No Du Preez, Brussow for Boks
3 Jun 2012
Fourie du Preez and Heinrich Brussow were the big omissions from the 32-man Springbok squad to face England in the June Test series.
It was believed that Japan-based scrumhalf Du Preez was informally offered the team captaincy last week from head coach Heyneke Meyer. However, it seems as if the player has made himself unavailable for selection as he’s been left out of the squad. Eighthman Pierre Spies and centre Jean de Villiers should be front-runners for the captaincy.
Cheetahs openside flank Brussow is also a major omission from Meyer’s first official Test squad. His high penalty count this year is a probable reason for his exclusion. Stormers duo Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon can count themselves unlucky as they were overlooked.
Stormers flank Siya Kolisi was not picked. However, he and six other young players – flank Arno Botha (Bulls), prop Frans Malherbe (Stormers), flank CJ Stander (Bulls), centre Francois Venter (Bulls) and scrumhalf Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs) – will train with the Boks during the series. This will allow these players to gain experience in the Test set-up, but they won’t be eligible for selection.
There are nine uncapped players in the squad – flank Marcell Coetzee, wing JJ Engelbrecht, lock Eben Etzebeth, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, lock Juandré Kruger, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, flank Jacques Potgieter, lock Franco van der Merwe and scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.
There are 15 survivours from of the 2011 Bok World Cup squad. Wing Bryan Hanbana is the most experienced player with 74 Test caps.
‘We were always looking to start the season with an experienced squad to face England, but injuries to certain players and the non-availability of others have made it difficult,’ said Meyer.
‘What we’ve lost in experience, we’ve made up in passion and desire to play for the Springboks. We have put together a squad with a nice balance between a number of veterans and players with less experience as we start to build for the rest of the season.
‘Working with these players during our four planning camps this season has been great and really made a very difficult selection process a bit easier. There were a few unlucky players that didn’t make it and they will get opportunities in future as long as they keep on knocking on the door.
‘The nine uncapped players have all put up their hands during Super Rugby this year and we know they have what it takes to succeed at the highest level,’ he continued. ‘We realise that it is impossible to please everyone when it comes to selecting squads like these, but we would really like to see the entire country stand behind us as we take on England.’
Springbok 32-man squad for June Test series:
Backs – Bjorn Basson, Jean de Villiers, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn, Jano Vermaak.
Forwards – Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Ryan Kankowski, Juandre Kruger, Werner Kruger, Beast Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe.
1,463 Comments
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3 Jun 2012, 15:54 pm
Personally I thought Hougaard was poor yesterday.
Pissant disagrees but I maintain that while Hougaard is an amazing strike runner and physical rugby player, he is not a great scrumhalf.
Half the time he saw Duvenage coming up out of the line, having studied the Bulls pattern beforehand, but he would still pass the ball mindlessly, selling his outside player, or kick the ball and have it charged down, rather than assessing the situation and changing the predetermined play.
Vermaak is a better scrumhalf than Hougaard, to me.
Hougaard is a must in any team, but not at 9. He should start at 14.
3 Jun 2012, 15:55 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-998:
Yeah you will always remind us of that
3 Jun 2012, 15:55 pm
And I dedicate my 1000 Post to “skim”.
The greatest Poster ever.
3 Jun 2012, 15:55 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1002:
Need a kleenex?
3 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
I’m surprised that nobody’s mentioned the ommission of Elstadt from the pool of young players. He’s the only youngster currently who’s at home at both 4 and 7, which would make him an excellent bench option.
3 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
Poor JPP is also out of a starting spot now…
3 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
@cane(cane)-1003:
*ahem*
Modesty forbids me…
3 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-990:
I’d keep Lambie at FB, that’s his position imo, but from that squad I’d have Elton at 10 and Daniel at 8. He offers so much more than Jane Fonda lookalike Spies.
Difficult to see what England team will turn up and although they are a relatively new bunch, they’ve had the benefit of the 6N to play together. Whereas the Boks as we can see can put a decent 15 out who SHOULD take care of business, but who on earth is going to come off the bench if the chips are down with 20 to go?
What a stupid squad. Really stupid.
3 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
@cane(cane)-1000: damn you!
3 Jun 2012, 15:57 pm
Now Skim don’t post no more,
Keo has no fun. No more.
3 Jun 2012, 15:58 pm
@David(David)-1005:
Wrong province mate!!! Good try though! Would rather bring Rossouw back…
3 Jun 2012, 16:01 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-976: Olivier is poor .. never has he ever produced on the international stage.. last night Kolisi smoked him through the midfield… beside De Jongh killing him twice in succession this year in midfield..
Its a no brainer that De Jongh is 100 times better midfield option than Olivier who will likely start in the match day 22 off bench. And I say De Jongh gonna prove he’s better than Frans Steyn also.. watch.
Next is Engelbrecht who I actually rate.. he is an ex Stormers Heyneke Meyer rip off protege – but he’s no better than Aplon at wing or De Jongh at center..
