Jean de Villiers
South Africa’s head coach Heyneke Meyer has named a strong team to play Japan in their Rugby World Cup opening match in Brighton with Jean de Villiers as captain.
The Springboks starting team boasts a combined total of 880 Test caps and eclipses the previous most experienced South African side at 836 caps which played in the last Rugby World Cup match against Australia at the quarter final stage.
Meyer has opted to start with Patrick Lambie with Handre Pollard on the replacements bench. One surprise ommission from the line up is Damien de Allende who has made way for De Villiers but also possibly fallen out of favour as he is not named on the replacements bench.
In all the team has six changes from the side that beat Argentina in Buenos Aires a month ago. De Villiers’ inclusion at inside centre is the only change to the backline, while Francois Louw returns at the side of the scrum.
The tight five has been reshuffled, with Lood de Jager and Jannie du Plessis both back from injury, while Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira will start yet again.
On the bench, Coenie Oosthuizen, Fourie du Preez and JP Pietersen return from injury, while Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane and Siya Kolisi have also been included amongst the substitutes.
“We’ve decided to go with some form of continuity as it’s important to get a good start in the tournament, but we also wanted to bring back a number of players who have recently recovered from injury, ” said Meyer.
“It’s great to see Jean, Francois, Lood, Jannie, Coenie, Fourie and JP back in action, and while we probably could’ve played Duane Vermeulen and Eben Etzebeth, in the end we decided to give them another week to fully recover from their injuries.
“The backline is almost unchanged as we also decided to reward the players who did so well in Buenos Aires. There will in all likelihood be changes again next week but for now these players deserve another opportunity to stake a claim. ”
Meyer said Saturday’s Test will be a great occasion against an opponent that will challenge the Springboks on different levels.
“We play against the big teams from the Southern and Northern Hemisphere quite often and with them it’s mostly a case of you know what to expect, ” said Meyer.
“But Japan will pose a different threat. They have a very astute coach in Eddie Jones and our players who play in Japan have warned us to expect a very high tempo game and good, low tackling to stop momentum.
“The players know that nothing but their best will be good enough on Saturday and we realise the importance of starting the World Cup on a good note, but having said that, we also know that there is no such thing as an easy game in rugby any more and they will be just as fired up as us.
“Decision-making will be key on Saturday and it’s up the players to know when and how to vary our play. We can play tactically if we have to, but we can also attack with ball in hand and I’d like to see a good blend of that this weekend. ”
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 JP Pietersen.
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@ Nama: I sincerely hope that you are wrong. Personally, I’d like to believe the coach is a little bigger than that. He has Matfield(and Schalk) to skipper the side. There is absolutely no need for JdV to play in every game. None whatsoever. If Jean blocks out Damian in every game then I’d be more than a little pissed off myself. I don’t think he will.
@ Tassies:
Fate had been HM’s friend in his 4 years as coach. Not wishing any injury on JdV (touch wood) but fate had been very kind to HM.
Of course he always made it sound as if it was in his plans all along when he was forced to make certain changes.
It’s the nature of the tournament that there will be 7 or 8 guys who will only feature in possibly 1 game, probably vs the USA.
That’s just the way things are, and the same principal will apply to all the sides.
The best, or chosen 23 will play in pretty much all the games.
That 23 is determined by the coach, so even if Damian isn’t in his plans, so be it. He has made it clear that Jean is the man to lead his side, and he wants him to play 12, so it’s bad luck for Damian.
My 10c worth.
This is probably as good a team as any HM could / would pick.
My concern is not the make up of this particular match day squad, but about the general culture within the group, and the “experience” of some that may tell against the team at crucial times.
To elaborate:
JdV has proven to be a wonderful spokesman and ambassador, but is he the best 12 / 13 available based on the last 12 months?
The answer has to be a resounding “we don’t know”. Thereforeshould he have been included in the group as a player?
Surely a position for him OFF the field could have been created if he was really needed for his “leadership abilities”.
On the field he has yet to show me that he has the ability to lift the team, change the game plan, or make the correct calls to turn a game around when they are in a dire losing position.
That said, I’ve not seen a SA side with that ability in the last 15 years.
I also question whether JdV has the speed needed for an international centre at this juncture in his carreer. Hopefully he proves me wrong, ’cause I’m sure the coach will insist on him starting every game that he is available for.
Then to Oupa Vic’.
Is he the powerhouse all-conquering lock he was 4 years ago?
Maybe not, but maybe he just needs to be as good as the rest of the locks in the line-out, without contributing as much as he did in the other game phases in the past?
Again, I hope I’m wrong.
For the rest, I guess it’s the coaches perogative to pick “his team”, for us, it’s our job to support unconditionally until the “end” of the Bok’s tournament.
Ruan / FdP? Who cares?
Hollard / Lambie? Who cares?
Thor / Schalk? Who cares?
Just win the flipping thing.
This seems to be the WC that has generated the least interest of all those that we have competed in.
Few people bothering to post and talk about it, maybe things will pick up when the QF stage is reached.
