Goosen looks set to start
25 Sep 2012
Johan Goosen spent Tuesday’s training session running at flyhalf, indicating strongly that he is likely to run-on against Australia at Loftus on Saturday.
In my experience, because of time constraints in terms of preparation, Springbok coaches have had to show their selection hand in the Tuesday session. Goosen lined up in what is almost certainly the starting side, while Morne Steyn worked defence with the players opposing them.
Goosen made good impressions in his short stints off the bench against the Wallabies in Perth and All Blacks in Dunedin. He has been the man most have called for to replace the struggling Steyn and it appears coach Heyneke Meyer will entrust him with a big part of the responsibility for galvanising the team’s attack.
Meanwhile, it appears Frans Steyn will recover from a rolled ankle in time for the Test. He made significant improvements overnight, and while he was still on crutches at the session as a precaution, my understanding is that he will play.
‘The X-rays were clear and the swelling has settled nicely. We’re hoping to get him to do some training on Wednesday,’ said Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts.
Flip van der Merwe (lock, calf), Jacques Potgieter (flank, groin) and Lwazi Mvovo (wing, hamstring) did not train with the squad on Tuesday and will be managed accordingly. A final call on their availability will be made later in the week.
Elsewhere in the team, Eben Etzebeth looks set to return to action after a suspension and will partner Andries Bekker in what appears to be the only other change from the side that lost to the Blacks in Dunedin.
Likely Springboks XV- 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Read last week’s exclusive interview with Johan Goosen here
By Ryan Vrede, in Johannesburg
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
443 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 » Show All
25 Sep 2012, 22:43 pm
@rangerman-100: Better not…who do you support?
25 Sep 2012, 22:46 pm
@papaown-92: this is heyneke’s reverse psychology on morne he wants to drop morne but is just extending the rope so that morne wraps it firmly around his own neck…
when meyer drops morne nobody in the whole country will wail except maybe some staunch bulle fans with blou knaters hanging off their bakkies.
foolproof plan dude!
25 Sep 2012, 22:48 pm
@papaown-101: come on papoose…squirrel hunter is a guppy!
25 Sep 2012, 22:51 pm
@fitz1ella-96:
> As Boks teen die klomp gemors soos die Wallabies die naweek uitdraf tog verloor.. dan is daar helse snot en trane op die horison wat volg..
As my Antie ballas gehad het was sy my Oom
Ons moet hulle net wen
As Goosen sy kans gebruik en speel soos hy kan sal ons
Die span is ook honger vir ‘n wen
Jy sal sien
25 Sep 2012, 22:52 pm
@Transformation-103: I’m not a professional blogger like you mate so I wouldn’t be able to keep track of everyone’s alegiance’s
I know you support the Kings and Grant WP…that’s about it
25 Sep 2012, 22:56 pm
@victoriabok-104: kan tog glad nie verloor die naweek nie.. dis eintlik heeltemaal ontmoontlik…. of is dit?
25 Sep 2012, 22:57 pm
@papaown-105: KWASIA BOY! wtf is a professional blogger hehehe
25 Sep 2012, 23:00 pm
@Transformation-107: Lmao!
Wow but you remember a lot hey
Professional blogger is someone who blogs 24/7. That’s you. Look I have a lot of respect for you cos sometimes these fools need to be put in their place by facts and logic…and you always bring it
Respect man
25 Sep 2012, 23:05 pm
@fitz1ella-106:
Enigiets is moontlik, soos ‘n besering vroeg in die wedstryd soos toe ons Bismarck verloor het of ‘n kaart as jy momentum bou
Maar as ons sonder Morne en Spies speel en Poukak speel nie kan ons wen
25 Sep 2012, 23:08 pm
wies Poukak?
25 Sep 2012, 23:08 pm
@papaown-108: i am just gonna ignore that rubbish on the other thread and chat to you like it never happened ok?
i am a shark.
