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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14 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
@nama1-99: For me that is down to decision making. I think Etzebeth was critisized for it against Ireland, but it was Pienaar’s decision to give the ball to Etzebeth while Lambie was in a good posision to receive the ball.
14 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
@Horings-96:
WOW!!!
Meyer is safe with you in his corner, that’s for sure.
That is Pumaesque*, in his adoration for Lambie.
*No malice intended Puma.
14 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
@Horings-96: Yada yada yada. Like I said. Don’t bring me hypotheses or crystal ball gazing predictions. Bring me wins and i don’t care if Jacob Zuma selects his children as the match 22.
You still on the political appointment? PDV applied in the hope that it would be a fair process. That Hoskins spinned into a political thing, caused more harm for PDV than good. So pDV didn’t really get the benefit of being a political appointment.
14 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
lol i see the “raak ontslae van heineke” has 200 members in 3 weeks … funny racist comments by the tik koppe!
14 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
@Sasuke-92: Meanwhile players like Barrett, Cruden, Retallick ans Aaron smith are benefiting from playing experience. Where’s their exposure to the culture. The Boks aren’t a spiritual entity. They are rugby players. If you are in the team\squad you are there to play rugby.
14 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
@nama1-102: @pompies2-103: None of you are able to argue any point. Why are you on this site if it is as simple as winning vs losing and you cannot argue any point? This is while I have shown Meyer to be moving in the right direction vs his predecessor that went downhill fast.
All the comments are in the line of. “Ag nee Heyneke jou rassistiese moer” “Meyer is ‘n idioot” “Meyer het iets teen Jantjies” “Bul spelers is k a k”. En hulle se Bul ondersteuners is dom, maar hierdie site bewys die teendeel.
14 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
‘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.
is it just me or is HM talking the biggest load of BS???
14 Nov 2012, 15:11 pm
@pompies2-105: Easier to play alongside experienced guys, but you want to expose these youngster playing in a team with no experience. Recipe for disaster.
14 Nov 2012, 15:11 pm
when has JDJ played “a number of tests for us this year”???
this guy seriously thinks we’re all fing idiots
14 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@Horings-108:
he played all the experience he had and even that failed
i would rather he played a full team of youngsters, with a future in the game and lose
than playing old boys who cant even pass or run anymore, and still lose
14 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@Horings-82: so what exactly are our strengths?
14 Nov 2012, 15:17 pm
@suffer_guy-60:
I don’t foresee him to get as many chances as that other quota – Jacques Rudolph
14 Nov 2012, 15:17 pm
@Horings-106: If you want a rugby argument, i’m happy to debate\argue\put you to shame.
I didn’t oppose HM when he was appointed because he had a good coaching record. lIke most people on the site, we were\are prepared to give him a chance.
The problems HM has is mostly of his own doing. His selections have been dubious and his tactics has been poor. There has been no discernible improvement from the Boks of last year. The least I expected at this stage was an 80% win ratio and some observable improvement in the Boks’ play.
We are still chosing to play rugby without the ball, our ruck attendance execution is poor. Support play and communication is lacking and basic ballskills leave alot to be desired.
14 Nov 2012, 15:18 pm
@jacoshark-110: i dont buy the youngster or exp argument re Meyer and particularly,re jdj, jantjies and even lambie. Cause both Taute and Goosen has played less senior rugby than any of those 3
14 Nov 2012, 15:20 pm
@Horings-108: That’s the prevailing mindset i was referring to earlier. Nothing good comes from this lager mentality. Some players are made for test rugby. No culture introduction necessary. The challenge for a coach is to identify these individuals.
14 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@Bell-111: A physical forwards based game. Few teams in the world have 3 world class locks and when they all retire then another one makes his debut. We have always been good at setpieces, for example dominating the lineouts. Our scrums have been poor lately, but Pieter de Villiers is turning things around and our defence have always been very physical. These are only some of our strengths.
14 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@Bell-114: It is becoming increasingly difficult to gauge Meyer’s thoughts because they seem to be incoherent.
14 Nov 2012, 15:22 pm
@Horings-106: Heyneke is an idiot.Get with the program,Pietman!
