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 10:40 pm
#500 SodaJoe: greatest last 3 minutes ever! Frans you beauty!!…dont forget the conversion soda!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#495 TASSIES: Personally I like Ricky as an impact player. Hassling Hustling Hurrying and Bustling.
He will be fine, but I would like his service to improve.
FdP is better.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#489 tjokvol:
You make good points but I still think Pienaar lacks the ability to handle pressure, not just from a kicking perspective but also from a decision making perspective.
Look I am happy to be wrong on this, but when a guy does not passionately want to play in a posistion, I doubt he embraces it fully and that in itself is a problem. Will be happy to eat humble pie if I am wrong.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Cheetaahsss
November 17th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
#472 tjokvol: Personality not colour. That’s what counts.
Only you have to have to get the chance to get to know that person and that can be the first hurdle in our society.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
#487 TASSIES:
sorry I don’t suffer twat assed idiots lightly, especially bigoted indoctrinated ones, they can take one serious flying leap to Timbuktu or Gondwanaland
They have no value to me whatsoever, so better they just steer a wide berth for their sakes as well as mine. They’re a curse to any sane equilibrium in my estimation and as far as I’m concerned, their insignificant thought patterns are a waste of any decent energy, if they looking for something substantial, let them seek it where they think they might find it, if they looking for some reaction, then let them keep prodding for it, they may just find it, and it could be something they weren’t bargaining for to begin with.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Guys and Princesses…an awesome plwasure…as always…blind bats…Frans will make all the problems go away…right now i have a choice…go to bed or lose another fridge!!! Off to movies…Princess ***
November 17th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
#491 grant10: You have just given Soda Joe an amazing scene in the film….Very four weddings…
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#506 tjokvol: Cheers skop…keep fighting the good fight!! You very special…would love to meet you some day!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#484 justrugby: that is bloody good news. Hopefully he’ll assist JK out of his minor slump. They go back a bit.
And what’s Gary feeding those Injuns. Faak but they’ve giving the Poms a serious klapping in the short stuff. Anticipate more Gary magic in the tests from his mushrooms.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
#506 grant10: Some fantasy!! Sleep well gorgeous XXXXXXXXXXXX Don’t forget those numbers!! XX
November 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Cheers all …..also out of here, been great chatting,, let’s leave all the racial issues behind and get together and support the Boks together !!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
#505 tjokvol: take one serious flying leap to Timbuktu or Gondwanaland
This could maybe be a Tshirt.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
#505 tjokvol: This may be an oxymoron when it comes to you late at night bud “sane equilibrium “.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
#507 carol: I just do the screenplays. You lot have to “perform”.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#508 grant10: He’s just around the corner, and I hear a good guy to have a few beers with. And that from some who have had the usual barnies with him.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#511 justrugby: Night, and I am hoping to meet you as well in June. Get Grant to show you the farm, you may like it here, we have loads of room for guests!! Perfect base for a rugby tour!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
#498 ruggalover:
Alberts very high in my estimation, I’d like to bring him up to speed asap to 1st class level I reckon he’s one of the best ball carriers we have,
Brussouw, Deysel, Alberts could be an amazing trio. Ludicks OK but not world class imo, good hard grafter as is Grobbelaar, But Wepener, Heinke, Alberts could and should all be Boks.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#514 SodaJoe: I don’t think any of us are shy!! Camera, lights…., ACTION!! ………… Perhaps not on reflection
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#517 tjokvol: Aye
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#505 tjokvol: ja Skop but we want you around here still in a few years from now. At our age, when you work yourself into a lather like you do sometimes, its ticker trouble time. Alliteration always intended. Cheers Skop, G10, Soda, JR. Off to visit Thabo. Sweet dreams Carol.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
#518 carol: Carol. Someone may have cut and pasted all of this – be careful.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
#518 carol: Night. Sleep well.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
#520 TASSIES: Night bud.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
See you boys, I’m off too.
Tassies I will try to have sweet dreams!!
Soda, what do you mean? Do I sound a bit strange? Oh no….
Skop, who will you be tomorrow?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
November 17th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Robzim, you are back, see you too.
Off to watch your man on You Tube!!
November 17th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
517 tjokvol: thats probably the best way to describe ludick and baywatch as hard grafters..sometimes i would choose grafters over talent though!think we need a real grafter for breakdowns at moment.what do you make of walter venter.haven’t seen much at high level but when he plays if makes breaks,tackles well,offloads well.suppose venter can also fall into grafters category
November 17th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
#526 ruggalover: I also like grafters, but Baywatch is only OK.