25 Sep 2012, 23:14 pm
@rangerman-111: you’re such a nice guy AM
25 Sep 2012, 23:14 pm
@fitz1ella-110:
Pocock
25 Sep 2012, 23:15 pm
@Transformation-112: i actually am haha.
but i do like to test my skills here.
its a bit like dragons den.
25 Sep 2012, 23:20 pm
Ok eks gou uit.. seun te gaan haal.
26 Sep 2012, 00:04 am
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Now I have heard it all!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Seriously, I can’t stop laughing, my sides are splitting!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Transformation brings “facts and logic”.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Now I’m crying from the laughter!
26 Sep 2012, 01:13 am
Copy from other thread – with auto correct typos sorted
As an all black fan, I find all the hand wringing about protecting this that or the other no10 extremely perplexing.
NZ rugby lore is that the no10 is the most important player on the field.
Morne steyn singlehandedly lost the boks the game in Dunedin. If he had kicked his kicks you would have won. It would be irrelevant to an AB coach that others also blew try scoring opportunities – morne himself could and should have won the game for you, or on a bad day would have kept you within a single penalty of the win and earned you field position in the AB 22. To fall so short of those requirements would mean only one thing for an AB No10 – immediately dropped.
It would not matter who was coming up behind, or how inexperienced they were, they would be dropped and someone else tried.
Poor form is less clear cut, but without a doubt morne’s extended run of poor form would have seen him dropped from the ab’s before Dunedin.
All of this would happen without consideration of who the alternatives were – the assumption being that trying someone new has to be better than the status quo.
It astounds me that bok rugby lacks this ruthless commitment to performance. But what astounds me even more is that you worry about dropping steyn for fear of the pressure this will put on either goosen or janties. This is ridiculous – you have frans steyn to kick the goals if need be, and two good no 10?s in the team already in the form of pienar and lambie their presence can be used to take pressure off the new guy (eg taking kick offs, doing more of the kicking in general play etc).
The all blacks used this system so effectively with weepu and cruden at the wc, until weepu injured his groin in the warm up for the final.
To put it in perspective, the boks have far better cover for no 10 in the match day 22 at Dunedin than the all blacks had available in Te whole of the World Cup. This is even excluding janties who wasn’t at Dunedin.
Honestly, it is beyond bizarre that you don’t drop steyn and start working with he incredible depth you have in the rest if the team.
Change isn’t a guarantee of immediate success, and this strategy has resulted in some terrible 10?s playing for the Ab’s (bachop, Donald),BUT overall this strategy has served the all blacks incredibly well over the last 20 years.
26 Sep 2012, 03:27 am
@corporal punishment-117: 100% accurate.
But kiwis build 2, 8,, 10, 15 – up through the middle.
Fitzy
Zinzan
Carter
Mils/Cullen/Dagg
Just my humble opinion.
Boks build
2. 5. 7 (6 for you). And 9.
26 Sep 2012, 03:29 am
I like the team. I think the forwards are good.
Concerns around JdV and Zane. Other than that, good to go.
Boks will win on Saturday.
26 Sep 2012, 03:54 am
@118 sodajoe – agreed. There is definitely a slightly different positional focus in AB to the boks. For example, for years, we were obsessed with having wingers who could score long range tries – kirwan, lomu, Wilson, sivi, rocks, and we looked down on the more defensively orientated wingers that the boks and the English employed. And we wondered why we lost world cups
. The boks showed us the error of our ways in 2009 with a right royal 3 nil thrashing, exploiting the weaknesses of our attack oriented wingers.
Since then, defensively orientated wingers like Jane and kahui have become the norm, and we won a World Cup. I can’t see us going back to the sivi or roks type player, although savea is a bit of a hybrid which surprises me a little.
Thanks South Africa for the 2009 lesson – we needed it!
