Steyn poised for national selection
8 Oct 2006
Luke Watson still won’t make the Springbok squad for the Ireland and English tests, but the national selectors will blood several in-form Currie Cup players.
The form of Pierre Spies gives White an escape not to pick Watson, although Spies has been devastating as a No 8 in the Absa Currie Cup and not as an open-side option. Watson, consistently, has been the best open-side flanker in the country, through the Super 14 and the Currie Cup. He was very good playing in a beaten pack in Western Province’s semi-final defeat and newspaper reports that played off his performance against that of Spies were outrageous. One played openside flank in a pack whose tight five got murdered. The other played No 8 in a pack that marched relentlessly to a final.
Most independent observers would laud the possibility of Watson playing as open-sider, Spies playing at No 8 and Juan Smith completing the loose-trio. For those who still argue that Watson misses out because there are better, don’t kid yourself. Watson misses out because White does not rate him and never will.
White this weekend told the Sunday newspapers, English and Afrikaans, that for the first time his focus was on winning the World Cup and not the next test. Let’s hope the national coach can maintain this supposed belief on tour. He mentioned a similar thing prior to the Tri Nations. Then the Boks got hammered by France and White feared for his job. His reaction was to stick with the same players who failed him the year before.
Injuries forced him to introduce younger players and Spies was one of those to benefit with two outstanding home tests against New Zealand and Australia. But before we get too carried away, look at the impact of Spies at No 8 in his test debut. Yeah, there was no impact because there was nothing happening among the tight five.
To beat Ireland and to get at least one win out of two against England will require a tight five that is dominant and not just competitive. The loosies in the northern hemisphere will only ever be as good as their tight five. And White and his selectors will have to think carefully about who goes and stays in that department.
Rudolf Straeuli also opted for a young tight five in 2002 to play France, Scotland and England. Deon Carstens, Bakkies Botha and Wessel Roux were all the stars of the domestic competition. They got smashed by teams, whose tight five were well versed in technique.
It will require a mix and match in selection if White is to succeed where all Bok teams have failed since 1997.
Taking younger loose-forwards and backs is to be applauded, but the wiser and more battle-hardened souls are the non negotiables among the pack.
Speculation, based on White having a banter with the Sunday newspapers, include the selection of Francois Steyn as a utility back, potentially Brad Barritt and Jaco Pretorius as a second string midfield combination and the injection of youth in Hilton Lobberts and Kabamba Floors. Chiliboy Ralepelle will again tour, despite the Bulls selectors rating him third, at best, in their current senior set-up – a rating I fully agree with when you consider the quality of Botha and replacement hooker Strauss.
White will not select overseas-based players like Cobus Visagie, although there is a very strong case to be made for Visagie, given he has given all the English props a torrid time in the last two seasons, while French-based Shaun Sowerby would be a ‘horses for courses’ selection.
White will continue to pick John Smit as his first choice hooker and captain, but Os du Randt and Percy Montgomery will be rested. There is also talk that White will ‘rest’ his best outside back in the last two tests in Breyton Paulse. Just why only the selectors would know because Paulse has played very few matches this year and has ended his overseas commitments with Clermont two months ago.
With Montgomery out, White can choose between Bevin Fortuin, JP Pietersen and Steyn, but it seems Johan Roets is very much in the Watson mould. Regardless of what he does, he won’t make the team.
Of the contracted Boks who SARU will be paying until the end of 2007, Hanyani Shimange, Eddie Andrews, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Marius Joubert and De Wet Barry are unlikely to tour, while a decision has to be made on Jacques Cronje and Victor Matfield.
Joe van Niekerk, who has not had any rugby since the away leg of the Tri Nations, is also unclear about his tour involvement. Van Niekerk hurt his neck in August and it would be wiser to give him an additional month to make a complete recovery.
White’s biggest selection headache comes at lock. Matfield is the best contesting lineout in the world and Bakkies Botha is the best foil in a partnership to Matfield. Without Botha and Matfield, the likes of Johann Muller, Albert van den Berg and Danie Rossouw aren’t as imposing a prospect.
If you look at the two teams that will contest the Currie Cup final, the majority of the players are unlikely to feature in the touring squad. Of the Free Staters, Fortuin is the only probable backline inclusion, with Floors and Jannie du Plessis candidates among the pack. Among the Bulls, Ndungane and Wynand Olivier will probably tour, while Spies, Lobberts, Rossouw and Gary Botha should be in the national squad of 30. That’s less that 10 players out of the 30 coming from the two teams who have dominated the domestic competition.