My test team would probably go like this
Steyn F
JPP
De Villiers (c)
De Jongh
Habana
Steyn M
Hougaard
Alberts
Coetsee
Brussow
Kruger
Vd Merwe
Nel
Bismark
Beast
Oosthuizen, Fourie, Etsebeth, Kolisi, Pienaar, Aplon, Lambie
3 Jun 2012, 16:01 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1011:
Now, now. It doesn’t matter that he’s proved himself even as a youngster and has potential in spades. He’s a Stormer. Stop whining.
3 Jun 2012, 16:02 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1011:
Hell, Danie can’t hold onto a rugby ball, let alone a bunch of hair.
3 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
Off for a (nother) celebratory beer.
Enjoy your day chaps, and get down to Shoprite blueboy. They’ve got a special on Twinsaver pink hankies.
3 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1013:
He is brilliant as I say, but he doesn’t play in pink. No chance to make it, unless he signs for them…
3 Jun 2012, 16:04 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-1012:
Heyneke doesn’t want a centre that’s gonna twinkle toe through the opposition midfield. He wants one that can crash the ball up at 12 repeatedly and set up the next phase of play.
Frans Steyn and De Villiers can do that at 12 due to their bulk, and Olivier is next in line.
De Jongh is not that kind of player, and great as his other skills are, does not fit into Meyer’s pattern.
Try and understand that.
3 Jun 2012, 16:04 pm
Morning Boys
So whats the verdict ?
A huge disappointment in the squad
75 % were obvious picks
the other 25 % ? Sad
3 Jun 2012, 16:05 pm
@David(David)-1014:
I know, but HM doesn’t…
@JockBok(JockBok)-1015:
Oh I’m so enjoying it mate…
Cheers and enjoy the sweet taste of victory. Remember our second team did it for us again…
3 Jun 2012, 16:06 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1017:
Jdj is a 13
WO is not a test center Full stop. But he is a Bull
3 Jun 2012, 16:07 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1013:
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1011:
@David(David)-1005:
That’s funny. And sad at the same time. oh well….
3 Jun 2012, 16:07 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1017:
Of course, because that squad needs another 12.
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1019:
Cheers bud
3 Jun 2012, 16:07 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1018:
Naa the Blue Boks are exactly as most predicted…
BUT the Stormers second stringers did us so proud… they beat the Blue Boks good and solid…
3 Jun 2012, 16:08 pm
Fear Not Okes!
You will kick the craap out of Old Blighty.
3 Jun 2012, 16:09 pm
You have to feel for Greyling and Dewalt. The temptation must have been huge… Must feel like the ugly sisters…
3 Jun 2012, 16:10 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1017: the lack of quality 13′s is a huge problem. Since the retirement of Mossie.
We are seeing more and more wings step into this position. Habana, Pieterson and Engelbrecht were all moved there recently. If Meyer want’s a big 13 to smash trough opposition defenses then I reckon Murray is his monster – 106kg’s of pure Lion meat vs 86kg’s of de Jongh. No contest!
3 Jun 2012, 16:10 pm
my backline would be with all players accept injured ones out
09 Hourgaard
10 lambie
11 habana, yes he still has it
12 F steyn
13 JDV
14 JPP
15 Pietersen
20 Pienaar
21 Aplon
22 Morne
3 Jun 2012, 16:11 pm
@David(David)-1005:
I did, read #701
701.Hondo: Reply to this comment
3 Jun 2012, 12:01 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-686:
What’s so ‘bruising’ about Kanko and Spies?
Albert is just an ‘intermited bruiser’, not a full time ram
The real bruisers are Deysel, Elstadt and Jacques Cronje’, at least one should have been in the line up to mitigate the loss of SB and J. Smith?
3 Jun 2012, 16:11 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1023:
Yes i am very proud of our depleted stormer side beating the Springbuls this weekend
It was a fantastic win and one star stood out very bright, (must have blinded HM)
3 Jun 2012, 16:11 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-1017: England gonna waltz through F. Steyn at 12.. wait you gonna get the surprise of your life and you gonna wish it were the devastating tackler De Jongh who hasn’t let any centers through his channel for two years solid..
He tackles WAY better than F. Steyn low and hard and always gets his man no matter how big he might be… plus he’s a far better game breaking inside center through the gain line.. Stormers have got it all wrong playing De Villiers at 12 and De Jongh at 13 when its supposed to be the other way around.
I just hope for Heyneke Meyers sake that this Frans Steyn wunderkind is as invincible as most pundits reckon he is.. I still have some doubts and would play him at 15 not 12. He’s no where as fats as De Jongh and he’s not that much stronger in the tackle if anything perhaps weaker.. only bigger and heavier but neither faster nor stronger.
3 Jun 2012, 16:12 pm
It’s been a while since we’ve had a 1000 comment post….
This is not a bad squad. This is not a squad that should/would/coulod lose against England. I do not however rate Wynand Olivier, Zane Kirchner or Jacques Potgieter as Springbok material. It’s a disgrace that Juan De Jongh and Gio Aplon have not been picked. They are possibly the tow most naturally gifted rugby players we have.
That said, I will give Heyneke the benefit of the doubt. Having just a week to prepare is a pretty crappy situation, and he has gone with what he knows. Yeah, so bring on the pommies!!