14 Nov 2012, 15:22 pm
@jacoshark-110: you forgot to say
Heyneke Out!
14 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
@Horings-116: This hasn’t been the case for the last few years. The problem isn’t the inexperienced locks. These same players have been standout performers in the super rugby experience. So we did well in our scrums and lineouts this year. What do we have to show for this in terms of performances?
It’s no good you have possession and don’t know what to do with it.
14 Nov 2012, 15:25 pm
@Horings-96:
Please write the book.
14 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@pompies2-113: You expect at least a 80% winning ratio is ridiculous. This is not playstation where you select a team and BOOM they play brilliantly. Experience is important. Fact. Everyone knew we will struggle a bit this year.
If Saru appointed Meyer last year October then he could have convinced Fourie, du Preez, Steenkamp, Rossouw to be part of his new team and then he did not need to play Jean and Morne to have some experience in the team. Then I would have expected an 80% record with some players already familiar with his playing style.
14 Nov 2012, 15:27 pm
@WP-Forever-121: No don’t. Otherwise we’ll have to read it and all we’ll end up doing is confirming what we already know about you and his heyneke-ness.
14 Nov 2012, 15:28 pm
@Horings-122: Bulls players you mean
14 Nov 2012, 15:29 pm
Hougaardt is sticking like Teflon to a Bok position!!!
14 Nov 2012, 15:29 pm
@shooter-119:
ive been saying it since the newlands test v the argies, where for the first time in my life i switched over from test rugby to test cricket cause it was way more exciting..
since then, nothing has changed
a new era generally means new ideas, new players, new mindsets
this springbok situation has just become depressingly stagnant
14 Nov 2012, 15:29 pm
@pompies2-120: Ok, so let us first work on a great attacking game before we make sure we get any ball and we make sure we protect our ball. Meyer is laying good foundations to work from. Which is the better approach? Please convince me because I am in the dark.
14 Nov 2012, 15:29 pm
@Horings-122: Yada yada yada. I’m being kind with the 80%. Should be closer to 90%. Afterall we are the country with the higher playing numbers. It’s Heyneke’s time now. He is in control of the legend he leaves of his Bok coaching career.
14 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@Horings-127: You just admitted the foundation is there. You said the scrums and lineouts were good. what next?
I said earlier there should be no compromise on the quality of the foundational principles of the game.
14 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@Wildcard-124: Yes, Bulls players. The good ones. Not the ones PdV made Springboks because they played in a very good team and not because they were the best in those teams.
14 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@Horings-116: they want to eat the cake but don’t want to help make it. or, they want to win, but they’re not prepared to change the thinking.
What is happening here, as far as i can see, is that HM and the boks are breaking it down to a point from where we can consistently improve.
HM is right. The one play where it is possible, is in our forwards. Once we have a game plan embedded that is so difficult counter, albeit a bit boring for now, other changes can incrementally be brought in.
There is a question in my mind. Would 70% winning do, to keep everyone happy? Or is Hm trying to get us to a point where we win maybe 90%.
Maybe you can’t write down the first or most obvious 22 down and call them a team. even the ‘best’ team. like the blogging teams, rapport teams and all that.
That is exactly what every other previous coach has done. And on average… we are still 70 plus or minus percenters.
14 Nov 2012, 15:33 pm
@jacoshark-107: Ask Horings/Pietman.He is living in Meyer’s pocket.
14 Nov 2012, 15:33 pm
@Horings-122:
‘everyone knew we would struggle this year”
I clearly didnt get that memo
our teams were dominant in the S15 (3 in playoffs), its not as though we dont have the players like australia and argentina- even they put one over us
i expected a good year- maybe not 80% but 75 to be reasonable
been very disappointed in general with HM and springbok rugby this year
14 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
@pompies2-128: Gaan speel playstation waar jy 90% van die games wen dan kom jy terug na die realiteit as jy klaar is.
14 Nov 2012, 15:35 pm
Wow.
With Horings for Heyneke, who could be against him?
