Lambie set for Bok start
5 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, writing from Dublin, says Pat Lambie ran at flyhalf for the bulk of Monday’s training session in a strong indicator that he will play ahead of Morne Steyn at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Lambie impressed throughout the Super Rugby campaign in the position and was exceptional in Currie Cup semi-final at Kings Park, where his tactical game management and goal-kicking lead the Sharks to the final.
It had been a straight choice between Lambie and Steyn for head coach Heyneke Meyer, who remained hopeful that Steyn would regain his confidence after dropping him for the home leg of the Rugby Championship. He believes Steyn’s tactical kicking game is the best of his available flyhalves, but has acknowledged Lambie’s growth in this facet of play, most recently at Monday’s press conference which preceded training.
‘You can’t compare the Currie Cup and Tests but he showed great tactical awareness in winning the Currie Cup with the Sharks in 2010 as 19 or 20 year old. Suddenly I’ve seen some of that in him again and he is really improving and knocking on the door hard at the moment.’
Steyn is now unlikely to feature in the match 22 as Meyer doesn’t see him as an impact player, with Elton Jantjies expected to provide cover on the wood.
Lambie has an opportunity to stake a serious claim for the shirt and will be acutely aware of the importance of a strong performance at the weekend. Johan Goosen remains Meyer’s preferred pivot of those at his disposal, but with Meyer set to commit to a deputy for Goosen for the 2013 season and onwards towards the World Cup, Lambie has an inside lane.
‘I know Morne will get back to his best soon,’ Meyer said. ‘Dan Carter said to me a couple of years ago that he went through a difficult time and went to France and came back a better player, which gives me confidence about Morne [Meyer was intimating that a break will have done Steyn good]. But you also want to see who is the next guy after Goosen.’
Meyer lamented that nearly a year into his reign he was still deciding between flyhalves.
‘Because the three are young [Goosen, Lambie and Jantjies] the only way you’ll see whether they have it or not is by playing them. The difficulty is that if your flyhalf isn’t on song then you lose because he runs the whole game plan. I would have loved to have the opportunity earlier in my tenure to look at the 10s. But I didn’t have that luxury. We’re probably the only elite nation without an established 10,’ he said.
He did, however, express delight at the new-found depth in a position that has historically been troublesome.
‘I’m happy at what we have at present and then future looks good with Handre Pollard and others coming through,’ he said. ‘If you look at the last 10 years this is probably the best group of flyhalves we’ve had available. But how they respond in these conditions is key. They’re all good at running and distributing the ball, but with the World Cup being in England you’ll need guys who are tactically astute. They all have to work on that aspect of their games.’
Meanwhile, JP Pietersen is set to be reinstated on the wing after missing the Rugby Championship through injury. Francois Hougaard is likely to retain his place on the opposite flank.
Jean de Villiers and Francois Louw didn’t participate in the contact session but the former ran freely and is expected to overcome a hamstring strain to start. Louw has a neck injury that is being monitored. If he fails to respond to treatment he will be replaced at openside flank by Marcell Coetzee, with Arno Botha coming onto the bench.
Adriaan Strauss will keep his place at hooker ahead of Schalk Brits, who will be used as an impact player. Elsewhere in the front row, Gurthro Steenkamp was a notable absentee at training, the prop picking up an injury in Toulouse’s match this weekend. In the event of Steenkamp’s injury precluding him from joining the squad, Leinster’s Heinke van der Merwe will be called up.
Probable Springbok XV to face Ireland – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
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635 Comments
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6 Nov 2012, 13:49 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-331: Afternoon good lady.Trust that you are well.
Thursday.Shatteringly,incoherently and happily so.
Embarrasing to.read postsin harsh light of sobriety.
Have a great day.
6 Nov 2012, 13:51 pm
@ryecatcher-351: Good on you!
You know you aren’t that bad when many of the ‘sober’ posters make less sense than the hammered ones 
6 Nov 2012, 13:54 pm
@Skeppie-350: What is it that Meyer hasn’t seen from Taute at 13, Taute has had his *** handed to him against the AB’s and against WP in the semi’s yet, Meyer still rates him ahead of one specialist centre who has been curving open international defences and has one other strength, that’s defence.
We can point out a list of attributes Taute doesn’t have at 13, whereas we can’t name even one attribute that JDJ doesn’t have for a 13, its mind-numbing madness!!!!!, I just don’t get it.
6 Nov 2012, 13:56 pm
@Skeppie-349:
Why to you have this notion that South Africans are willing to accept that all are equal and should not be judged by the colour of their skin but the content of their character.
When clearly its not. People are more racist now than they were 18 years ago and by people I mean across all race groups.
