Jannie best bet for Twickers
Jannie du Plessis must start at Twickenham if the Springboks are to have any hope of besting the English scrum.
Multiple front-row injuries have cut short the John Smit-tighthead experiment, and now there is talk of Brian Mujati having a sore shoulder. Du Plessis was recently called to London as his brother Bismarck and prop Gurthro Steenkamp were simultaneously released from the Bok camp. Du Plessis is likely to face one of the world’s premier looseheads in Andrew Sheridan this Saturday, and from the vibe gathered at Monday’s press conference, the Boks are feeling confident about the match up.
A World Cup winner in 2007, Du Plessis was deemed surplus to Bok requirements in 2008. He received a recall against Australia for the Ellis Park Test when CJ van der Linde was suspended and BJ Botha had left for Ireland, and did a solid job. This was on the back of a strong showing with his new Super 14 franchise, the Sharks. Many felt he was an unfortunate omission when the Boks’ UK touring squad was announced given the nature of the game up north and how Du Plessis’s strengths would be valuable.
If the Bok management pick Du Plessis to start this Saturday, it’s a sure acknowledgment of his value in northern conditions. Mujati has battled for the better part of the year, and does not boast the technical experience that comes with winning three Currie Cups and a World Cup winners medal. Mujati may be more mobile than Du Plessis, but it is the latter who will make the greater impact at the tight-phases. Up north, you need to favour set-phase proficiency over athleticism. Jake White applied this logic when playing Danie Rossouw at No 8 in last year’s World Cup, and look what came from that decision.
The question will be raised that if Mujati is fit enough to warm the bench this weekend, why isn’t he fit enough to start? The troubling answer may also point to another question as to whether he deserved a squad place ahead of seasoned specialists like Van der Linde, Botha and Du Plessis.
The same applies for Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle. If your first-choice hooker is injured, surely you’d back your second choice to slot in. It’s become accepted that Smit fulfills the hooking duties in the event of injury as he did last week, but if Smit is really supposed to concentrating on prop and Ralepelle is truly the understudy to Bismarck du Plessis, then why shouldn’t Ralepelle start this weekend? Smit’s covering for Du Plessis is only supposed to be in emergencies, as his own development at 3 was a priority on this tour.
Ralepelle has had little game time in the past two years and won his place on this tour ahead of more deserving players such as Adriaan Strauss. Strauss joined the Bok side when Smit was ruled him out of the Tri-Nations, and started for the Boks when Bismarck broke down. How Ralepelle has leapfrogged him in the hooking queue is anybody’s guess.
While calling up Jannie du Plessis is the right short-term solution, it speaks volumes for De Villiers’s lack of confidence in Mujati and Ralepelle. It may also say something about the move of Smit to tighthead, a move De Villiers promised was a long-term initiative with a view to the British & Irish Lions series and the 2011 World Cup. Either play Ralepelle at No 2 with Smit at 3, or call up Strauss to fill the hooking void. That would suggest continuity and a long-term plan.
But it’s become clear there is no plan, or at least there is little confidence in the fringe players already in the squad. Du Plessis is the best bet to scrum against Sheridan this weekend, and the Boks have a realistic chance of winning this battle. If one remembers that Mujati and Ralepelle are likely to remain in the set-up come the Lions series, then one has to ask why they aren’t being pushed through in what will be the ultimate acid Test at Twickenham. The Boks may win this Saturday, but they won’t learn anything new.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
First
November 17th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Second
November 17th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Strauss 10 times the player chilli is.
Mujati is no Beast.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
i dnt think jannie offers anything over mujati, both are too inexperienced.
CJ or BJ should have been called up.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
#4 cab: Yip. In an ideal world YES. Those 2 are AWESOME. Snor on other hand doesn’t see it that way.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
#4 cab:
Any player is better than Lard Arse. He has been a constant failure.
I don’t really rate Jannie but to compare Mujati with him is a joke.
Definately BJ or CJ, in that order, would have been better than Jannie. Let’s not even mention Mujati.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
#4 cab:
Agree.jannie isnt a dominating tighthead either.Who has he ever dominated?He holds at best.Watch him even since his FS days….
CJ&BJ knew they werent going to be selected if they played overseas but they went anyway.Live by it
Same with NZ with Hayman/Meeuws/Sommerville….
November 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
#5 SexyTime: not sure that was PdV’s decision
#6 OCO: not fair, he is simply too young and not served his apprenticeship as old Tight Head often points out.
#7 mshiniwami: yip and u also have a point on CJ and BJ, but if stick to that it becomes v difficult to win imo.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
#8 cab:
So why is he in the mix? Doesn’t seem like PdV is willing to wait to see if he can ‘cut the mustard’ and is giving him his pay day now rather than miss it altogether.
