Pietersen boost for Boks
21 Nov 2012
JP Pietersen has been named to start for the Springboks despite having to undergo a late fitness test, while Elton Jantjies has been included on the bench.
Pietersen was initially expected to miss the clash against England at Twickenham, but his groin injury has responded well to treatment, although he will have to prove he is completely recovered on Friday before he is cleared. Prop Gurthro Steenkamp also struggled with a leg ailment at the beginning of the week, but will start.
‘It’s great to be able to field an unchanged team,’ said Bok coach Heyneke Meyer. ‘We’ve been able to show some consistency in selection on this tour and that is a good thing.
‘The players have worked extremely hard on the training field and it wasn’t easy to select the match 23 for each of the three Tests, but I’m happy that we managed to stick to combinations.’
Jantjies is included on the bench for the first time on this tour, replacing Morné Steyn. The injury to reserve prop CJ van der Linde also sees Pat Cilliers promoted to the match 23.
‘The plan was always to give Elton a run on the tour,’ said Meyer. ‘He’s shown earlier in the season that he can play Test rugby. It’s also good for his development as a player to experience the conditions here and to play in front of a big crowd like Twickenham.’
Meyer said the demands of a long season were obvious when looking at the team.
‘It’s been a long season, with most of the guys carrying knocks and not able to train. The challenge is to get up for it mentally first and foremost and then bring the physicality,’ he said.
‘I am worried. I can see that mentally it’s been a long season. Having said that, I know this team and they’re warriors who want to win for their country and the guys next to them.’
The English media has demanded an elevated level of physicality from what they deemed a poor showing in their defeat against Australia. Meyer said he was braced for an immense challenge in that regard.
‘As a South African looking back, I didn’t think England teams were particularly tough. My coaching stint in Leicester, working with guys like Lewis Moody and Martin Corry, who are probably the toughest guys I’ve coached, changed that perception completely,’ he said.
‘Our guys know that they had the edge in South Africa physically because it was at the end of the northern hemisphere season. Now we’re here at the end of ours and they are fresh and we need to toughen up. Maybe in a sense they underestimated the Wallabies, but they will be up for South Africa.’
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 Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
329 Comments
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21 Nov 2012, 12:52 pm
@Tacitus-48: Lambie has been dissappointing or down from his form shown in the CC. I’d still have him as the Bok flyhalf.
If you were absolutely honest, Morne hasn’t displayed the for required from a test flyhalf for the last 2 years. Elton has had a combined 80 or less minutes of test rugby. Surely you can’t have an informed opinion based on those 80 minutes? Be fair Tac
21 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
I THINK Meyer has put Janjties on the bench to finally attempt to play expansive.
21 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
@Stoetbul9-49: If you can find it, read Allan Solomons’ column he wrote in last week’s News24.
You’ve hit a nail on the head with Ruan Pienaar. Possibly one of the primary reasons, the Boks can’t build momentum on attack.
21 Nov 2012, 12:59 pm
@pompies2-53: and Jean de Villiers to that list as well.
21 Nov 2012, 13:00 pm
@Tacitus-50: Hey Tac, would you prefer “old style” flattie on the bum like Carel Dup would give Danie Gerber, once he scored a try? Bit *** for me. Rather give me Gangnam Style any day
21 Nov 2012, 13:01 pm
*** = g a y
21 Nov 2012, 13:02 pm
JDJ very lucky to get another chance …. he better use it… in real life a performance like last weekend should mean the end of your International career – just ask Rory Kleinveldt (cricket)
21 Nov 2012, 13:02 pm
Reasonable selections from Meyer.
21 Nov 2012, 13:04 pm
@suffer_guy-57: Hey, I remember you posting a score for Twickenham for last Saturday’s game that read 42-9 in favour of the home team.
What happened, mate?
21 Nov 2012, 13:06 pm
Would be interesting to see how Juan de Jongh go against their Samoan centre. He gave Jean de Villiers a hard time in the previous tests. England will be targeting our midfield combo of Lambie/deVilliers/de Jongh.
21 Nov 2012, 13:08 pm
Brumbies … it was a admin error, one week too early! … it should’ve been : Italy 42 – Aus 9!
21 Nov 2012, 13:11 pm
@Tacitus-50: lol
That’s deep. I was thinking you had Fantasy Rugby Commitments and De Jongh was not in your team,… lol
21 Nov 2012, 13:13 pm
What is this Gangham style thing that everyone’s on about?
21 Nov 2012, 13:14 pm
@pompies2-51:
morne is a very competent flyhalf who has experienced a period of bad form, which hopefullly is now over. he certainly is capable of playing the type of game the coach is looking to imprint on this current bok squad, going forward.
to my mind lambie on the other hand, is a potentially good inside center or fullback playing out of position at flyhalf (be it for the boks or sharks). irrespective of which position his supporters and detractors may believe him best suited too, i think its fair to say he is not the most capable at/of playing the type of game the coach is looking to imprint on ths squad.
21 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@Tacitus-63:
its a WP *** thing
sad not see Heinke van der Merwe get a start…undisputed Strongest scrummager we have
21 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@suffer_guy-57: Liar. He barely received the ball.
21 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@pompies2-47: Kirchner has improved his kicking game, and He is a “Meyer selection,” however he’s no good.
They guy loses possession and He’s a Fullback that Joins the line with no real impact. His defense is questionable and he doesn’t do well when dealling with a dead-ball or grubbering one for that matter. He’s not Calm and lacks the calm demeanor Full backs need..
