Potgieter to fill Alberts void
20 Jun 2012
Uncapped flanker Jacques Potgieter is one of three changes to the Springboks’ starting XV for the third Test against England.
Potgieter replaces the injured Willem Alberts who has not recovered sufficiently from a knee injury to be considered. The other two changes to the starting line-up are also enforced, as Gio Aplon steps in for the injured Pat Lambie at fullback and centre Wynand Olivier replaces Frans Steyn who has been granted leave to get married.
The Boks will miss Steyn in midfield, but losing Alberts is a big blow to their gainline ambitions. Coach Heyneke Meyer, however, believes Potgieter will get the Boks on to the front foot.
‘I like a big, ball-carrying blindside flank and Willem has been awesome in the past two matches,’ said Meyer. ‘He is not available this week but I think Jacques can do that job. He’s already proved himself in that role for the Bulls during Super Rugby and I believe he will add a lot of value.
‘If Willem was fit, then I would have started Jacques from the bench. So in a way it’s worked out well as I will see what Jacques can offer. We need him to get us some momentum.’
Steyn’s unavailability disrupts the midfield dynamic, leaving the 10-12 channel susceptible to an England barrage. Meyer challenged this view, however, pointing to Olivier’s experience at Test level and his Super Rugby partnership with flyhalf Morné Steyn as a big plus.
‘Wynand is established in that No 12 position and and he understands the game plan [Olivier worked under Meyer when the Bok coach was still at the Bulls]. The selection also ensures that we have some continuity in midfield,’ Meyer added, referring to the fact that Olivier has come off the bench in the past two Tests to play at No 12.
Jean de Villiers has played the bulk of his Tests at inside centre but Meyer said he would like the Bok skipper to concentrate on the No 13 position. Frans Steyn will return at No 12 for the Rugby Championship, and so Meyer’s reason for this selection was down to continuity.
‘It’s important for Jean to stick to one position at this stage. I don’t want to move him around if I don’t have to.’
Aplon will also be required to play an unfamiliar role at No 15. In the past two Tests, Lambie has been required to complement Francois Hougaard and Morne Steyn in the kicking department. It will be a big ask for Aplon, although he has also been encouraged by the Bok coach to express himself if the opportunity presents itself.
‘I’ve always rated Gio, he’s an exciting player. I want players to fit into the game plan but that doesn’t mean I will box [restrict] them. He has a strong running game and unbelievable feet, and we will be looking for a special performance from him.
‘It’s a good opportunity. There is no pecking order with me, so the chance is there for him to impress me.’
The changes to the bench see loose forward Ryan Kankowski replacing Keegan Daniel and flyhalf Elton Jantjies also joining the reserves.
Springboks – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Bjorn Basson.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Port Elizabeth
570 Comments
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21 Jun 2012, 09:08 am
I hope that a few people have learned that Super rugby form does not really mean anything when it comes to test rugby. Your experienced players pick it up for test time.
Just a few examples of players who have been mediocre at S15 this year, but have played well in the tests.
J Dup (I hate to admit it)
Alberts
Spies
JDV
Pieterson
And a few examples of newbies who have been stellar during the S15 who are taking time to adjust to test rugby, and certainly not having the same impact.
Etsbeth (although good – nowhere near the impact of S15)
Hougard at 9
Exception seems to be coetzee who is producing consistent results.
I guess no matter how good you are as a rookie in super rugby, you need time to learn test rugby.
Hence, I would not experiment with 6 newbies at once like some people would.
I said before the start or the series when everyone was slating Meyers selection, that I would judge after the eoyt. So far so good. Pick whoever the heck you want HM, just get an 80% win ratio and that will be fine by me.
21 Jun 2012, 09:52 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-547:
If he wanted experience, he could’ve had a look at Brussow for the short term (this series), at least.
Now we are going to start with a loose trio on Saturday where one player (Spies!!!) has 49 caps, while the other two have 2 caps between them.
The two locks have 4 caps between them.
Thank the Lord for the front row who will bring the experience, neh.
No man, Meyer is talking from both sides of his mouth.
Experience from one side but then we have only 6 caps shared between 4 players in the pack on Saturday.