6 Nov 2012, 14:04 pm
If Meyer started with:
Aplon, JPP, JDJ, Steyn, Habana, Jantjies, Pienaar, Vermuelen, Alberts, Louw, Kruger, Etzebeth, Jannie Dup, Strauss and Beast would it dramatically weaken the Boks.
We will have SIX players of colour in the starting lineup and if you include Kolisi in place of Alberts we will have SEVEN in 2013.
Has HM ever considered the realities of the perceptions of SA society.
6 Nov 2012, 14:08 pm
@blue and white stripes-354: Nah I cannot beleive that, even if it is true. I have to beleive that people are treated for who they are as opposed to what they look like. Even if it’s head in the sand kinda stuff for my own sanity I must beleive that.
6 Nov 2012, 14:09 pm
@XhosaKid-353: I agree, playing Taute at 13 was a big mistake. But I do think he is a fantastic 15 and for me he and Aplon should be vying for the 15 shirt going forward.
6 Nov 2012, 14:11 pm
@Te Rangatira-346:
you know TR, earlier i mentioned your cheating in the lineouts in 2010 in response to a post about pdivvy, and it struck me as… and i have to say so… breathtaking… breathtaking in regards the cheating in totality and the fact you guys were allowed to get away with it.
it was in fact far worse than the 1/4 final game against oz.
@Skeppie-349:
their dishonesty and cheating and the fact they dont have the balls to play us on a level field. the boks are stitched up everytime we play them so whats the point. i wouldn;t mind them cheating so much if we were allowed similar leeway, at least this would make it a sporting contest.
however, the minute we give back as good all sort of manipulations and tricks get pulled on us.
6 Nov 2012, 14:12 pm
@Te Rangatira-346:
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-358:
but specifically had to do with your lineout cheating against us that year.
6 Nov 2012, 14:14 pm
@Skeppie-349:
i could go on and on about all the many reasons.
6 Nov 2012, 14:15 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-359:
lets not even get started on the easy yellows or the ‘FINA’L final warnings and the like.
blegh!
6 Nov 2012, 14:17 pm
Whothefukkgot Bakkies started on this? Raise your hand oh guilty one.
6 Nov 2012, 14:22 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-362:
6 Nov 2012, 14:22 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-362:
Skeppie
6 Nov 2012, 14:23 pm
@XhosaKid-324: Well consider for a second that I never said any of those things about Div. Then your “you guys” starts to sound suspiciously like something you’re not supposed to say in polite conversation.
Let’s be frank here, if a white guy lumps you in with a whole bunch of unrelated black people under the term “you guys” we’re heading off to the fcken International War Crimes Court. But I guess, as part of our playing field levelling BBBEEEE AAA regstellende gatkruip, we are obliged to afford “you guys” a shedload more leeway when it comes to this kind of convenience racism.
Anyway, I don’t give a flying fck, really. My skin is thicker than that. I just love pointing out the involuntary racial chip you sport on your shoulder.
Regards,
Us guys.
6 Nov 2012, 14:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-358:
The Abs certainly targeted the lineouts in 2010 as an area they had to compete in to have a chance of reversing the disaster of 2009….closing the gap is a tactic that disrupted the timing of JS throwins to Victor, but at that level you have to make adjustments that should be part of your contingency plans if this occurs, never saw that happen for the Bok, they carried on their merry way and got dominated……thems the breaks
6 Nov 2012, 14:24 pm
lmga
‘us guys’
6 Nov 2012, 14:25 pm
baie snaaks
6 Nov 2012, 14:25 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-362: Jammer
6 Nov 2012, 14:25 pm
@Dawn-364: It were an accident and all.
6 Nov 2012, 14:26 pm
@Te Rangatira-366:
Sorry was JS throwing in?
6 Nov 2012, 14:32 pm
@Skeppie-356:
Good answer Skeppie.
Each man to his own. Whenever you are confronted by an opponent, conquer him with love
Good will always overcome evil.
6 Nov 2012, 14:33 pm
@Te Rangatira-366:
how on earth do you adjust to blatant and outright obvious cheating in such instances and especially if the ref is not prepared to do anything about it?
what were they supposed to do? halt the throw in and take it up with the ref? they are not allowed to do this and as you know would be punished. in fact, funny we mention this, i recall the boks on a number of occasions doing just exactly that… to no avail.
they were not just closing the gap on our throw in but also extending the gap to more than a meter and a half sometimes on their own throw in.
this was not the only area in which you cheated terribly and in usual poor sportsmanship… there were many other areas of the game and in most all of them the refs did not want to hear a word the bok players had to say.
no TR, those weren’t breaks, boet.
6 Nov 2012, 14:34 pm
@katman-365: Us guys say hello.