21 Nov 2012, 13:16 pm
@nortierd-32:
steyn is heyneke’s bankie…
21 Nov 2012, 13:17 pm
Nice to see Pat at 10 and Elton on the bench. Morne is not the future.
21 Nov 2012, 13:18 pm
@Tbozknows-67: Yeah, he’s very mediocre. Wouldn’t get a start at fullback for any other test playing nation and that’s a fact.
21 Nov 2012, 13:18 pm
Kirchner is very underrated
I think Taute will play at 15 longterm..
21 Nov 2012, 13:19 pm
@Tacitus-63:
It’s the mindset the Stormers and WP will adopt in 2013.
Its an effective technique that emphasises flair. Definitely won’t work in Pretoria.
21 Nov 2012, 13:19 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-64:
this is of course all moot when considering the probable fh pecking order in heynekes mind is:
goosen
morne (simply because he has proved himself before)
lambie (interchangeable with elton)
elton (interchangeable with lambie)
and pecking away from the bottom:
pollard
fouche
****** (insert any of the remaining provincial 10′s)
****** (as above)
****** (as above)
21 Nov 2012, 13:24 pm
I see elsewhere that JC is on his way to England because of the injury to CJ. Why on earth would they call him up for 3 days if he is not going to be on the bench?
21 Nov 2012, 13:24 pm
HM may not be moving at the pace some of us “experts” want him too, but he is building a proper squad.
I would also loved to see some mid week games to give all of the boys a run.
21 Nov 2012, 13:26 pm
@TooMuchRugby-74:
Meyer likes introducing new players to Bok “culture” and “structures”
waste of airfare IMO
21 Nov 2012, 13:27 pm
@TooMuchRugby-74: 2 training sessions left…. injuries.
21 Nov 2012, 13:30 pm
I like Jantjies on the bench. Looks like HM wants almost same type of player, like Lambie. Should Lambie get injured Jantjies can automatically carry on with the game plan. Should the game plan not work then at least Lambie or Jantjies can adapt. Same cannot be said from Morne Steyn currently. First instinct kick ball away or up & under. Ask him to release backline then he runs across the field to before he pass.
21 Nov 2012, 13:32 pm
@Tacitus-63: Back under your rock gladiator……
21 Nov 2012, 13:34 pm
it would not surprise me if M Steyn is deemed superfulous to the Bulls run on 15 next super rugby campaign as well…
21 Nov 2012, 13:36 pm
Johannesburg – The promoters of a boxing fight between former All Blacks rugby player Sonny Bill Williams and South African veteran Francois Botha are trying to lure controversial Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper into the ring.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Cooper-on-SBW-undercard-20121121
21 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
It worries me when they pick players who are only 80% fit! Pushing the guys for one last game!!
21 Nov 2012, 13:45 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-64:
I agree that more can be a competent fly half, but what reason do you have to say that hopefully his patch of bad form is now over? He has not shown anything to suggest his form has improved.
21 Nov 2012, 13:49 pm
@suffer_guy-61: OK, but take note your secretary’s job’s at risk!
21 Nov 2012, 13:49 pm
@Tacitus-63: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/nov/18/gangnam-style-psy
21 Nov 2012, 13:52 pm
@Brendope-83:
well he hasn’t played a game yet since being dropped because of poor form, so we can only hope it has passed, can we not..?..
until he plays for the boks again we wont know.
21 Nov 2012, 13:55 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-70: As for your namesake, well he’s even worse.
There are quality number 8′s in SA and Spies is too soft to be a 8.
21 Nov 2012, 13:55 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-86: You may have a rather long wait for that to happen….
21 Nov 2012, 13:57 pm
once Kanko gets back Spies is even further down the pecking order….
21 Nov 2012, 14:01 pm
@grant10-89: I hope so.. I see Meyer being loyal to his Spies..
21 Nov 2012, 14:02 pm
@greatest13gerber-71: Taute is a 15.
21 Nov 2012, 14:08 pm
@Tbozknows-87: @grant10-89: I am sure you ment mediocre Vermeulen , will be out , he is really average
21 Nov 2012, 14:08 pm
@Tbozknows-90: Even Zuma likes Spies
21 Nov 2012, 14:11 pm
@greatest13gerber-71:
If by underrated, you mean dogf**k useless the I agree 100%
21 Nov 2012, 14:13 pm
Good team……may have made one change and see what Taute has to offer at 15, though im sure he will get a run next year in the June Internationals. Im just so pleased for JDJ that he will be getting another opportunity. And lets hope he gets some ball to work with.
21 Nov 2012, 14:13 pm
@grant10-88:
actually i dont think so, grant
my feeling is it’ll be morne and goosen who get the nod next year.
21 Nov 2012, 14:15 pm
@Tbozknows-90: That’s what I think too. Meyer needs certain facts to beat him over the head a few times before either he comes around, or circumstances dictate he must. Remember, this is the guy that was unreceptive to the value of modern scavenging open-side until a few demoralizing draws against the likes of England and Argentina.
21 Nov 2012, 14:16 pm
The bookies have the odds dead even between the two teams. We will have to raise our game if we want to win.
With Flo playing the way he is and with England having dropped the talented Tom Johnson for the useless James Haskell, I see us edging this one.
Their backline has fire power though. We need to be on our game.
21 Nov 2012, 14:16 pm
@capebull-92: Out of all the 8′s that are available he is the best bet. Long term though i would like to see Schalk at number 8 or even Kanko if he can carry the form that he showed at the end of the super 15.
21 Nov 2012, 14:16 pm
i see oscar’s in the news for all the wrong reasons lately.
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