652 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All
8 Oct 2006, 19:17 pm
Mac..
ek stry nie Rassie het n kop op sy skouers, wil net sien wat maak die man as dinge nie vlot verloop nie..
alles het nog sover klop disselboom gevaar vir die Cheetahs.
I like HM..been there,done that except did’nt play for Boks.
8 Oct 2006, 19:19 pm
Nee kyk die final gaan n GROTE wees!
Hoop rerig die Cheetahs vat hom weer, maar my kop se Bulle(ag nee F@K,het ek dit rerig gese?????)
8 Oct 2006, 19:21 pm
Die realiteit is net die Bulle sal weet hoekom hulle laat slap le het in daai laaste 20min!!(Jis,daar doen ek dit alweer!!)
8 Oct 2006, 19:21 pm
…dis nou in laasjaar se final.
8 Oct 2006, 19:30 pm
ek stem saam muskadel.
goed om n ou te ontmoet wat die waarheid praat(in hierdie blog)
ek moet gaan ou pel…sterkte!
8 Oct 2006, 19:49 pm
Somige mense wil dit maar net nie sien nie, die Bulle is besig om julle almal te mesmeraais, ons druk DRIEE , baie driee miskien nie soos die wingat Phillip Burger nie.
maaar met briljante span pogings, dit maak ons BULLE se harte so bly …doef,doef doef die beat oor die luidspekers GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR die skare juig , oorgemaal ,deugebreek, maak nie saak hoe, Liefling le aan , druising hier en daar n boe, LIEFLING KAN ONS MAAR VERGEET EN VERGEWE…
AGT EN SESTIG , 68 keer die seisoen, gemiddeld meer as 4 per wedstryd, een dimensioneel se gat.
Julle hoef nie wakker te word nie , HM en Pote is happy ons is happy so asb bly dink ons is een dimensioneel.
8 Oct 2006, 20:07 pm
Julle almal praat van floors en luke watson? wat van Schalk burger, hy was 2004 speeler van die jaar, ja seker as julle oor jaar uint toer praat maar vir wereld beker is schalk beter as floors en watson. Jaar uint toer saal ek seker wil graag sien Pierre Spies, P3, Hilton Lobberts, Juan Smith en seker Joe van Niekerk. Dink hulle moet daai Pieterson af die springbok span skop en ‘n oukie soos phillip burger kry, hy het baie spoed en is groot maar as “transformation” ‘n se het will ek graag aplon sien, maar dink hy is bietjie klein vir springbok maar hy het spoed en tallent. Ek dink daai protorias oukie is bietjie over rated maar saal seker ok wees om hom te sien maar my 3 top center keuses is wynand, juan en fourie. flyhalfs seker andre protorias en Hougard, hougard het nooit rerig ‘n slegte game gehaat nie en hy is nog jonk.
8 Oct 2006, 20:12 pm
Hier is nou baie gepraat oor bok span keuses. IMO is die volgende SA spelers van werklike internationale gehalte of het die potensiaal.:
Bulls: Spies, Victor, Bakkies, FdP, Lobberts*
Lions: AP, JF, jaco P*, Ludick*, Ernst Joubert*, Heinke*, Baywatch*, Jano*
WP: Schalla, Schalk Brits*, Aplon*, Luke*, Diack*
Cheetahs: Juan, Os, Jannie dup*, kabamba*, Burger*, Barend Pieterse*,
Sharks: John Smit, BJ, Keegan Daniel*, Ruan Pienaar*, Johan Muller*
* = Jong spelers/potensiaal wat binnekort ‘n kans sal kry. Moet hulself nog op ‘n hoer vlak bewys/ my nog nie oortuig nie.
Dalk name uitgelos – so vinnig gedink.
8 Oct 2006, 20:15 pm
Vergeet van liefling – hy sal altyd average wees. Ruan Pienaar het my nog nie oortuig op scrummie nie. Hy het al die talent en ek dink hy moet nou as ‘n loskakel grootgemaak word.
8 Oct 2006, 20:18 pm
#258
Paar name vergeet:
Bevan Fortuin*, WO*, Corne uys*, Aswin Willemse.
Ek gaan van die veronderstelling uit almal is fiks.
