Duane set for Perth debut
5 Sep 2012
Duane Vermeulen will start at No 8 when the Springboks tackle the Wallabies this Saturday.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer has brought two new loose forwards into the match 22 following last week’s poor showing against Argentina. Vermeulen will start at No 8 while Francois Louw will be utilised from the bench. Until recently, Vermeulen was playing for Western Province and Louw for English club Bath.
Vermeulen, who has been one of the most consistent performers in the past three seasons of Super Rugby, will finally get his chance at the highest level. The robust Stormer will add some grunt to a loose trio that suddenly looks very intimidating.
‘We’ve decided to put Duane straight into the starting team because he is a classic No 8, a position we’ve lacked in since Pierre Spies got injured and Ryan Kankowski moved to Japan,’ said Meyer.
‘I’ve always admired the way Duane plays rugby and he’s fitted in very well the past week. He would’ve been a Springbok years ago if it had not been for injuries and it’s great to finally see him selected.
‘And by including Francois on the bench, we have a specialist opensider, but also a versatile loose forward that brings a bit more balance to our back row mix.’
While Marcell Coetzee is not an out-and-out openside he will be expected to outplay Australia’s Michael Hooper at the breakdown. The Boks need to produce an improved collective showing in this area after last week’s shocker in Mendoza. Coetzee will need to step up in what should be a brutally physical first half, and Louw will be asked to play a different kind of game in the second when it is not as tight.
Other changes to the pack see Andries Bekker dropped completely and Juandre Kruger introduced as the starting No 5. Bekker played his worst game for the Boks last week, and Kruger should see this as an opportunity to make the position his own.
‘At lock we’ve decided to go for Juandré as he plays more to the ball. Juandré and Eben played well as a combination in the June Tests against England.’
As expected, Meyer has favoured Ruan Pienaar at No 9 and moved Francois Hougaard from scrumhalf to wing. The backline reshuffle sees Lwazi Mvovo moving to the bench.
It’s another change in selection that should become permanent if things go well in Perth. Meyer has said that it’s a ‘horse-for-courses’ pick, but if the Bok pack fires and Pienaar has a blinder, he must be considered as a long-term solution at No 9.
Of course, if Hougaard, playing on wing, gets the ball on the front foot and produces the rugby we know he can, it will serve as further evidence that he is better suited to a back-three role.
Johan Goosen is another new face in the 22, and will earn his first cap if he gets a run in the second half.
Goosen recently recovered from a serious shoulder injury, an injury that prevented him from making his debut in the Test series against England. He represents the future of South African rugby and through his Super Rugby offerings has shown that he’s ready to make the step up.
The pressure is on Morné Steyn, not only to improve on his inconsistent performances of 2012 and guide South Africa to victory, but also to keep Goosen at arm’s length.
Meyer has already admitted that Goosen is the kind of player he wants in that No 10 position. Apart from having all the necessary kicking skills to be a success under today’s modern laws, Goosen also boasts an impressive attacking game. It’s a complete skill set that could eventually allow the Boks to play a more balanced game.
‘In my mind he can become one of the great flyhalves in world rugby. I’ve been very impressed with his work ethic and attitude since he joined the squad on Thursday in Johannesburg and we will keep on managing him carefully over the next few weeks.’
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
694 Comments
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5 Sep 2012, 06:52 am
Zane, Morne, K@k Dragons!!!
5 Sep 2012, 06:57 am
Should have been:
15 Lambie, 14 Habana, 13 de Villiers (c), 12 FSteyn, 11 Hougaard 10 Goosen, 9 Pienaar, 8 Coetzee, 7 Alberts, 6 Louw, 5 Kruger, 4 Etzebeth, 3 Jdu Plessis, 2 Burden, 1 Mtawarira.