Jannie isn’t that good but better than Mujati – at least at this moment. What happens in future years remains to be seen but right now Mujati is at the bottom of the SA rung. He has not dominated any opposition player. Best he’s done is to keep up (with two rightful Boks to help).
Right now simply is not international standard. neither is he CC standard.
Maybe 2 to 3 years down the line.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Ladies and Gents, I contest that we do not have a TRULY world class tight head in SA at present.
Does anyone out there know whether there are any decent youngsters coming through the ranks either at schoolboy or age group (U/19 or U/21) level?
November 17th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
#9 OCO:
could be as backup, could be a recommendation from one of the other coaches.
potentially in a year or two we could see an all black front row in Beast, Rallapelle and Mujati, which will be really nice to see if Mujati progreses like Beast – but its way to green for england at twickenham next week. One game where u definitely need it, perhaps more than any other. Don’t see Jan Dup offering this either at this stage of his international career.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
#7 mshiniwami:
You seem to miss the logical reasoning in the overseas player situation.
They are professional players and are playing for clubs overseas as opposed to playing for franchises in SA.
They have not made any choice NOT to play for SA.
They are available to be called up for SA from their overseas clubs in just the same way they would be called up from their local franchises if they played here.
Any decision NOT to play them lies squarely with PDV and SARU, who can call them up whenever they choose to.
Why would PDV and SARU not call them up if they were the best players in their positions available for their country?
This has nothing to do with what NZ or anybody else decides to do with their rugby.
This is the age of professionalism.
Why should it matter where the player plays his rugby, if he is a South African and available for his country.
Please don’t tell me it is about loyalty to SA. because that sounds very old fashioned.
All professional players will go where they get the best deal.
That does not make them traitors.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
#11 cab:
Pity that an all white front row of CJ, Smit and BJ will scrum that front row of yours to pieces.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
#13 Tacitus:
at the moment yes, in a year or so with correct handling, not so sure at all.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
#11 cab:
As I’v said, I don’t really rate J Dup but he’s better than Mujati by a mile. BJ is better than J Dup by a mile also.
Would have had BJ with CJ on the bench – but yeh, that’s out of the question.
PdV has and continues to, chase players awy who should be Boks but rather give caps to players like Chavhanga/Brits/Mujati.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
#14 cab:
Logic tells me that if colour over rides merit in selection, how can we beat the best teams in the world?
November 17th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
#16 tight head:
you can’t, but if there’s not much too choose in terms of ability or experience, surely then its one situation where it seems transformation is valid?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
#13 Tacitus:
Agreed, but as you know all “all-white” things are superior.
You are also superior.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
#13 Tacitus:
CJ has never been a hot scrummager. Good in loose but a bit “iffy” at scrum time.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
#18 Sheriff: Hey… not this kind of talk from you, my broeder van ‘n ander moeder !
Seblief man !
November 17th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
#19 Cool Beans:
Also prone to scrumming in and giving away penalties.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Every fool eventually is found out. The three stooges have really set themselves and the Boks up here.
As everyone with half a brain could see, and posted on this blog – no TH on tour is a gamble.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
#21 OCO:
Exactly…
Doing his head first dives. Penalty waiting to happen.
Great in the loose but weak at scrum time.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
#20 grootblousmile:
Unlike Sheriff I agree but not unexpected from Tacky.
Beast, Smit and BJ would outscrum any other combo – we’ve seen it often enough already.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
#23 Cool Beans:
Same goes for Mujati who’s probably better in the lose though. But mobility and raw power are at odds. Mujati might be better in the lose.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
#22 goyougoodthing2:
Danie Craven always said you choose you tighthead first…jou nommer drie…and then you choose your team. Facts. He had a sharp rugby head on his shoulders.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
#22 goyougoodthing2:
Howdy G2,
Yup most of us knew this but all we can do is hope that these idiots put the15 best together.
As badly as England played against Oz, they will be out for revenge this week. Not only for Saturday’s loss but also to revenge the RWC loss against SA.
Unless PdV suddenly gets 1/2 a brain I see us getting beaten come Saturday.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
#17 cab:
Cab here is the problem with Affirmative action:
Who decides that 2 players have equal ability?
My experience has taught me that it is almost impossible to find 2 who are equal.
We are all different and all bring different assets to the table.
Rather than play that game we should just be honest and say that one player is better than another irrespective of skin colour.
So if Jannie Dup is better than Mujati, why is Mujati playing?
If it is because we want to select black players let’s just say so and get on with it.
Affirmative action turns selection into a minefield of deceit.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
#28 tight head:
Wise words. Time to ‘get it out in the open’ – just like PdV did
November 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I think Jannie Dup is growing each game. One day hopefully he will get “nommer drie wise”. His inclusion may be a blessing in disguise. Must watch his temper and giving penalties away. We shall see what happens.
