Defeat could stall Bok momentum
22 Jun 2012
The third Test against England remains an important match for the Springboks in the context of a challenging 2012 season.
The Boks beat England in the first two Tests to win the series and what followed was a sense of accomplishment. In the build up to this final Test, however, the coaches and players have freely admitted that the game in Port Elizabeth is a massive one if you consider the bigger 2012 picture.
Heyneke Meyer has made no unforced changes for Saturday’s clash, which confirms that the Boks as a group are determined to maintain their 100% record in 2012 and simultaneously build towards the more demanding Rugby Championship. Captain Jean de Villiers said as much on Friday, revealing that there is at lot at stake.
‘England will be determined to end their tour and season on a high, but we don’t want to give them that feeling,’ De Villiers said. ‘There’s plenty to play for, there are some new guys in the squad this week and a number of players throughout that want to establish themselves before the Rugby Championship.
‘We haven’t actually started looking that far yet, but it’s a strange situation. We do have some momentum, but there is a sense that if we lose we will have to start from scratch.
‘It’s also great to be in a position to win three matches in a row. There were dark days in South African rugby where we struggled to win a game, so we won’t take this for granted. International rugby is tough and it won’t be easy but if we do manage to win, it is an achievement we will cherish.
‘Winning three times against the same opposition will also be a special moment. It will be great for the team and the management if we can do it. It could take us on to higher things.’
The Boks have managed to win the first two Tests despite their inconsistency. De Villiers said that while he was pleased with the results, he expects a more clinical performance at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this Saturday.
‘We conceded three tries last week although it wasn’t really from defensive errors. We know it is not good enough. We can also improve at the set pieces.
‘There were moments in the second half last week where we could have scored more tries, and we were disappointed with our finishing. It’s something we have looked at as we might only get two or three chances this coming Saturday. We have to make every chance count.’
Wet weather is forecast and so both teams may be forced to play conservatively. It could be that the accuracy of the goal-kickers determines the result, although De Villiers said the Boks will still look to pressure the England defence through their combative ball-carrying forwards.
‘We have to be ready for anything this week, whatever the weather or England throw at us. The surface at the stadium is looking good and we believe we can play according to our game plan.
‘We will be trying to identify space like we did last week. But we will have to play to the conditions, and we will have to get the first phases going before we move the ball.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Port Elizabeth
59 Comments
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22 Jun 2012, 18:00 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-48: Agree. I rate him as our very best 12 and he will be missed tomorrow for sure.
22 Jun 2012, 18:32 pm
with Olivier at 12 yes Steyn will be missed
with JdJ at 12 and Boks would have done a whole lot better than they did in either test one or two
Meyer got some rocks in his head
His first choice FB is Kirchner, then Lambie
His first choice No. 12 is Steyn, then Olivier
His first choice 10 is Steyn, then Lambie, then Jantjies
His first choice 9 is FdP, then Hougaard, then Pienaar
His first choice 8 is Spies, then Kankowski
His first choice 7 is Alberts, then Potgieter
His first choice 6 is Coetsee, then Daniel
His first choice 3 is JdP, then Oosthuizen, then Kruger
His first choice 2 is Bismark, then Strauss, then Chili
His first choice 1 is Beast then Greyling
Put all the FB’s together
Kirchner, Lambie, Aplon, J. Pietersen, A. Coetsee
and the last 3 trump the first 2
Put all the centers together
Steyn, JdV, Olivier, JdJ, Ebersohn, Whitehead, Venter, Engelbrecht, Mapoe
the last 6 are better than No.3
Put all the No.8′s together
Spies, Kankowski, Vd Walt, Strauss, Johnson, Vermeulen
and the last 4 are better than the first 2
Put all the blind side flanks together
Alberts, Potgieter, Elstadt, Strauss, Stander, Kolisi, Vd Walt
and only Alberts is tested as Bok material and second choice is a total unproven novice
Put all open side flanks together
Coetsee, Daniel, Brussow, Minnie, Kolisi
only Coetse is perhaps better than last 3 and even he is playing out of position.