8 Oct 2006, 20:24 pm
Katvis jou voorkeur vir Leeutjies laat jou post sleg lyk
Nou met jou 2de post moet jy nog uit die argiewe vir Aswin ook gaan haal. Waneer laas het hy op n rugbyveld gehardloop( in n wedstryd)
“werklike internationale gehalte”
jaco P*, Ludick*, Ernst Joubert*, Heinke*, Baywatch*, Jano*
Waarop baseer jy dit
8 Oct 2006, 20:27 pm
#258 Tiepies verwag van ‘n Leeu om so min as moontlik bulle te kies… As ons rerig so swak was ne hoekom is ons alweer in die finals? Bryan habana is nog steeds die vinnigste Wing wat ons het en het baie vir sid afrika gedoen. As ons so veel leeus gehaat het ne was Jake white al van dag een gefire.. julle het ‘n paar speelers maar jus 8 bietjie baie te veel
8 Oct 2006, 20:30 pm
Superbul
Gaan kyk asb weer na my post wat beteken *.
Die spelers SONDER * is IMO reeds op standaard. O ja, vergeet van Habana.
8 Oct 2006, 20:33 pm
Daardie is nie almal spelers wat NOU in die bokspan moet wees nie. Ouens wat ek glo kan nog vorentoe ‘n rol speel.
8 Oct 2006, 20:34 pm
macdaddy
“jondodododo,what? top the log? yah sure in the womens division you ****.
cheetahs and wp will have home semis but there opposition will be decided next weekend
Comment by macdaddy : September 23, 2006 @ 10:58 pm”
LOL
8 Oct 2006, 20:43 pm
kayzeten
jou ****** brood.
“Superbul … I only wanna express my condolences at this stage to you, jondood, xkreni, grootbloudoos and the others …..
Comment by kayzeten : October 7, 2006 @ 1:39 pm”
LOL
8 Oct 2006, 20:50 pm
This has absolutely nothing to do with this topic, but i have a question regarding Marius Jonker and the rules of Rugby.
Here goes: If a player goes down for an injury and is lying on the field, and play stops… Surely play cannot restart untill that player is attended to???
Adriaan Fondse was out cold before the Bulls scored yet another try. The conversion was successful by Liefling WHILE Adriaan Fondse was attended to by medical staff. Marius Jonker then let play RESTART while Fondse was still on the field being attended to by medical staff. This means the Bulls were 1 man down, and a try was scored against them by Bolla Conradie.
Do the rules not state that the injured player must be taken off or tended to, and that problem fixed, before play can be restarted???
This had no outcome on the result, but this was just one of the many errors I picked up on by Mr. Jonker while i was sitting in the comfort of the grandstand.
8 Oct 2006, 20:57 pm
Katvis jammer ek het nie daai * comment gesien of in ag geneem nie.
Maar ek dink ander daaroor , dink aan Percy hy was history toe bring Jake hom terug, baie suksesvol.
Nou dink aan Hougaart bv. hy is konstant sy vedediging is baie goed ,hy is ervare, hoekom nog n Meyer Bosman skep met jong onbeproefte spelers.
Gee Hougie nou n kans saam met n baie beter Springbokspan as daar in 2003
8 Oct 2006, 22:01 pm
Hulle kan nie weer vir Ndungane kies nie, ek het Saterdag weer gesien dat hy n totale pateet is
8 Oct 2006, 22:37 pm
#267 As a neutral observer from New Zealand I have three observations. a) the refereeing was poor by international standards b) Luke Watson stood out and his slick skills and passing led to two of Provinces three tries and c) the atandard of rugby was rather poor. Although their were a couple of really good moves the error rate compared to the New Zealand semi-finals show that South African rugby is still lagging behind in skills
8 Oct 2006, 22:44 pm
Die kenner
jou naam pas glad nie, Ndugane is ‘n springbok, en suksesvolle rugbyspeler. Jy val ‘n suksesvolle rugbyspeler veilig agter jou rekenaar met ‘n kak skuilnaam aan: dit is pateties
as wp ondersteuner wens ek die bulle geluk. Hulle was van begin tot einde in beheer, en het die wp met kliniese rugby oortref. Spies gaan nog ‘n legende word
8 Oct 2006, 22:47 pm
twojays
New Zealand rugby are in good shape at the moment: is it true that they are going to be allowed to field two teams in next years world cup? I read it on the siver fern, but it sounded like som April fools joke
8 Oct 2006, 23:17 pm
spies is king.
play can go on if player is not a prop or hooker.
8 Oct 2006, 23:18 pm
kenner
jy is n totale patetiese dooooo………
9 Oct 2006, 01:38 am
Personally, I do believe that the following combo, taking into account availability, quota and form, would be able to beat England two weekends in a row.
