Tonight, the 2nd and last midweek game takes place for the touring Springboks when their midweek-team takes on a South African laden Saracens team at the Wembley Stadium
All in all it looks like it will be 32 South Africans on the pitch out of a possible 44.
This midweek-outfit looks decidedly stronger in the forwards than the team which lost against the Tigers at the start of the tour, but the same lame backline has been selected… and by lame I do not mean to say that there are’nt great individuals amongst them, what I’m referring to is that pivotal players, who are not in form playes yet again.
Heini Adams at scrum half looked out of sorts behind a pack going backwards and Ruan Pienaar has continued his abysmal form of late.
In the centres, the 2 brilliant players, Wyanand and Juan, did not get any ball in the previous encounter and we hope that they get opportunities tonight.
Tonight we see a quality front row playing for the Bokke and Jean Deysel replaces Raubenheimer, who looked totally out of sorts in the 1st tour match.
My worry is still centred around combinations in the Bokke team, or rather the lack of combinations.
Saracens, who were founded in 1876, (just after Pietman was born – hehehe), is a rich club, with strong South African backing and a host of players from South Africa.
Saracens will be a settled side, fielding nearly their strongest combination, who has taken them to the top of the Premiership.
The Saracens will be up for it – 10 South Africans with their greatest opportunity to prove their worth while at the same time they are enjoying meeting old friends. When old friends become rivals there is likely to be added spice to the rivalry.
Personally I think this should be an epic match, great duels between players from both sides who all want to show they still have what it takes to wear the Green and Gold.
It is extremely difficult to pick a winner for tonight…. on the one hand the Bokke with a clear lack of combinations chosen, yet they are still some of the best SA can offer… and on the other hand a bunch of ex-saffas who are playing in a very solid team. My prediction will be Saracens by 5 – 10, simply because I value settled combinations more than individual brilliance. The best Team will win and Saracens is a TEAM.
From the published and announced teams, it seems that Jean Deysel will be wearing No 6 (Openside Flank in SA) and that Dewalt Potgieter will be at No 7 (Blindside Flank in SA)…. does this mean that Dewalt is eyed as Scalk Burger’s possible replacement for the Italy Test, at blindside… or is this just a co-incidence?
Teams:
Saracens:
15 Michael Horak, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Rhys Gill
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 George Kruis, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Kevin Barrett, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Rodd Penney
South Africa:
15 Earl Rose, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
Date: Tuesday, November 17
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Kick-off: 19.45 (19.45 GMT; 21.45 SA time)
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 13°C dropping to 11°C and a southwester of 21 km/h freshening.
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Rob Debney (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Brian Abrahams (England)
14 – GBS
So then maybe you right. Potties may play at blindside and Deysel at openside.
Will have to wait now until tonight to see where they play.
Stegmann should have made this tour.
See Deysel has been training with the Test squad. So if Burger is injured it looks to me as if Deysel will play this weekend maybe in the test squad against Italy. Plus this game tonight. So hope no injuries to him. Then Potties could fill in too.
#30 – Just saw Habana kick the pants off one of the chickens. Shame on him. LOL.
#31 Puma mate how you buddy.
27 – The Pill,
Let us hope he has a good game like he did last week.
#31 – do you commute between the two sites buddy.
33 – Irish, Very well and you? See you having a lazy day today 😀 Enjoy it.
Really looking forward to the Boks playing Ireland. Though Boks looking tired to me.
35 – Irish, yes as I still have some mates on the otherside or Voldy as we call it here :D.
During the games mostly post here though.
I am really looking forward to it buddy. The Irish are just starting their season and look pretty rusty, and the Boks ending it, looking pretty ordinary. Let’s hope it is a good one.
Well see that smiley faces are not working again so ignore.
What does Voldy mean by the way. I’m not too intelligent at the moment bud. Taken three days leave so really doing pretty nothing. We worked hard so were given two days from the firm and I just added one.
I might pop on tonight – will need to stock up on some juice though.