3 Jun 2012, 16:12 pm
This would be one unstopable pack
1 Beast
2 bis or strauss
3 coenie when he converts
4 eben
5 alberts
6 kolisi
7 marcell or jacque
8 duane
3 Jun 2012, 16:13 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1029:
Remember he couldn’t watch. He was too nervous that one of the stars would be injured. He missed a good game I guess.
3 Jun 2012, 16:15 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-1030: Steyn has played 90% of his RWC matches at 12. A born 12 he is. Forget about JDV he is old and on his last knees – and de Jongh ani’t the bees knees at all.
I’d rather play Taute at 13 and Steyn at 12. natural centre these big boys.
3 Jun 2012, 16:15 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1020:
I think the same can be said about Morbe Styen?
3 Jun 2012, 16:17 pm
@Skim(Skim)-1031:
There are other strange selections too
Kanko?
Spies
Vermaak?
JJ?
4 # 8s picked
No true #6 (maybe Coetzee)
No Brussow????
3 Jun 2012, 16:18 pm
@RL(RL)-1026: Mapoe smoked Lambie and Ndungane and JPP yesterday.. plus De Jongh will smoke them most times also…
Murray is dogshit in comparison
Engelbrecht is better out wide at wing not at center.. and Olivier is plain overrated kakkas with a Kapital K…
3 Jun 2012, 16:18 pm
Aplon, Aplon, Aplon, Aplon, Aplon.
Gees when are people going to get over themselves?
Aplon appears once on the 2012 S15 stats – 5 tries scored. At least one was dubious (I’m being kind) so let’s make that 4. I guess the same as last year.
“He runs so well”, “He’s a game breaker” etc, etc, etc.
Stats say differently, not even in the running meters top 20 list (or any other).
HM isn’t all bleary eyed to pick a substandard player and has a job to do so get over it.
Provincialism is killing the SA side.
3 Jun 2012, 16:18 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-1035:
Yes
But we knew he was going to be picked
3 Jun 2012, 16:21 pm
@OCO(OCO)-1038:
Congrats with your team yesterday…12 Bok call ups fully deserved…
3 Jun 2012, 16:23 pm
@OCO(OCO)-1038: Aplon too is on his last knees – if we are to believe the date on his birth certificate then he is 30 – over the hill.
3 Jun 2012, 16:25 pm
@RL(RL)-1041:
Congrats on your teams win yesterday! They were fantastic…
3 Jun 2012, 16:27 pm
@RL(RL)-1034:
Pity Taute is injured and Goosen
As Skoppie has said there is about 25 of the squad selected that is wrong
And most of us here agree that there were 7-8 selections he got wrong
But we have a good enough 22 to win
This is HM’s side ? Maybe (not mine)
15 Zane (he has mentioned he wants him to start_
14 Jp
13 Jdv
12 Steyn
11 Habana
10 Steyn
9 Hougaard
8 Spies ? and Captain ????
7 Potgieter
6 Coetzee
5 Kruger
4 Estebeth
1-3 Sharks front row
Lambie
Ruan
Connie (can play 1 and 3)
Chilliboy (Should be Straus)
Flip
Alberts
Daniels
3 Jun 2012, 16:28 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1043:
25 % sorry
3 Jun 2012, 16:28 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-1039:
It’s wierd, really
The Bulls seriously demonstrated being a dysfunctional team last several weeks, starting right with Styen.
It makes no sense rugby wise unless results are guaranteed in advance?
3 Jun 2012, 16:29 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-1042: cheers
If we are looking for a young deserving player that can play any position in the back line then Andries Coetzee is the man. Forget about Aplon, forget about Petersen and forget about Lambie. Here is your fullback.
3 Jun 2012, 16:31 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-1045:
Who would you like to see at 10 other than Goosen (injured)
I have felt Grant has been steady
I am not wild about Jaantjies
But you may like lambie
3 Jun 2012, 16:32 pm
@RL(RL)-1046:
The Blue Boks rock… Forget Andries he plays in the wrong colour pink…
3 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm
Aplon and De Jongh the only 2 SA backs that can mix it with any international team especially antipodeans along with JPP and Habana on occasion
Who we been playing in the backline since 2007
2008 it was FdP, Butch, Habana, JdV, Fourie, JPP, Percy and we got smoked with 2 wins from 6 in the 3N
2009 we switched to kick chase strategy with FdP, M. Steyn in the saddle and Brussow chasing and turning over McCaw and we had our best international year ever
2010 Laws were changed to favor attack team and stealing on the deck by tackle player was disallowed. Brussow got nullified and FdP, M. Steyn kick chase game fell apart already from 2009 Eoyt where we lost 2 from 2 against France and Ireland., and through 3N in 2010 lost 5 from 6 with exact same personnel except with Kirchner at FB
2011 everybody saw what happened .. FdP – M. Steyn half backs, same wings, same centers Kirchner at FB and wham we lost all our top flight games again..
No Aplon and no De Jongh in sight.. all the big bruising strike runners getting done by Aussie and NZ backs every time.
3 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm
@RL(RL)-1046:
200 % correct
I rate A Coetzee (Lions) big time
similar to W le roux
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