15 B. Fortuin/G. Aplon (depending on the weather conditions)
14 P. Burger (what speed… i hate him though)
13 J. Fourie (comfortably our best 13 atm)
12 J. De Villiers (lets see how rusty he is)
11 B. Habana (work that step boy)
10 A. Pretorious
9 R. Pienaar
8 P. Spies
7 J. Smith
6 K. Floors
5 V. Matfield (rest him alot though)
4 D. Rossouw
3 BJ. Botha
2 J. Smit
1 J. Engels
16 C. Ralepelle
17 J. Du Plessis
18 B. Pieterse
19 L. Watson
20 F. Du Preez
21 M. Bosman
22 B. Paulse
23 O. Du Randt (for moral support)
24 G. Botha
25 J. Muller
26 H. Lobberts
27 H. Adams
28 J. Pretorious
29 F. Steyn
30 G. Aplon/B. Fortuin
This is a potent team and no one can deny that fact. I’d like to see Jacques Fourie and Jean De Villiers continue to establish their midfield partnership, whilst Phillip Burger’s 14 tries mustbe rewarded. It must be noted how few people say he needs more experience before he is to be picked, whilst they say ‘they’ll reserve judgements on Aplon’ until the WP star plays in the annual S14. I believe Aplon and Fortuin are our best fullbacks at the moment, both combining safe hands with competent boots. Aplon also adds defensive solidity and blinding speed to the fray. On Pretorious at flyhalf, I still think he needs to work even more on his distribution and goal-kicking, as he seems to kill out of hand far too often. Ruan Pienaar should be encouraged to run off the ball as well, as his stepping and swerving have wreacked havoc at the highest level (think Brumbies 2005, Chiefs 2006). Pierre Spies, defensively, hasn’t quite lived up to the requirements for a superstar No. 8, but that is why I’m picking him there, because he is young and is more than capable of satisfying the role with experience. He needs to start specialising and I feel No. 8 is where he is best suited. Juan Smith is an automatic choice for blindside flank, but the same cannot be said of opensider Kabamba Floors. I’m concerned over whether Jake White would pick a forward under 100, let alone 90kg’s. Kabamba, at 175cm and 87kg ,is a good 19kg’s lighter than the second lightest forward in the pack (Spies). But I do believe what Floors adds is the game-breaking and fetching (not beer) ability. Imagine Spies and Floors, two looseforwards, linking up with natural flair players such as Pienaar, De Villiers, Burger and Aplon? This is an incredible combination! I’m too tired to talk about the tight 5, but I think these selections are more than justified!
9 Oct 2006, 01:41 am
I meant to say Pretorious *kicks out of hand too often.
9 Oct 2006, 01:50 am
Meyer Bosman on the bench… oh ya, well, I wanted a fly half come centre player, and Butch James doesnt do it for me. Meyer Bosman is also only 21, and I’m looking forward to watching him play against the Blue Bulls now that WDW is injured. His pass to put Jacques Fourie through against France last year was the best I’ve seen, and he did score the winner in the CC last year. He can be our flyhalf in 3 – 4 years time.
9 Oct 2006, 03:14 am
Thanks for your considered but highly boring opinion, ziyaad.
Moving on to matters more important, why are Bulls fans such fuckwits?
9 Oct 2006, 04:12 am
Ziyaad, ater your vicious outburst saturday over the critisizm of JC and Linston i find it ammusing to see your starting paragraph, very few people use the quota word nowadays but you are, but then again you may.
“Personally, I do believe that the following combo, taking into account availability, quota and form”
9 Oct 2006, 07:18 am
superBul, RevJim, Catfish
You guys are up early.
Blue Monday here, I am not referring to the Blue victory!! **** load of work, exam prep time starting this month.
Rev, are you in Europe somewhere. Howcome you don’t catch the games on Sky3 then, as GWB does?
Anyway, cheers rugbymaters, looking forward to Saturday then, are we?
9 Oct 2006, 07:52 am
Dis maar stil hier vanmore….wonner waar is die wp manne
9 Oct 2006, 07:58 am
Just to show how immatuare the Bulls fans are. All the WP fans congratulated the Bulls on a very good win over an inexperienced, naive WP. But all the Bulls can do is say: Nanananana! Grow up… The Bulls’ performance was helped by the WP’s mistakes and inexperience. Don’t get too carried away. I see the Sports Journalist from Rapport, JJ Harmse compares Johan Roets to Chris Latham and Derick Kuun better than Watson. Well… Watson played behind an inexperienced losing pack and still looked good.
