Launchbury to front Boks
22 Nov 2012
England lock Joe Launchbury has been named to start against the Springboks in Saturday’s Test at Twickenham.
Coach Stuart Lancaster has made three changes to the pack that fronted Australia, with Launchbury, flanker Tom Wood, and No 8 Ben Morgan introduced. This Test will mark Launchbury’s first start for England.
There are also a couple of new men among the forward reserves, with South African-born lock Mouritz Botha and flanker James Haskell included.
Two changes have been made to the backline, with Mike Brown replacing Charlie Sharples on the left wing and scrumhalf Ben Youngs coming in for Danny Care.
England – 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Mike Brown, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Subs: 16 David Paice, 17 David Wilson, 18 Mako Vunipola, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Jonathan Joseph.
37 Comments
22 Nov 2012, 12:30 pm
Muddy puddles on Saturday- nice and slow, should suit both teams
22 Nov 2012, 12:33 pm
Blast Englands backline is rather good. I think Lancaster has seen the Bok backline is not very good and is planning on atacking the backline, good for him!!
The Boks have their hands full with this team!!
22 Nov 2012, 12:41 pm
@race of tan-2:
If their handling was better against Aus they should have won by some distance.
The backlines execution was poor, although they at least showed intent
22 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
to Launch/Bury his career…?
22 Nov 2012, 12:56 pm
Who????
22 Nov 2012, 13:01 pm
Should end the year on a high and smash them.
If Wallabies lose 33-6 against the Frogs but manage to beat this English team then so should we , no excuses.
Come on Heinken give us a nice end to a sh*t year of Bok rugby
22 Nov 2012, 13:30 pm
The England pack is much improved upon the one that faced the Wallabies, but their test is much harder as well. Corbiesero is a much better scrummager then Marler and destroyed the Ireland scrum in the 6 nations. Launchburry much more physical and athletic then Palmer these days. Woods bigger and faster then Johnson, quite similar to Francoise Louw, but not as good on the ground. Morgan very good with ball in hand and deseptively fast for a big man. The concern with all these guys other then Launchburry, is their fitness as they are coming back from bad injuries. Should be a good contest up front.
22 Nov 2012, 13:44 pm
Joe Launchbury played a brilliant game vs South Africa U20s in the Junior world cup 2 years ago He’s a talismanic/influential player both in attack and defence.
Shame Courtney Lawes isn’t fully fit he would have loved playing vs South Africa
Great to see Tom Wood back many thought he would be the England captain prior Robshaw but he’s had injury problems
22 Nov 2012, 13:53 pm
Mike Brown is a dangerous player.
22 Nov 2012, 13:57 pm
Really stupid taking Care out of the starting side, best player in that whole team, on the otherside, good call dumping Johnson, uselss against our big ball carriers.
Morgan was useless against the boks in June series, gonnan get bossed.
22 Nov 2012, 14:02 pm
@nortierd-3: The problem for us is that the intent from the English backline is there. If their passes stick and their decision making is a little better this time round, the ending could be a little different.
Very relieved Juan de Jongh is at 13. Tough channel to defend this week, and fecknows what Taute would have done were he there…..
22 Nov 2012, 14:07 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-11:
Yes, and they have been waiting for this match since June.
We should have buried them in all three tests, they believe we are there for the taking.
They know they will be thumped next week, so both teams are in the same boat, the outcome Saturday will determine the season
22 Nov 2012, 14:28 pm
@ufo-4: Qclever.
22 Nov 2012, 14:29 pm
Harsh views on Tom Johnson he’s come through all the divisions. Not many go through non league to the Avila premiership to International rugby
He had a great season for a newly promoted team last year but he’s just not an international
player
Ben Morgan has found his form back and he’s been recalled to the team
England’s problem is the 10/12/13 channel we can’t open teams up we use Barritt/tuliagi to bash through teams
Flood good player but he’s not a great one. Freddie Burns should have been picked an exciting, electric fast fly half who can get our backline going
22 Nov 2012, 14:35 pm
Until we sort that 10, 12, 13 channel we arent going to beat the SH sides
Persist on Barritt and Tuilagi and it just isn’t working. Both great in defence, big ball carriers but both haven’t got that great attacking flair
Alex Goode has been brought to play as a second receiver. Mike Brown is the unluckiest player in the England team he’s been brilliant as a Full back should be playing there but because of our lack of creativity in midfield, Alex Goode has been chosen
22 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
I just do not think the English have the cohesion at the moment. Lots of talent and LOTS of bluster, but not much substance.
