Habana out as Boks pick Brits
28 Oct 2012
Bryan Habana will miss the Springboks’ European tour but the selectors were bold in their selection of dynamic hooker Schalk Brits.
Habana has been in impressive form of late and his absence, as a result of a knee injury sustained in Saturday’s Currie Cup final, is a hammer blow. His unavailability opens the door for young Cheetahs winger Raymond Rhule, 19, who announced himself as a fine prospect with a series of strong performances in their domestic campaign.
Brits has consistently been among the best hookers in Europe since his move to London-based Saracens, but his claims have consistently been overlooked by the national selectors over the last three seasons. He has, however, made the cut as one of three hookers. With Adriaan Strauss expected to start, Brits will battle Chiliboy Ralepelle for the bench spot.
There is also a spot for Toulouse prop Gurthro Steenkamp, who had a strong first season for the French giants. He comes into the squad as loosehead cover in light of an injury to Coenie Oosthuizen.
Wing JP Pietersen returns to the squad after missing the Rugby Championship through injury and is one of five options in the position. Uncapped players Jano Vermaak, Franco van der Merwe, Lionel Mapoe and Arno Botha also make the cut.
The Springboks have an extensive injury list which has compromised the strength of the squad. Those who would have been considered but are sidelined are: Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Andries Bekker, Siya Kolisi, Jacques Potgieter, Pierre Spies, Johan Goosen, Frans Steyn and Habana. Furthermore, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow are still out injured.
‘We’ve got a settled core of players that did the job during the England series and the Rugby Championship and we decided to stick with them,’ said Meyer.
‘Obviously losing so many players to injury, the latest being Coenie, Tiaan, Andries, Jacques and Bryan during the Currie Cup, makes it difficult, but this now provides opportunities for other players.
‘Gurthrö and Schalk are experienced front rankers who have played for South Africa before and know the conditions in the northern hemisphere. This tour provides a good opportunity to assess them as we plan ahead. Arno, Lionel, Franco and Jano have all been part of our squad earlier in the season.
‘Raymond put up his hand for the Baby Boks and the Cheetahs and I’m very excited to see what he can do. It’s also great to have JP and Chiliboy back from injury as they bring a lot of experience to the squad.’
Meyer’s team face Ireland on 10 November, Scotland on 17 November and England on 24 November, and the coach predicted a testing tour.
‘Although the Springboks won on their last visit to Dublin [in 2010], they lost three in a row before that,’ he said. ‘In 2010, we lost to Scotland in Edinburgh. They beat the Wallabies in Australia earlier in the year, so it won’t be easy there.
‘And in June we’ve experienced first-hand how difficult and opponent England are. They will be fired up at Twickenham and it will be a challenging Test to end the tour with.
‘Our aim is to end the season on a positive note. We set ourselves high standards and we want to improve with every Test, but we have a team that is still gaining valuable experience as we strive to constantly be amongst the top sides in the world. We know we’re not there yet, but we’ve laid a foundation in the first nine Tests this year and we will build on that.
‘The World Cup in 2015 also takes place in England, so we will use this tour to see how our players adapt to the conditions as we look ahead to that very important tournament.’
Springbok squad – Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Schalk Brits, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (c), Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Juandré Kruger, Pat Lambie, Francois Louw, Lionel Mapoe, Beast Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Raymond Rhule, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Jaco Taute, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Jano Vermaak, Duane Vermeulen.
317 Comments
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28 Oct 2012, 15:05 pm
@assagai-39: fourie’s lineout throwing is dodgy skop!
28 Oct 2012, 15:05 pm
@zub-50: @zub-50:
What’s so funny? They have been a great side in the Currie Cup. Second on CC log…
28 Oct 2012, 15:06 pm
@Transformation-51: @Transformation-51: Understatement of the year
28 Oct 2012, 15:06 pm
@Gumboots-52:
Is a bit funny… They don’t even play super rugby……
28 Oct 2012, 15:08 pm
@phil72-54:
They have been way better than some other sides! No names mentioned…
28 Oct 2012, 15:10 pm
@phil72-54:
Then you get a side who almost had to play in the playoffs for second division and who were pumped by the Sharks with 7 players… Funny indeed…
28 Oct 2012, 15:15 pm
Deon Fourie misses out because he hasn’t been playing hooker.
His line-out throwing is as bad if not worse then Craig Burden.
28 Oct 2012, 15:15 pm
I am not quite sure why there is the perception that Steyn is the right player for slow, wet fields. At this stage his kicking out of hand and at goal is below par, and he stands so deep that his backline has to run 15 metres before they are even near the advantage line. Maybe he will shine and make me eat humble pie, but I doubt it. I would rather give the new generation of more exciting No 10s an opportunity to show what they can do.