9 Oct 2006, 08:01 am
RugbyStudent
immature is calling the bulls one dimensional, and check the log the whole season and how luke will hold the cup high..that is the kind of stuff we had to endure the whole year
9 Oct 2006, 08:02 am
More al die manne en die WP ondersteuners…
9 Oct 2006, 08:03 am
GWB more die wp mense is nog nie hier nie
9 Oct 2006, 08:05 am
I was hoping that we would be hearing less about Watson now that WP are out… I guess Keo’s love for the guy runs realy deep.
I am sorry to disagree keo, but did not think he had such a wonderfull game on Saturday – and now you blame the rest of his team (the guys who got them there in the first place!)
9 Oct 2006, 08:07 am
Student
I agree with you, the Bulls played a good game, and WP played a VERY bad game. I don’t know if the pressure got to them, but to be honest I expected a better game.
O, and as a Bulls fan, I have to mention that you should not listen to JJ’s rantings. He is to the Bulls as Keo id to WP.
9 Oct 2006, 08:10 am
Yeah, this weekend is going to be mouthwatering and almost fairytale like. Don’t you guys think Rassie should be drafted into the Springbok setup or go on the end of year tour just for experience?
9 Oct 2006, 08:10 am
congrats to all the bulls supporters. your team fully deserved the victory…
as for the luke issue. he has been playing great rugby since the S14 and is the best fetcher we have in SA. as for him being compared to pierre spies, how is that possible if they play in different positions?
anyway, enjoy your moment bulls fans, i dont think you will beat the cheetahs though.
9 Oct 2006, 08:11 am
RugbyStudent
rassie should be coach
9 Oct 2006, 08:11 am
Puke Watson was the worst opensider on display this past weekend and YET Keo believes he should be picked for the Boks…
9 Oct 2006, 08:13 am
Floors, Britz, Spies and even vd Merwe were better loosies this past weekend… Watson does not feature in Jake’s plans because that is what is supposed to happen to players who play as badly as Luke did on Saturday
9 Oct 2006, 08:15 am
So
Hanyani Shimange
Eddie Andrews
Marius Joubert
De Wet Barry
Wayne Julies
Ricky January
Joe van Niekerk
Jaco van der Westhuysen
Jacque Cronje
can all speak French now. What f’n waste of time!! Jake White shot himself in the foot for the situation he has and can’t blame anybody for this. HE was the one who gave those players long-term contracts.
9 Oct 2006, 08:15 am
so john does one bad game make you a bad player?
If thats the case then pierre spies should never have played another test after the 49-0 loss vs the Aussies. cmon bro, watson was not that bad on sat. the bulls forwards were just so much better than the WP forwards and whenever WP scored and tried to come back into the game, the Bulls knocked the stuffing out of them by scoring immediately.
9 Oct 2006, 08:15 am
John, I think you and I watched a different game to what Keo watched… Luke is not even cute enough to be picked for the Boks
9 Oct 2006, 08:17 am
Yet again I re-iterate. LUKE PLAYED BEHING A LOSING PACK AND STILL LOOK GOOD. I’m pretty sure if Derick Kuun and Luke Watson switched sides that Luke wouldn’t feature. You Bulls are very short sighted.
9 Oct 2006, 08:17 am
morning all, congrats to all the bulls supporters on a great and deserved win. i thought wp were still in with a chance up to lobbert’s try. after he scored it was game over. wp were lucky as britz’s first try was definatley forward and his second was also questionable. the bulls have a really special talent in spies, that guy is just awesome, kuun is also a very bright prospect for the future. i did say last week when the bulls and cheaters played that whoever win would take the cc. it is difficult to call but the i think the bulls tempo at which they play the game should be the winning factor.
9 Oct 2006, 08:20 am
WPW,
on saturday Luke knocked on (which led to a try), ran sideways (which allowed the defense to drift), offered no options in the lineout, was beaten to the breakdown by an 8th man and he did not even steal any quality ball for WP. This is a Luke’s usual standard, but somehow the media (read Keo), have latched on to him as the messiah of SA Rugby. Oh, and also Luke has a bad attitude, which is bound to cause problems with coaches and management in future (something which SA rugby should avoid at all cost)
9 Oct 2006, 08:20 am
and another thing. to that low-life so-called wp supporter who took his wp jersey off and threw it away… go screw yourself. i hope you never support wp again because we don’t need people like you. if i was sitting next to him i would have given him a snotklap.
9 Oct 2006, 08:20 am
Finals of 2006
Bulls vs FS
u/ 21 Bulls vs Lions
u/19 Bulls vs WP
Amature Bulls vs …..
4/4 Fianls well done Bulls
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.