Ruan Dreyer
Golden Lions prop Ruan Dreyer has been called up to the Springbok squad as injury cover for Jannie du Plessis.
Dreyer will join the squad in Italy as soon as his travel arrangements have been made.
Du Plessis left the field during the Springboks’ 31-28 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.
rugby365
The Boks are already without back-up tightheads Frans Malherbe and Marcel van der Merwe.
“Jannie will probably not be ready this weekend and Gurthro Steenkamp is not available to face Wales next week so we’ve decided to bring Ruan in,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Ruan has been very good this season and played an integral role in the Lions’ strong performances in the scrum.
“This presents a great opportunity to work with him.”
Finally!!
Should have had him on tour from the start!
@ grootblousmile:
Good new indeed GBS !!
Now we have 2 real tighthead props (apart from Jannie) on tour. Dreyer will not be used on Saturday IMO “because he’ll not be used to the systems, calls etc.”
Ideally I would have liked both the Lions props in the 23 match day squad but I’m sure it won’t happen. I really hope Julian gets his opportunity though – an extended run at least – against Italy.
I guess Coenie will start at 3 (unfortunately). Hopefully Jaco Kriel will be in the squad too. I’d like to see Senatla on the bench as well…..but as Rye would say, pigs will fly đŸ™‚
2 @ charlesm:
Yeah, feel exactly the same!
Geluk ruan.
Sorry Brok Harris, ek het probeer bel maar HM was beset…
November 17, 2014 at 10:04 AM
So glad for Dreyer. We may possibly see being on the bench against Italy, and when Coenie needs to subbed to pull his head from his posterior after Castrogiavanni (sic) has worked him over, then Julian will have to come on to restore order. We will then see Julian starting against Wales, with Ruan on the bench.
Lion4ever wrote:
Castrogiovanni is a tighthead prop, & HM is likely to also use Coenie as a tighthead …
@ Angostura:
Thought he was a loosehead. I seem to remember that on that terrible tour SA had to England, under PDV, when SA was beaten by Leicester, that he came on as loosehead and destroyed anyone who PDV tried to use. But I still don’t think Coenie is any use as a tighthead prop.
Wonder which of his remaining “foreign legion” (Bakkies Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Johan Goosen, MornĂ© Steyn, Jano Vermaak) HM will include in the Bok 23 on Saturday? If he is not going to select them then he might as well send them back to their clubs like he did with Schalk Burger?
@ Lion4ever:
I agree about Coenie
9 @ Angostura:
Hi Angostura, think they need to be retained whether selected for Saturday’s 23 or not, they still have a role to play during training sessions assisting in the drills etc, plus you never know when injuries may strike could even happen in captains run on the Friday or even in warm up on the day of the test so think that it would not be wise to have players in the squad then send them away and possibly have to call them back. Got a feeling we will see Goosen for the Boks on Saturday guessing at 15 with le Roux rested for the Wales game…
Would also suggest that as many of the exiles are used along with the newbies for this game with some regular big guns on the bench for cover, need to make full use of the squad and give some players much needed rest. Although can also see a point being made about continuity of selection ahead of the Wales game which we must win without the exiles, but think almost all of the team that beat the All Blacks were playin in SA anyway.
Great for Dreyer. As we said at the beginning of the tour, we needed two specialist props as the feared has now come to pass.
Coenie is a very weak scrummager, but I hope he can hold his own on Saturday.
I would have had Brok in the squad, all jokes aside.
Will be interesting to see which Springbok side is chosen for the Italy game.
Please Heyneke, pick the new additions to the squad… Jaco Kriel, Nizaam Carr, Julian Redelinghuys, Ruan Dreyer, Seabelo Senatla.
Let’s see what they can do, please! Time is getting short in remaining games before the World Cup, so we need to see them now, not only next year!!
Forget about Gurthro Steenkamp, Bakkies Botha, Francois Louw, MornĂ© Steyn and even Jano Vermaak for now… they are overseas players who are getting old and stale for the large part (bar Flo Louw, who I would just rest for good measure)… we know what the old guys offer but we need to know MORE what the new chaps offer!