Lambie has won a Currie Cup at flyhalf, he has World Cup and test experience, and he played very good rugby in three consecutive matches that will be the closest to the Northern Hemisphere conditions that one can get in South Africa. The only reason Steyn is there is if Meyer intends him to begin the tests. If Jantjies and Lambie are the two No 10, taking Steyn as backup is a funny idea.
28 Oct 2012, 15:16 pm
Brits finally
more talent than all the backs put together
I do not rate Fourie..
Jano very underrated halfback
28 Oct 2012, 15:17 pm
@Gumboots-56:
4 out of the six teams almost had to play relegation playoffs and the one of them went on to win the cup….. weird season!!!!
28 Oct 2012, 15:18 pm
@phil72-60:
To be sure…
28 Oct 2012, 15:18 pm
Fourie is the best hooker in the country by a country mile and also the best open side flank in the country by a country mile. its only dumb cuntry’s that can’t see sh’t for trees like national coaches who pick teachers pets in positions for friends.. that are thicker than planks when it comes down to selecting a national side…
I hope Ireland stuff this moron into his neanderthal zone where he belongs.. and everybody still saying how poor a coach PdV was.. this coach hasn’t even started showing what a dunce he is in comparison
Until SA get a coach with some brains running the show we are going to continue having the biggest talent pool with the weakest rugby brains in the world.
28 Oct 2012, 15:21 pm
Been here far too long…Cheers all…
The Currie Cup has come home
28 Oct 2012, 15:25 pm
Kirchner – poor selection
Mvovo – poor selection
M. Steyn – poor selection
J. Vermaak – poor selection
Strauss – poor selection
Chili – so so selection
5 – 6 players that shouldn’t be on tour, maybe more
28 Oct 2012, 15:26 pm
@assagai-62:
That’s what they were saying about Derick Minnie last year.
Grow up.
28 Oct 2012, 15:27 pm
@assagai-64:
Adriaan Strauss is a poor selection?
Now I’ve heard it all.
28 Oct 2012, 15:29 pm
Arno Botha
Schalk Brits
Juan de Jongh
Lionel Mapoe
Raymond Rhule
Brave but very good selections looking forward…………..
28 Oct 2012, 15:32 pm
I wonder whether Keo had some inside info before writing his Brits article earlier last week? I notice he was tweeting with Schalk a bit later.
28 Oct 2012, 15:34 pm
@hendrikp-65: who’s been saying dunce boy .. you?
Deon Fourie is the most prolific ground ball in your face player in this country by a thousand light years showing up all the Sharks boks in tandem yesterday on their own home turf .. and who is far more prolific than Brits in the trenches who is a thousand times better than Adriaan Strauss..
yeah Strauss is a poor selection.. haven’t you heard it yet.. well now you have.. dunce deluxe
28 Oct 2012, 15:35 pm
@David-68: Definitely.
Same thing with Big Joe too. Notice how all his other writers conform to his selection punts as well ala Sadie for the Bok WC squad last year… Pathetic.
28 Oct 2012, 15:36 pm
How do they leave out the best performing NH-based SA player, Bakkies Botha?
In fact, I’d go as far as to say he’s the best lock of any nationality playing in the NH at present.
28 Oct 2012, 15:40 pm
@phil72-67:
how many starting spots you reckon any of them going to get?
how many will even make the bench?
28 Oct 2012, 15:43 pm
Rhule and Mapoe are great selections but I’m afraid HM’s window dressing.
These guys won’t leave the bench. Doubt whether they will even get to sit there.
28 Oct 2012, 15:43 pm
@Big Hit-71:
Etzebeth and Bakkies as a combo. The opposition will have sleepless nights
28 Oct 2012, 15:44 pm
@wp_boytjie-74:
Might just happen a the near future…….
Four nation next year? just need to give Etzebeth some game time at 5…..
28 Oct 2012, 15:46 pm
@assagai-69:
you Deon Fourie brother?
Adriaan Strauss was consistently one of best SA players in Super rugby and playing not for a top side as well.
28 Oct 2012, 15:48 pm
Arno Botha obviously is special talent
28 Oct 2012, 15:49 pm
Chilli was always our second choice hooker… sure he will start…. Will be interesting who coach will put on the bench? personally would go with Brits…..We have to many bulldozing one dimensional type forwards playing at the moment!
28 Oct 2012, 15:51 pm
I don’t trust this coach further than I can smell him.. he’s a g’damn bullshitter supreme only interested in buttering up his own puffed up pathetic backside, he is not a genuine coach or genuine person by any stretch of any imagination.. he’s a bullshitter and its showing bad.
28 Oct 2012, 15:52 pm
I would start Schalk Brits as well.
