Experienced backline stars JP Pietersen and Jaque Fourie are back in the Springbok team for Saturday’s Castle Lager Outgoing Tour opener against Wales in Cardiff, while Frans Malherbe will make his Test debut at the Millennium Stadium.
In naming his side for Saturday’s Test against the current Six Nations champions, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has decided to hand Fourie his first Test for South Africa since the Rugby World Cup in 2011, while a combination of injury and non-availability means Pietersen is back for his first taste of international rugby yet this season.
sarugby
“We’re very fortunate to have two world-class players in JP and Jaque available for selection and I wanted to get then into the action as soon as possible,” said Meyer.
“They bring a vast amount of experience to the team and it was clear from our training sessions thus far that they are in great form and ready for Test rugby.”
In the front row, 22-year-old Frans Malherbe comes in for the injured Jannie du Plessis, while the only other change to the pack of forwards is at lock, with Flip van der Merwe starting next to Eben Etzebeth in the middle row.
“Frans has big boots to fill, but he’s been with us for most of 2012 and shown good form since recovering from injury recently and we don’t have any doubts that he has what it takes to make the step up,” said Meyer.
“He’ll have two players with more than 50 Test caps each next to him in the scrum, and his general work-rate across the field and on defence is very good. I’m very happy for Frans.”
A second uncapped player, Pieter-Steph du Toit, could make his Test debut for the Springboks. The promising lock has been included on the bench for this Test.
“I’ve been following his career for a long time and Pieter-Steph has always impressed me,” said Meyer.
“We first invited him to a training camp last year and he probably would’ve played for South Africa earlier this season had he not gotten injured. His inclusion in the squad is just reward for a young player who has successfully made the step up to senior rugby.
“To see Frans and Pieter-Steph make the step up to Test match rugby is wonderful. They are two very promising young players and deserve to play for the Springboks, just like we’ve used, with great success, players such as Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Trevor Nyakane in the last two seasons.”
Springbok team:
15. Pat Lambie (29 caps 55 points)
14. JP Pietersen (48 caps 70 points)
13. Jaque Fourie (69 caps 160 points)
12. Jean de Villiers (captain – 93 caps 120 points)
11. Bryan Habana (92 caps 265 points)
10. Morné Steyn (51 caps 618 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (65 caps 70 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen (13 caps 5 points)
7. Willem Alberts (27 caps 30 points)
6. Francois Louw (25 caps 25 points)
5. Flip van der Merwe (31 caps 5 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth (20 caps 0 points)
3. Frans Malberhe (0 caps 0 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain – 54 caps 40 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (50 caps 10 points)
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss (30 caps 25 points)
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp (46 caps 30 points)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (11 caps 5 points)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit (0 caps 0 points)
20. Siya Kolisi (8 caps 0 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar 71 caps 130 points
22. JJ Engelbrecht (10 caps 20 points)
23. Willie le Roux (9 caps 15 points)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 667 Test caps (447 in the backline and 220 in the forwards), while there are a further 185 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Wales last met on 11 September, 2011 at the Wellington Regional Stadium (also known as the Westpac Stadium) in Wellington during the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup. The Springboks beat Wales narrowly by 17-16 thanks to a late try by Francois Hougaard, converted by Morné Steyn.
- Jean de Villiers will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok centre, with 78 Tests in this position. He will also be the captain for the 22nd time in a row and will draw level with Dawie de Villiers in fourth place on the list of Springbok captains, behind John Smit (83), Gary Teichmann (36) and Francois Pienaar (29).
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 91 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 53 Test tries for South Africa.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 50 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of seven Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- Should he score, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his record of eight Test tries for South Africa as a hooker.
- If he takes to the field and scores a try, Gurthrö Steenkamp will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- Jaque Fourie last played for South Africa against Australia in the quarter-final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Australia. If he scores a try he will extend his record of 28 Test tries for South Africa as a centre.
- If he takes to the field Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the second Springbok whose grandfather also played for South Africa. His granddad Piet (Spiere) du Toit played 14 Tests for SA from 1958 to 1961, including the 1960 test match against Wales in Cardiff, which the Springboks won 3-0. Francois Louw’s grandfather Jan Pickard played four Tests for SA from 1956-1958.