Give Mvovo a run at Left wing in place of Habana…
My team for Italy would look like this:
15 Willie le Roux
14 Seabelo Senatla
13 Jan Serfontein
12 Jean de Villiers
11 Lwazi Mvovo
10 Patrick Lambie / Handré Pollard (40 min each)
9 Cobus Reinach
8 Nizaam Carr
7 Schalk Burger (for the experience factor)
6 Jaco Kriel
5 Lood de Jager
4 Eben Etzebeth (needs to be played into form)
3 Julian Redelinghuys
2 Adriaan Strauss
1 Coenie Oosthuizen (yes at LOOSEHEAD, not at tighthead)
Bench:
16 Bismarck du Plessis (not Scarra, he is too far off the mark still)
17 Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira – Loosehead sub
18 Ruan Dreyer – Tighthead sub
19 Victor Matfield or Bakkies Botha, does not really matter which one
20 Marcell Coetzee
21 Francois Hougaard
22 HandrĂ© Pollard / Pat Lambie (40 min each… does not really matter who starts and who benches if they are each getting a full half game)
23 Damian de Allende – Versatile, can play 12, 13, wing.
This way 15 of the match 23 are in the regular match 23, and 8 players are new to the match 23, against Italy… who should provide stern resistance up front but due to their ranking and class could be experimented against, a bit. It would be a good mix between experience and exciting newbies!
@ grootblousmile:
Time for you to put your hand up as a selector for the Boks. I like the look of your team, with the back 3 very exciting, and a well balanced, SPECIALIST forward pack. Midfield is experienced, and working well as a combination. I am a bit worried about 9 and 10. Hougie and Pollard did not get a run this weekend, not sure about their confidence.
14 @ Lion4ever:
I am really keen to see what Carr & Kriel can do… and the Lions Tighheads both need a chance to prove themselves at international level!!
I would not pick Johan Goosen in place of Willie le Roux… Goosen would not have been in my Bok Group at all.
Mvovo is versatile enough to be wing and provide cover for fullback.
Right wing is a bit of a problem area, with Cornal Hendricks & JP Pietersen both with some question marks hanging over them… so play Senatla to see what he offers at right wing.
Ruan Dreyer is predominantly a Tighhead, but can play Loosehead too… pity Schalk van der Merwe (Lions) was not taken on tour as Loosehead depth in place of Gurthro Steenkamp.
My backline includes 5 out of 7 regular starters.. for stability and experience… 2 exciting wings the replacements.
Many changes in my chosen forwards pack… but great backup experience on the bench.
If players get selected to tour, there MUST be the confidence to also play them in game situations!!
Underestimate italy to your peril
At
@ MacroBok:
Agree, but they are the one team that we can blood new players in and see how they handle the pressure.
17 @ MacroBok:
One must be careful not to do what the All Blacks did, by changing 13 starters against Scotland… and battling to beat them.
So yes, I agree with you… do not underestimate Italy!
It’s a fine balance between choosing wisely enough to ensure a win, but also give newbies a chance to prove what they can do… and so build vital depth in key positions.
@ MacroBok:
#17 Hi MacroBok a country with such vast rugby resources as South Africa should be able to put out a 23 match squad entirely of third choice players and beat Italy, especially considering where Italian rugby seems to be at moment. That this wouldn’t happen is testament to players spirit from smaller countries and that logical and rugby don’t always go hand in hand.
13 @ grootblousmile:
I also like the look of this team you have picked, as well as the reasoning behind it.
The big question, and it’s not one any of us can answer, is whether the regular first choice starters will be willing/eager to give up their spots, even if it is for one test and only against Italy.
Two Irish builders (Patrick and Seamus) are seated either side of a table in a pub
when a well-dressed man enters, orders a beer and sits on a stool at the bar.
The two builders start to speculate about the occupation of the suit.
Patrick: – I reckon he’s an accountant.
Seamus: – No way – he’s a stockbroker.
Pat: – He ain’t no stockbroker! A stockbroker wouldn’t come in here!
The argument repeats itself for some time until the volume of beer
gets the better of Patrick and he makes for the toilet. On entering the toilet he sees that
the suit is standing at a urinal. Curiosity and the several beers get the better of him.
Patrick: – ‘Scuse me…. No offence meant, but me and me mate were wondering what you do for a living?