Chilli is overrated, scrummaging not good
28 Oct 2012, 15:54 pm
@phil72-75: At this stage I think Eben will do better at 5. He is “an enforcer” at 4 (traditional role) but played his high school rugby at 5. He was only moved to 4 by Matthew Proudfoot. Proudfoot said at the time that Eben could be a “hybrid” lock. I tend to agree with him.
J Kruger not the long term solution at 5. Bakkies’ age is counting against him but for this EOYT he could have add a lot of value.
Having said that, Eben can still compete at 4. The mistake the Sharks made was not to take enough quick balls at the front of the lineout. Eben still doesn’t get off the ground quick enough to compete at 4 (when it is a quick throw). When the opponents throw a lob ball or just straight up ( those that know lineout play should know what I’m talking about) Eben is at his most dangerous because he “just gets up straight in the air” because of his height advantage. When the Sharks used Alberts at the front of the lineout they were the most effective. If a hooker’s nerves get to him he simply can’t throw good balls at the bak of a lineout or in the middle even.
Eben, if he doesn’t get injured, can play 130 plus games for the Boks and might even go to 150 !!
28 Oct 2012, 15:54 pm
@assagai-62: i see you are in denial that his lineout throwing is dodge & are rattling on about deck & loose play.
28 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
Deon Fourie has out played Adriaan Strauss every time they met.. in every facet of play.. either at 2 or at 6.. he has also outplayed every other hooker or open side flank in the country.. but he don’t make Heyneke’s team either at 2 or at 6 which makes him 5th or 6th hooker in Heyneke’s eyes or 4th or 5th open side flank..
shows how much this dumb doos Heyneke actually knows about rugby.. which ain’t very much.
28 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
@greatest13gerber-80:
Was never a Chilli fan! But last 18 months or so he has been playing awesome rugby and then got injured. Personally would give him a chance again with Brits covering!
28 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
@CharlesM-81: back of the lineout
28 Oct 2012, 15:56 pm
Eben should be at 5 and Alberts or Elstadt at 4 .. klaar.
28 Oct 2012, 15:57 pm
@greatest13gerber-76: Meyer has to start Strauss for the first test IMO. I have always rated Brits…. imagine what he can do off the bench in the last 20 or 25 minutes!!
28 Oct 2012, 15:59 pm
@assagai-86: Elstadt IMO lacks a couple of cm in height. He is not very competitive on opposition ball
28 Oct 2012, 15:59 pm
Fourie is better than Brits at 2.. Brits might be better at 12 or 13…and better than Chili.. and Strauss .. and better than Coetsee at 6
where does that leave Fourie … out the back of the bus while Heyneke takes his darlings Steyn and Vermaak and Kirchner along for the ride.
28 Oct 2012, 16:00 pm
@assagai-86: The idea of Alberts at 4 is not that bad. He can take his own ball (if it is a quick throw) with ease. With Eben and Duane we’ll still have enough players to compete at the lineout
28 Oct 2012, 16:01 pm
Brad Thorn about same height as Elstadt.. about same height as Juan Smith.. either Elstadt or Alberts or PSDT at 4 / 7.. Eben should play 5
28 Oct 2012, 16:03 pm
Yes yes Chilli game and form has come a long way.
Brits off bench in final 20 or so…yes, impact would be massive.
think Brits capable easily of covering 10,12,13,15
28 Oct 2012, 16:07 pm
@assagai-83: I am a Fourie fan but if he is under pressure his lineout throws are simply not up to standard
28 Oct 2012, 16:13 pm
Deon Fourie would have been great cover for F Louw……if Flo gets hurt we farked.
28 Oct 2012, 16:14 pm
Chilli and Brits both skilled players with far more to offer than the one dimensional bashing game………. The possibility of Etsebeth at 5 and maybe Alberts at 4 with Bakkies joining the fame hopefully sooner than later. This will equate to a speedier back 3…. can only be good
28 Oct 2012, 16:16 pm
@phil72-95:
By speedier back 3 I mean faster loose forwards…
28 Oct 2012, 16:18 pm
@grant10-94: Who in the touring party would you substitute for Fourie ? There were only 5 loosies selected or would you pick him instead of Chilliboy (wishful thinking ?) ?
28 Oct 2012, 16:18 pm
The side is looking somewhat green. Players like Duane, Gurthro and Jannie are going to have to lead by example. Duane must be proud be very proud to make the tour after missing out for years. Very very glad JP is back
28 Oct 2012, 16:22 pm
I am a huge fan of Alberts but he seems to have off days now and again. Hopefully he is not carrying an injury.
28 Oct 2012, 16:23 pm
@phil72-21: Did you see the damage that Eben did at the front of the line out yesterday??
Move him to 5 and you nullify all that. He needs to be where he is. At 4.
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