38 – Irish, Your team looked good to me on Saturday. Think that is going to be a huge battle for the Boks. Bok players are very tired. Such a long season. Started mid Feb and ended end of Oct for some in the CC final. Then went straight into training for the Boks eoyt. They looked like they have played far too much rugby this year.
We are missing 4 players too and it shows. JdV, Juan, Spies and Frans Steyn. None that have filled those positions are as good as those players.
40 – Irish, Voldy means Keo..hehehe. Not sure how it started just know that when we talk about what is happening on Keo we say Voldy here. I just follow as I started blogging late here took me almost 2 months to find GBS. Had no clue where they were and then someone on Voldy put up the site addie there and got it from there.
Better stock up well as this is a late game tonight.
#42 Puma – I was really disappoined in Kankowski. Was so looking forward to see him play. He was really off on Friday night. Brussouw is a demon hey. The guy is fantastic. Will watch Potgieter with interest tonight. Haven’t really seen him play.
# 43 Puma – you going to be online tonight then
40 – Irish LOL. So you just added a extra holiday. hahaha. Good on you mate. Why not..hahaha.
Enjoy the rest.
Why do they start the games so late over there?
45 – Irish, Yes always blog with the mates here during the game. Staying in to watch this one being a weekday.
No 15 pulled Habana’s leg. Filthy cheaters, worse still is the idiot that did the citing. Apparently the same fool that cited Bakkies and decided not to cite Gitau. What a perfect world hey.
#46 Puma – cause we tuck dem girls into bed and get intoxicated without the whinging. Peak audience viewing. Remember we go to bed at about 01:00 compared to you SAFFAS at 9pm. LOL – cause we are young and you are hmmmmm a bit older.
44 – Irish, Kanko has been a fringe player for too long. I think if you never get game time at that level you just go backwards. He was playing his best rugga in 2007 and even last year. This year just not playing that well. Needs plenty game time at this level to be up for it.
Potties is a great player. Played superb against the Lions this year in the E. Boks.
What a fantastic loose trio that was. Vermeulen at 8. Deysel at 7 and Potties at 6. That 3 playing together were outstanding.
#47 Puma – yes I will be watching. I am really interested to see what Eire can expect in a fortnight mate.
#50 Puma – Luke also played a blinder for Bath this weekend – SA don’t lack good loosies though.
I see Carol is going to the game tonight. I may just try and get to Dublin, but don’t think I will be able to get any tickets.
49 – Irish, LOL. Ja, you lot up there go to bed later than us down here. I am a morning person enjoy getting up early. Sun is up by 5am now being the summer.
When I was younger mate I went to bed at all hours 4am 5am I jolled by butt off. Now can relax done it all LOL.
Hey, when the Dirt Trackers played Tigers I blogged here until 2am. Now that was late for me to be blogging never blogged that late before. Was on Voldy that night.
51: I think the Boks would like to end their season like they ended it last year against the English. But, the Irish are now a much better team than the English, so make ready for war ! 😉
53 – Irish, Maybe the tickets will be sold out by now. Well I think they will be.
Oiee! Oirish, @52 how are you lad, long time no see barrister!
Voldy is from that character in Harry Potter, Volderant or something, who looks like keo, hence Voldy, a term of endearment….. 🙂
Howzit Puma, I am on limited access here in the desert, but will check in game time, cousin’s pc permitted, that is.
Cheers bros.
#54 – Puma – I’m a bit of a pary animal buddy – remember I’m 27 but look about 14, so when I go out and order a drink they ask me for identification and when I misbehave they say the stupid teenager. Remember when I was doing my internship- almost got fired without being hired.
55 – BDB. It is going to be a battle that game. Think we really miss the 4 players that are not there. Spies, JdV, Fransie and Juan. None of the players that have taken their place on this tour are up to their standards not even Burger.
#57 Pietman – talk about the devil and the angel suddenly appears. How you buddy. Missed you stacks mate. Was so nice to check the pics out and see you there – Carol persuaded me to add mine, but I look like a kid amongst the wealthy.
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