Goosen’s time comes

Goosen’s time comes

26 Sep 2012

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has selected Johan Goosen at flyhalf for the Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

Keo.co.za reported yesterday that Goosen would start but Meyer surprised by completely omitting Steyn from his 22, selecting the uncapped Elton Janjties as pivot cover.

Asked about his decision to leave Steyn out, Meyer said: ‘This was very difficult, but I looked at what the team needed first and then at the impact on the individual. At Loftus, where he has played well, it is a big call. But he accepted it graciously. I feel it is in his best interest that he doesn’t play. He’ll fight back.’

Meyer said he had contemplated including Steyn’s on the bench but was dissuaded from this course of action because of the potential to expose an already under pressure player. ‘It isn’t going to help him to bring him on with 20 minutes and he ends up having to kick the game-winning or game-losing goal. I either back him 100% or not. That’s the decision I had to take,’ Meyer said.

Meyer also dispelled the perception that Goosen’s natural attacking instinct would be reigned in to come in line with a game plan that is widely perceived as conservative. He explained that a sharp assessment of the state of the defensive line was key in determining what action to take.

‘There’s a misconception that Goosen must fit into a rigid structure. He has the freedom to play the situation as he sees it,’ he said. ‘But this is not Currie Cup rugby where you have space and time. I’ve said to him to go out and express himself, that’s why I picked him. He must determine when it is on to go wide or take the safer option.’

He added: ‘People have to be realistic though, you can’t expect a 20-year-old to win the game on his own.’

Elsewhere Frans Steyn (who’s struggling with an ankle injury) is bracketed with Jaco Taute in the midfield. The Lions youngster will make his debut in the No 13 jersey if Frans Steyn fails to recover, with skipper Jean de Villiers taking over at inside centre.

‘I want two experienced guys on either side of Johan. Jaco was very good at 13 in Super Rugby,’ Meyer said in explaining this move.

The medical staff were highly optimistic about Steyn’s availability on Tuesday evening but he rolled the same ankle in Wednesday’s training session. A call on his availability will be made after the captain’s practice on Friday afternoon.

In other changes Andries Bekker and Eben Etzebeth unseat Juandre Kruger and Flip van der Merwe in the second row. ‘There is great competition at lock now,’ Meyer said. ‘Flip played his best Test ever against the All Blacks and Juandre was very good as well.

‘It was a horses for courses change there. Australia are very good at lineout time and we want to exert pressure on them there. I feel that Eben, Andries and Duane is a good combination to achieve that, as well as a little more mobile which is crucial as Australia will play expansively. Also Andries is a little more experienced and in 50-50 calls like this I always go with the more experienced guy.

Probed on why Taute had leapfrogged Juan de Jongh in the pecking order, Meyer said: ‘Jaco would have been in the squad earlier had he not been injured. He is 106kg and runs the 100m in 10.7. So I looked at the way Australia defend and thought we could exploit that [better with Taute]. I can’t elaborate on that because we’re talking game plan then. It’s a tough call on Juan.’

Coenie Oosthuizen comes onto the bench after a neck injury in the only other change to the bench.

Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn/Jaco Taute, 11 Francois Hougaard, 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.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcel Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Jaco Taute/Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.

By Ryan Vrede, in Johannesburg

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582 Comments

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  • 1.super_adi: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:33 pm

    Yay

  • 2.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:35 pm

    Taute is no inside center. Can you ever imagine Jaque Fourie at 12? Nope. He is a runner, not distributor.

  • 3.willievz: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:35 pm

    YES!!!!!!

  • 4.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:36 pm

    M Steyn not even in the 22.
    Strange that Taute has been bracketed at 12.

    How many games has he played there?

  • 5.Sweet home Alabama: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:36 pm

    Great move by Meyer.

  • 6.super_adi: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:36 pm

    @Lions_Soutie-2: De Villiers will move to 12 if Steyn pulls out.

  • 7.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    Sny nog net vir Zane, Heyneke.

    So lyk ‘n Bok span mos.

  • 8.capebull: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    Why is Tiaan there ???

  • 9.willievz: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    Glad to see that HM views Taute as a midfielder.

  • 10.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    moerse pressure on the boy, sjoe

    if it goes heywire hope morne’s radar works if subbed.

  • 11.Bokbafana: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    Hmmmmm…mixed feelings!! Stoked That Morne out (not even on the bench)..cant quite understand how Taute seems to have leapfrogged both De Jongh and lesser extent Lambie!! Surely if Frans out – Div goes inside and Juan to outside!! Better side though without Morne Steyn….Boks by 8 -10!!

  • 12.blik: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm

    Taute has played 10 before, so prob has the skill-set.

    Would like to see him at 15

  • 13.willievz: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    @wpstormerbok-7: Verseker!

    Dis ongelooflik hoe een of twee keuses hierdie span beduidend verbeter.

    Go Bokke!!

  • 14.capebull: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    Hoop net bankie onthou hy is nr 5 nie 13 nie.

  • 15.xtremebull: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    We needed hougi with goosen other wise impressive side make use of jantjies please please please

  • 16.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    what? morne not on the bench?

    wow!

  • 17.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    For the first time this year there’s not much to moan about a Bok team.

    Sharkies are gonna be pissed about Lambie but fear not his turn is around the corner.

  • 18.NicG: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    @Lions_Soutie-2: I tend to agree… FB 1st and outside centre 2nd. 12 and 13 are very different positions.