The boks are gathering substance at the moment, with some good selections by Meyer and some continuity. I believe they have it in them for one last push to win this, and win well, on the weekend.
Physiologically the Boks are in a good space. I believe HM has it in him to really inspire this team for this final effort. The English look very fragile in this department at the moment. If the Boks get a head of steam and some points on the board it will be a long day at HQ for the English. I also think the boks are in line for a big one, with lots of points – like the Aussie game.
The only chance the English have is if the Boks are not up for this match – that it is one step too far this season – and that the English come out passionately psyched up. Even then it will be VERY tight, the English may just sneak win.
Can’t wait for the game.
22 Nov 2012, 14:42 pm
@john123-14:
Not many in this team are international players ….. more like ‘hoping to be’.
22 Nov 2012, 14:54 pm
@john123-15:
The 10, 12,13 for England are not a great combination. Barrett was a journey man S12 player for the Sharks who had brilliant players around him to make him look good. It seems to me that the English have no real plan there, but are simply selecting to counter what they know SA is going to throw at them. Good luck. At best parity, but most likely SA will get on top, like they did in June.
In the forwards: Test match rugby is won firstly up front. This is where England is weak. There is NO ONE of the Martin Johnson, Dallagio, Richard Hill stature …. or even looking like taking over the mantle. I look at the English forwards and look at their stats (height; weight etc.) and it just does not put any ‘fear’ or ‘worry’ into me. Pretty much horses for courses in terms of playing Aus or NZ; S12 and SA Currie Cup. They talk BIG and how ‘fired up’ fired up they will be and ‘dog’ this and ‘dog’ that, but they are not even close. In SA it is ‘dog eat dog’, day in and day out EVERY game. And if you run through the SA forwards you have some players who are on their way to being the real deal: Etzebeth; Alberts; Coetzee; Vermuelen; Louw …..
22 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
Boks gonna hammer the english.
22 Nov 2012, 15:05 pm
Brad Barritt needs a fast/broken field runner outside him. Him and Tuilagi just doesn’t work
Joseph should be given a chance instead of Tuilagi who just bashes through people
Alex Corbisiero is back scrum should be alot stronger, Launchbury will add some beef, Wood and Morgan are big, fast ball carriers
22 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@The Beast-19:
Does it give you heart palpitations?
22 Nov 2012, 15:33 pm
@john123-8: Remember that game.
He was colossal.
Another lock who can play flanker. The way the English like to breed them.
22 Nov 2012, 15:47 pm
England have got alot of great talent but we have always select experience over youth. Lancaster has tried to change that but he still sticks to his favourites
For example Freddie Burns best 10 in England ATM but Flood gets picked over him
Chris Ashton always get picked and he’s not even the best winger in England!
22 Nov 2012, 16:06 pm
@john123-23: In the modern era, experience is overrated.
The young guns of today are far superior than their peers of 20 years ago – mentally, physically and tactically.
However, they also have a shorter shelf-life than their peers of 20 years ago.
Pick’em when they are young.
22 Nov 2012, 16:33 pm
hahah this lighty is going to have his *** handed to him on a plate on sat. Whats a bet he doesnt make it till half time? He is going to be crunched by Gurthro, Strauss, Etzebeth, Louw, Alberts and Duane. OMG lol Unleashed indeed. Whatever happened to Courtney Laws? He had some decent mongrel in him?
22 Nov 2012, 16:39 pm
Heyneke Meyer deserves praise for converting Tom Youngs from an inside centre to a hooker
I don’t know many inside centres converting into props lol
He’s only 5ft 8 but man he is powerful, low sense of gravity he’s very good at the breakdown and he’s hard to tackle because of his upper body strength
22 Nov 2012, 16:50 pm
@john123-26: Craig Burden, the Sharks hooker, used to be a wing. And if I’m not mistaken, Jaco Engels, the prop who has now signed for the Kings, played in the midfield at some point before he got big.
