Springbok Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Emperor1989

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip Van Der Merwe, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.

No changes other than Fourie Du Preez and since he won't be travelling away we hope that Pienaar can deliver some sort of performance!

Emperor1989

Rumours have it that Jacque Fourie will be making himself available for the Boks for the end of year tour and on the road to the 15 world cup.

Bakkies Botha still desperate to get back playing for the Boks not sure what Meyer is ignoring him or maybe just ignoring him until next year when world cup preperations will take a step up!

thomond2006

Fourie was a class player.

It's a shame that such talented players effectively go missing when they move to Japan.

Emperor1989

thomond2006 wrote: »

Fourie was a class player.

It's a shame that such talented players effectively go missing when they move to Japan.

I think it is working wonders in South Africa.

Jacque Fourie and Fourie Du Preez would have had no chance of playing the next world cup given the ferocity of competition in the super 15. 2 years in Japan there international career looked over but there now there heads are rising and lets face it, if they want to play they are certainty's for the squad. It also helps raise the Japan league by letting these stars play.

Hagz

The pitch could do with a couple more sponsors.

Emperor1989

Pienaar barely 2 mins again makes a terrible mistake too slow again.

Argies nearly score

Emperor1989

Huge game now.

If South Africa can win this, it will be a huge step forward.

I am backing them to do it!!!

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Emperor1989 wrote: »

Huge game now.

If South Africa can win this, it will be a huge step forward.

I am backing them to do it!!!

some photo!

Emperor1989

Bismark deserves a photo all of his own!:D

Emperor1989

Great result a huge step forward.

Backrow destroyed Australia's.

The big one next week but can overstate how good that is now for the rest of the year win or lose next week.

Emperor1989

Its must be some position to be able to bring in a full pack off the bench and not lose anything, no other side has that resources up front.

I still believe Bakkies Botha should be back in this squad, while Flip played really well it constantly gives away silly penalties and he is a huge unit. Kruger is more finesse but lacks the bite around the paddock.

The back row now is set in stone as far as I can see with the front row that played today and obviously Etzebeth.

You then need to look at Du Preez at 9 and Goosen once he gets back fit at 10 but Morne is doing a fine job so far. Habana and Le Roux look certain now for wing but remember JP Pieterson has yet to come back into this squad and he will be a 22 defo if not starter. Kirchner played well today and the fact he is so solid at the back is a huge asset. Midfield De Villers played his best game in a long time and led like a real captain. JJ Englebrecht hasn't been a star by any means and hasn't been given a chance really to shine but has defended great. I still think Serfontein is the answer there with Jacque Fourie muted for a possible return soon also.


Players still to come back in
Bakkies Botha
Du Preez
Goosen
Jacque Fourie
JPP Pieterson

now all Du Preez is obviously back now with JPP back for the autumn. Stick in guys mentioned above with easily a century of caps between them and this squad becomes very formidable.

Its nice to see it come together!! for once

Emperor1989

Also players who were not considered due to injury were

Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, Johan Goosen, Jaco Taute and Frans Steyn.

Swiwi.

What's up with Juan de Jongh Emperor1989? Is he injured, or just out of favour?

Emperor1989

Swiwi. wrote: »

What's up with Juan de Jongh Emperor1989? Is he injured, or just out of favour?

He is there but not considered for selection.

Career for the Boks is over

Swiwi.

Emperor1989 wrote: »

He is there but not considered for selection.

Career for the Boks is over

Pity, he's quite good. SA have had some very mediocre players in midfield in recent times, JDV & Fourie excepted. Of course, Engelbrecht looks good. But Wyland Olivier - he was terrible!

Hagz

I think that Serfontein and Englebrecht will make for a seriously strong centre partnership.

Liveforrugby

Englebrecht can't tackle,

Emperor1989

Swiwi. wrote: »

Pity, he's quite good. SA have had some very mediocre players in midfield in recent times, JDV & Fourie excepted. Of course, Engelbrecht looks good. But Wyland Olivier - he was terrible!

Oliver was a nothing player even if he did have great hair.

Francois Steyn went backwards when he played 12 for the Boks which hasn't helped them in recent years

Emperor1989

Liveforrugby wrote: »

Englebrecht can't tackle,

I disagree....He can tackle and tackle quite well.