Suit: – No offence taken! I’m a Logical Scientist by profession
Patrick: – Oh? What’s that then?
Suit: – I’ll try to explain by example ….. Do you have a goldfish at home?
Patrick: – Er … Mmm ……. Well yeah, I do as it happens!
Suit: – Well, it’s logical that you keep it either in a bowl or in a pond. Which is it?
Patrick: – It’s in a pond!
Suit: – Well it’s reasonable to suppose that you have a large garden then?
Patrick: – As it happens, yes I have got a big garden.
Suit: – Well then it’s logical to assume that, in this town, if you have a large garden
then you have a large house?
Patrick: – As it happens I’ve got a five bedroom house ……… Built it myself!
Suit: – Well given that you’ve built a five bedroom house it’s logical to assume that
you haven’t built it just for yourself and that you are quite probably married? And with a family?
Patrick: – Yes I am married, I live with my wife and four children.
Suit: – Well then it is logical to assume that you are sexually active with your wife on a regular basis?
Patrick: – Yep! Five times a week!
Suit: – Well then it is logical to suggest that you don’t masturbate very often?
Patrick: – Do what? Not me, mate!
Suit: – Well there you are! That’s logical science at work!
Patrick: – How’s that then?
Suit: – Well from finding out that you had a goldfish, I’ve told you about your sex life!
Patrick: – I see! That’s pretty impressive.. Thanks mate!
Both leave the toilet and Patrick returns to his mate.
Seamus: – I see the suit was in there. Did you ask him what he does?
Patrick: – Yep! He’s a logical scientist!
Seamus: – What’s that then?
Patrick: – I’ll try and explain. Do you have a goldfish?
Seamus: – Nope
Patrick: – Well then, you’re a wanker
I think plenty of changes will be to the disadvantage of trying to give those said players a change. Italy is a good team to test the depth in our weaknesses such as at tighthead, at fullback and at wing within a consistant team structure.
22 @ nortie:
If the squad players have bought into Heyneke Meyer and overall Springbok success… then it should not present a problem. It seems Heyneke Meyer has the players’ respect and confidence… and that they stand behind him fully.
We hear that week in and week out, so no reason to doubt it.
I think the vital question is, WHERE do the Springboks still need vital depth… which positions?
That question, and answers to that needs to be foremost in planning and choosing a team for Saturday… in my mind.
13 @ grootblousmile:
That lookes like a damn decent side. The future?
25 @ grootblousmile:
I’m not disputing that, the reality of sport though (all sport) is that it is filled with examples of a guy getting one chance at the expense of another (whether for injury or rotational purposes) and then usurps him.
I reckon it’s just a human reaction not to want to give your opposition a shot….not saying the coach won’t make the changes, but I don’t know of any top flight player who will willingly give his place up for anyone
24 @ MacroBok:
We saw 5 changes between the team who played Ireland and the starting Springbok team who played England… right?
… and it worked, hell the cohesiveness was even enhanced to an extent… right?
Now here’s the thing…. I advocate not much more than that, yet I am advocating we find vital answers!
I see it as being pro-active, without risking too much in the process.
We cannot get past the fact that tighthead depth is still a conundrum… well SA props in general, actually!
In addition Carr & Kriel have been 2 absolute standout players in 2014 in both Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup… so I would really, really contend that they are ready for TEST Rugby.
What happens at the World Cup if Duane Vermeulen is crocked.. surely we need a backup No 8… and Carr suits that role perfectly.
Kriel is just too good not to test… somewhere, somehow!
27 @ nortie:
I agree with you… and that in itself is a dangerous proposition… hehehe
Would you not recon that healthy competition keeps players nicely on their toes though… makes them play harder and better, so as not to get replaced by a challenger?
Heyneke is not going to choose the team I selected… far from it, he’ll make at most 4 or 5 changes to a match 23… if so many.
I know it, I think we all know it.
I however think the answers we seek, is of a bit more importance at this stage… hell Redelinghuys & Ruan Dreyer could be massive answers, in my book!
26 @ Scrumdown:
I do not believe Lood de Jager is a long term answer, neither is Coenie Oosthuizen.
I however do believe your Lions props are!! Full on!
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