Double boost for Boks

Double boost for Boks

7 Nov 2012

RYAN VREDE, in Dublin, writes Jean de Villiers and Francois Louw participated fully in Tuesday’s training session and will start against Ireland on Saturday.

De Villiers was ruled out of the Currie Cup play-offs with a hamstring injury sustained in the Springboks’ final Rugby Championship match in Soweto and has been carefully managed since in the hope that he would recover for the tour opener. The Springboks’ skipper didn’t train fully at Blackrock College RFC on Monday, but participated in a defensive session today, showing no signs of discomfort.

Louw hurt his neck on club duty for Bath a fortnight ago and was sidelined for the clash against London Welsh last weekend, but also appears to have made a full recovery and will start at openside flank, with Marcell Coetzee, who stood in for him in yesterday’s training drills, on the bench as cover.

The formation the Springboks ran this afternoon further indicated that Pat Lambie has trumped Morne Steyn for the starting berth at flyhalf. Lambie is also likely to assume goal-kicking duties ahead of Ruan Pienaar, although the latter is a very competent goal-kicker for his Irish club side Ulster, and will be used if Lambie’s boot betrays him.

Interestingly, Elton Jantjies slotted in at pivot for what was almost certainly the reserves, meaning Steyn is unlikely to make the match 22. This is in keeping with head coach Heyneke Meyer’s belief that Steyn is not the type of impact player he needs.

Hooker Schalk Brits is, and will inject pace, skill and athleticism into the contest when he replaces Adriaan Strauss. With the forecast for fine, cold but largely clear conditions, the stage is set for Brits to impress on his return to Test rugby after a four-year absence.


180 Comments

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  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 17:45 pm

    go lambie!

  • 2.the authority: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 18:00 pm

    Go Springboks!

  • 3.NicG: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 18:16 pm

    The big Lambowski – he’s the DUDE!

  • 4.grant10: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 18:32 pm

    Great news !

    So glad that Jantjes will at least be on the bench!

    HM must decide on a replacement fetcher a sap….Cant wait till Brussow also back in the mix….

    Now for a world class 3 to assist Jannie…

  • 5.grant10: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 18:34 pm

    also wonderful that we have such a wonderful impact player in Brits….hope he gets plenty of game time!

  • 6.David: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 18:59 pm

    I reckon that HM is being far too precipitate in trying to finalise his first and second choice 10.

  • 7.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 19:03 pm

    And who ran out at 13 in practice?? I hope its JDJ. Taute should be in at 15 not 13. He was shown up badly against the AB defensively.

  • 8.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 19:04 pm

    @grant10-4: Brussouw will never get picked under HM.

  • 9.Mustard: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 19:06 pm

    Just glad Flo and Vermuelen will be operating together this weekend……”the Boondock Saints”

  • 10.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 19:30 pm

    Good news, he’ll make a big difference.

  • 11.JayBok: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 19:48 pm

    Without those two players Boks would seriously struggle! Now to finnish the jigsaw: JdJ at 13 and Jaco at 15.
    As you were.

  • 12.katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 20:42 pm

    Good news on many fronts.

  • 13.garth: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 20:55 pm

    I think the big surprise is that HM has made the correct call. That itself is better news than any one player making the starting lineup.

  • 14.uncle oswald: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 21:22 pm

    Very pleased. Can’t wait!

  • 15.Finfan: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 22:32 pm

    HM is fooling everyone, most of all the Irish: Morne will start and he will kick very many up and unders, attempted drop goals and a couple of off-target conversions…

  • 16.Greenies: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 22:33 pm

    Is Lou really fit or is this the typical dumb Springbok mentality at work?

    I think Lambie should not take any kicks in the 1st 20mins, perhaps let Pinaar take the first two. Easing him in should be the rule of thumb for all these kids.

    Britz is an interesting inclusion. He is well studied in the Northern Hem., so no suprises for Ireland etc. Will antisipate his run on. Would like to see how he fits in and performs at International Level.

    I’m delighted to see Habanana resting this tour out, not for his own sake but for mine. He is such a toser

  • 17.Finfan: Reply to this comment
    6 Nov 2012, 23:07 pm

    @Greenies-16: What is a “toser”? Are you a dumb man?

  • 18.digger: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 01:35 am

    @13.garth – that indeed is the news. It has taken Meyer long enough to realise what the whole world realised a long time ago. Great news nonetheless!!

  • 19.Jinx2: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 06:31 am

    Romney is history :)

  • 20.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:19 am

    Good news that Lambie finally gets a start… hope he has an absolute blinder….!! and good to have Jantjies on the bench…

    great that Flo is fit and Jean too…

    and Congratulations to Obamarama!! Great great news for the US and the World… Now, like the Boks, he really needs to carry through on the promise…

    Hopefully this election will see the end of those lunatic loose canons who shot the GOP in the foot… the AmericanTaliban or Tea Party…!!

    Romney acting like the fool he is and not wanting to concede graciously…!! NO surprises there…!!