    Anyway good luck to him – he is talented.

    I just want to see frieken Lambie on the field! Wake up HM.

    Bekker and JDV need a big games too.

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm

    big mistake meyer

    big mistake

  • 20.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:39 pm

    Flip gets dropped after his best performance…

  • 21.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:39 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-10:

    Morne isn’t in the 22.

    Vergeet van Morne.

    Goosen, Jantjies is the future.

  • 22.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm

    boks to lose this game

    which is a pity

  • 23.xtremebull: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm

    15-kirchner
    14-de villiers
    13-taute/de jong
    12-steyn/taute
    11-habana
    10-goosen
    9-hougaard

    But still, I like the make up of the site

  • 24.wing_14: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm

    @Lions_Soutie-20: Flip is injured

  • 25.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:41 pm

    Lots of young names. Should be a great team in 3 years time

  • 26.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:42 pm

    @wpstormerbok-21:
    we’re going to lose the oz home game, which is a pity really.
    only question is whether meyer will reinstate morne for the nz game.

    sa to lose all its home championship games this year, fark

    i hope next year goes better

  • 27.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:42 pm

    @wing_14-24: oh. Thanks!

  • 28.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:43 pm

    @willievz-13:

    Ons is op die regte pad.

    Ek voel vir J. De Jongh met Taute wat bo hom inkom maar ten minste weet ek Taute kan ‘n spesiale speler word en dis nie nog a geval van ‘n JJ of Wynand Olivier bo De Jongh nie.

  • 29.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:43 pm

    Remember for how long Jake persisted with Barry at 12….LOL. Drove me nuts

  • 30.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:44 pm

    Great side. So so so so so pleased Morne Steyn is gone. He needs a break.

    Lambie at fullback would have been nice , but its still a much improved selection.

  • 31.Bokbafana: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:44 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-22: rubbish!!!!

  • 32.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:45 pm

    @capebull-14: You just don’t like any WP players do you? At least you are consistent. I wish I could be more consistent in my dislike of all players BULL, but I really do rate a few of them………

    (Funny though, the Bulls players I really rate aren’t liked much by your Messiah, bar Hougaard)

    On a sporting note, this Bok team should give the injured Wallabies a good workover.

  • 33.nama1: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:45 pm

    Taute ahead of JdJ after the latter being with the Boks for nearly 4 weeks now.

    Makes no sense at all.

    We’ll stand up to the Aussies at the break down with our loosies which will free up the T5 to do their basics well. That’s where we’ll beat them imo.

    With our game plan I guess it does not matter much who plays in the back line, just a pity that JdJ will not get any game time for the 4th week in a row now.

  • 34.pattyfries: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:45 pm

    I think it’s possible De Villiers will go to 12 and Taute to 13 if Steyn is not fit in time. Thanks Heyneke for dropping the Steyn creature. Please drop that Kirchner critter in due time as well. Sincerely BOK FAN.

  • 35.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:45 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-26:

    Nope, only Zane still needs to be cut.

    Pienaar has another shot as well and I think Goosen will bring out the best in those around him.

  • 36.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:45 pm

    @Lions_Soutie-29:

    And Jaco VdW at flyhalf. Those two were hard to watch at times.

  • 37.blik: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:46 pm

    @wing_14-24: @Lions_Soutie-27: Would liked to have seen:

    4. Flip
    5. Etzebeth

    Bekker on the bench

    But Flip coming on with 20 to go and work too.

  • 38.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:47 pm

    I am surprised that M Steyn is out of the 22!! I would have definitely had him on the bench, but it does look like his game has gone very bad, interesting!!!!
    Atleast Lambie and Jantjies are there!!

    Well done HM! Finally our best 22

  • 39.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:47 pm

    The Goose will be broken by the end of the game

    Aussies to send their big boys through his channel all day long

    With Frans and JDV in the centres, I still dont see any bok tries..

  • 40.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:48 pm

    @blik-12: when has Taute ever played 10, let alone 12?

  • 41.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:48 pm

    @nama1-33:

    Feel for him as well.

    But I’ll give Meyer some rope on that one.

    Juan’s chance will come, JdV is on his last legs.

  • 42.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:48 pm

    @wp_boytjie-36: haha. Remember his knock on “drop kick” in 49-0

  • 43.rabooby: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:48 pm

    OK great choice but would have started Janjies – then Goosen to come on.
    Why keep Kirshner on the side, would have put in JDJ first before Taute. and Lambie again must keep the bench warm.. unbelievable – Lambie will soon get fed up, and will leave SA – You can’t blame the kid, and rightly so!!!!!!!

  • 44.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:49 pm

    37. Might well still see flip and etsbeth. Tough on flip going to the bench after his last game and bekker starting after his last game.

  • 45.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:49 pm

    @poppa69-39: aren’t you a ray of sunshine

  • 46.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm

    @wpstormerbok-35: Pienaar will need to pull his socks up. He has been fairly kak to say the least. JdJ is no international though as per your previous post. S15 at best but too one dimensional and reading the last couple of blogs is that n ot exactly what we are trying to get away from?
    Would still have gone for Flip with Eben.

  • 47.garth: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm

    This team is a step forward for the Boks.

  • 48.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-19: what is the big mistake? HAHAHHAHAHA

  • 49.David: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm

    @pattyfries-34:
    HM said that’ll happen if Frans doesn’t play.

  • 50.WP_: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm

    Brilliant, good side.

    Boks by 10-15

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