- The referee is Alain Rolland of Ireland. This will be his 17th Test involving South Africa, which is the record for an international referee in South African Test matches. The Springboks have won nine and lost seven of these encounters. His last game was the test against New Zealand on 6 October, 2012 at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, when the Boks lost by 16-32. (Rolland was scheduled to handle the game between South Africa and Australia in Brisbane on 7 September this year, but due to an injury he had to withdraw and was replaced by George Clancy.)
Springbok Test match records at Cardiff Arms Park and Millennium Stadium:
- Most points – 23 (1t, 3c, 4p) by Percy Montgomery on 6 November, 2004 against Wales.
- Most tries – three by Joost van der Westhuizen on 15 December, 1996 against Wales.
- Most conversions – three by Percy Montgomery on 6 November, 2004 against Wales and by Andre Pretorius on 24 November, 2007 against Wales.
- Most penalty goals – five by Morné Steyn on 13 November, 2010 against Wales.
- Most drop goals – two by Percy Montgomery on 4 November, 1999 against New Zealand.
The Springboks and Wales have played 15 times in Cardiff since 1912 with the Boks winning 13, losing one (19-29 in 1999) and drawn one (6-6 in 1970). The last game between the two countries was in 2010, with the Boks winning 29-25.
The Boks have scored 327 points (35 tries) against 236 points (18 tries) for an average of 22-16.
Freegin awesome Bokke side… if they click!
Ai nou word die ou wat die bok agterlyn aan die brand gesteek het gedrop vir dandruff guy
@ smallies:
Ek kan met die span saamleef maar ek het tog so naar gevoel op my maag oor wat HM nou aanvang.
Ons het gal gebraak in die verlede oor coaches wat net kyk vir die Wereldbekker jaar.
Heynecke het begin en gese elke toets moet gewen word. Hy het gese hy wil ons nommer 1 maak.
Ek sien die gevaarligte, dit lyk of hy wil begin sif wie hy dink sal kliek, ja sommer eensklaps as hulle saam in die kookpot gegooi word. Let wel ek se kliek, nie voledige vol vertroue span spel en poging nie. n Selfversekkerde goed gedrilde kombinasie wat in mekaar se vermoeens glo.
Baie is gese oor hoe die agterste 3 nou soos n goeie NZse eenheid begin funksioneer. Nou is hy heeltemal dismanteled.
Dalk werk dit, dalk nie. Die feit is hy eksprimenteer al weer.Dit terwyl die volgende grafiek wys waarheen NZ op pad is.
Steve Hansen (92%)
Graham Henry (85%)
John Mitchell (82%)
Wayne Smith (70%)
@ superBul:
Just for info the last 4 SA coaches did this
Heyneke Meyer (66%)
Peter de Villiers (62%)
Jake White (66%)
Rudolf Straeuli (52%)
Back line 2
15. Pat Lambie (29 caps 55 points)
14. JP Pietersen (48 caps 70 points)
13. Jaque Fourie (69 caps 160 points)
12. Jean de Villiers (captain – 93 caps 120 points)
11. Bryan Habana (92 caps 265 points)
10. Morné Steyn (51 caps 618 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (65 caps 70 points)
vs
Back line 1
9 Fourie du Preez 64
10 Morné Steyn 50 2 conversions, 1 penalty
11 Bryan Habana 91 2 tries
12 Jean de Villiers 92 1 try
13 JJ Engelbrecht 9
14 Willie le Roux 8 1 try
15 Zane Kirchner 27
Opposition not nearly as strong as the All Blacks
Not scoring 4 or more tries will pee me off, finish and klaar
@ superBul:
tries next to names in team 1 is the ones scored against the All Blacks
3 @ superBul:
Mens moet tog seker kyk of sekere spelers waarde kan byvoeg aan dit waaraan jy bou as afrigter…
Mynsinsiens was JJ Engelbrecht een van die Bokke se swakpunte op verdediging… so miskien ook Willie le Roux se vedediging.
Beide van hulle sal seker speelkans kry in die 2de halfte, so ek sien die name van Jaque Fourie en JP Pietersen as GROOT moves… en dalk besmoontlik in die regte rigting.
Persoonlik sou ek vir Zane Kirchner behou het op heelagter of minstens vir Willie le Roux daar op heelagter getoets het saam met ‘n sterk verdedigende res van die agterlyn.