Hulk from one side but then he selects Daniels, Lambie, Jantjies (now also Aplon) on the other side. (Not neccesarily a bad thing to have these players in there but the fact is that he made it clear that size will be a factor and then he goes against that.)
Form on one side but then Kanko, Potgieter, WO get selected on the other side.
21 Jun 2012, 10:29 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-551: I agree with everything you have mentioned except the Etzebeth part, I think he has been excellent int he first two tests, he is playing as a number 4 lock and has filled that role well with good cleans, great defence etc.
21 Jun 2012, 10:39 am
@nama1(nama1)-552: I think you nare confussed. great News for the Strompie complain brigade, we hate everything HM does.
WO and Kankofski will play in Japan later this year , japanese will pay them R 500 000.00 per month , not bad for players that are so useless as the Strompies say…..
21 Jun 2012, 11:04 am
@capebull(capebull)-554:
I take it then you rate those two at international level.
Peter Grant earn probably more than that in Japan. Not bad for a player that the Bull supporters don’t rate, is it?
No, I don’t hate everything that Meyer does. Victoriabok made the following comment:
“He was trying to field a makeshift team with some experience against England, he didn’t have any time so he took every experienced player he could to augment and calm down rookies like Marcel, Juandre and Eben.”
See the “he took EVERY EXPERIENCED PLAYER.”
I disagree with that hence my reference to Brussow as an experience player for the short term.
If you want to disagree with any of the things I said in that post, I’d be willing to listen. No generalisations about Stormer supporters hating on HM, please.
21 Jun 2012, 11:34 am
Mooi so Jacques. Enige iets in n wit trui – maak sag. Dan hardloop deur, verby of oor dit.
Bokke!
21 Jun 2012, 11:52 am
@nama1(nama1)-555: No I don’t think that either Kanko or Wo is the best in the world , but for sure they not as bad as the Strompie support try to make us believe.
Peter Grant fall into the same catagory.
Yes HM wanted to use experienced players , but he also picked younger players that clearly stood out , like Marcell over Brussouw, Eben over Flip. Brussouw/JdJ would be the first to admit they did not have the best seasons.
So get as much as possible experience, and play a few outstanding youngsters , nothing wrong with that . He was also forced to make certain choices cause of injuries , hence the lack of Strompies.
21 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@nama1(nama1)-555: Please go support the All Blacks like alot of your fellow Capies. Your comments and attitude are a cancer to the Boks and we really do not nead a supporter like yourself.
21 Jun 2012, 12:07 pm
@capebull(capebull)-557:
It’s not about the lack of Stormers players in the team. It’s about the lack of experience in the pack.
Four players in the pack have played a combined total of 6 test matches.
In your back row you have two players who total 2 caps while the 3rd player is Spies (for goodness sake)!!!
So, all of your experience come from the front row really, who were given a hard lesson by the same English just a week ago.
Don’t you think we may have problems here that could’ve been minimized if Brussow was selected in the original squad?
@Airwell(Airwell)-558:
1. Don’t tell me who to support.
2. I’m not a Capie.
21 Jun 2012, 12:52 pm
@nama1(nama1)-559: So temper your comments rgarding what you believe the coaching staff and selectord think because all you are doing with your so called opinions which I am sure are not backed by proper coaching experience is putting undue pressure on the team we all support. If you have a problem with the selection state it without getting personal and if you are proven right through lack of success crow about it otherwise be man enough then to say you were wrong. Case in point was my belief that JDV was a donkey that should stay far away from the Boks, I am wrong and have gone on record here to state that. That you want more stormers in the Bok team is something you have said ad nauseam on this site, we get it but to date this Bok management team have produced the results and even have AB supporters like TJ saying we are the slight favourites to win the 4 Nations, so live with it until the Boks start loosing consistently. I am not trying to be personal I just am fed up with all this negativity regarding HM and the Bok team vomited out by only Stormers supports and note not all only some like yourself.
21 Jun 2012, 13:04 pm
@Airwell(Airwell)-560:
“your so called opinions…… is putting undue pressure on the team”
Really??? WOW!!!!
Tell me you are joking!!!
Look, as much as I believe that the team chosen will win on Saturday, it does not take away from the fact that they LACK some experiencs. Something that HM said he would be looking for in this series.
