Off the topic abit, but I am seriously impressed with the way Jake White has handled the tricky situation to date. No rantings, no ravings, no comical statements… just a collective desire to focus on the WC.

I just prey that it lasts

All you need is a brown nose. And if Daddy and Uncle Valence have brown noses too, the magic is even more potent.

Both have about the same melanin count to be considered ‘black enough’.

Fing nuts.

Pienaar
Pretorius
Habana
JDV
Fourie
Pietersen
Steyn

bench
fdp
Olivier

ideal backline if no injuries exist:
ruan
butch
habana
fourie
murray
jp
percy

bench
fdp
steyn

As jy nog n hempie beskikbaar het – laat weet asb buddy! Ek sal hom koop ok! Gesien jyt op n ander thread gese jy hou een vir my. Thanx!!

dink jy het my mail – anders vra vir Grootblousmile. Thanx

The Springbok camp is also worried about speedster JP Petersen who also still battling with his hand injury.

But in spite of the injuries cutting into the South African squad Bok coach Jake White will be able to field a formidable team for the rugby Test match against England here on Saturday.

Du Preez and Petersen did not take part in the practice session on a cold day at Grey College. Adding to the uncertainty, veteran prop forward Os du Randt also did not complete the session. He has a leg injury.

Lock forward Johan Ackermann, who has a leg problem, wing Akona Ndungane (foot) and loose forward Joe van Niekerk (leg) also did not practise with the rest of the squad. It is uncertain how serious their injuries are.

White will announce his Test squad of 22 players on Wednesday and is unlikely to spring any surprises.

Judged by Monday’s session, the Springboks may have one of their strongest packs in years when they take the field on Saturday.

Flank Juan Smit could be the only forward in the starting line-up that did not play in the Super 14 final last weekend.

Super 14 stars such as locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, hooker John Smit and props BJ Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp are expected to be included in the team for South Africa’s first Test of the year.

Jean de Villiers fit to play

White may select Danie Rossouw at No 8 as he did against England in London last year, even though Pierre Spies is a strong candidate.

Enrico Januarie will probably take over at scrumhalf if Du Preez is unavailable and fit-again Ashwin Willemse may return to take over from Pietersen even though he hardly played Super 14 rugby this year.

Versatile Frans Steyn and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar are expected to be among the substitutes.

Centre Jean de Villiers has recovered from his wrist injury. This should be good news for White, who gave technical analyst Rassie Erasmus free reign to focus on skills at breakdown points during Monday’s practice.

It was Erasmus’s first session as a member of the coaching staff and he gave the players a testing workout.

“Scrum doctor” Balie Swart also returned to the squad after missing last year’s northern hemisphere tour.

Despite the limited time available to train for the first Test, White was confident on Monday.

“A positive aspect is that the core players have been playing together for a long time and that they were involved in the Super 14 final,” he said.

A possible Springbok team for Saturday: Percy Montgomery; Ashwin Willemse, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Enrico Januarie; Danie Rossouw or Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, John Smit (c), Gurthrö Steenkamp.

The forward pack will be really good. Glad to see Os is injured so Gurthro can play ,he is the best loosehead in the country, much better than Os who is now too old.

I don’t like the look of the backline though. Pienaar should play ahead of Januarie. Percy at fullback is a weakness. Olivier at 13 is average.

no 10,11 and 12 are very good even if AP would be better if not injured.

ruan
butch
habana
olivier
murray
odwa
percy

bench
ricky
steyn
hougaard