26 Sep 2012, 04:00 am
Ps – the number 7 jersey (6 for you) is probably seen as the second most important behind the 10 in NZ rugby, as this is the player that secures the ball and is the link between the forward and backs ok that is a simplification, but we have been blessed with a succession of world class players in that position (Michael jones, kronfeld and McCaw) and we have tended to build our style of play around those players.
This has its problems however, as the abs can crumble when the front line no7 isn’t available, or when we are between great players (eg the period between kronfeld and McCaw was pretty bad for the abs)
26 Sep 2012, 04:01 am
Just placed a lazy $100 on the Bokke to win at Loftus 13 and over paying $2.80 GO BOKKE!!
26 Sep 2012, 04:10 am
I read on News24.com that M Steyn is set to start again
So which is correct?
26 Sep 2012, 04:23 am
@123 Coach if that is correct and Morne starts then Hm should be charged with cowardice and for bringing the bok Jersey into disrepute but surely it isn’t true
26 Sep 2012, 04:31 am
@Te Rangatira-124:
Ag he cant let M Steyn go
See he feels more secure with him there than an unknown in experienced 10 , who just happens to have a lot of talent .
The height of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over , and expecting a different result
lets see how mad HM is?
26 Sep 2012, 04:33 am
@CoachPete-123:
Aish news24 or Ryan…and the winner is? There are no winners, we all lose!
26 Sep 2012, 04:35 am
In my opinion (obviously) we wouldn’t do bad with the below in the future:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Schalk Burger (c), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira
16 Deon Fourie, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Juan de Jongh
26 Sep 2012, 04:35 am
C’mon we need the Goose to deliver this week.
26 Sep 2012, 04:38 am
@RugbyStudent-127:
Yeah decent
HM does not care for Aplon
I dont think Ruan is the answer Too slow poor defender and kicks too deep
I would have Hougaard with Goosen
26 Sep 2012, 04:41 am
@RugbyStudent-127:
Skalk may find it hard to win his place back
26 Sep 2012, 04:49 am
@CoachPete-129:
I find that funny as it was the selfsame Aplon who at times tortured his Bulls team. I think Heyneke needs to step back and ask, what’s Hougaard’s deal?! If he wants to be a wing, you’ve got to ask, is he the best option? Neither Ruan or Hougi would be my first choice. Both are a bit too individualistic for my taste. I like the scrumhalves in the Currie Cup who haven’t been overcoached or carry baggage.
@CoachPete-130:
Don’t think so, leaders in the pack are missing. Alberts is finding it a bit difficult to maintain his momentum throughout the game. You need guys like Schalk, Bismarck there to maintain the momentum throughout the game.
26 Sep 2012, 04:51 am
@Te Rangatira-124: @Slartibartfast-126:
Don’t worry boys, the Meyer has it all under control. Reading some comments on here it is obvious people have selective memory/reading abilities.
What we all need to understand is that there is actually a plan, unlike the potluck 4 years before Meyer. Go back and read what Goosen said about him and the coach, go further back and read what Tacie said about Meyer and his ranking of all players in all positions. Read what Ranger said yesterday about the 3 #10 and how they should be used.
Goosen is the man and he will get his time in the sun, probably this Saturday. Jantjes will get his chance probably EOYT, Krusty won’t be around much longer and Lambie and maybe Taute will get their chance…
Way too much panic and not enough logical thinking happening these days.
Moenie worry nie, watch net!
26 Sep 2012, 04:57 am
@Slartibartfast-132:
No thanks, we were hard on Pdivvie, and we will be hard on Meyer. Especially cause Meyer and the rest of the Bulls and Hoskins decided he is much better than Pdivvie. So, all we want is proof…not seven years.
26 Sep 2012, 05:03 am
There’s one thing that infuriates me about players like Lambie, Hougie, Pienaar, Frans Steyn, etc. They cannot decide which position suits them, so they always have something to fall back on. There’s no real incentive for them to be the best. Look at Hougie…if he’s no good at scrummie, the coach puts him on wing; meaning he doesn’t fight for his life like a Habana or Fourie du Preez would. Lambie the same. I’m not a big fan of Lambie at fullback..in fact the last time I saw Lambie play fullback, he jumped up to catch a ball then twisted his ankle…that’s it. Now suddenly everybody wants him at flyhalf…why?