Some hookers could do it the other way round – many people have suggested Schalk Brits should move to the midfield.
22 Nov 2012, 16:52 pm
@katman-27: Don’t forget Pierre Spies.
22 Nov 2012, 16:58 pm
@willievz-28: I still think he’d be a great wing. The Kiwis love sticking big guys out wide so that the touch line becomes less of an issue. Savea, Gear – they fancy their chances at bumping a defender and staying infield. Spies can play that game too.
22 Nov 2012, 17:09 pm
Umm anyone else getting ‘Malicious Java attack’ when logging on to this site?
(Norton picked up AMND.ORG),
As there’s no ‘website feedback’ an all….
22 Nov 2012, 17:11 pm
@OCO-30: I got something similar last week, and also about a month ago. This site has onlineherpes.
22 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
@OCO-30: Ja Im getting is constantly. Prompted to update some kind of Java Auto updater, but warns it is not from a publisher with an untrusted certificate…
Possibly just expired but you cant take a chance
22 Nov 2012, 18:19 pm
Woah this Craig Burden fella is electric
Has he played for the Boks?
Schalk Brits has been brilliant he’s got a great step and dummy surprised SA haven’t used him
Adrian Strauss is a unit but Schalk Brits is inspirational he’s won so many games for Saracens with a bit of magic
22 Nov 2012, 18:41 pm
Launch bury.
Fantastic name,.One caN ONLY SPECULATE about the origin
22 Nov 2012, 21:59 pm
How to answer 1million questions without answering a sing one of them
Renick asked:
Hi Jean.
It looks like things are coming together slowly but surely. How”s the body holding up and what”s your plans for the future? You are one of best centres ever the problem is you can”t play every game. Do you think if you are managed better we can squeeze one more world cup out of you?
Jean de Villiers answered:
As I’m moving on in my career Renick, my aim is really to take things one season at a time. If I’m lucky enough to make it to 2015, I’ll gladly take it, but if it doesn’t happen, so be it.
Pieter asked:
Hi Jean
Thanks for this upportunity and well done on a succesfull tour so far! My one question is, with 4 different flyhalves in the springbok games this year, do they all get to play their own game in the overall game plan or are they told to play in a certain way regardless?
Good luck with England!
Jean de Villiers answered:
Thanks for the support Pieter. To use the Afrikaans saying – “ons sal nooit iemand in ‘n blik druk nie” – we will always allow our players to follow their heads. Everyone involved knows what we want to achieve and how we want to do that.
Andries Becker asked:
Good Day Jean
There has been a massive debate regarding the distribution skills of our back line and the amount of ball our wings see due to the fact that the ball does not get past yourself or number 9 or 10 that often. Can you please elaborate why this is or seems that way.
Behind you and the boys 100%
Jean de Villiers answered:
I’m afraid there is no easy explanation for that Andries. If there is enough space and it’s on, we’ll spread the ball. If not, we won’t, but that is dependent on the field position and the defensive lines of the opposition.
Alex asked:
Hi Jean! Big Stormers fan and think your doing a outstanding job as Bok Captain! My question is looking forward to next year. With the Super rugby campaign being so long physically and mentally, will it be sensible to “rest” a couple of Boks during the Super games so that they can perform better in the Green & Gold? Or will they leave it to the coaching team to manage and train the players “on-the-go”. Your thoughts on this.
Kind Regards
Alex
Jean de Villiers answered:
Thanks for the compliment Alex. Unfortunately I can’t comment on that, because it rests in the hands of the rugby bosses. But I’d like to believe all our coaching teams are looking at helping the national cause wherever possible.
Reon asked:
Hi Jean, thanks for your time! Huge fan of yours! 1question, what within the English gameplan/team do you see as weakpoint to attack and maybe capatilize on? I think personaly England lack defence out wide and on 10(Toby flood).. Defently 2channels we can attack! All of the best and good luck!
Jean de Villiers answered:
Interesting observations Reon. As this will hit cyber space before the Test, it would be better if I didn’t answer! No, only kidding. They are a very well balanced side and don’t have any weaknesses.
Jacques de Wet asked:
Hey Jean, I realise each game is different because of the opposition but why is it that we never see trained backline moves with the boks anymore. With this I mean the players running lines, switches, decoys etc. The SA public is crying out for some flair in the backline. The forwards are getting us great ball. In the last couple of games there were plenty of opportunities in the right areas of the pitch to unleash some backline moves but it wasn`t forthcoming.
