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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26 Sep 2012, 14:18 pm
@147: I agree. Let’s not get agead of ourselves. The Wallabies never give up and the Springboks seem to find it easier to lift their game against the All Blacks. They will wanting a win at Loftus after winning in Bloem in 2010.
26 Sep 2012, 14:19 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-193:
Then we die with a smile on our face.
We would have died if Morne started anyways.
Short-term sacrifice for long-term gain.
26 Sep 2012, 14:20 pm
@willievz-173: I want some of what you are smoking.
26 Sep 2012, 14:20 pm
@willievz-202: Amen to that Willie !!
26 Sep 2012, 14:22 pm
@Mongril-183: Deans will hopefully not be so stupid to play Beale at 10 when Barnes can fill the position. Beale had a shocker last time out so can only improve. With so few bulls in the team Loftus might be empty so homeground advantage will not be a big factor. Ae the stormers and sharks going to fill the stadium?
26 Sep 2012, 14:24 pm
@Doughnut-189:
Really???
Apart from the mistake/s he made against the AB, where has he let us down previously?
He has less than 10 tests behind his name, it should be easy to come up with evidence.
26 Sep 2012, 14:25 pm
I magine when the boks get Bismark, JP and Fourie du Preez back, then we just need Jaque Fourie
15. Taute
14. JPP
13. Fourie
12. Steyn
11. Habana
10. Goose
9. F du Preez
8 Vermeelen
7. Alberts
6. Flow/Brossouw
5. Bekker
4. Etz
3. Jannie Dup/Coenie
2. Bismark
1. Beast
Coeine/Jannie, Strauss, Flip, Coetzee, Hougard, Jantjies, Lambie
26 Sep 2012, 14:27 pm
@Mongril-198:
well expect to hand out a lot of caps, because lose we will.
which is a shame really.
springbok rugby is better than this.
26 Sep 2012, 14:29 pm
Jeesus, some of you will never be satisfied. I feel sorry for your waiter.
This is a vast improvement, with the only notable problems still at 15 and 2. There is a big gap between Bismarck and Chilliboy at the top, and the rest of the hookers. And our fullback choice is just inzane – should have been Aplon, Lambie or Taute.
But other than that, we’re looking very good. I even predict that Pienaar is going to have a blinder. So please shut the fck up if you don’t have anything positive to say here.
26 Sep 2012, 14:29 pm
@willievz-202:
why lose home tests just to prove a point we know?
maybe next year this time morne will have a genuine competitor at 10 but to throw our home records away like this,,?,,
how far we have come…
26 Sep 2012, 14:29 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-208: Would you honestly have kept Morne?
And if so, why? Serious question.
Do you think Goosen isn’t ready, or isn’t as good?
26 Sep 2012, 14:30 pm
that prediction has been a long time coming
26 Sep 2012, 14:30 pm
@Maljan-191:
That would be De-haan, All Black man of the match.
90% of the time the attacking player will beat the last defender in that situation. Smith should’ve been stopped at the origin of his run…the break down.
26 Sep 2012, 14:34 pm
@Maljan-191: Kirchner was coming across so difficult for him. Having said that, it’s not the first time he has been awol in defence of a try. Generally speaking I think he has been good in this RC.
26 Sep 2012, 14:38 pm
@londonshark-211:
at the minimum we should have kept morne on the bench as insurance in case things dont go to plan, which they wont.
this isn’t about morne, it’s winning… its about the boks…
26 Sep 2012, 14:39 pm
For the most part this is the side most of us have been calling for. I would rather have seen Pat start ahead of Zane and Coetzee ahead of Alberts for his pace but this is a side that is a good step forward. Come on the manne!
26 Sep 2012, 14:39 pm
@katman-209:
Wie’t jou pap gesteel?
Almal stem saam dat dit die beste span is wat HM sover gekies het, maar daar is nog steeds ruimte vir verbetering. Dink jy nie ook so nie?
26 Sep 2012, 14:40 pm
Lambie must be frustrated out of his skull. What must he do to get the nod. Surely Meyer must tell him what the issue is.