26 Sep 2012, 05:07 am
Frans Steyn to me is still 10 Kgs overweight. There is no good reason a centre to be 110Kgs. His perceived strength through mass makes him think he can just run over people, which he rarely does. He was best when put into half gaps.
26 Sep 2012, 05:23 am
@RugbyStudent-133:
It is fine, be hard with him as much as you want to, he will come through.
@RugbyStudent-134:
Because every man and his dog seems to know better. Super coaches and the Bok coach have never been able to work together either…anyway, all backline fairies you talking about.
26 Sep 2012, 05:23 am
Anyone feel HM will start M Steyn and give him 40 min hoping we will be ahead with some better kicking at goal by steyn
And then give Goosen 2nd half
26 Sep 2012, 05:26 am
@RugbyStudent-134:
Yeah sorry Sharks fans i dont rate lambie too high especially at 10
possibly better bet than Kirshner at but not to HM
I have always liked Taute at 15
26 Sep 2012, 05:28 am
@Slartibartfast-132:
Yeah I just cant see us loosing either with steyn or goosen at 10
Oz not very strong no Genia no Cooper other players out,
long travel , playing at loftus , coaching issues too
We should win We better win
26 Sep 2012, 05:46 am
@CoachPete-137:
If Goosen’s heel is fine, he will start with Steyn on the bench. If he plays well expect Steyn to come on with a few minutes left…
@CoachPete-139:
Never write off the ******** Coach, but we should have enough to win.
26 Sep 2012, 05:53 am
@CoachPete-139:
Coach I think Bok should win comfortably on paper, but I feel the Aussies will give a good account of themselves and it will go down to the wire.
26 Sep 2012, 06:19 am
Loftus is a high scoring venue, the Ab’s average around 40 points there over the last 2 or 3 tests, Bokke should score at least 20 then.
26 Sep 2012, 06:23 am
@Te Rangatira-141:
We always look good on paper, just ask the keo muppits!
I do think that we will put up a good show this weekend and really hope it does NOT come down to the wire…it is the breaking of a new dawn for Bok rugby this Saturday!
26 Sep 2012, 06:32 am
@Slartibartfast-143:
Its going down to the wire…..both RC games this weekend.
26 Sep 2012, 06:44 am
@Te Rangatira-144:
Terang DC to control the show if he plays this weekend, Ab’s due for a complete performance 10 / 15 should do it.
26 Sep 2012, 06:49 am
@Te Rangatira-144:
Going down to the wire is the rule mind you, still hoping for the exception on the weekend.
May be close but the AB will cruise in after 60 minutes, no worries.
26 Sep 2012, 06:50 am
All we need is no cards, and the Goosestep: We will smash the Ockers.
26 Sep 2012, 06:58 am
@NZINCHINA-145:
Yes….willing to change my call to what you have stated…..Abs to win by 12 and Dan to control the tempo and shut the Argies outta the game
@Slartibartfast-146:
You on the other hand are going to fight it out for 79 minutes with Morne redeeming himself and kicking the winning goal.
26 Sep 2012, 07:03 am
@Te Rangatira-148:
If it wasn’t for the hurricane in Wellington it would have been around 25 points, away we are at least 10/15points better than them, no disrespect to the Argies though they have played superbly and are worthy opponents.
26 Sep 2012, 07:14 am
Would loved to have seen Lambie in the starting 15 (assuming this team is correct). Imagine Lambie at 12 and sliding Frans to 13, the barnyard (the Goose and the Lamb) together would go a long way to injecting some creativity and running to the midfield. I know there are those who would spaz-out at trying the Lamb at 12 but he isn’t getting game time at either 10 or 15, he has the skills and JDV is rather pedestrian at the moment.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.