16.Strauss, 17 Cilliers, 18 Bekker, 19 Vermeulen, 20 Vermaak, 21 De Jongh, 22 Mvovo
5 Sep 2012, 07:05 am
Everybody fit, available and on form:
15 Le Roux, 14 JPP, 13 Fourie, 12 FSteyn, 11 Rhule 10 Goosen, 9 Pienaar, 8 Kankowski, 7 Alberts, 6 Brussouw, 5 Bekker, 4 Etzebeth, 3 Jdu Plessis, 2 BduPlessis, 1 Mtawarira.
16.Chillie, 17 Coenie, 18 Kruger, 19 Coetzee, 20 Hougaard, 21 Lambie, 22 De Jongh
5 Sep 2012, 07:07 am
these boks can do it and will do it.
pienaar the only weak link danger.
5 Sep 2012, 07:12 am
@coma-2: If Zane didnt play there would only be 2 players of colour… HM will want to keep the politicians happy…
It seems Bekker wont have such a long Springbok career after all. It seems his days are numbered if he cant even make the match 22!
Good to see Strauss fit… Hopefully Flo gets at least 40min game time!
5 Sep 2012, 07:13 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-4: Kirchner, Habana, Morne, Strauss are all weak, none of them would even make the AUS squad.
5 Sep 2012, 07:17 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-4:
I’m not so sure, nowhere near as confident as you appear to be. The Wallabies are at home, they’re desparate to get it right after k*k results against the All Blacks and they have plenty of creativity and pace, a scrum at least as effective as ours, a lineout that will enjoy parity.
We, on the other hand, have looked pedestrian, devoid of ideas, sluggish and boring as batshite.
Sadly, I suspect we’ll get clobbered – until Meyer finally ditches his mate M.Steyn at flyhalf – after all, he has always been one-dimensional and when that dimension isn’t firing, he has nothing else to offer. The sooner Goosen gets into the game, the better our chances. Not sure of Pienaar at 9 either, we’ve been there, we’ve tried that and he has failed to step up to the
plate, time and again. So why should it be different this time?
What did Einstein say about insanity? Something along the lines of repeating the same things and expecting a different outcome.
5 Sep 2012, 07:20 am
Looks like a decent team. Just Zane need to be sent home and Lambie replaces him. Hopefully we get too see Goosen and Lambie take the field in the second half. Bekker is the most over rated player in South Africa. For a guy who is so big he sould be dominating on the field. But only trys to dominate the side line with bryan.
5 Sep 2012, 07:29 am
@Joe Maher-7:
Pienaar deserves a decent shot this time round. He’s mostly been played out of position during his bok career and has hardly been the first choice SH, second to Januarie and Fdp.
I think this pack can dominate and if they do, clean out better and with better quick ball from Pienaar, Steyn should be good enough and kick the boks to victory. If he misses a few penalties dont be surprised if he gets subbed shortly after.
5 Sep 2012, 07:30 am
@coma-6: Strauss was the inform hooker in the super rugby comp… How can he be a weak link if he’s the next best hooker?
5 Sep 2012, 07:33 am
Hougaard to wing is a regressive backward move. Hougaard should have stayed at 9
Pienaar should be at 10 or on bench. M. Steyn should be out the equation altogether and so should Kirchner
Otherwise far better loose forward selection at least one positive Potgieter is gone that in itself might be enough to swing things around but half backs and full back are all pathetically weak.
If Meyer gets out of jail by rearranging the deck chairs well and good if Aussie klap him stukkend as a result of zero penetration through flat non dimension from 9, 10, 15 then he deserves what’s coming.
He got no scum half on bench so is he looking for a reverse clause if his first gamble don’t pay off?
5 Sep 2012, 07:34 am
Pretty much as expected yeah.
Would’ve thought Juan de Jongh would’ve made the 22 instead of Mvovo though. No real point having a winger on the bench.
@coma-2:
Goosen is good, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Last thing he needs is to have all the pressure on his shoulders.
5 Sep 2012, 07:35 am
Poor Huilige Heyneke Die Mense Se Messiah ….