Habs wouldn’t be in my Villagers club team at the moment. He needs a holiday to Disneyworld.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
#29 OCO:
Just “Spar”ring with my pals here!!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
#28 tight head:
no problem with any of that, but who says jan dup is better than mujati?
put another way, do you think jan dup will hold sheridan better than mujati? i don’t.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
#26 Cool Beans: But he was racist! How dare he know better than Div?
#27 OCO: I see murder on the dance floor
November 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
As far as I see it, there is now 5 fit frontrowers. That implies that Chilliboy and Mujati have to be on the bench. Wish that Heinkie and Adriaan Strauss were there as well.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
#27 OCO: Yes we could be beaten this Sat. Think England want revenge for wc. But you never know we always seem to play to our best when we are down. Then again no gameplan it does not look very good. Players don’t look happy. Anyway England need to climb the rankings too. I think they want to avoid Wallabies, Boks, Ab’s in the 2011 wc. Thats if they are 4th on the rankings. Not sure how this ranking works. We only have one more game to play. We are sitting 88 something points Ab’s 92 somthing and Oz on 86. Now England still have us to play and the Ab’s so they have a extra game to gain points. We don’t our last game before Dec 1st is Sat. So Ab’s will land up with a much bigger ranking than most as they are playing the whole grand slam. We only will have played 3 games in this tour. We could land up 3rd in the rankings Oz are not far behind us. Don’t they still have Wales and Scotland to play too? They also have a extra game than us then. Just not sure about this rankings and the seeding.
#24 OCO: Agree there as they have scrummed a lot together at the Sharks. They know each others game well. If PdV just woke up he would have called for BJ and not JdP.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
#33 goyougoodthing2:
Rugby wise he was sharp-sharp. However, he did ****-up a few times with his politics.
I must say I like that line…”I see murder on the dance floor.” Nice ring to it.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
#32 cab:
Easy way to answer that.
Wirth respect how much experience and knowledge do you have of tight head propping?
So, all they need to do is ask a number of respected present and former tight head props and come to a decision.
This knowledge should be on tap to the coach.
It does not appear that it is.
Who is the specialist scrumming coach for this Bok team?
I believe the answer is nobody.
I deduce from this that the coach does not believe he needs one.
Perhaps his lack of understanding and vision about this number 3 situation is starting to hurt him.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
#34 dWeePer:
Have to agree.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
#28 tight head: If PdV still wants his job I think he had better play JdP now that he is in London. Mujati for the bench. Really though it should have been our best there. It should always be on merit. BJ should have been selected a long time back in the 3N. For goodness sake he is there in England. They just need to give him a call. He could have been training with the guys already. Also Chiliboy has not played enough rugby this year either. Just really hope that John does not get injured now we will be in big trouble then.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I do find team selections rather odd for the most part, the disproportionate number of players selected by the coaches and bloggers from the team that got carrots in the CC and S14 and less picks from the top two teams who were far and away better teams. Far far far and away.
I just don’t understand the logic.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
#37 tight head:
none, you are far better placed to say, but think know enough to see when someone getting drukked or at least will give my opinion on it, if incorrect, feel free to correct it.
am slightly concerned we dont have a proper forwards oke coaching the pack, i may be wrong but thought gary gold was backs coach at Irish?
one thing tho the Beast has been a revelation, the scot game was hard to judge cos of disruption with Bismarck’s injury.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
#40 goyougoodthing2:
It’s that snor…too much minestrone soup in it.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Eng sat…a bridge too far for boks in my opinion…too many dead men walking….no rest and now we will cop it…
November 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
#39 Puma:
All of the major international teams that we face employ a specialist scrumming coach.
Most of them are former front row men.
We do not have one.
Gary Gold was a hooker, but is the overall forwards coach.
Based on what we have seen, it appears that he has no say on selection, or he has a poor technical understanding of front row scrumming.
Perhaps it is a combination of both.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
#42 Cool Beans: Soup? Autumn harvest crackling perhaps.
I have heard that the Open Air School Under 11 Girls Touch team is in Europe, competing at the Open Rugby challenge, perhaps we could slip a few of them into the team to better our chances…
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#37 tight head: I believe if we only went on scrumming power in the N H our best front row would be Heinke…smit….bj ??
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#44 tight head: Doesn’t Snor know about Hookers>?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#43 grant10:
Mentally dead more than physically dead.
Maybe Brian Habs needs to see Kylie Minogue to get rejuvenated.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#44 tight head: I agree tight head. Who would you suggest that helps them with the scrumming. They could give Balie Swart a call up but don’t think PdV will do that as Balie worked with Jake.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
#44 tight head: Balie Swart should be there perhaps??