In die voorspelers het Heyneke nie veel van ‘n keuse gehad nie, hy MOES ‘n vaskopstut kies… en dis maar ‘n toss up tussen Frans Malherbe en Lourens Adriaanse gewees, sal interessant wees om te sien hoe Frans Malherbe shape op vaskop, teen ‘n sterk opponent… ‘n regte vuurdoop.
Met Juandré Kruger uit die groep (en laat ons maar eerlik wees, hy was kak teen die All Blacks) moes Filp begin… anders moes mens moes nog ‘n groentjie ingooi in die diep water (Pieter-Steph du Toit). Weereens, Pieter-Steph sal speelkans kry in die 2de halfte, om te sien wat bied hy dalk meer as Flip van der Merwe.
Ek sien nie hoe hierdie span, die oogmerk van wen uit die oog verloor nie…
Hell n mens moet lief vir self kastyding wees om n getroue Protea ondersteuner te wees
South Africa 259/8 (50 ov)
Pakistan 114/6 (28.1 ov)
Pakistan require another 146 runs with 4 wickets and 21.5 overs remaining
@ grootblousmile:
My talk is oor die agterlyn, veral die agterste 3.
Ek glo werklik HM moet besef dat hy nie die All Blacks kan keer om driee te druk nie. Hulle gaan eenvoudig jou drie uit kanseleer. Hulle kan die bal van enige plek af werk vir n drie. Jy kan eenvoudig nie al hul driee keer nie dus moet jy nie hoop om weer Ou Jake se verdediging-bo-alles spelpatroon sal nou skielik werk nie.
Wat ons in die Rugby Champs gesien het is dat daar n All Black tipe van onvoorspelbaarheid begin wys het in ons agterlyn. Hulle het driee begin druk van anywhere. Ek sou dus graag wou he ons moes dit verder vervolmaak het. Nie bang wees nie. Druk Wallis 4 teen ons dan druk ons 6, kry die AB atitude en werk na daai tipe perfeksie.
Dalk doen hierdie agterlyn dit myle beter as die vorige een, dan is dit lekker. Maar nog so paar games saam sou vir ons meer bewys het vir die toekoms.
Nou sal mense se , nou se n paar kry seer, wat dan. Wel dit is maklik vir n rookie om in te val by n gevestigde span.
@ superBul:
Ek sou ook JJ drop vir enige van Jan of Jaque. Die res van die agterlyn sou ek net so behou het.
9 @ superBul:
Heyneke Meyer se syfers vir die Toetsjaar van 2013 sover is 77.777% wenne… en as hy al 3 Toetse wen op hierdie End Of Year Tour, sal hy op 83.333% vir die jaar 2013 staan…met net verlore teen die All Blacks… waarvan 1 verloor nogal omstrede was.
Verlede jaar het die Springbokke 3 keer verloor, 2 games was gelykop… en die res was wenne.
So, 2013 is al myle beter as 2012, wat self nie so ‘n vrot jaar was in geheel nie.
Julle is vinnig om te kritiseer, stadig om ‘n pluimie te gee!
10 @ superBul:
So, jy kla eintlik oor 2 agterspelers uit ‘n wedstrydspan van 23… en 1 van die 2 agterspelers wat jy wou laat begin het, is anyway op die bench….
So, jy kla eintlik oor een speler wat nie in die matchday 23 is nie, Zane Kirchner.
Phweeeeew… dis ‘n kwaai maatstaf daai om mee te meet!
Vir my, as ewigdurende optimis, lyk die glas half propvol, nie half bitterleeg nie…
Du preez steyn jean mossie jpp habanna le roux
@ grootblousmile:
Jy maak dit moeilik om n ding te bespreek, jy verwag kort kort van ons om onvoorwaardiglike ondersteuning te gee aan HM en mag niks wat ons raaksien of voel vrylik uit te bring nie. Ek soek nie n fight nie. HM was voor PdeV my man, nou ook. Maar alles wat hy doen is nie goud nie.
As ek hom wil aanval kan ek stats gooi wat inkrimenerend sal wees. Maar ek weet net soos PdeV, Jake en al die voorgangers is die berg voor hom die ALL BLACKS. So as hy bou vir wereld no 1 is my raad steeds aan hom, match hulle, doen wat hulle doen better.
Laaank terug was ek van die groot voorvegters dat SA se rugby patroon eenvoudig nie hardloop rugby is nie. Ek het ook geglo ons kan dit wat ons doen net better gedoen moet word.