22 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@52 louis,
Imagine if HM was as good as you as a coach. He would have won 4 from 2 by now hey?
22 Jun 2012, 23:36 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-52: And rugby is a game for a team…not one or two better than another
AB s builds teams, not individuals, maybe you can learn from that
22 Jun 2012, 23:43 pm
@JL1(JL1)-54: so what you trying to say, that by playing weaker individuals together you build a better team…
Pfft… bullshit
HM should wake up and discover who the better players are and build a better team that way.
23 Jun 2012, 05:48 am
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-52: I don’t agree 100% with your picks, although I do agree that HM’s job would be so much easier if he managed to pick the best players.
23 Jun 2012, 14:24 pm
@RefuGSpot(garth)-56: yep have to agree there.
Selection is his achilles heel thus far. Maybe its just been to manage familiar players in the first 3 tests due to short turnaround and thankfully Olivier and Kanko are pi55ing off to Japan soon. But I will personally be very dissapointed if certain plonkers make the Bok team ahead of good talent in the Flipping 4 nations – I refuse to call it the anonymouws Rugby Championship.
Kirchener must go – Lambie is a good utility player and has not put a foot wrong – Aplon should be a wing replacement not fb – its a more natural position for him. Joe Pietersen need to replace Kirchener with possible eyes on players like Taute and Riaan Viljoen for the future if Viljoen can regain his form. Havent seen A Coetzee play but I hear he is very highly rated. Its clear there is no room for Kirchener
Wynand Olivier must go – he wont make the step up today and that should be it. End of. Juan de Jongh and Ebersohn deserve to be included. Possibly Taute if he persists at centre instead of FB. Paul Jordaan also looked good at sharks and while theyre at it maybe Serfontein should be offered a Super rugby position so we can see how he goes. We are desperatley short on centre cover.
At flyhalf the pecking order seems fine but space must be made for Goosen when he returns
Currently there is no solution at scrumhalf other than those players. Its a real worry. But Houghaard was MUCH better last week. Also glimpses I saw of Ruaan he seemed to do well.
Spies has been ok in the last test – not in top form but better – Kanko in my opinion shouldnt be in the team. Space can be made for Johnson and Vermeulen for sure.
Blindside ive got no probs with especially with the backup we have especially once F Louw and Juan Smith are back.
Openside flank Brussouw needs to be incorporated as an option when needed and Kolisi deserves a spot. Keegan Daniel must go – not test material
Rest is more or less ok.
23 Jun 2012, 15:19 pm
with the quality of players coming through junior ranks these are the players that need assessing and promotion to higher levels
FB
A. Coetsee, J. Pietersen, J. Taute, W. Le roux, R. Smit, F. Fouche, K. Coleman
Wings
Mvovo, Sithole, Le Roux, R. Smit, Engelbrecht, Sadie, Jordaan, Basson, Rhule, Mjekevu
Centers
Venter, Serfontein, De Jongh, Brache, Whitehead, Jordaan, Howard, Sadie, Engelbrecht
Fly Halves
Goosen, Pollard, R. Smit, Le Roux, A. Coetsee, Van Aswegen, Jantjies, Fouche, Coleman
Scrum Halves
Hougaard, Van Zyl, Vd Watt (this our weakest area of concern currently – junior scrum halves have not shown the quality of international opposition)
8th man
Botha, Coetsee, Kolisi, Carr, Vd Walt, Stander, Koster, Du Toit
No.7
Elstadt, Du Toit, Stander, Vd Walt, Stander, Kolisi
No.6
Coetsee, Carr, Kolisi, Ardendorff, Liebenberg
No. 5 Lock
Etsebeth, R. Botha,
No. 4 Lock
Elstadt, Du Toit, Willemse
No. 3
Co Oosthuizen, Malherbe, Van Dyk, Cilliers
No.2
M. Pretorius, Ntubeni, Tobias
No.1
Kitshoff, Co Oosthuizen, Ca Oosthuizen, Nyakane
23 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
Bok momentum has just screeched to a thundering standstill.
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