Jean de Villiers answered:
We’re getting there Jacques – do you remember the try Bryan scored at Soccer City? That was from a planned move. Sadly the defences are so good these days, it’s difficult to get the fancy stuff going, but if the opportunity is there, we’ll definitely try.
Neal Prinsloo asked:
Hey Jean,
Being under coach Pieter De Villiers, and Jake White, and now Heyneke Meyer, as a current brilliant rugby player, what is your opinion on being Senior Bok coach? Would you ever venture into coaching the Boks one day?
Hope that all prep goes well before the England game on this Weekend!
Bok4Life
Neal.
Jean de Villiers answered:
Neal, that is a good question. I’ve not really thought that far, as I’m still enjoying playing too much, but who knows what the future might hold?
******** asked:
Firstly i have to say to you Jean, you seem to be a perfect fit as Springbok Captain. Question, how can SA Rugby reach the intensity of All blacks Rugby? They always seem to be producing excellent talent and are consistent in their play. Their results speak for themselves over the years. We play them year in year out in Super rugby and the Championship rugby competition, yet we seem to be step or 2 behind. What do you think it comes down to and how can we reach their level, consistantly?
Jean de Villiers answered:
Thanks ********. Comparing us with the All Blacks, to my mind, is futile. We’re different rugby playing nations with different strengths and weaknesses. They are doing very well at the moment and we’d like to be there as well, but in doing that, we need to do what we do best without trying to copy them.
Cameron asked:
Hi Jean,
I”m an South African student studying in Canada and religiously follow the Boks, always waking up early for the games and will never stop.
We all know this season hasn”t been our best, for understandable reasons, and the future looks bright. But my question is one I”m sure you hear all the time, have we not just become too predictable? A big theme this season has been lack of execution, but does our execution have to be 110% because our opponents know exactly what to expect from the Boks, so if we stray its very easy to shut us down?
There”s plenty merit in our current approach, but surely we have to supplement it with something fresh in order to challenge for that no.1 position?
A Bok fan through thick and thin,
Cheers
Jean de Villiers answered:
Thanks for the support from afar Cameron. We’re evolving all the time, but the most important thing at this stage is to get the basics right and we’re getting there. Rugby changes and so do teams, but we’ve been very good in patches this year and need to look at getting that “80 minute performance”.
Carey-Anne asked:
What do you think the biggest thing that has to be improved before the match with England on Saturday
Jean de Villiers answered:
Carey-Anne, probably our discipline and to a lesser extent out execution.
Riaan asked:
Hi Cap!
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Here”s mine:
How much time do you think a midfield combination needs to spend together to start really gelling? You have been paired with so many centers and fly-halfs this season it must get frustrating.
Jean de Villiers answered:
Riaan, playing with the best players in the country is never frustrating, but it does take time for combinations to settle. Having said that, I think we’re improving weekly and I’m excited about what the future holds.
Louis asked:
Having also been involved in sport, I always found it hard to lift my game right at the end of the season. I know the bok management always say that the intensity will be there, but how do the players feel about this weekend”s game?
Jean de Villiers answered:
We can’t wait Louis. If any Springbok lacks motivation ahead of playing England at Twickenham, he should not come close to a rugby field.
Mark Otto asked:
You were quoted earlier this year when you were handed the honour of captaining the Springboks, “I believe the one thing that is non-negotiable for a captain is that he makes the right plays and makes the right decisions under pressure. That”s how I would like to define myself.” How do you feel the role of captain has affected you”re performance on the park as a player? And referring to you”re quote, do you feel you”re making those big plays and the right decisions under pressure for the Springboks?
Jean de Villiers answered:
No Mark, not at all. It’s been a steep learning curve, but one that I’ve enjoyed immensely. The coach has given me a big amount of trust on the field and I’d like to think we’re getting it right more times than we’re getting it wrong.
Jan asked:
Hi Jean
Thanks for your time.
How big effect does it have to play infront of the passionate European crowds?Is it intimidating or rather serve as inspiration?
Lastly what is your favorite staduim outside of SA to play at?
