look good but you have all missed one of the best props in the S15 – Dean Greyling has been playing out of his boots… He should definitely get call up.. and his Blue Bull so he has a great chance of playing against Eng
21 Apr 2012, 12:22 pm
@YoMama(YoMama)-14: FdP is a sulky little susan,not captain material at all.Happy with him at 9 but not as cappie.
21 Apr 2012, 15:08 pm
@rabooby(rabooby)-48:
Sadly – Dean would get murdered by Dan Cole in scrum.
I believe we will lose the battle at scrumtime against English.
21 Apr 2012, 15:10 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-28:
Duvenhage, Taute, Cilliers could be bolters.
But reality is. Cant see Meyer introducing many new faces against the english. Who I feel will bring down a far superior tight 5.
21 Apr 2012, 15:18 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-39:
I’m down with Hougaard / Goosen. Ultra talented pair. No point in waiting for the sun. Get these two together in green and gold ASAP and they will rain on anybody’s parade. A coach with balls needs to make this call.
21 Apr 2012, 15:38 pm
In a perfect world this would be my Bok team:
1. Kitshoff
2. Chilliboy (c)
3. Cilliers
4. Etsebeth
5. Kruger
6. Brussouw
7. Kolisi
8. Vermuelen
9. Du Preez
10. Goosen
11. Hougaard
12. Steyn
13. De Jong
14. Aplon
15. Pietersen
22 Apr 2012, 12:04 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-53:
A nice young team however it is a bit thin experience.
That front as good as it is for the future will get demolished by a more experience frontrow like Englands. They are a very good scrumaging team with very experience players.
The other problem that I have is that you have to “jumping locks” and that very rarely works, you need one good “pushing lock”, like a Bakkies Botha. I think Flip is the closest to him at the moment.
It’d going to be interesting times ahead.
22 Apr 2012, 16:25 pm
9: Hougaard
10: Goosen
11: Habana (still offers a great workrate and does alot)
12: Steyn
13: De Villiers
14. Coetzee
15: Lambie
Finished and Klaar.
23 Apr 2012, 10:38 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-53:
I cannot find fault with that team. Only two players in there do not impress me: first is Brussouw. I would rather put in CJ Stander. Secondly, Frans Steyn at 12 still does not gel with me. If he can get rid of the Bostik on his hands, maybe, but his lack of intelligence in that position and his bulk bothers me. I seriously think that Meisiekind has more to offer than Steyn, but I would have neither of them. I am a firm believer in quick feet, quick hands and creativity in the backline. Whitehead and R Ebersohn impress me in those departments. I reckon that a combo of De Jongh at 12 and Taute at 13 will wreak havoc.
My Team:
1. Kitshoff/Greyling
2. Bismarck
3. W Kruger
4. Etsebeth
5. Bekker
6. Burger
7. Kolisi
8. Vermeulen
9. Vermaak
10. Lambie
11. Hougaard
12. JDV
13. De Jongh
14. Habana
15. Aplon
16. Chiliboy
17. Kitshoff/Greyling
18. J Kruger
19. CJ Stander
20. Basson (Hougie to cover 9)
21. Taute
22. JP Pietersen
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