26 Sep 2012, 14:40 pm
@grant100-200: HM obsession with size is a weakness .. we are missing Brussow, Lambie, Aplon and Daniels as a consequence …
However I dont get the rave about JdJ .. he is ok just no Mossie
26 Sep 2012, 14:41 pm
@rossoneri-218: his issue is he runs with the ball
26 Sep 2012, 14:41 pm
And so we have to ask again: will Jantjies get enough time on the field or will his coach continue to doubt him?
And if he does not give him game time, what will the excuse be this time?
26 Sep 2012, 14:44 pm
@Big Hit-214:
Agree.
Can’t for the life of me understand how anybody can blame a full back for letting in a try in a situation like that. A few things happened before Smith beat kirchner to score his try:
*The fly halves have just been changed. New FH probably not in the right defensive position.
*No pillar and post defenders at the ruck.
*Scrum half mia.
*Dean missing the tackle
26 Sep 2012, 14:44 pm
213 – Exactly, its that 10% that makes the difference between good and great. I agree it wasn’t an easy situation. As I said in an earlier post – now’s the time to be giving the youngsters the opportunities, and not hold onto has-beens and rejects. The Championship 2012 is a lost cause for the Boks, so what is Meyer trying to prove holding onto Kirchner. You will never convince me so let’s just agree to disagree and move on.
214 – ‘good’ is not good enough I’m afraid. We want the Boks to be great – to beat them consistently, not every-so-often. Hell man, we have the talent – its not being recognised in this particualr instance. It could be better with Lambie, who in respect of overall ability has much more to offer in attack, defence, kicking out of hand (maybe on a par with Kirchner but no worse) and for poles, positional play and simply a rugby brain. We are not after mediocrity or good!
26 Sep 2012, 14:44 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-215:
I hear you, but how can you keep Morne, when he’s been out of form for almost a year now? Goosen, Lambie and Jantjies are all in better kicking form, and have been for quite some time. Morne’s all round game is way behind them as well.
I’m not understanding why you would want Morne in the 22?
26 Sep 2012, 14:45 pm
Ok. To All You Morne Bashers. You’ve Got What You’ve Wanted. Lets See If Your Goose Will Win Us These Last Two Games. Hahahaha, I’d Laugh We Lose By Big Margins, What Then. Who Will You Blame?. You Nutsacks Won’t Be Satisfied Until Every Bull Is Out Of The Boks.
26 Sep 2012, 14:46 pm
Goosen has so much talent…. I just hope he is ready.
26 Sep 2012, 14:48 pm
@willievz-173:
Last time I looked Willie, Cruden & Barret aren’t named in the Bokke at Loftus on Saturday
26 Sep 2012, 14:48 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-22: Get a grip son. Morne has lost the confidence even of Meyer, that must tell you how much better off we are without him. Ruan can pass it to Zane if we need someone that deep in the pocket and Goosen can kick with his other leg if we need someone to miss 5 from 6.
26 Sep 2012, 14:49 pm
@thegreatanubis-225: It’s idiots like you that give the Bulls a bad name.
Not one person would care if there were 15 Bulls in the team, or 15 Sharks or 15 Stormers. We want the best players.
When Matfield and co were on top, the Bok side was mainly made up of Bulls. No one cared because they were the best.
Your argument falls flat.
26 Sep 2012, 14:49 pm
@thegreatanubis-225: Straightjacket please nurse.
26 Sep 2012, 14:49 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-215:
“‘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. ”
Keeping in mind that Morne missed easy kicks, early on in the games so far without any pressure, do you really think he should be the go to man in case things don’t work out with Goosen?
Remember the opportunity that he had against the Argies to put over the “game winning kick?”
Let me remind you, he could not kick it over and we draw.
26 Sep 2012, 14:50 pm
@londonshark-224:
Becuase his replica Spingbok jersey with “Steyn 10″ on the back will now lose value.
26 Sep 2012, 14:50 pm
Jinne people really struggle to think up good nics nowadays.
I mean “JustShat” … really now.
26 Sep 2012, 14:50 pm
@thegreatanubis-225: Who taught you the rules of capitalisation? I hope you kept the receipt.