If you don’t like it that I put it out there, that’s your problem. I could not care less.
I never ever had a problem to come on here and give credit where it was due.
Also, it was NEVER about more Stormers in the run on team. It was about the undeserving Bulls in the SQUAD.
Get it!!!
If you could not understand that, don’t blame me.
21 Jun 2012, 13:12 pm
@Airwell(Airwell)-560:
Do you or do you not agree that this pack, playing on Saturday, is a bit light on experience?
21 Jun 2012, 13:23 pm
@nama1(nama1)-559: I am not with you on Sp[ies he totally diominated the back of line out, look at his stas like him or hate him , his stats show that he played much better than last year. So lets keave that one.
You can not replace alberts with Brussouw, they are different players. Brussouw battled this year.
21 Jun 2012, 13:24 pm
@nama1(nama1)-561: And relax we won the series ..
21 Jun 2012, 13:31 pm
@nama1(nama1)-562: For what it’s worth, I totally agree with your assesment that HM is talking out of his backside as well as his mouth. Says one thing and then goes and does something else.
It seems that hese days even the slightest criticism of HM gets labelled as provincialism.
My opinion is that it is mostly Bulls supporters who are slowly realising that their god HM is maybe not quite the coach that they thought he was and it is now becoming a very touchin subject.@Airwell(Airwell)-560: Since when does one have to have coaching experience to comment on this website. Please get of your soapbox or pisspot or whatever it is you are shouting from
21 Jun 2012, 13:37 pm
@nama1(nama1)-562: I agree it is but who would you play otherwise? Kolisi?@nama1(nama1)-561: See there is the problem “undesrrving bulls” Your opinion I might add which is clouded by provincial hate and that is the cancer that destroys the Boks.
21 Jun 2012, 13:57 pm
@capebull(capebull)-563:
He’ll need to do more than just pluck a few balls from the air this weekend. Let’s hope he does.
Could’ve played Coetzee at 7 (he’ll do well there as primary ball carier, I think) and HB in his usual position…IF he was selected in the squad in the 1st place, of course.
Somebody mentioned earlier how senior players battled for form in the S15 (JdP, Spies, Alberts, JPP) but played really well in the two test matches. We’ll never know how HB would’ve done.
@capebull(capebull)-564:
Yeah we did. But we want to beat them 3-0, don’t we?
In any case, I said my piece on the matter.
21 Jun 2012, 14:27 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-565:
Thank you!!! Somebody who understands what I’m trying to say.
@Airwell(Airwell)-566:
So you agree that we lack some experience in the pack. Thank you for your honesty. It’s just that you don’t like it to be said out “loud”, is it?
I already said WHO I would play. That is why he should’ve been in the squad from the start.
The SQUAD selection(not to be confused with TEAM selection), was wrong from the start that is why we now have this situation where we have to play this inexperienced pack on Saturday.
You can’t really tell me that players like Potgieter (injured since the beginning of May), Spies, Jano, JJ, WO (on the grounds of their performances in S15 this year) deserved to be in THE SQUAD.
So why is it off limits to criticise the coach if he makes selections like this after he said that he would award form? OK, let’s say Spies and WO were selected for their experience, that still leaves us with a question mark over the selections of the other two.
Maybe, just maybe if YOU have read the “criticism” with an open mind and not immidiately jump to the “provincial bias/hatred” conclusion, you may just have found that there are some merit in what I was trying to say.
It does not mean that I don’t stand behind the Boks.
Let’s leave it at that. As I said earlier, I said my piece about the lack of experience in the pack. There’s nothing that can be done about it now.
Let’s hope for the best.
21 Jun 2012, 18:04 pm
@nama1(nama1)-568:
What if Spies was chosen as there is a lack of other options? Who would you pick in his place. It’s all fair and well criticising a player but without sticking your neck out and saying who you would play ahead of him your arguement has no foundation.
Your comments earlier refer to a lack of experience in the pack and as far as I can see all the people Meyer could have replaced the players in question with have little or no experience to talk of.
You cannot argue both sides. You need to say he must blood new players and get rid of Spies, WO etc or your arguement falls flat!?
21 Jun 2012, 20:59 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-551: Excellent post… One of the few real Kenners here.
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