Its just at test level there is another big step up. He has played solid so far and has made few mistakes. Tackling has not been up to his usual standard but then again this is not his usual standard.

Emperor1989

Hagz wrote: »

I think that Serfontein and Englebrecht will make for a seriously strong centre partnership.

Yh Serfontein is a the future....they lost another diamond Robert Ebershom to france but I not sure he was going to get a real shot under Meyer. Francois Steyn will have a say in the center partnership next season when he loses some weight. He at 12 and Serfontein at 13 for me is the perfect mix but the Captain also is a 12 so whatever combination it is its going to be De Villers and someone else.

Swiwi.

Emperor1989 wrote: »

Oliver was a nothing player even if he did have great hair.

Francois Steyn went backwards when he played 12 for the Boks which hasn't helped them in recent years

Steyn just got fat after his stint in France, basically he did a "Weepu", and that was the end of him as a test-match force. Seriously good player in 2007, though.

Emperor1989

After Bismark my player to watch this week is the titan that is Flip Van Der Merve. Keep an eye out for him....I am expecting a huge game.

Emperor1989

Swiwi. wrote: »

Steyn just got fat after his stint in France, basically he did a "Weepu", and that was the end of him as a test-match force. Seriously good player in 2007, though.

Yh he was and still is the golden boy of South African rugby....not anymore he will have to work hard to slim down and start to find some of that 05-09 form. Such a waste of talent IMO should never have gone to France.

Emperor1989

South Africa lost and I didn't expect them to win. But they came away with a huge amount of credit despite playing 50 mins with 14 men.

They dominated the breakdown, lineout was very good. Scrum was very good when Bismark was there and with 7 men they still held their own.

Du Preez has to start the next game.

In the end I feel this loss will benefit the South African team more than a win ever could. They will head home to rest up with a public that will be baying for blood. The next 2 games now are crucial, they should really really put Australia to the sword and then the big game at Ellis Park.

They are not their yet in terms of winning a World Cup but every game they are making steps forward. The next 3 weeks will be crucial.

Emperor1989

Just having a think back over the Championship and 3 players keep coming back and back as stand out players.

Vermulen



Etzebeth



Bissie




Those 3 are arguably the best players in the World at there position( of course Read is the best no.8 but Vermulen is having a great championship coming off injury). They have stood up every single game.

Jean De Villers impressed me a lot this away from home these last 2 matches.

One worry was the lack of Williem Alberts and Francois Louw today. Jannie Du Plessis is a good scrummager but his lack of play around the park is really hurting South africa. Cooenie may need to be fast tracked into the starting lineup next year.

Emperor1989

No Injuries to report.

Only big change that we have to wait and see is if and hopefully when they name Du Preez at 9

Swiwi.

Emperor1989 wrote: »

He is there but not considered for selection.

Career for the Boks is over

Not quite yet. He's back in the squad. The ABs have taken a punt on Richie anyway, he's flying to Argentina to continue his rehabilitation.

Really, this should be a cracking game, NZ haven't won at Ellis Park since 1997, so it will be some task.

I reckon the Boks could get too wound up about "being physical" and "doing it for Bismarck", and NZ could just go about their business as always.

Crowd should be something else though, along with the Cape Coloureds who always support NZ LOL if they do travel to JHB.

Emperor1989

Swiwi. wrote: »

Not quite yet. He's back in the squad. The ABs have taken a punt on Richie anyway, he's flying to Argentina to continue his rehabilitation.

Really, this should be a cracking game, NZ haven't won at Ellis Park since 1997, so it will be some task.

I reckon the Boks could get too wound up about "being physical" and "doing it for Bismarck", and NZ could just go about their business as always.

Crowd should be something else though, along with the Cape Coloureds who always support NZ LOL if they do travel to JHB.

He is back and in fairness he deserves a place in the squad ahead of Basson who is not a Springbok if I am honest.

Peter Steph Du Toit has been the "choosen" one for the future of bok rugby and he has now been drafted in. He should be starting next year if he can keep himself injury free.

I will be baffled if they don't start Du Preez, Meyer will his Bulls bias has to start him especially as he is still pure world class talent.

Emperor1989

Emperor1989

Du Preez is back but Bismark is dropped to the bench.

Hmm not sure on that one. Bismark is a superior scrumagger than Strauss not that it should matter.

Maybe resting Bismark before the big match...still have to remember he is coming off a serious knee injury.