Consistency in selection is sign of clarity and understanding. On the contrary Heyneke looks to be confused as can be
At start of tourny had thought would achieve a 50% win ratio. At this point going forward, at best, could win home test match against Aus
The Meyer’s Men are going to get drilled this week and next (and thats not by the Meyer himself). Giving it to Aus by +10 and NZ +25
Hail The Messiah, Cry The Messiah and eventually Hang The Messiah from a Jacaranda Tree
5 Sep 2012, 07:37 am
Much better team. Hougaard and M.Steyn gets another chance pity Bekker didnt get another chance after his poor showing.
5 Sep 2012, 07:40 am
@Jeez-10: Coma chooses players in his 22 who have never been in the international picture. Who is Rhule and Le Roux? So don’t thin kto hard on his comments, he is known for off the ball selections, not that is inherently bad, just off.
5 Sep 2012, 07:44 am
I suspect Francois will come on after halftime in Duane’s place. Duane will not play a full game this week. Next week expect to see him on for the full 80 minutes.
As for Morne, I believe Heyneke will use the next two away tests as an opportunity to introduce Goossen to the matchday 22. If the guy impresses he will be first choice when the home leg against Aus and NZ take place.
5 Sep 2012, 07:44 am
no use complaining, Team much as selected, Surelly people did’nt expect kirchner and MOrne to get dropped?? those thinking La,bie will get time on the firled are dreaming, i think Goosen will get about 10 to 5 min
5 Sep 2012, 07:44 am
@capetown-13: The current change in selection can only be an improvement. Can’t change playing style over two weeks. You are a bit too negative. If he does loose home games and then suffers defeats in the EOYT then I believe he might be under extreme pressure, our EOYTs are when the politicians want more political selections and where fans want better results. Tough for any coach.
5 Sep 2012, 07:44 am
@coma-6:
neither kirchner or habana in a critical position which will win or lose the game for us.
strauss is not bissy, but he’s not a pussycat either.
morne could lose us the game if he misses kicks.
@Joe Maher-7:
fair enough, i do think the boks are in a must win situation though.
deans look about as devoid of ideas as a coach could be and nothing about the wallabies looked creative in their last game. i’d say they regressed from the game before.
they’re missing a few key players and have players back in the side who are short on form and not sparking. their scrumhalf is woefully out of form and costs them games? beale too would/could lose the game for them at 15. cooper’s going through a pretty ordinary phase?
a new winger, a kak midfielder at 12, a frans steyn type ‘is he a wing is he a fullback is he a centre’ player at 13.
i dont rate the front row and if we’re physical think they’ll fold.
i see your points but i think we’ll take this.
5 Sep 2012, 07:46 am
@patch-8:
my suspicion is fitness.
a lock that tall who doesn’t compete on opposition throw ins..?..
5 Sep 2012, 07:46 am
Albert, Vemeulen and Coetzee too cumbersome combo to my opinion
Louw to open side, Coetzee to the blind side and Albert moves to 5 would have more speed and skills at the breakdown while still enjoy Albert’s work rate and ball carrying, Kruger can cover both positions from the bench.
Morne Styen’s still there, but at least Houggie presents a real weapon from the wing position, MS would have to move to 15, Lambie to 10.
Goosen on the bench is a waste, HM should have JJ Englebrecht there to cover both wing and centre, the Wallabies will have an upgrade back line to contain this time.
5 Sep 2012, 07:48 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-19: I have to agree, this is the best selected bok squad since the start of the international season (obviously having JP at 15, Lambie at 10 and Bussie at 2 would make this a killer team).
If JP/ Bussie were fit:
15 Jp , 14 Habana, 13 de Villiers (c), 12 FSteyn, 11 Hougaard 10 Lambie, 9 Pienaar, 8 Vermeulen, 7 Alberts, 6 Coetzee, 5 Kruger, 4 Etzebeth, 3 Jdu Plessis, 2 Bussie, 1 Beast.
