De Jongh, Steenkamp to front Scots
14 Nov 2012
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has picked Juan de Jongh at centre and Gurthrö Steenkamp at prop for Saturday’s Test against Scotland.
De Jongh replaces Jaco Taute at outside centre, while Steenkamp comes into the front row for Beast Mtawarira. The latter player will take no further part on this tour due to a heart condition.
Steenkamp is preferred to start at loosehead ahead of CJ van der Linde and Heinke van der Merwe, who will both sit on the bench. There is no room in the matchday squad for Pat Cilliers.
‘It’s great to have Gurthrö back. We wanted to select him last week, but unfortunately he was not 100% fit,’ said Meyer. ‘Gurthrö is experienced, knows the conditions well and is looking forward to returning to the green and gold as he’s not played for South Africa for more than a year.
‘Juan is in a similar position. Even though he’s played in a number of Tests for us this year, he’s not started for the Boks since last year’s away leg of the Tri-Nations against New Zealand in Wellington.
‘My plan has always been to give him a start on this tour, as he’s been playing very well lately, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the team on Saturday.’
Meyer added that defensive synergy was at the heart of him keeping changes to a minimum. ‘There were some tough calls. I wanted to give some of the youngsters more Tests, but on the other hand we haven’t had a lot of continuity in selection this year and we respect Scotland.
‘Also when I’ve changed the backline in the past our defence has suffered and you saw against the All Blacks that Scotland can really ask questions of your defence.’
As expected, Meyer has persisted with Pat Lambie at flyhalf. However, it is surprising to see that Morné Steyn has been preferred as the back-up flyhalf ahead of Elton Jantjies.
Meyer warned of Scotland’s intent to spoil their breakdown ball and stressed that they would have to counter that tactic. ‘They’ve got a never say die attitude and are hard to the ball. If you don’t get a quick recycle they press you hard and close down your space quickly,’ he said.
‘The breakdown in Super Rugby is refereed differently. Here it is a battle, so if you don’t win the tackle and get the numbers over the ball they can make it very hard for you.
‘On attack they’re quality side and when they had the ball for extended periods against the All Blacks they were superb. There was a 10-minute period that was the difference. We expect a physical and tough game but winning is non-negotiable.’
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 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 Gurthro Steenkamp.
16 Schalk Brits, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Lwazi Mvovo

437 Comments
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15 Nov 2012, 09:25 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-397: The Keo team obviously can’t spell; they probably wanted to ban g a y.
15 Nov 2012, 09:26 am
@Jeraldjay-396: Them be Jamaicans, they carry the goodstuff whith them always.
15 Nov 2012, 09:26 am
@Jeraldjay-392: That same bowler got him out for 20 something a few overs later though.
15 Nov 2012, 09:27 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-395:
guess you have to spell it correctly first…
from the recent comments column
“@katman-389:
give the *** a break. he must be multitasking or something. he usually posts clear, well constructed commetns. i_love_u_bakkiesbotha on De Jongh, Steenkamp to front Scots – 9:21 am”
15 Nov 2012, 09:27 am
@goodstuff-401:
ridiculous really
15 Nov 2012, 09:28 am
@katman-403: Lolz, that is funny, makes my comment look so foolish, lol.
15 Nov 2012, 09:29 am
@ufo-404:
damn… it ‘stars’ the recent posts in the main column obviously…!!
anyway Bakks… you did not spell GUY you had an “a” in the middle…
15 Nov 2012, 09:30 am
@katman-403:
Yes, the crowd nearly set the stands alight after that wicket.
But who the fark hits a 6 off the 1st ball in a test and why did Bangladesh open with a spinner?
15 Nov 2012, 09:30 am
Katman, you must be a very sad phacker to concern yourself about spelling in forums like these, really sad.
15 Nov 2012, 09:32 am
@ufo-404:
huh..?..
flip now you’re just confusing me, ufo. are you saying i did not spell it right, i suppose its possible?
please, break it down for me
15 Nov 2012, 09:32 am
@XhosaKid-409: I’m trying to help you. Don’t fight it.