It hardly feels like the tournament is kicking off tomorrow.
Don’t see to many people wearing Bok jerseys, shops are not really adorned with green and gold.
When the Bulls played in the SR final in 2009/2010 Pretoria was blue, blue bread, blue milk tart, blue boerewors.
This WC seems surreal, it’s like a huge portion of the rugby watching public seems either disillusioned or removed from it.
The only pool games that I really have an interest in watching is France v Italy, Eng v Aus and Wales, Aus v Wales and Ireland v France.
Those games will have a huge impact on what might happen in the QF and beyond.
The Boks and AB’s are assured of topping their pools.
@ nortie:
People are tired of all the bickering.
You have have “supporters” so far removed from eachother where the negative side regart anything the positive side says merely apologistic and where the positive side regards anything the negative side says as uncontribuble rabble that adds little value.
Take kirchner as a selection for example… Now meyer is a moron for not giving willie the spot or trialing jesse there and playing DDA. If willie yad played meyer would have been a moron for not playing zane in wet conditions… And in hindsight there will be even more arguements regarding selections on sunday about who should or should not have played. Same goes for Matfield, some will see the positive in him being there with our other very youthful locks.. While others will complain about him being too old full stop.
I for one find the selection of jean a bit irritating while i also hope we get a good enough lead by 40 and replace matfield with psdt to see how it goes.
The difference between comparing the boks with the bulls circa 2009/2010 every single bulls supporters was backing the bulls 100%… So a provincial team is hardly comparable to the national team.
But i still hope the boks do well and i hope we are entertained on matchdays… Or else why else would you even watch rugby?
So go bokke do us proud! Reaching the semi’s and beating Aus would he good, but beating nz even better.
37 @ MacroPolo:
You got to ask the question why the national side don’t have the same support as the local side.
Many Lion supporters are disillusioned by the non inclusion of even 1 of their players, the coach coming out and making a statement that FdP is the best scrumhalf in the world, even though he hasn’t played a test in almost 18 months.
Yes, most of us want the Boks to do well and to win, and will support them, but deep down most know that the expectations of us winning isn’t very high.
It’s more a matter of hoping for the best than really believing we are right up there and have a higher than average chance of winning.
Because of that it’s a very low key WC for most supporters, almost like we are sitting back and saying “let’s see how the dice roll”
@ nortie:
Do they only deserve support when they are expected to win though? If that is so then only england, nz, ireland and aus then deserve support at the world cup… I dont see how that grows the game. I sure think Japan and Arg will have support regardless if its expected of them wo win the trophy.
I for one dont expect us to win because its going to take something massive to defeat Aus and NZ two games in a row… And only then play the final… But of course i support them because it will be an awesone feat.(if that is how the playoffs pkay out).
Provincialism has been a growing problem sowed by the seeds of isolation… But i fear it got exponentially worse with Meyer as coach.
I feel for those lions players and any other player who did not make the team, but even the sharks who i think got the most players selected is bitching even more than the lions supporters, so i find it hard to believe that it would be hunky dorry had their favorite players been included… People will look and find something wrong sonewhere.
I am not highly excited abt fdp’s inclusion, but seeing as we have failed to deliver a tactical 9 that any team requires at international level over the last 4 years i fear we had no other choice, and therefore i can understand why any success if possible could be determined by fdp… Is he the best? Aaron smith is the best player in the world for the last 4 years… But a coach needs to instill confidence in his players i guess, and meyer has to be on the defensive because of all and any negative publicity against his players that happen regulalry.
Take zane kirchner for example i find it absolutely extraordinary that that guy could possibly have any self confidence left… But he keeps fighting. Makes me line him even more and it ca. Only be because of the support structure within the squad that that guy can possibly still keep his head high.
39 @ MacroPolo:
Support is garnered through free will.
Where I don’t agree is when one is told that you must support, and any questions asked is akin to being hauled in front of a firing squad for treasonous behavior.
I find it strange that the Boks are allowed to be lambasted and the coach questioned when they lose all their RC games, yet a mere month later no such talk may be tolerated because we must believe.
Look at the rugby blogs, not necessarily here, there is only about 5 or 6 people that regularly post here between live matches, but on the bigger sites where stories generate 400 plus posts, and it’s clear that many supporters are disillusioned with Meyer and his team.
And frankly, he only has himself to blame for all the negativity aimed towards him IMO.
@ nortie:
You of course are free to support who you will, but it is seriously dodge when you are only willing to support them when you think they can win.
“Look at the rugby blogs, not necessarily here, there is only about 5 or 6 people that regularly post here between live matches, but on the bigger sites where stories generate 400 plus posts, and it’s clear that many supporters are disillusioned with Meyer and his team.”
Well I know, that is why I said people are tired of all the bickering, yes those people are disillusioned with Meyer’s team, but even they differ on the teams they would select most of the time… So I do not think any team selection would satisfy this bickering, hell I honestly think that if Meyer is offered a second term, it is partially because no one else wants the job or that the only other option available is Chester.
