It is said that time is a great healer, but in Heyneke Meyer’s case it will also be a great revealer.
The Springbok coach has decided to delay his team announcement by 7 hours on Wednesday as he needs more time to resolve the all-important matter of who will wear the captain’s armband in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Pool B pace-setters Scotland at St James’ Park, Newcastle.
Instead of an 11:00 SA Time (10:00 UK Time) announcement, Meyer will now name his matchday-23 at 19:00 SA Time (18:00 UK Time) on Wednesday evening.
At the heart of the delay is a plethora of injuries which have a direct bearing on the captaincy appointment. Victor Matfield is the obvious choice to replace the injured Jean de Villiers as the captain at world rugby’s showpiece, but the 38-year-old lock has a hamstring strain which he suffered in the 2nd half against Samoa last weekend.
As a result of the lengthy injury list, the Springboks forfeited Monday’s training session as several players were nursing an assortment of niggles. Matfield will have to prove his fitness at Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s training before the Springboks’ medical staff make a call on his availability.
Of course, there is also the possibility that Matfield will be named in the match-day squad if there still remains doubt about his condition because a later call can be made ahead of Saturday’s kick-off.
Apart from his on-field experience, Matfield also runs the lineouts very efficiently and his absence would be felt most severely at this set-piece.
Behind Matfield, Schalk Burger looms up as the next choice. He led the Springboks recently in the absence of De Villiers and Matfield, but he does not shape up as an obvious selection this week as Meyer is likely to field Willem Alberts in the loose trio.
The blindside flanker Alberts is in dire need of game time, but he too is a doubtful starter as he has been nursing a calf strain which has kept him on the sidelines since the Captain’s Run ahead of the recent Japan encounter.
Should Alberts step up, Burger’s likely omission and possibly that of Matfield, the captaincy role will fall on the broad shoulders of eighthman Duane Vermeulen.
Hooker Adriaan Strauss is also captaincy material, but he’s likely to make way for Bismarck du Plessis as a matter of rotation.
In De Villiers’ absence, Meyer would have had all the selection answers on his fingertips but with fitness doubts hanging over Matfield, the picture could change drastically and he now finds himself in a position where is forced to give his charges more time to recover before he decides who will run out against the hitherto unbeaten Scotland.
Africa News Agency
Time to call The Doctor.
Doctor Who you ask?
Exactly.
Adriaan Strauss was a good captain at cheetahs…
Well, if oupa Victor is unfit for the weekend I would not even bother with Schalla to captain the side, I would go straight for Duane Vermeulen… if he is fit and ready to rock and roll.
He was quiet against Samoa in the 1st half… very quiet… but came into the game nicely in the latter stages of the 2nd half.
Fourie Du Preez appointed captain.
15. Willie le Roux Toyota Cheetahs (29 caps, 45 points)
14. JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks (62 caps, 105 points)
13. Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls (6 caps, 10 points)
12. Damian De Allende DHL Stormers (8 caps, 0 points)
11. Bryan Habana Toulon (112 caps, 300 points)
10. Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls (15 caps, 114 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (captain) Suntory (72 caps, 75 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen DHL Stormers (30 caps, 10 points)
7. Schalk Burger (vice-captain) DHL Stormers (81 caps, 75 points)
6. Francois Louw Bath (38 caps, 30 points)
5. Lood de Jager Toyota Cheetahs (14 caps, 20 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers (39 caps, 5 points)
3. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks (66 caps, 5 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis Cell C Sharks (74 caps, 50 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks (70 caps, 10 points)
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls (50 caps, 30 points)
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls (18 caps, 5 points)
18. Frans Malherbe DHL Stormers (7 caps, 0 points)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit Cell C Sharks (5 caps, 0 points)
20. Willem Alberts Cell C Sharks (33 caps, 35 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster (86 caps, 135 points)
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks (46 caps, 131 points)
23. Jan Serfontein Vodacom Bulls (21 caps, 10 points)
Very decent Bok team, they should be too strong for the Scots
@ nortie:
I hope they give Alberts a run
If he’s still injured at least we can send him back and replace him
Victoriabok wrote:
Yep, for sure.
I am curious to see that if he is fit and passes the weekend, whether HM will revert back to his first choice back row of Duane, Alberts and Flo.
Schalk can cover both flank and 8 man from the bench
@ nortie:
Whether he’s fit or not, they can send him up for five minutes with instructions to stay down after the first contact
Then he becomes replaceable
We can replace him with Marcell Coetzee if he’s fit
Or even Tarzan Potgieter
He doesn’t even need instructions VB, he can injure himself perfectly well just running out of the tunnel
8 @ Victoriabok:
Nee Flok, net nie Tarzan Malkoppie Potgieter nie!
Daai ou is all action with NO results!
nortie wrote:
I know, that’s exactly why he needs instructions
Lood and Eben should carry him from the bus to the dressing room, and from the dressing room to the field
He just need to walk on for a minute or so
His fragility will take care of the rest
Stade Francais sure bought a worn out player
@ grootblousmile:
Beter as Alberts langs die veld
En hy was baie goed toe hy vir die Waratahs gespeel het
Ludeke het hom opgeflok
naand seuns
I declare myself very happy with that Bok team. Exceptionally well selected. I hope Jannie was merely nursing a minor niggle last saturday because if he wasn’t then we’re in for another rough ride up front against the tartan skirts.
@ Tassies:
Howsit Tassies.
Good side for sure, only question mark is the two props, they were average last week in a team that everyone else stood up
@ nortie: well…..yes. That was a big surprise and came from nowhere. I actually thought Jannie must have been ‘hiding’ an injury he was so shyte. Beast was better but not by much. The rest of the team were magnificent.
look, everyone can enjoy a bad day at the office. Lets hope that is all this was. A very bad day for our two fat oaks.
Tassies wrote:
Yep, agree….in Jannie’s case it’s more like every once in a blue moon he enjoys a good day at the office
‘n Mens kan net wonder oor watter … of waar …. Ruan ‘n houvas het op Heyneke Meyer ?
Hoekom vir Paige saamvat, wonder of hy nog kan rugby speel ?
Die res van die span lyk baie goed, en as Lood en PSDT goed speel, gaan Vic sukkel om weer span te haal.
18 @ Ben-die-Bul:
Hi Ben it is not secret that I have been a big fan of Ruan Pienaar for a long time as I see how well he plays over here BUT if he is going to play second fiddle to Fourie du Preez then think Rudy Paige would have been a better bet on the bench against Scotland as think he offers more of a game changing impact off th bench, sniping around the fringes against tiring players which could be useful if Boks are either chasing the game from behind Scotland or chasing the last try or two for a bonus point. Pienaar has had recent game time and when last has Paige played so this will also give Paige game time ahead of the game against USA which he will surely feature in. However, Pienaar can be considered the ‘safer’ choice off the bench if we are just trying to play the game out or if du Preez needs to be replaced early in the game and he offers a goal kicking option and could cover flyhalf in an emergency.
Tassies wrote:
KILTS!
how are you doing anyway Tassies hope all is well your side
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