15 Nov 2012, 09:34 am
@ufo-407:
oh i see
very unintetional
guy
15 Nov 2012, 09:35 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-412:
god, my spelling is trash.
unintetional = unintentional
15 Nov 2012, 09:35 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-410:
no mystery bud… you made a typo… we all do…
i checked in the recent comments column and you spelt G-A-Y not GUY…
if you don’t believe me write it out correctly and GUY will mysteriously become UNbanned…
15 Nov 2012, 09:36 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-412:
there you go…
15 Nov 2012, 09:38 am
@ufo-415:
the interweb hey… its like magic…
15 Nov 2012, 09:39 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-412: I reckon it was a Freudian slip. You know, when you say one thing but you mean your mother.
15 Nov 2012, 09:39 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-413:
sheesh man… don’t worry… who cares…
people shouldn’t worry about spelling and grammar on a rugby blog… if they’re so hung up on such things they should join the ImAGrammarPedant.dom blog
15 Nov 2012, 09:42 am
@katman-417:
ja, must be my mother, because i dont have a single g a y bone in my body
15 Nov 2012, 09:43 am
How on earth can the useless Zane Kirchner still be in the team? Obviously one of Heyneke’s favorites. He’s a cancer cell in the Boks backline. How can you criticise JP and Hougaard if the Kirchner critter never passes the ball (which he loves doing)? No way is he the way forward for the Boks, nor is he the best 15 in SA.
15 Nov 2012, 09:44 am
@ufo-418:
Cuold nto hvae siad it bteter.
15 Nov 2012, 09:44 am
pattyfries, the only explanation i have for zane’s selection is that HM doesn’t like white people!
15 Nov 2012, 09:47 am
UFO,tell that to the spelling cop, Katman
15 Nov 2012, 09:47 am
@Jeraldjay-421:
very funny…!!
15 Nov 2012, 09:50 am
@ufo-418:
yip agreed, thanks ufo .
15 Nov 2012, 09:50 am
@Horings-77: Agreed. Pienaar a better option in the rain but if it’s dry I would go with Hougaard. The boy needs a confidence boost.
@pattyfries-420: absolutely. Saturday was a great example where Kirchner could’ve ran at the Irish. He had space and support but still chose to kick the speculative garyowen.
15 Nov 2012, 09:54 am
@XhosaKid-423:
just posted it to everyone i think…
15 Nov 2012, 09:58 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-419:
Have you been through the “one night in Bangkok test”
Just look for the Adams Apple.
15 Nov 2012, 10:04 am
@Jeraldjay-428:
i must admit though, i am amazed at how good looking some of those bangkok/thai ladyboys are
its flippin scary really, you could easily make the mistake of thinking ‘i am gonna have so much fun tonight’…
15 Nov 2012, 10:12 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-429:
And you not exactly sober when you in that environment.
15 Nov 2012, 10:13 am
@XhosaKid-423:
nobody’s john eales…
we all have our quirks and foibles that either irritate or entertain others at one or other time…
no big deal either way… it’s not that siriaaaas…
katman offers plenty of value to the blog in terms of wry and sharp wit and his loyalty to his team and is good reading most of the time…
as do you and are most of your posts with your passion and sincerity…
as with most people who post… most of the time…
use what resonates with you…
ignore the rest…
15 Nov 2012, 10:48 am
@katman-385: Hi Katman.Still the funniest
blogger on KEO.How long is truce set to last?
15 Nov 2012, 10:51 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-390: Morning Bakkies.You Good??
15 Nov 2012, 10:53 am
@skopdiekan-353: Got to know John quite
well at VRFC.He later played for SWD together with Dave Stewart
15 Nov 2012, 11:01 am
@Kid_Senekal-426: Article in Irish Times yesterday said Pienaar best scrummie in world at the moment.
15 Nov 2012, 11:19 am
I followed Keo since its inception but only started blogging recently.
I always felt that their is unnecessary racial tension on this site when it comes to coach and player selection. When are we ever gonna come right. It’s like a disease thats killing our rugby and also creates further division on this site by Boks fans that ultimately want the team to do well.
This obviously creates tension within the Bok team environment and none of our opponents have this baggage.
15 Nov 2012, 12:06 pm
@Jeraldjay-430:
yip
@ryecatcher-433:
morning Rye, im good thanks
how are you?
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