@ smallies:
Du preez steyn jean mossie jpp habanna le roux
ek sou like dat jpp as supersub een van Habs,Zane of WLR vervang so 30 minute om te gaan
Jaque gaan ook n intresante speler wees om dop te hou. Kan nie wag om te kyk nie.
14 @ superBul:
Ek keer jou of niemand nie om ‘n ding te bespreek nie.
My keuses sou dalk ook effe anders as Heyneke Meyer s’n gewees het…
Maar my vraag is, stem jy nie saam dat dit eintlik net Zane Kirchner is waaroor jy aangaan nie, die ander spelers wat in The Rugby Championship in die agterlyn diens gedoen het is inderdaad steeds in die match 23… en sal dus steeds speelkans kry. Met ander woorde, beweeg Heyneke werklik nou weg van wat in The Rugby Championship positief was?
Alles is nie 100% nie, maar alles is nie “so naar gevoel” vir my nie (om jou woorde te gebruik).
Ek verwag van niemand om aan Heyneke Meyer onvoorwaardelike steun te gee nie, ek keer niemand om perspektief te bring nie!
Inteendeel wil ek ook net perspektief bring wanneer mense moan sonder om 2 keer te besin.
Sê jou wat… ek sal nie meer hieroor aangaan nie, want dan keer ek mos vrye uiting oor dit wat jy voel.
Ama-Blomme win by 68 runs, Pakistan all out for 191
@ grootblousmile:
Dit maak regtig nie saak wie opdraf Saterdag nie ek sal agter HM en die Bokke staan.
Dit is glad nie Zane wat my pla nie , ek weet HM sien hom as SA se nommer 1 heelagter. Die ding is WleR, hy het nog tyd nodig om sy truuks te oefen saam sy ander 2. Met ander woorde ek sal graag wil sien dat Zane WleR en Habs 2 vol games kry om teen vreemde oposisie hul truuks te probeer.
Wat nou kan gebeur is een van 2 JPP kom soos vinnig uit die blokke/nice of JPP speel swak want hy is lank uit gewees dus word hy nog n kans gegee.
Anyway ek wil 3 wenne he, niks verskonings nie. Al was my ou pel Peter nog die coach sou ek ook 3 uit drie wou he. Ek is boonop vraatsig en soek 4 driee in elke game. As ons die Ab, Aus en Arg kan stukkend hardloop waarom minder verwag nou.
Goed gebeur dit nou nie dan ontleed ons maar die toer en besluit of ons op die regte pad is.
Looks like Imran Tahir is shaping well on Tour for the Ama-Blomme, got 4 wickets again in the ODI game today.
Gaan nou reguit le , rug mag nie so lank sit nie. Praat more
GBS ek mail jou vroeg met nommer , naam en adress van my ousus.
@ superBul:
@ grootblousmile:
The problem as I see it, is that as SAFFAS there is still a large amount of PROVINCIALISM surrounding both the coach and his choices.
There are, for example a great deal of “supporters” in the Cape who will NEVER give HM any credit for anything, and likewise any BULLS or SHARKS players for their contributions.
Of course that type of attitude is very often reciprocated by some “supporters” from outside the WP area.
Please note that I’m not talking about RT bloggers here, who for the most part have good Rugby minds and can generally rise above provincialism when it comes to the National side, but some of the bloggers on other forums are downright retarded in their assesments of players and coaches that are not from their particular “patch”.
Me, I couldn’t give a hoot who HM picks, or any other SA coach for that matter. It’s his job to pick the best team for the game on any given day, and I honestly believe that ANY coach would do just that. Why wouldn’t he unless there was interference from his “superiors”? Of course in this “rainbow nation” that is a VERY lilely possibility.
The coach (of any team) lives and dies by his team selections and match ay stratedgy. If we as the public can’t see past the borders of the city / town we live in in terms of giving both the coach and team our unwavering suppport when the whistle blows to start a game, then we should refrain from calling ourselves supporters.
That said, in the lead up to any team announcement and the annalysis of that team so picked, it is only right and I believe respectful to debate the different options available and our particular thought patterns surrounding such issues in a mature and respectful way to all concerned.
The team that a coach picks will NEVER appease every observer, and the doubting Thomas’ will always say “I told you so” when the inevitable slip up happens somewhere along the road.