26 Sep 2012, 14:50 pm
Yes Yes Yes! Dankie Dankie Dankie Heyneke!
Die span word stelselmaatig n briljante span.
Lambie moet nou net 15 speel.
Ek hoop Elton kry bietjie game time ook!
Ek sou Juandre weer gekies het, al hou ek van Bekker, dit lyk asof hy nog sukkel en Juandre was baie goed.
Bekker het ook goed gelyk toe hy as n sub aankom…
maar stappe in die regte rigting! Bokke bo!
26 Sep 2012, 14:51 pm
@Dawn-233: HAHAHAHAHAHA
26 Sep 2012, 14:52 pm
@Maljan-223:
I think we can agree that replacing Kirchner would be the right move.
What we disagree about is you putting the blame on Kirchner for letting in that try. I think that is unfair.
26 Sep 2012, 14:53 pm
@stormer in a teacup-228:
26 Sep 2012, 14:54 pm
In an ideal world we’d have Bissie back at 2 with Ralepele on the bench. We’d have JPP back on the wing with Hougaard to the bench. And we’d make up our minds about a long-term replacement for InZane – Lambie perhaps? I’d also have Eben, Bekker and Juandre as the three locks in the match 22. Then we’d be cooking with gas.
26 Sep 2012, 14:55 pm
Here’s what can potentially happen to Meyer:
Now because of his archaic thinking that big boers must run over the opposition, he can potentially lose every single game going forward but have one or two moments where someone is smashed into the ground like Willem Alberts’ tackle on someone (I forget the player)
Being naive he will walk away thinking that we are making progress because last week we had 1 big smash and this week we had 2. All the opposition has to do is to score 2 quick tries at the end of the game for Meyer to say: we shoulda,woulda, coulda, buddha
Say 2 wins out of 20 and he will still be optimistic because after 20 games we have 5 really sensational big hits on the opposition; the bloke is a closet disciple of Jan Wilkens
26 Sep 2012, 14:55 pm
@Sasuke-90: so he last played 12 in 2010 and leapfrogs de jongh who made his debut at 12 against jamie roberts…
well i’m just grateful that msteyn is not in the team.
taute vs pat mccabe.
26 Sep 2012, 14:55 pm
@Mongril-232:
Odd guys. The hardcore Bulls fans are different from the hardcore fans from other teams. They honestly believe every Bull should be a Bok.
I have a mate who’s like this. In 2011 I asked to name his Bok backline, he named the entire Bulls backline without even realizing it. Very weird.
And by hardcore, I mean horns and nose rings hardcore. 95% of all fans from all teams are objective.
26 Sep 2012, 14:56 pm
Liking the sounds coming out of Meyer about giving Goosen freedom to express himself. Hopefully he means it and he’s not just trying to placate the media and fans. Next step incorporating quick distributing nippy guys at 9- Hougaard, Van Zyl and anyone BUT Kirtchner at 15… Le Roux, ACoetzee, Lambie, Taute, JPPietersen, Aplon. Quite a few POC who actually have merit and value to take his place if quotas come into it.
26 Sep 2012, 14:56 pm
@stormer in a teacup-228:
There’s still a chance that Goosen will kick them over with his “wrong” leg.
26 Sep 2012, 14:57 pm
@thegreatanubis-225: And if he does win the games? Will you change your attitude?
26 Sep 2012, 14:57 pm
Heyneke ou perd, jy gaan runnike
26 Sep 2012, 14:58 pm
@thegreatanubis-225: Most of us have that useless Bull Kirtchner in our sights. If we lose it will all be on him.
26 Sep 2012, 14:58 pm
@nama1-206: Exactly .. he toed the ball vs Oz and conceded a 5m scrum … then allowed a fat prop to run down his wing and score. That was one test …
So if you back him list the tries and good things he has pulled off for Boks over 10 tests ..
26 Sep 2012, 15:00 pm
@katman-239: With you all the way there.
26 Sep 2012, 15:01 pm
@londonshark-229: Thats not quite true , supporters has always complained about players from other sides, its not right but its a fact.
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