Everyone seems to be aspiring coaches and selectors and week after week we watch matches and air our views where we either slate the coach or sing his praises.

So, I would like to invite every Blogger to post his or her 23 players for the First upcoming Springbok Test against Ireland. Also I will put this up for each Test so we can eventually see who gets it right overall as well as each individual Test.

In the team you must choose from the players available and not players you are aggrieved about not being there, this is about trying to see if you can understand your Bok coach, it is not about whether you like or do not like him.

The team can be either about what the team should be as per your point of view, or if you are not sure select the 23 players as you think the coach will select, also remember with the new laws up north you need to have a full front row on the bench and thus the selection is now 23 players and not 22.

Take into account that we have no knowledge as to the 32nd player which has not been named yet, when this player is named and does play in the 1st Test you will get acknowledgement for that player.

 

Springbok squad

FORWARDS: Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Schalk Brits, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Juandré Kruger, Francois Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Adriaan Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen.

BACKS: Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Pat Lambie, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Raymond Rhule, Morné Steyn, Jaco Taute, Jano Vermaak.

140 Responses to Predict your Springbok squad for the 1st Test against Ireland!

  • 31

    @ Bullscot: Must admit, with all the Hooking injuries, would have thought he’d get the phone call.

  • 32

    Come on, go join the SuperBru Pool of Rugby-Talk for the End Of Year Tours…. there is an article up to that effect, giving the Pool Name and Code.

    Have invited most of you, so just check your mail for the invitations too.

  • 33

    Louw is still struggling with his neck injury, don’t sound good. So my team will change then if he is out this week. My post 6

    Loosies if Flo is out injured:

    Vermeulen
    Alberts
    Coetzee

  • 34

    31 @ Just For Kicks:
    No had thought more as a prop solution JFK (well not really as he has retired from international rugby), think there are enough hooking options

  • 35

    33 @ Puma:
    Thats no good Puma, but if needed and I know not necessarily like for like substitutes but looking at players who are up north, Ernst Joubert could be a good option to call up or maybe would have even suggested as a very short term option Gerhard Vosloo but Vosloo is injured and could be out for a while. Maybe even good to call up CJ Stander bring him off the bench for 10 minutes so that he is capped and Ireland can’t get him Pondering

  • 36

    @ Just For Kicks:
    Thanks, remember though, if all ionjuries were over?? I would immidiatly bring in Bissy and Fransie, If JF was willing to play for the Boks again my center pair would be Frans and Jacques Fourie, habana back as wing, my loose trio would be Brussouw,Kanko and Alberts, with Marcel on the bench

  • 37

    @ Bullscot:
    True infact i am shocked at the treatment CJ Stander is getting,

    I also believe our best lock coombo right now would be bakkies and Etzebeth, shit they would destroy anything in front of them

  • 38

    37 @ Sharks_forever:
    Looks like the thought is that Etzebeth might be an option at No 5 for the future only.

    The No 5 has to call the lineout throws, and apparently that is asking too much from Etzebeth at the moment in time for Test matches.

    Makes some sense as he does not even called the lineouts for his Province or Super Rugby franchise… yet.

    So, if Bakkies & Etzebeth plays together… who will call the lineouts?

  • 39

    37 @ Sharks_forever:

    I believe the same. With Eben shifting to 5 lock and Bakkies in at 4 lock it could be a long, long day for the opposition. They would be lethal! Meyer missing a trick here.

    Also think he is missing a trick not playing Marcel at 8. I rate Vermeulen think he is a top class player, but like a 8 to be a lot faster. Marcell overs everything Vermeulen does and is faster. Just my opinion of course…hehe. Now with Botha there doubt Meyer will ever think of playing him there. Once Kanko comes back and if he plays like he did at the end of SR, then he should slot in.

    Agree the treatment of CJ Stander is puzzling to say the least. He is world class Meyer knows this so there must be something between coach and player it seems. Huge loss for Bulls and SA I feel. As he will go and play for Ireland now. Small wont miss him that is for sure watch Smal bring in Stander as soon as he is allowed to play for Ireland.

  • 40

    38 @ grootblousmile:
    Well that is not always the case. Kanko called our lineouts at Sharks when he started and he plays 8th man!

  • 41

    This would be my Bok 23 if all were available,

    15 Taute/Ludik
    14 JPP
    13 JFourie
    12 Fransie
    11 Habs
    10 Lambie
    09 Pienaar
    08 Kanko
    07 Alberts
    06 Brussow
    05 Etzebeth
    04 Bakkies
    03 Jannie
    02 Bissy
    01 Beast

    16 Strauss
    17 Guthro
    18 Cilliers
    19 Langbek/Jandre
    20 Marcel
    21 Vermeulen/Hougaard
    22 Hougaard/Jantjies
    23 Rhule/Mvovo

    I have Pienaar as cover for 10 so depending who one is playing most of these backline players are versitile and cover more then 1 position, thus enabling a 6-2 split.