Support your team on Saturday as if your very existence depends on it. Debate the game afterwards with GENUINE thoughts and opinions, and when the dust has settled, dof your cap at those who did battle from BOTH sides. Beacuse without this sport, the lives of the majority of people who comment here would be far less happy places.
Scrumdown wrote:
I agree but all i ask is pick a team right first time(injuries can influence it) and stick with it. I was and will always be against experimenting with player at the top level(Tests)
The National Coach have the privilege off attending any game, to watch the player he prefers, asses him talk to him and the franchise coach, ask for so work on weaknesses and if he then feels he is the man for his plan use him. But dammit if you use him give him a fair chance to settle with you and your team.
By drafting him into the training squad and checking him out i have no problem. In fact if HM and SARU decides to make the training squad bigger no problem, as long as the dont cheapen the Springbok jersey by giving him a 5 minute run. That to me is like pouring a bucket of ice water over the players dream of a 1st Test.
OK i will accept anything HM does in this tour. But Jake and PdeV got exactly the same response when they did this.
“The Springbok coach said on Monday that while the tourists will not take their opponents lightly, there is a greater plan afoot to ensure the team peaks at the World Cup two years from now.
MEYER’S LONG-TERM GOAL
That tournament will be staged in England, and Meyer has said from the outset that he wants players capable of excelling in northern hemisphere conditions. The current tour to Wales, Scotland, and France will show Meyer exactly who is capable of performing on the slow, wet fields of the north, and who is surplus to requirement”
Just one last Poke- I read the Ausies and All Blacks most popular rugby sites daily and the All Blacks witch is the benchmark, not the WWE trophy do it better. And thats what i hope HM learns in this 4 years, learn from the best. But be man enough to stand your ground
22 @ superBul:
Maybe it came out a bit wrong. When I say I “don’t give a hoot”, I meant it to be that whoever he picks is “Ok by ne”.
Like everyone here I think I have players that I favour over others, and players that I think get preferential treatment from HM (or any coach).
My point is that once the team has been picked, whether I (we) vehmenently disagree with a selection or not, is not going to change that selection.
I agree totally with the selection philosophy being somewhat confusing at the moment, and can only wonder at the turn around shown by the National coach and his team in terms of how he selects his team(s).
I personaly think that a (somewhat) dissapointing first year or so in charge either put so much pressure on him (from himself) OR from SARU that he had to re-think how he goes about selecting a core group.
While the selection of overseas based, seasoned (older?) players may well ensure success on this EOYT, one has to ask the question what it will accomplish in terms of BUILDING the “Springbok” brand and team for the next 20 – 30 years.
Because IMHO that’s what we need to be doing. Not looking MERELY towards RWC 2015.
Therein lies the difference between SA and NZ IMO.
21 @ Scrumdown:
I will enter into debate with you… because you have shown that you don’t take offence to debate and are indeed capable of competative debate…
I Cannot but agree with you fully about the overdone Provincialism thing, it is severely irritating when every Sharks supporter touts only Sharks, when WP supporters tout only WP players, Cheetahs supporters tout only Cheetahs players… same with the Bulls, Lions ect.
I see this attitude daily on Sport24, SuperSport, Rugby365, on the Australian & NZ sites and forums… all over the interweb…. and YES, here on Rugby-Talk too.
Whilst I support the Bulls (as we all know), only Flip van der Merwe is in the Springbok run-on side for this weekend, whilst JJ Engelbrecht is on the bench and Jan Serfontein was dropped to basically make place for Jaque Fourie and / or JP Pietersen.
Even in supporting your own Provincial Union / Franchise Side, one MUST HAVE the ability to be objective, to see where they falter and to see who else steps up and is better than your blue-eyed boykies… if not, you are just a stupid Provincially baised pons, with a lack of common intelligence, to be honest.
So, what do I think about only 1 Bull in the Springbok starting lineup? Well, I think Flip is lucky to be there because soon Pieter-Steph du Toit should usurp Flip for the No 5 berth in any case…. as a Bulls supporter it makes me sad to see how much talent the Bulls have let go overseas and elsewhere, and looking at the starting 15 again, we see 3 EX Bulls there PLUS another 2 EX Bulls and 1 Current Bull on the bench.
About Heyneke Meyer, or any coach out there, the following:
1. I agree with you that they pick to win, not to lose. They pick with something in mind and according to what they think will work in their Grand Master Plan.
