Boks injury concerns deepen
19 Nov 2012
JP Pietersen has sustained a groin strain that threatens to rule him out of Saturday’s Test against England, while CJ van der Linde and Gurthro Steenkamp limped off at Monday’s training session.
Pietersen picked up the injury at Murrayfield on and will be carefully managed this week before a call is made on him. He won’t train on Monday and team doctor Craig Roberts refused to speculate on his potential availability.
The squad is laden with left wings, but Meyer says he has enough quality in reserve to cover on the right. ‘JP is obviously a quality player who we hope we’ll have available, but there are options.’
Lwazi Mvovo ran on the right wing in Pietersen’s absence.
Van der Linde returned to the sideline at the Hammersmith training ground with his thigh heavily strapped, while Steenkamp appeared to be walking gingerly but didn’t look too seriously hurt. The other fit props in the squad include Frans Malherbe (tighthead), Heinke van der Merwe (loosehead) and Pat Cilliers, who has played both sides of the scrum for the Lions.
In other team news Juan de Jongh looks set to retain his place in midfield. He ran ahead of Jaco Taute, whose size and strength would be an appealing counter to England’s hard-running Manu Tuilagi.
‘Its important to get some continuity, especially since we’ve seldom had that luxury. The All Blacks can do that because they’ve built the depth over four or more years. But I want to give the guys confidence and keep a relatively settled side,’ Meyer said.
23 Comments
19 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
Hougard on one wing and Jano Vermaak on the other?
19 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Mvovo is probably going to play scrumhalf and Pienaar at wing
19 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
Doesn’t matter-our wings don’t get the ball.
19 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@catchlightuk.com-3:
Ha ha, sad but true
19 Nov 2012, 15:14 pm
Jeez, Taute at wing now? Did Meyer really say that or is Ryan just messing with us? Get a grip, Meyer. Play Rhule and give him the ball – he would be devastating. That would be a “bold” selection that would actually pay off. Taute has already played out of position and failed to impress.
19 Nov 2012, 15:15 pm
Whoever it is will have to contain and punish that arsehole, Chris Ashton. I’m happy to sick Willem Alberts on the wing.
19 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
Taute is a good replacement for JPP – he is big and can tackle, thats all HM wants from a wing.
19 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@kaksioek-5:
That would be an inspiring selection. Probably never happen though. If MS still gets a seat on the bench ahead of Jantjies I doubt HM will trust Rhule to be a sub.
19 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
A good bok wing must be safe under the high ball, and solid in defense and positional play.
Attacking prowess is, sadly, no more than a formality.
19 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
@Jeez-8: I’m reminded of Habana coming on as a young sub against England and scoring a try. I would be tempted to start Rhule, however.
19 Nov 2012, 15:27 pm
If he picks Taute at wing, then even I must agree woth the Politicians and question his thoughts on black wingers. Fills his squad with them, yet won’t pick them to play.
19 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
Call up Tonderai Chavhanga from Newport!
19 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
@Martini-12:
Hear hear… Would love to see Tonderai play again!
19 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
Dammit… Ryan why not encourage us with some thing like rhule,mvovo and rhule is capable of slotting in at right wing… Stop the playing the players out of position hype…!!! KCUF
19 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@14-Lol mapoe
19 Nov 2012, 15:46 pm
He’s got his head up his *rse if he doesn’t drop CJ off the bench,he just is not up to an internetional standard anymore,was poor at stormers and lions and now poor with boks.
19 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
Massive blow if JPP not available…fark me injuries have done us no favors this season.[ with the exception of Spies that is ]…
19 Nov 2012, 15:53 pm
Looks like you realy love spies grant10
19 Nov 2012, 16:00 pm
@xtremebull-18: Spies is an absolute free loader….no time for a player that does not put his body on the line….glad he is your Franchises problem and not mine. Poor Arno Botha and CJ Stander….playing second fiddle to that showboat….
19 Nov 2012, 17:03 pm
@Martini-12: Can’t say I’d call him up, but 3 tries on the w/end is a timely reminder of another option abroad.
I wish I’d seen more of Rhule to comment on is inclusion. Meyer continues to miss a few tricks, despite injuries, experience etc.
Hope we rock up against the Poms.
19 Nov 2012, 17:12 pm
@kaksioek-5: ja its a fecking debacle. Its just a total free for all of shifting players from one position to another – this is a total recipe for utter disaster and destroying the careers of many players.
19 Nov 2012, 17:13 pm
@grant10-17: wont make a difference actually as long as his replacement can tackle. He has had no attacking ball so not gonna make a friggin diff. Thats how sad the state of affairs are.
19 Nov 2012, 19:18 pm
“Van der Linde returned to the sideline at the Hammersmith training ground with his thigh heavily strapped”
why is van der Linde even in training? He is the opposition’s not-so-secret weapon. He should just be sent home … plisa, plisa, olreddy!
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