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, 14:17 pm
Spies won’t get a sniff of the 8 jersey if he stays as useless as he’s been
21 Nov 2012, 14:17 pm
@capebull-92: No, I think we all mean Spies.
21 Nov 2012, 14:20 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-86:
I certainly hope he has/does regain form. However we cannot just say I hope he has regained form so he should be in the bok side. To prove an improvement in form, he needs to play well in the currie cup and s15.
Based on your assertion about lambie and his position, are you able to make any testable predictions?
21 Nov 2012, 14:21 pm
@Kaizan-98: The back-line does have firepower, but it’s completely hamstrung by Van Graan and Loubscher. Our backrow and Etzebeth to get us over the line again. Boks by 3.
21 Nov 2012, 14:21 pm
Decent team selection considering what available and absolutely the right decision to start lambie and put elton on the bench.
Go boks, this is a tough one to call!
21 Nov 2012, 14:29 pm
Good luck Pat. Try the old skip one move about 6 or 7 times. That way the ball might reach the wings if JdJ manages to remember the great art of passing a rugby ball.
21 Nov 2012, 14:30 pm
@grant10-80:
2012 Strompies 28 Tries 16 games
Sharkies 47 ties 16 games
21 Nov 2012, 14:33 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-102: I am sure its plain to see , its Vermeulen the prop imposter
21 Nov 2012, 14:34 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-104: If Vermeulen does,nt knock the ball again
21 Nov 2012, 14:35 pm
@Vetkoek-101: Duane has hardly done anyuthing of substance to cement the no 8 jersey either. Flubber on the move with the highlights veeery few and far between.
21 Nov 2012, 14:35 pm
This is excellent news.
We should use him more as a first receiver off quick second or third phase ruck ball.
21 Nov 2012, 14:36 pm
@Spiesisworthless
I was talking about Englands backline.
21 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
Ryan
I see you have now “written” 4007 articles.
How many of those have you copied and pasted?
21 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
@capebull-108: Vermuelen’s done very well and I’m sure Heyneke feels the same way. He might not be fast and flashy but he’s a genuine presence at 8 who gets stuck in, does all the hard graft, affects turnovers and puts in the big hits. He complements Louw and Alberts very well, imo.
21 Nov 2012, 14:39 pm
@Kaizan-112: Oh, sorry. Yeah, dont think they’ll have the beating of us upfront.
21 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
Ryan
BTW – just kidding. Congrats on hitting the 4000-mark on Keo. I enjoy your pieces.
21 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
@willievz-116: Kruip jou nou gat Willa? hehehe
21 Nov 2012, 14:45 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-110: Best highlights in his hair, the new Meisiekind
21 Nov 2012, 14:46 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-117: By Ryan?
Is jy mal
21 Nov 2012, 14:47 pm
Hoe loop dinge Kwagga
Wat is jou voorspelling vir Saterdag?
21 Nov 2012, 14:47 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-114: So far he’s less than average, watch the game carefully on Saturday you will see, he ‘s to slow for international Rugga.
21 Nov 2012, 14:49 pm
@capebull-108: Duane made the most successful tackles (16) against the Scots – the Boks’ most recent Test. When did Spies ever top the tackle count?
21 Nov 2012, 14:49 pm
@Brendope-103:
with regard to what?
lambie being suited to 12?
the likelyhood of him succeeding and/or superseding morne and goosen at flyhalf?
morne regaiing form and being picked to play 10 for the boks?
please be more specific.
i am a walrus.
21 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
@kaksioek-122: Give us the stats for all the previous tests as well
21 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
@Tacitus-26: I think you group the 2 far too closely. They are by no means the same player. I would say Jantjies is more tactically equipped with the boot than Lambie but not quite as good when standing flat. Morne of late has been a **** kicker, a **** runner and a **** tackler. So in terms of insurance, he’s a policy with a LOT of exclusions.
21 Nov 2012, 14:51 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-110: He has impressed me so far. I for one had reservations about him making the step up.
However, I am concerned about the general lack of speed in our backrow at the moment.
This has some implication for our offense, as backrowers often need to assist ball carriers to offer continuity on the phase ball.
Louw, Alberts and Vermeulen are very competent at dominating the tackle point, but perhaps a yard too slow as a unit to offer continuity on attack.
The jury is still out for me.
21 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
@kaksioek-122: That is my point , if you are happy with the gameplan of takcle only, no tries , like the S15 of Strompies ( 1.75 tries per match ) then Vermeulen is your man. If you actually want to score tries ( Bulls 3.125 p Match )then he will still be on the half way line and the player he’s suppose to support will be over the try line.
Do you like the current brand of rugga at Bokke , if Yes, then Vermeulen is your man.
21 Nov 2012, 15:00 pm
@capebull-127:
Ja- all those tries the bulls have been scoring is really showing in their trophy cabinet hey?
Spoes has been exposed for the useless glory boy pin-up that he is on numerous occasions.