Jean de Villiers answered:
Jan, I can tell you that playing in front of the crowds in the Northern Hemisphere is never easy. They are immensely passionate and they can lift their teams, like we saw at Murrayfield on Saturday. But the massive support also has an effect on us as a team as it galvanises us when the chips are down.
Hopefully that scenario won’t play itself out on Saturday, but I’ve always enjoyed playing at Twickenham.
My favourite stadium outside of SA – Thomond Park in Limerick, where I played for Munster a few years ago.
Well im happy with this one –
Louis asked:
Having also been involved in sport, I always found it hard to lift my game right at the end of the season. I know the bok management always say that the intensity will be there, but how do the players feel about this weekend”s game?
Jean de Villiers answered:
We can’t wait Louis. If any Springbok lacks motivation ahead of playing England at Twickenham, he should not come close to a rugby field.
23 Nov 2012, 12:17 pm
nice piece on launchbury here…
Bagshot, England – A new generation of second-row “enforcers” go head to head at Twickenham on Saturday as Joe Launchbury of England and Eben Etzebeth of South Africa find themselves with the daunting label at the tender age of 21.
Etzebeth has already earned rave reviews after nine Tests filling the boots of former Springbok hard man Bakkies Botha while Launchbury will make his first start after similarly impressing the England management in his two appearances off the bench.
Etzebeth is free to play having been cleared of an eye gouging charge in last week’s win over Scotland, and having gone toe to toe with Australia’s Nathan Sharpe in the Rugby Championship, with just a hint of a headbutt thrown in for good measure, he, at 2.03m and 123 kg, is clearly not a man to be intimidated.
But then nor is Launchbury, who was brought in by Stuart Lancaster as one of six changes from last week’s defeat by Australia to add some beef to the pack.
Five centimetres shorter and eight kilograms lighter, Launchbury is nevertheless a real force and he is looking forward to meeting up with Etzebeth again having beaten him and his South African side in last year’s under-20s world championship.
“Eben’s doing a great job, he’s six months younger than me and he’s playing his 10th Test so he’s doing fantastically,” Launchbury told reporters on Thursday.
“If I can get up to his standards then that’s great for me. He wasn’t so well known when we played in the under-20s and I’ve got very fond memories of that game. We pipped it 26-20 but it was close right to the end.
“This Saturday is a big physical game for my first start but I do really enjoy the physical side of things.”
Launchbury’s eyes were opened to South African rugby when he spent two months training with Eastern Province two years ago.
Sent by his new club Wasps to work on his fitness, he discovered quickly that it was sink or swim.
“My first day there I was literally straight off the plane and they said ‘right, live scrums and mauls tomorrow morning at 8am’ so I thought ‘ah, so that’s how you do things over here’ and it was a bit of a culture shock,” he said.
“I’d gone from playing semi-pro rugby so it was a massive step up, the physicality was huge and it really hit me.
“It’s a real macho rugby culture but I got used to it quickly and by the end I didn’t want to come home.”
Having toughened himself up physically, Launchbury soon found he had some mental development to do as chaos off and on the field at Wasps last year meant he became a regular for the London club when most of his peers in the Premiership were playing reserve games.
“At the start of the season we thought we were going to have a strong squad but we were decimated with injuries to the forwards and there were times when we had eight or nine guys under-20 starting, which in the Premiership is not ideal,” he said.
“So we really had to grow up and play above our age, get stuck into matches and not be too scared of our opposition.
“I played a lot of games last year that might have been stretched over two or three years so it was good for me and I had to take a leading role in that pack.
“It was a steep learning curve for all of us and we’ve been able to kick on.”
The result is a place in an England set-up geared very much for an assault on the 2015 World Cup with Lancaster giving opportunities to the new generation.
Launchbury, who grew up idolising World Cup winning-captain and fellow lock Martin Johnson, says it is a place he can thrive.
“There are a lot of young guys with not too many caps and there are no egos, no extended groups,” he said.
“Everyone’s in it together and it’s a fantastic environment for me to learn from.”
The clash at Twickenham kicks-off at 16:30 (SA time) on Saturday.
news24
23 Nov 2012, 12:18 pm
will be interesting to see he and eben fronting up for their teams…
eben must get back to his cool collected self…
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