With Peter de Villiers having announced and clearly favoured a conservative approach in naming his broader Springbok training group, it leaves most of us wondering just how close certain uncapped players and youngsters are for inclusion in future Bokke training groups.
Players like Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Willem Alberts, the now injured Jean Deysel from the Sharks, as well as Gerhard van den Heever, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger from the Blue Bulls springs to mind. So too does Coenie Oosthuizen, WP Nel and Hennie Danniller from the Free State Cheetahs and Conrad Jantjes, Duane Vermeulen, Anton van Zyl, Tiaan Liebenberg and possibly Dewaldt Duvenage from the WP. Although the Lions cupboard is largely a bit bare the same questions must be asked regarding Elton Jantjies and Michael Killian at the Lions! Similarly the Griquas themselves could make a case for the inclusion of Sarel Pretorius and Bjorn Basson.
My feeling is that out of all those mentioned the strongest cases can and should be made for the strong wing Lwazi Mvovo, the all-round exciting play of Patrick Lambie, the grit and dogged determination of Duane Vermeulen, the distribution skills of Dewaldt Duvenage and the fabulous form of one of either Gary Botha or Tiaan Liebenberg. These players could easily replace the likes of Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier, Butch James, Ryan Kankowski, Chiliboy Rallepele and Rickie Januarie.
Would they make a positive contribution or has Peter de Villiers nailed his selections spot-on?
I struggle to see a pattern in his selections, it there for is very unclear to me what he thinks.
Just an example, he plays Frans Steyn, then drops him due to “bad form”, allows him to take a lovely holiday in the off season, and then calls him up when he is most likely out of shape. Huh?
BJ Botha has not impressed me at all, so why has he not given Werner Kruger a go? Huh?
Juan de Jongh, once again had a brilliant game for the WP, but he sticks with Wynand olivier.
I hope against all hope that during the Autumn Internationals he calls up these guys and most of what you mentioned, give the old boys a rest and see what the youngsters are made of.
Also happy to see Conrad Jantjies looking good on the weekend..
If we look what Butch has offered.. I think Lambie will offer far more to the cause…
Right wing has been a problem for the Bokke, which might now be alleviated by JP Pietersen, but I feel Lwazi Mvovo could cover 3 positions, namely Left wing (his favoured position), right wing (where he often apears anyway on attack and defence) and as a possible extra option at outside centre (he is certainly strong enough and defensively sound enough for that).
Duane Vermeulen is on better form than Pierre Spies or Ryan Kankowski for that matter… I wonder when he’ll get a serious look-in.
Scrumhalf has been the one specifically troublesome position at the Bokke, with Francois Hougaard now surely the incumbant for a starting spot… my feeling is that backup for him should be called in, in light of Ruan’s injury and Rickie’s failures… who to choose…. must be between Dewaldt Duvenage, Sarel Pretorius and Jano Vermaak, I feel.
Are we happy that John Smit will continue to be the No 1 hooker or that Chiliboy deserves his Bokke berth…. I am certainly not happy about it and apart from Bissie one more classy hooker should be envolved…. someone with a good throw-in and someone who tackles better than John and also someone who’s workrate around the filed is better than that of John Smit. The answer is to let John stay on but to let Chiliboy go and get a hooker in who ticks these marks.
Mvovo, Lambie, Alberts, Vermeulen, Elton Jantjies, G. Van Der Heever, Duvenage, Werner Kruger and Graig Burden. Burden is playing the best at hooker so far. I know it is not S14 but he is playing outstanding at hooker. Outplayed Gary Botha too…hehehe. Deysel was made a Bok against Italy and should have been on the Tri-Nations away tour. Though picked up a injury. He should be selected next year once over his knee op. Such a great player keeps getting overlooked.
All the above should at sometime be Boks but we know some will never get selected. Pity.
Do you think the AB’s will get noticeable and substantial support, by playing in Soweto? Will this be significant?
4@ tapngo:
I doubt it, tappie, I was there in Soweto with the Super14 semi-final between the Bulls and Saders…. and the mood on the streets was very pro Bulls and SA….
I expect the same.
Dit is moerse jammer dat daar ‘n GrandSlam toer aan die einde van die jaar is. Natuurlik gaan die geelwortel, veral wat finansies betref, daar wees om al die games te wen, maar hopenlik is Snorre slim genoeg om sy beste spelers by die huis te los.
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