2. No team a coach picks will appease everybody as you rightly say… whether it be those who think Lambie should have been the starting No 10 or those who are aggrieved that Willie le Roux is only on the bench… or those who think Pieter-Steph du Toit should have started at No 5 lock, or those who scoff at Frans Malherbe at tighthead.
3. All I try to do, when I enter debate, is see the positive side, to focus on the positive rather than the negative, to relay how I figure out why Heyneke is picking / doing what he is doing and make sense of it… in a positive manner. Hopefully that is the better way to go about it… I believe it to be.
So, sir… it is a pleasure to be able to debate with you on the merits and demerits of the selections made and my stance will be the same as yours, to support the Bokke as if my life depends on it… comment afterwards AND doff my cap to those who have done battle for and against us.
Game will be difficult, I do not expect a runaway victory by the Springboks over this Wales side picked… here’s hoping for a stellar Bokke performance!
Goooooooooooo Bokke!
Scrumdown wrote:
That is my point.
Time flies.
I never expected that HM have magic wand and with one swoosh we are the No1 team in the World. But thats what he promised to do. And that what we rightly are capable to be.
Almost 2 years is gone and in all honesty this years Rugby Championship was a rigged/manipulated affair from the moment Piote played God. Although we had to go away from Elispark “met die kous oor die kop” we were right up there. One small step away. I just want this performance progress to continue, i wont accept a building excuse.
The EOYT can still make this one of South Africas best in decades, but would you feel happy if we lose 1 or 2 now? It will feel as if our year imploded, phafff gone , wasted.
So i in fact hope that he does not get that dreaded phone call to come see the Board in Jo,burg because of the teams performance.
Look if his name was PdeV today many swords would have been drawn by now.
Next year, we will pick the best team and try to get them playing together for as many games as possible. But right now, two years out from the World Cup, I want to find out if some of the guys can make it. I’d rather see the mistakes now than at a World Cup,’ Meyer said.
‘You still want to win games now, but you need to give these guys opportunities. If I remember last year’s tour [to the north], we learned a lot about the players. Some aren’t here [with the team] anymore, and others have grown stronger.
OK i rest my case HM go my man.
PS. Please play with the game breakers
My contention is the following (it is MY opinion… to be differed with at anybody’s conveniance and discretion):
I believe there is a logical progression present in the Springboks and in the way they play and have developed.
This seems to be backed up by the following:
1. The marked difference between the Springbok results in 2012 and 2013.
2. The IRB Ranking Position
3. The more complete type of game style the Springboks have exhibited in the 2013 The Rugby Championship season.
4. The number of tries scored and the way in which they were scored
5. The number of new players who have come through
6. The markedly more positive stance towards Heyneke Meyer by previous doubters who described Meyer as all sorts of things (an Ostridge… to name an example)
7. The fact that we, as Springboks supporters in 2013, actually gave and will give this Springbok side a winning chance or good odds against the All Blacks, something we were hesitant to do for years now.
8. The quiet confidence and astute diplomacy exhibited by Springbok management and players.
9. The happy Springbok camp and atmosphere, which radiates out.
I also believe that whilst the aforegoing is the positive side, that there is a negative side, that being the “Overseas Player Selection Policy” or lack thereof or clear direction on that issue. I believe this issue HAS TO BE ADDRESSED straight after this End Of Year Tour… before 2014 is upon us and plans are put in place for the 2014 internationals and their proper preparation.
It would be wonderful if we come back with 3 wins AND at least 3 tries in each game.
Dont get me wrong i will love 3 wins without tries but it will make me wonder then.
Remember how England ended the Mighty ABs tour last year, they properly demolished them, with what , tries.
I think something that was not mentioned a lot this year is the great bacline play. Did anyone bother to thank Ricardo.
Well i think a lot more of him now.
He was a shock pick by HM in the beginning.
Since Heyneke Meyer took over as Springbok coach… and for that matter since Gary Gold is no longer the forwards coach, I feel that Springbok forward play has developed positively… bar maybe one thing… kick-off receipts.
The Springboks made great strides in the ground ball battle, the scums & getting forward momentum, and I doff my cap, among others to Richie Gray for his contributions this year.
I like the progression in attacking backline play.
Defence at critical times has let the Bokke down… culprits here have, amongst others, been Jannie du Plessis, JJ Engelbrecht.. and on right wing.
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