14 Nov 2012, 15:35 pm
@Horings-127: Do you think we have the coaching resources to give the Boks a cutting edge attacking game even once the foundations have been laid? I’m sorry but Meyer hasn’t exactly surrounded himself with the best men for the job. The likes of Van Graan and Loubscher can never take us to the the top.
@wnbb-125: At least he’s got loads of talent and potential. Krusty has nothing.
14 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
NAMA @ 80 rubbish you got schooled by the Samons in the 2nd half and nearly lost but you were fantastic against Namibia.
14 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
@jacoshark-133: “Maybe not 80, but 75″. Hahahahahahahahah. Ons het net 10 gespeel, so wat soek jy 7 of 8. It is like sitting in a meeting of ten members and saying. I am sure 99% of you will agree with me….
14 Nov 2012, 15:37 pm
@Horings-134: What are the AB’s on since they won the world cup? If you are prepared to accept mediocirty, then do so in your own life. Don’t take a national side and make excuses for poor performances.
I thought you wanted to talk real rugby talk. Now telling me about playstation?
Suip jy.
14 Nov 2012, 15:38 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-136: I agree with you in that regard. He needs to get someone with international experience. At first I thought Saru did not help in this regard with his late appointment, but he had some time now to get someone.
14 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
@NZINCHINA-137: Like the AB’s were 2nd best in the final. But that doesn’t matter right? The trophy’s in the cabinet.
14 Nov 2012, 15:40 pm
So supporters want something flashy in the short, and usually they get their way… now that HM is making the picture a bit bigger those who claim they want 90% winnings, are the first to protest.
We have great players. But it is not the Springbok coach alone who can coach a team into 90% winning.
I.e, you can’t play an expansive all guns blazing style of rugby if the individual players are not capable to make the offlaods, run the angles and most importantly make the decisions onfield – they should be able to.. but alllround in the CC this year…. there were very few players that stand out as complete ballers.
14 Nov 2012, 15:40 pm
@Horings-122:
Everybody, mostly the Meyer Messiah Choir, was aiming for a 80% win record. Probably to shove it into the faces of the people who supported PdV. They would’ve liked nothing better than to say, “See, if Meyer can have a 80% win record with this team, just think what he could’ve done with the 2007 RWC winning team if he was appointed in 2008.”
Well, that worked out well for them…NOT!!!
14 Nov 2012, 15:40 pm
@Horings-138:
noone on this site would be complaining if we won only 20% of the gmaes this year, but we gave all the deserved youngsters a fair chance, cut the dead wood, and played with at least a little bit of innovation, maybe even tried some backline moves..
i wouldnt be complaining right now
it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that HM is out of his depth
14 Nov 2012, 15:40 pm
@pompies2-139: You are the one not living in reality. The All Blacks won the World Cup and continued with largely the same team and had consistency in it coaching staff. No reason for them to go backwards. We got a new team, new coaches. This is not the amateur era where the coach gets picked in the week leading up to the test match.
14 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
@Horings-140: Another excuse? Coaches, players, SARU, franchises. If Meyer thought it the red sea would part for him, he’s got a serious god complex.
14 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
@pompies2-139:
Have you noticed how Meyer slips it in during EVERY interview how decimated from injuries they are but that’s no excuse. He won one super title and that’s it, he’s clearly out of his depth at international level you could see that after he sold his players out after the 2nd Argie game.
14 Nov 2012, 15:42 pm
This punk wreaks of FEAR.
It devours his ability to reason toward any faculty of sagacity,
Shrewd and decisive…this punk is not!!
Until he masters his fears, the origin of which remains contentious…
He will not prosper…he will fail…and when battered by his own embodiment of self doubt and righteousness…gripped and pacified by the very fear that consumes and overshadows him…what will be will be!!!
14 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-136: @Spiesisworthless1-136: Talent and potential??He is farking overrated and is farking lucky that the legendary Stormer and Bok wing Habana is injured at the moment.
14 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@Horings-145: This is because the AB’s don’t expose the players to the culture before they can wear the black jersey. Those players grow up knowing what it takes to weart that jersey. When players are good enough, they are exposed to test rugby. This is how they are able to keep continuity in their performance levels over many years.
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