    I know some will moan about Pienaar, but aint it funny under the coaching staff up north he is producing performance after performance??

  • 42

    40 @ Puma:
    Fact is, Etzebeth has NEVER called the lineouts in top-flight rugby… and this is TEST Rugby

  • 43

    @ grootblousmile:

    I heaR ya bro, but there i agree with Puma, Kanko can make the calls, Etzebeth is a jumper in the Matfield mould, and with his general play in the loose?? hell i reckon he and Bakkies will be a massive force.

  • 44

    42 @ grootblousmile:
    Well he should as he will always be starting. With Kruger, Flip or Bekker you never know which one of them will start or not. So that responsibility should go to Eben in future. Like I said he will always start so it has to be him.

  • 45

    If HM woke up and selected Stander i would have him on my bench before Vermeulen, and Stander like Marcel covers all 3 loose forward positions.

  • 46

    @ Puma:
    Although I aagree Pooms i hear what Rudi is saying, and dont forghet, not all locks are good callers, even if they are brilliant locks

  • 47

    43 @ Sharks_forever:
    Eben and Bakkies would be a awesome force for sure. Bakkies can still make the next wc as it seems Meyer has now decided it is the world cup he is targeting.

  • 48

    43 @ Sharks_forever:
    Sure Bakkies & Etzebeth together might be awesome… but for this tour?

    No, I don’t think so, keep the youngster where he is at No 4.

    Lineout calls are seriously tricky, you need to have studied the opposition, analised them… and have vast experience in calling lineouts. You think Matfield became so good at calling lineouts from day one? He’s reknowned to have studied the opposition, worked them out and devising strategies for the lineout calls!

    I’d give Etzebeth a full Super Rugby season first, calling the lineouts, before I use him in THAT application!

  • 49

    @ Sharks_forever:
    Obviously one must take into account the likes of a PSDT that is also a very good possible Lock partner for Etzebeth

  • 50

    @ grootblousmile:
    Prolly not bro, Like i said i understand where you are coming from, Such a pity Kanko is not available, as then HM could have used this lock combo and had Kanko calling the lineouts, I know Bakkies never used to call the lineouts when he and Matfield were a combo

  • 51

    49 @ Sharks_forever:
    You joined SuperBru yet?

    Not?

    Get with the program, soldier!

    Sien jy daaaaaaiiiii boom, ek soek ‘n blaartjie!

    Hehehe

  • 52

    45 @ Sharks_forever:
    Stander is a huge loss so sa rugby not only Bulls.

    46 @ Sharks_forever:
    He should learn. He will always start and the others as I mentioned don’t always start. So it has to be Eben to do the calls. Sometimes its Kruger, Flip and Bekker. One of them start, but none always start. Eben does the responsiblity should be his to do the calls. Or just bring in Kanko he will do it no problem… Overjoy

  • 53

    50 @ Sharks_forever:
    Snap! About Kanko.

  • 54

    53 @ Puma:
    Kanko is NOT on tour… he is busy eating Sushi… hehehe

  • 55

    @ grootblousmile:

    😆 boet, do so in a few,

    Other news is that it seems to be Heinke VD Merwe that will be player no 32, and it seems earlier reports are wrong and that Lambie will start in the 10 Jersey?? he has been training in the main backline at 10

  • 56

    55 @ Sharks_forever:
    Grand about Lambie… for you Tjarkie guys… hehehe

  • 57

    @ grootblousmile:

    Agreed, lol he a Sushi maniac now. this is the probable team for the weekend

    Probable Springbok run-on 15 to face Ireland –
    15 Zane Kirchner,
    14 JP Pietersen,
    13 Jaco Taute,
    12 Jean de Villiers,
    11 Francois Hougaard,
    10 Pat Lambie,
    9 Ruan Pienaar,
    8 Duane Vermuelen,
    7 Willem Alberts,
    6 Francois Louw,
    5 Juandre Kruger,
    4 Eben Etzebeth,
    3 Jannie du Plessis,
    2 Adriaan Strauss,
    1Beast Mtawarira

  • 58

    If no players were injured, we could have had a almighty Bok team that is if some get selected.

  • 59

    57 @ Sharks_forever:
    I could go with that team, but really Jaco at outside centre? NO, Meyer must not do it. He was terrible there against the ABs and for that matter against Oz too. His tackling was shocking. JdJ has to start no question.

    If it was me it would be Jordaan, well then that is just me……LOL.

  • 60

    Bench would probably be

    16 Chiliboy, Ralepele
    17 Heinke/Gurthro
    18 Patrick Cilliers
    19 Flip VD Merwe
    20 Marcel Coetzee
    21 Arno Botha
    22 Morne/Jantjes
    23 JDJ

    This is what i think the bench will be, I would think it would be better to Let Pienaar cover 10 whilst up North, he is playing great rugby there anyhow and Hougaard covers 9, So instead of Jantjes or Morne i would prefer a Rhule or Mvov on the bench as cover,

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