Vermeulen on the other hand made the second most tackles, and turnovers on saturday after Flouw. He also made a significant amount of running metres and tackle breaks.
Check your stats before you spout off, because there is nothing worse than a one-eyed muppet offering their biased opinion when there are plenty of hard facts to dispute it.
21 Nov 2012, 15:03 pm
@capebull-127:
Oh- and nobody is happy with the Boks current “brand” of rugby as masterminded by his highness Heyneke, but that has little to do with ability and alot to do with a ***** gameplan, being forced upon players that are not necessarily naturally suited to it.
21 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@Vetkoek-128: 35m compared to his opposition number with 113m yes thats great Vetkoek , don’t let your hate of Spies clout your vision to see Vermeuilen only really gives you an offensive gain, a number 8 should offer a lot more , forget Spies he’s not even playing
21 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@capebull-127: No, I am not happy with the current “brand” at all. But I think that brand has a lot more to do with the coaches than the players. I don’t believe there is a better 8 than Vermeulen available to the Boks at the moment. Keegan offers much more on attack, but would not be able to do so when he is expected to spend 80 minutes either running into defenders or tackling opponents. Stop kicking most of the ball away and giving the rest to the likes of JDV and then you can consider a more athletic 8.
21 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@Vetkoek-129: So the offensive game plan was not one addopted by strompies in S15 ?
21 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
Hope Spies does recover fully from his serious thumb injury.
He will need two healthy thumbs to twiddle while Vermeulen plays tests
21 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
Vermeulen played brilliantly for the Boks up to now.Good player and far better than Spies.The Danville mob still punting for him as a Bok option should have their heads examined.
21 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@kaksioek-131: I see a game plan based on Bulls and Stormer , rugga , kick and defend, none of the Sharkie/Cheeta/Lions attack. This brand will grind out wins as we saw Saturday and it was effident in Stormer S15 campaign, but it’s terrible to watch
21 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
@capebull-132:
The point is moot. Vermeulen was a key member of the team that topped the super 15 log and won the Currie Cup. He has been in form for years and if not for injury would have been a bok last year already.
Spies looks awesome. He’s big, athletic, fast.
It’s just a pity he’s so farking useless.
21 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
@wnbb-134: You can not be serious, do yourself a favour watch him , or rather watch his absense near the ball on Saturday, if I am wrong I will say that on Monday. If we only defend then he’s the man.
21 Nov 2012, 15:11 pm
Vermeulen
Kanko
another
another
another
another
WPu 18 LADIES NO 8
ANOTHER
ANOTHER
SPIES.
21 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
Good team.Remove numbers 15.11 and 5 and it becomes a more than good team selection.
21 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@capebull-135:
Interestingly, we have a highly talented flyhalf who was integral to the Sharks attack this year as the Bok 10.
The only difference is he’s clearly been instructed to stand 10m deeper and kick the logo off the ball.
21 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@Vetkoek-136: They scored no ties in S15 Vetkoek , if you are happy with that , we are supporting different ruggay ideas. As I have said, play boring defensive rugga , Vermeulen is your man. ( and really he played like 1.5 cc games , at least be honest with yourself)
21 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-97: Our coach is a rugby Traditionalist. he will not move with the times. That’s factual!! Everything is Size with no flare..
21 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
We have great loose forwards they just need to add more rugby skills to their repertoire. Silkier hands are needed.
21 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@grant10-138:
You’re being generous mate.
I’d put my Jack Russell at 8 and he’d have more of an impact than Spies.
21 Nov 2012, 15:14 pm
@Vetkoek-140: @kaksioek-131: I see a game plan based on Bulls and Stormer , rugga , kick and defend, none of the Sharkie/Cheeta/Lions attack. This brand will grind out wins as we saw Saturday and it was effident in Stormer S15 campaign, but it’s terrible to watch
21 Nov 2012, 15:15 pm
some can be really daft with their myopia
how is a player expected to chalk up massive metres with ball in hand when the coaches are smiling after the match basking in the glory of their ingenious territorial/kicking strategy?!
hehehe.
21 Nov 2012, 15:16 pm
@capebull-141: Vermeulen did not come up with the game plan, pal – that was your friend Meyer. That being said, Vermeulen is pretty good at implementing the game plan – piss-poor as it is. In addition, he steals quite a few balls – another thing Spies is incapable of and something that Meyer is only now starting to realise the value of.
21 Nov 2012, 15:16 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-104: Well written.
This is a repeat of the usual Bok grind. No putting matches out of sight with convincing wins.
21 Nov 2012, 15:17 pm
I have never been more serious in my life.This thing that DV only tackles and then stand around is nothing but utter nonsense.Sometimes people only see what they wanna see to suit their agenda.Suffer guy is a prime example.
21 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
@capebull-137: Ok, spit it out. What did Vermeuelen do to you? There is no way someone can be so negative about a specific player without having a valid reason.
E.g: I attack Spies because he is k-a-k and I have about 4000000000000000000 hours of video footage to prove it.
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