  • 21.BokkeYouBeauties: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:23 am

    GREAT NEWS!!!!
    The Dacia Sandero, is now available in left hand drive market

  • 22.Fern: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:28 am

    I will be at the Linkin Park concert so will have to watch a re run of this game.

  • 23.grant10: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:38 am

    Speculation in the press this morning that HM to retain Taute at 13…

  • 24.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:42 am

    @grant10-23:

    If he had the balls he should have played Taute at 15 and Juan at 13…

    Unfortunately, we know differently…

  • 25.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 07:46 am

    JDJ = average

  • 26.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:20 am

    @Greenies-16: Habana was the best springbok next to Louw, Vermeulen and Etsebeth. Best backline palyer by far, so only tosser is you. :)

  • 27.grant10: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:22 am

    @Gumboots-24: HM continues to confuse me….

    For every good call he makes he seems to make a bad 1 ….

    Taute even saying he wants to play at 15 for Stormers ….and prefers that…

    JDJ plays with JDV in superrugby…..and is in top form….

    I just seriously do not understand HM motivation , at all…..

    Frustrating ….

  • 28.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:26 am

    @suffer_guy-25: Your opinion = poor

  • 29.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:27 am

    So Obama has another term?

    Should’ve gotten Georgie Gregan to do his victory speech :)

  • 30.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:28 am

    “This is in keeping with head coach Heyneke Meyer’s belief that Steyn is not the type of impact player he needs.”

    what a load of kak.

  • 31.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:30 am

    @trupisero-29:
    :lol;

    it was such a larf when he did that. some of those nz players looked like they were about to burst into tears. in fact i think a few did.

  • 32.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:34 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-31: Some of them still cry at night I think.

  • 33.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:36 am

    @trupisero-29:

    Why?

  • 34.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:38 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-31: “Another four years mate.”

    Really will be dissapointed if Taute/ Hougard are chosen above JDJ/ Movo.

    Two better black players being replaced by arguably weaker white players. Hougard is an amazing impact player and should be utilized as such, has added nothing as a starting wing.

    Taute should replace Kirchner who is solid but average in many departments. This position is our weakest link in the backline, with few prospects for the future. Our FB options on tour should have been Taute/ Ludik.

    We have tons of potential 13 coming through the junior ranks, while we have very few good FBs coming through.

  • 35.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:38 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-31: @trupisero-32: Haven’t heard this one! Pray, please tell, gentlemen!

  • 36.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:40 am

    @Dawn-33: he won more of the electoral college votes than Romney… ;)

  • 37.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:42 am

    @BrumbiesBoy-35: oh come on chap – 2003 RWC semi dying moments ring a bell?

  • 38.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:44 am

    @trupisero-36:

    Why should George Gregan do the acceptance speech

  • 39.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:46 am

    eish….people are sloooowwwww this morning.

  • 40.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:47 am

    @trupisero-36: Oh, THAT game? ;-)

    Nah, I’m sure Georgie was just being his normal, modest self & u’re right, I’m sure most of them cried all the way back over The Ditch!

    :-)

  • 41.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:51 am

    @grant10-27:

    I’m trying so hard to understand the man! At times I think he is moving in the right direction, then he comes up with stupid selections. It has been hard as first impressions always count and his first selections proved how naive the man really is. Why play guys out of position? What message does it send? Why choose a second rate lock in the UK as injury cover? He is definetely not endearing to most people.

  • 42.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:51 am

    @goodstuff-34:
    mvovo over hougaard? :shock: after the australie fiasco i disagree, strongly.
    i would not let mvovo anywhere near my team if i was coach.

    i would be open to testing both taute in the position as well as kirchener to see if he brings anything extra to his game in the event taute does well.

  • 43.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:53 am

    @BrumbiesBoy-35:
    its what gregan taunted the ab’s with in the 2003 wc a few minutes from time :grin:

    here it minus the audio:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65xd81cj7pA

  • 44.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:57 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-42: What Australia fiasco? What did Mvovo do wrong? As far as I remember Mvovo has been in the 22 since Mendoza where he was one of the stand outs and Hougard was one of the reasons we lost.

  • 45.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 08:58 am

    @trupisero-29: :lol: funny

  • 46.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 09:02 am

    @goodstuff-44: Sorry, I see he was subbed on for Habana/ Hougard. But what did he do wrong?

  • 47.papaown: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 09:05 am

    @grant10-27: For all the good news with Obama and his speech… WE still need to come back to this shi.t of HM and his selections.

    Taute staarting@13 is just wrong on soo many levels

  • 48.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 09:06 am

    @papaown-47:

    …and the message it sends to those specialists in a position…

  • 49.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 09:09 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-43: :-) Yeah, just being himself again!

    Aaah, those were good days!

  • 50.Superbru: Reply to this comment
    7 Nov 2012, 09:11 am

    Heyneke making dodgy selections again,he will have to apologise after the fact again,Taute should start at 15 with JdJ at 13.Play your in form players or you are handycapping the Boks like previous coaches,and can expect the same results.

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