@ MacroPolo:
Yay, 4 more years of Meyer.
Will be interesting to see what shape Matfield, FdP and JdV will be in before the kickoff to WC 2019.
Seeing that there has hardly been any depth built in his first 4 years to take us forward, he will have to rely on this 31 man squad for his second WC as well
@ nortie:
I actually think we wont have a bad team for the next world cup
1)Coenie
2)Strauss
3)Malherbe
4)Eben
5)Lood
6)Marcel
7)PSDT
8)Duane
9)Paige
10)Lambie/Pollard
11)
12)DDA
13)Jesse
14)
15)Willie
We have a few new players coming through as well especially on the wing, but for now I don’t think many coaches will differ much from this team.
1)Coenie/Kitchoff/Trevor
2)Strauss
3)Malherbe/Kock/Redelinghuys/Vd Merwe
4)Eben
5)Lood/Lewies
6)Marcel
7)PSDT/Kolisi/Oupa
8)Duane/Carr/Whitely
9)Paige/Reinach/Piet
10)Lambie/Pollard/Goosen
11)
12)DDA
13)Jesse/Mapoe
14)Hendricks
15)Willie
Or a team from the players involved over the last 4 years, that would likely have another WC in them
Scarra, more likely at no 2 if Strauss cant regain form before he retires.
@ MacroPolo:
@ 42
There are other options. I am quite sure Alister Coetzee will take the job if it is offered to him and that he has an escape clause in his contract with the Japanese club should he be offered the job.
Unless he wins the world cup ( very unlikely) the public outcry will be massive if Meyer gets another change. In fact, Meyer should then be big enough to walk away from it.
With their ages at the next world cup (2019):
1)Coenie(30)/Kitchoff(27)/Trevor(30)
2)Strauss(33)/Scarra(31)
3)Malherbe(28)/Kock(29)/Redelinghuys(30)/Vd Merwe(28)
4)Eben(27)
5)Lood(26)/Lewies(27)
6)Marcel(28)
7)PSDT(27)/Kolisi(28)/Oupa(29)
8)Duane(33)/Carr(28)/Whitely(31)
9)Paige(30)/Reinach(29)/Piet(30)
10)Lambie(28)/Pollard(25)/Goosen(27)
11)Hougie(31)
12)DDA(27)
13)Jesse(25)/Mapoe(31)
14)Hendricks(31)
15)Willie(30)
Obviously some younger players should surpass these, but I think it is a fairly good foundation in my opinion to work from. (2015-2019) whoever the coach is.
@ robzim:
did AC even ever have the full backing of Stormers suporters during super rugby?
There might be options, but anyone willing to take the job will have to have extremely thick skin.
48.. the most experienced springbok team ever 😆
MacroPolo wrote:
Realistically, what are the chances of a side being selected 4 years down the line with only 2 PoC in the starting line up?
@ MacroPolo:
He certainly did not have the full backing of all Stormers supporters but i doubt whether any coach in the world will ever have that.
Even Eddie Jones, should he come here next year, will have his hands full to satisfy the majority.
I doubt whether there is much difference between Meyer and AC in terms of coaching skills or player – management it is just that Meyer had his 4 years and if he blows ( by failing to win the wc) it they can just as well give the next in line a chance.
31 @ nortie:
I didn’t put the players in any particular order of choice, also there is chances they might lose form or retire early, there will also no doubt be 22 years old’s making a name for themselves by then.
Even though even with these players we could possibly have the youngest centre and lock combination at the tournament, but i have no garantee they will play.
I am just emphasizing that this is a pretty good foundation for the next 4 years and they all will likely target the next world cup, very realistically.
robzim wrote:
The fact that the Bulls recently advertised the head coach for SR pretty much confirms that HM has signed on for the next 4 years.
We all know the BBRU were holding out to see if HM and van Graan will come back to them.
robzim wrote:
Exactly, and that will create an equally divisive supporter environment regarding the springboks to what we have now.
I am as surprised Meyer is given another 4 years, and make no mistake I am not advocating for him to be the coach for 4 more years.
The problem is that supporting the springboks is becoming a chore, because of all the negatively (some deserved and some undeserved), and i simply do not see this letting up when and if AC becomes coach appart from a strategic political appointment.
My biggest fear as that it will become a deterrent to play for the springboks one day, having to not only represent your country but also sometimes having to play against your country.
nortie wrote:
Allegedly
@ MacroPolo:
There are no secrets when it comes to SA rugby, especially when it comes to the Boks.
That’s why the 31 man squad, Bok teams etc are already on the front pages of the papers days before the “official announcements” are made.
But ok, allegedly, let’s see what transpires and see whether I’m right and he is appointed for 4 more years
nortie wrote:
No comments about the possibly 2019 squad? 😉
Well if Meyer already signed his contract, I sincerely hope there is a clause relating to his performance at this world cup.
@ MacroPolo:
If he gets 4 more years I somehow doubt the 2019 squad will differ too much from this squad.
nortie wrote:
Same goes for any other coach.
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