16.Strauss, 17 Cilliers, 18 Bekker, 19 Flouw, 20 Vermaak, 21 De Jongh, 22 Mvovo
5 Sep 2012, 07:49 am
@goodstuff-22: Oops, put Goosen at 20, not Vermaak.
5 Sep 2012, 07:50 am
My take….
Bekker had this coming…J Kruger should never have been dropped in first place…tne Bok jersey means you prepared to bleed , and Bekker was dismal last week…..and not much better the week before, welcome back Juandre!
Pienaar at 9….he better get his defensive game together…..Genia is a snipe artist and will be wanting to test Pienaarrs defensive appetite all day long…and I just hope Pienaar is not going to kick everything in the air and replicate FDP game, the same game plan that has sunk Hougaard who could not be a FDP clone….
Hooper will be licking his young lips at the prospect of going up against a fetcherless Bok team….F Louw should have started to combat Hooper….but we will learn the hard way again….
Mvovo must be pi ssed off….shafted because of a bloody useless 10 that cant get the backline in play and dropped for a 9 …..HM may rue this call….
All in all this is a wounded Bok team, and history shows it is the desperate Bok teams that produce, so I think they may win this 1 despite several shortcomings….
Of course the Aussies may be even more desperate….!
HM has gambled and M Steyn better repay the coach….we lose the next 2 Tests it may just be the home leg becomes the Battle of Meyers Waterloo all over again….the knives will be out big time.
5 Sep 2012, 07:51 am
@Hondo-21: The same JJ who got bossed by Vodacom cup team WP palyers, JJ’s skills and ability has declined at the bulls. Nope, De Jongh is miles ahead of that boy.
5 Sep 2012, 07:52 am
@patch-8:
@Craven-16:
goosen is there more to put psychological pressure on morne than to play a significant role on the field. if he’s lucky he’ll get a few minutes anywhere.
5 Sep 2012, 07:54 am
@coma-6:
so to be clear, i’m saying pienaar is in a position to lose us the game. he’s folded before. morne too if he misses kicks.
5 Sep 2012, 07:55 am
@grant10-24: I agree with you on Kruger and Pienaar, we can keep our ball posetion against Hooper if we only use agro to clear the ruck. The mentality must be that whoever gets close to our ball must be removed with extreme prejudice (legally of course), the fetcher must be so brused after the game from being smashed off the ball that when Flouw comes on it will be no contest.
I beleive if Goosen gets a chance, we will see F Steyn gets some space and whatch that Hougie look for work on the inside pass.
5 Sep 2012, 07:58 am
@goodstuff-22:
hehe
all good but i do not agree with a few of those selections at all.
5 Sep 2012, 07:59 am
I like it. This will be the end of Bryan Habana.
JP will reclaim the 14 jersey.
5 Sep 2012, 08:00 am
Mvovo has done nothing special in a Bok jersey …. 1 quota less which is very good – makes the Bok team stronger… now to get rid of Rasta Zane and we will kill the all blacks!
5 Sep 2012, 08:01 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-20:
Bekker’s scrums and rucks work against the Argies was a travesty.
If you can take another look at the replay of the Argies’ try you might change your opinion about how critical the full back position is, pay some attention to the turnovers resulted from his ‘counter attack’ runs too
5 Sep 2012, 08:02 am
also bekker plays better rugby than what matfield could ever dream of … then after 2 years since his last test, he has a bad game and gets dropped …. HM jy maak kak .. moenie, moenie nou kak maak nie!
5 Sep 2012, 08:08 am
@goodstuff-25:
If you could ensure another v. d. Merwe referee on Saturday at Perth then you may have a point
The Bulls players on Saturday, themselves no strangers to a referee winning it for them situation did very little on the field once the realisation of a fixed match was sinking in
5 Sep 2012, 08:10 am
So the cement sniffer recons we should keep an out of form scrumhalf and then move the other scrummie to play at #10, a position he never did anything of note in or played in for a while now
Good thing he has a construction empire to look after from the drivers seat of his Datsun bakkie…
5 Sep 2012, 08:12 am
@goodstuff-28: I am also very wary of selecting Vermeulen to start….and dont get me wrong, I am a huge Vermeulen fan…but is he really 100% Test match ready?
