“The 15 Springboks to play France on November 13 will prepare in South Africa for the test against France” This group will only join the touring squad on 6 November.
But everyone in the 22 for the game against the Leicester Tigers will have a chance of making the substitutes bench for the Test in Toulouse,” said De Villiers.
His starting line-up for the Test against France on 13 November will not fly out to London with the rest of the touring squad on 2 November.
De Villiers also provided an insight into his plans for the tour.
“We have to look further than maintaining our number one status because 2011 is just around the corner. That is why a few new faces will make the squad. We have to expose new players to the Bok culture,” he said.
De Villiers refers to Heinrich Brüssow, who toured at the end of last year and played only five minutes in the last Test. He performed well from the outset when he was needed this year.
“We want to show a few players what it means to be a Springbok, but nobody will get a cheap blazer from me. They have to deserve it,” said De Villiers.
Ruan Pienaar will only be picked at flyhalf for the Springboks again if he can get his goalkicking standard up to that of Morné Steyn.
Until that happens, coach Peter de Villiers says he will have to act in the best interests of the team and country and pick Steyn, even if he rates Pienaar highly as a playmaker.
“I still see Ruan as a flyhalf. I think he is a good decision-maker and schemer, and that is how I like my flyhalves,” said De Villiers.
“But Morné kicks like a machine and everybody is surprised when he misses. You can’t ignore that.
“There are reasons for Ruan not reaching his potential this year. These include injuries and the lack of goalkicking opportunities at his union, but as coach I understand now that talent cannot always be the only measure.
“It’s also about your contribution in the team context and in that sense I cannot do without Morné. He is a brilliant goalkicker,” said De Villiers.
De Villiers admitted that he would miss Frans Steyn and Jean de Villiers when he picks his squad of 37 players on 31 October for games against Leicester and Saracens, and Tests against France, Italy and Ireland.
“But they know where they stand. You have to be in the country to make the Bok side. We will get someone to fill in for them,” he said.
“Nobody thought Percy Montgomery and Os du Randt could be replaced. This is an ideal opportunity for two new players to grab their opportunities and take those places.”
Meriete Janne vir die jaareind toer.
Johannesburg – No players will be rested for the Springboks’ so-called Outgoing Tour at the end of the year – and the team of 37 players will be selected purely on merit.
That was the message from Springbok coach Peter de Villiers at a media feedback conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday where the year-end tour to France, Italy and Ireland was discussed.
Asked whether he would give in to possible external pressure to include more Black players in the squad, De Villiers indicated that the team would be selected on merit because “players want to be judged by their ability and not their colour. If a guy knows he’s there for the colour of his skin, he won’t die for his country.
“We are proud South Africans who want to be judged by our ability.”
The Springbok side for the tour will be announced on October 31 after the Currie Cup final.
Tour fixtures:
Thursday, Nov 5: Leicester
Saturday, Nov 14: France
Tuesday, Nov 17: Saracens
Saturday, Nov 21: Italy
Saturday, Nov 28: Ireland
“The 15 Springboks to play France on November 13 will prepare in South Africa for the test against France”
Test rugby is 22man rugby…
@Sit_Ubu_sit – Mmm one of the areas where he has come short so far, his subs are not up to scratch and his use of them even worse.
Ok but who will coach the group that is in the UK while Snor, Gary Glitter and Dick coach the 15 Boks?
Wetenskaplikes beweer dat ‘n Bloubul ook sy stert kan afgooi, net soos ‘n geitjie.
Hulle kon dit egter nie bewys nie want ‘n Bloubul skrik vir FOKKOL.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :pirate:
@Swanie –
Exactly… I’d really like to see that rectified on the EOYT… no 5min game-time passengers on the bench… but impact and 22man 85min rugby… then I’ll be almost 100% happy with 2009… oh and an improved scrum won’t go down badly either (nor will a dirt-tracker side that is ‘really’ the next best without window dressing)… not too much to ask for?
@Tripples – @Tripples – hulle was saterdag ma redelik verskrik lol
@Loosehead – 5
I think they will probably train up in Pretoria again. Go late and keep their altitude conditioning to play France. Sort of what they done when they went to Perth.
Good question though who will train the Boks that are in the UK? Maybe Muir goes with them and Gary too. Think the players left behind will be mostly seniors and probably will do it on their own here with PdV.
@Tripples – 6
Jeepers, You doing well in the SuperBru cricket :-))
@Puma – Hi Puma, at the risk of appearing a bit dim, why do the Boks need to be able to play at altitude in France, last time I saw Stade Francais it was just outside Paris not on the top of an Alp! :laugh:
@Puma – 9 Do you think they will send Percy? I will invite him to tea again if so!!
He can bring Morne and they can do some kicking practice up here, would hate to think that they may be wasting valuable time sitting in hotel rooms! 😉
@Puma – #10 Hehehe thanks, but want to be no 1…. 😀
@carol – Now Carol, down girl 😛
The problem with the boks is that there are quite a few good looking rugged types hehehehehe, of which Percy is not the most outstanding one
@carol – 11
Carol if you train at altitude you just have that extra energy to outlast your apponents that have only trained at sea level. Extra lung capacity and will only tire far later in the game than they will. After one and a half weeks its all gone that Altitude conditioning.
Thats why the best marathon runners always train at altitude. They will run much faster at sea level if they have trained at altitude.
We are lucky here we don’t have to look for a mountain to train on for altitude :-)) We live in it :laugh:
@Tripples – 13
You and Carol doing well in the SuperBru cricket. I could not get my picks in for Wednesday so probably missed out there. Had those picked correct for a change but could not submit because my pc was down. Having trouble with my computer thenn its the adsl. So hoping its all sorted now.
@carol – 12
:-))
@Tripples – 13 You are getting a taste for success after showing the lads your heels in the Tri Nations!! 😎
Percy is not really rugged in the South African sense, however to a softee Northern Hemisphere gal he looks mighty fine!! :-*
@Puma – The altitude factor does disappear quickly if you say it remains for only 12 days or so!
I have just been running at 750′ above sea level, does that count? Heheheh
@carol – #18 hahahaha
Okay okay, you can get all soft :inlove: over Percy if it makes u happy
I am so useless in the currie cup it is just not funny 🙁
@Puma – 15
Meant opponents.
@carol – 19
Yip, it does not last long about a week and a half.
750 above sea level! Well maybe just a bit..hehe.
@Tripples – 20 Well I am struggling in position 61 in the Currie Cup! Need divine intervention at this stage! :-/
@Puma – Surely it beats running on the beach!
Till later……must get busy here!
@carol – Cheers Carol….
Lekker werk 😀
@carol – 24
Does beat running on the beach.
Carol is this your day off? If it is you will see the Aus/Eng game later today.
Cheers Carol. Chat later.
@Puma – 26
Sorry Carol, got it wrong. Thought the cricket was on today. Its tomorrow. So if you had to work you missed nothing 🙂
@Puma – 27 Got in a panic thought I had missed the deadline…..better do it now.
England v Aus, might just toss a coin on this decision….
@carol – 28
Aus by 3 wickets / 20 runs 🙂
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