6 Nov 2012, 14:35 pm
@Skeppie-357: Now this leave one with only one thing to deduce, i.e. in Meyer’s world we might as well use Spies at centre, after all Spies is big and quick, which looks like the extent to which Meyer can stretch his brains as far, what message does that send to a talented player like JDJ, first it was JJ Engelbrecht that he was having as his b*tch at WP/Stormers who was mysteriously picked ahead of him, then dropped for a guy who wasn’t a centre and was returning from an injury ( Taute).
FFS !!!!!!, JDJ and JDV are the best defensive combo in Super Rugby, let alone in SA, its such a no brainer, one is inclined not to have any respect for Meyer, it doesn’t make sense, its pure bullshyyt, what Meyer is apparently worried about i.e. defence, JDJ & JDV are the best at it, the record shows, why break up a successful partnership, even worse, you are breaking it up for a guy, who is hond-kak poor as a centre, its insane!!!, must Taute be handed is *** again and my team, Boks lose another game??
6 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
@blue and white stripes-372: Touche. I spent the early part of my childhood nestled under the apartheid umbrella, I count myself fortunate that I was raised to treat all men equally otherwise I think the natural inherent racism I grew up with would have overtaken me by now. I feel very sad for all the misguided people out there who cannot over come this obstacle (black, white and inbetween)
6 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
@XhosaKid-375:
Yes
6 Nov 2012, 14:38 pm
@Te Rangatira-371:
yes
chilli replaced john in the first two games but only in about the 75th minutes for both if i remember.
6 Nov 2012, 14:38 pm
@Skeppie-376:
Who you calling inbetween
6 Nov 2012, 14:38 pm
@Dawn-364: Party starter indeed
@Skeppie-369: Forgiven for you know not what you do
(but read the next 50 posts to find out….)
6 Nov 2012, 14:39 pm
@ryecatcher-374:
I like you. Your online persona comes across with warmth.
But like me you labelled as a “newbie” and Angie decides who has earned their stripes.
Oh Angie can we please be accepted as part of the clique.
6 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
@XhosaKid-375: I understand your frustration but I suppsoe each coach can make a mistake…by playing JDJ this weekend Heyneke will show he has learnt from this which must be a good thing
6 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-373:
Come off it…..JS & Victor had played 90+ tests, they should know what they had to do…..but they came into those games too over confident, thinking the Abs would let them turn up and dominate the lineouts……get real….the Abs came with a plan to disrupt the Bok throwins and the Bok were clueless.
6 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
@Dawn-379: Can I call you beige?
6 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
Hi you Guys and Gals from Us Guys…
I trust your day is filled with much love, happiness and pieces…
6 Nov 2012, 14:44 pm
@katman-365: I agree with the sentiment.
6 Nov 2012, 14:45 pm
@ryecatcher-374: Hola Mr Caulfield.
6 Nov 2012, 14:46 pm
@Te Rangatira-383: Why are you feeding the zoo animals? The sign clearly says, “Do Not Feed”.
Giving Bakkies a few peanuts, is akin to strolling into the Lion enclosure with a dripping zebra carcass……carnage.
6 Nov 2012, 14:49 pm
@Te Rangatira-383:
nonsense, you came with the planned, premeditated and well trained intention to cheat and do whatever was neccessary to win, no matter how dishonest no matter how illegal, no matter what.
there’s only so much you can do in the face of such blatant match fixing. you are right though, in my opinion i feel john should have led his team off the field if the ref ws not prepared to do his job (nothing more nothing less) or at least have been prepared to in the same way eales did.
6 Nov 2012, 14:49 pm
@katman-387: Its supposed to be Hola, Holden!!, nice sound to it
!!!
6 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
Hi Whitney!
I see you are having a great day. Enjoy
I feel your joy…
6 Nov 2012, 14:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-388:
Hearing you Pedigree….better trot off to bed….1.49 am here…Goodnight…Jimbob….Goodnight Maryellen…..Goodnight Johnboy…..Goodnight Houston.
6 Nov 2012, 14:53 pm
@Te Rangatira-392:
Cheers!
6 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-388:
i cant believe he would say these things with a straight face
@Gumboots-391:
hi Boots,
just reminding the kiwis of the facts and truth, that’s all
6 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@Te Rangatira-392:
cheers TR
6 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-394:
LOL
6 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-393:
Remind me how many trophies we won this year!!!!
farkingsmilies
6 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-389:
Holdup.. That would have been a first…..we walked off the field cause the Abs were closing the gap….Goodnight again Houston
6 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@Te Rangatira-398:
cheers TR
6 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@Gumboots-397: I lost count after the U/19 Absa Cup…… Remind me
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