Aussies are clever, they will have latched onto the no fetcher and Vermeulens lack of game time…..I expect them to try and run from minute 1….stretch us th the fringes and Vermeulen may be 2 or 3 games away from coping with the pace , especially in a wide game…..Hooper will come into his own as we struggle to get out wide …..Flo would have been a good foil with M Coetsee at 8 …..then we would have a technician at the breakdown and a tearaway 8 who could also get to the wide points of contact…..
Marcelle may find himself having to make a lot of tackles as Alberts and Vermeulen will struggle to match the pace of Aussie loose trio….
Boks will need to dominate the 1 st phases to try and reign the Aussies in….
Actually a fascinating match in prospect…
5 Sep 2012, 08:14 am
@Hondo-32:
bekker has been a travesty.
i dont think kirchener is as weak a link as you make out though. he is not flash, cannot step, cannot jink, is not an israel dagg type game winner but he is solid and dependable to do just enough as needed.
he certainly does not pull any kurtley beale knockons, balls to the head, forward pass theatrics.
5 Sep 2012, 08:16 am
Bakkies you said before the 2nd Argy test you thought the Bokke would thump then, are you also predicting a big win here, to be fair Herr Meyer was also pretty devoid of ideas as well and the Bokke regressed from the first test so a 50/50 game then?
5 Sep 2012, 08:17 am
@grant100-33: Just ask Habana, he will tell you Bekker is more of a worry on the wing than in the pack.
5 Sep 2012, 08:18 am
@grant10-36: I do not rate Vermeulen at all , but I am open to be convinced otherwise on Saturday….
5 Sep 2012, 08:20 am
@grant100-33: Best post ever, you will win awards for this.
5 Sep 2012, 08:23 am
Yeah much more balanced looking team I think.
Vermuelen and Alberts in the same team is perhaps a bit cumbersome but it may well mean that we are more clinical at ruck time.
Expect to see Kanko replace Vermuelen next year.
I suspect this is last chance saloon for M Steyn. With Goosen picked on the bench, he is breathing down Mornes neck here.
5 Sep 2012, 08:25 am
@grant10-36:
The forwardsmight reign them in , win the ball or to slow it down but it will be futile as Ruan and Morne will simply hand it back to them with the instructed kicking plan.
5 Sep 2012, 08:27 am
i guess all the talk of HM keeping lambie for 10 was all a load of BS
he hasnt even got a chance and goosen is already ahead of him in line
HEYNEKE OUT- a web of lies and contradictions keep building up
5 Sep 2012, 08:31 am
@Hondo-34: The referee had nothing to do with JJ’s miss tackles on the line, knock-on etc.;)
5 Sep 2012, 08:32 am
@capebull-41: Ahalf fit Vermeulen is still 10 times better than a fit Spies….
But I am not convinced this is the game to start him….I would have given him 30 min off bench…and then considered him to start vs Kiwis where his physicality would be needed …
5 Sep 2012, 08:32 am
@Jeez-10:
strauss is the weakest player in this team, alongside zane
hes a ruck inspector who seeks glory on the wing- the cheetahs allowed him that glory in their system- nothing hard about this kid
-comparing s15 to test rugby is laughable my friend
5 Sep 2012, 08:37 am
hello china, why the one way monologuing? you dont answer my questions? is there no substance to them? if so then just say and dismiss it?
it wont be a big win but a win all the same. boks were bad in 2nd test but the ref was worse.
5 Sep 2012, 08:40 am
Bit better.hope Duane is fit,if so,he can make a huge difference.Kirchner dont inspire confidence ,hes like Gaffie du Toit that cant kick.and our centres are slow.its down to the forwards..
5 Sep 2012, 08:43 am
There is no substance to your claims, this is a better side than the one in Argintina and is good enough to beat a depleted Aus side however it wont be good enough the following week.
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