Good but not good enough. The Morne Steyn, Adriaan Strauss of fetchers.
And I support the Lions.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
#526 ruggalover:
Haven’t seen enough of Venter, but he looks very promising, see what next year brings, I also used to like La Grange and Jaco Pretorius a lot but they somehow got poorly managed or directed and stopped running those good lines they were doing in the beginning.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
527 sodajoe: aussie’s and kiwi’s seem to rate baywatch though.i think he is a lot like wikus,only when wikus left and played in more consistent team could he show a lot more of himself other than run himself ragged game after game.but the talented brussouw deserves his spot and hopefully he will get a run.i’m also a lions supporter by the way
November 17th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
528 tjokvol: yip,with the lions i always look forward to next year! Don’t know why loffie hasn’t bought good flyhalf,lock instead of wing and flank
November 17th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
#529 ruggalover: You and Skops have a lot in common – he LURVES Wikus. Good player.
I would play Brussouw, Schalk and Juan at 8 on Saturday.
Terrible cross to bear, the curse of Ponte Towers. At least (perhaps) you don’t have to bear the cross of Leeds United as well.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
#530 ruggalover: By the way the little arrow thingies next to the posters name lets you reply without typing it in.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
532 sodajoe: shot for the arrow advice.i’m using my cell and it doesn’t seem to work to my utter frustration! Juan has played great games for cheetahs at 8 so that would work well.either that or need to bench juan or schalk..great problem to have though
November 17th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
#531 SodaJoe:
I have been distracted for a while. Standard 7 maths is also quite difficult nowadays!
I would also give Brussouw a chance but I doubt very much whether that will happen. Don’t you think Schalk needs to spend some time on the bench as well. I am really getting fed up with all the penalties he concedes. It appears as if he is unable to either control himself or to understand the rules. Maybe it is a combination of both.
I would start with Brussouw, Juan and Spies with Schalk on the bench and Kanko in the stand.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
#533 ruggalover: I Think Juan would be an incredible 8, and imo Schalk’s bloody feet let him down at 8, he never seems in control.
Aagh – Cell – hate that. My fingers are too fat.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
#534 Robzim: I think Schalk is getting a bad rap. He does more work and in % terms is probably average. I also think that NH refs are pretty kak.
So still like the Brussouw, Schalk, Juan at 8 combo. Spies or Kanko on bench.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I am out of here guys.
See you through the window.
Rob – Tex Perkins is also lead singer for The Cruel Sea if you didn’t see that earlier post.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
535 sodajoe: ya cell isn’t ideal..at least i can’t forget who i’m talking to as have to type in name all the time. Agree that schalk is not an 8..he’s just a machine like kaino and elsom..difference is that oz and nz play good fetchers which helps
November 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
One of the things that really concerns me about the situation in Springbok rugby is how we keep on hearing about the form of individual players but forget about the collective and let me explain. When you play in a team with certain structures (i.e. roles and responsibilities) and these get changed because of player changes or simply coaching approaches there is an element of confidence that is lost. Pissant was saying on the other thread how that JDV and AD were performing within the current team environment but essentially this I believe has been at the expense of the teams effectiveness. Very seldom do you see for example the ball travelling beyond the first centre from a scrum or lineout and this has got to do with the confidence of individuals in each other. Both JDV and Adi have the ability to put others into space but they were always looking for the space for themselves on Saturday.No wonder Brian is suffering, he hardly receives the ball in any space.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
537: cheers sodajoe
November 17th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
#537 SodaJoe:
Cheers,
The Cruel Sea is great. Perkins seemed to have done lead vocals for many bands (I can understand why).
November 17th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
539 bananaboy: nobody seems to agree with me but thats why i think jdv and fourie have always been the perfect combo.fourie used to run great lines of jdv and was able to break few tackles.teams therefore often had to double up on jdv and fourie which gave the wings some space.tries were often scored from set play cause of all the options boks backs had and cause defense was unsure
November 17th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
#542 ruggalover: Fully agree ruggalover. JDV and Adi have similar attitudes to playing. I know people will shout me down for saying but whilst I think Adi has played well it is not the right combination for the boks and is evidenced by the confidence the players show in each other. Also the only game where the Boks really turned it on was against the Aussies and there were very few breaks made by JDV and Adi, most of the telling gains being made by the loosies.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:02 am
543 bananaboy: yip you make some good points.adi has played really well and compliments to him for a great return to test rugby,but fourie is a more complete player.for some reason adi seems to play better off the bench.defensively fourie also tackles better by preventing the offload
November 18th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Ag, goeie vok, Pieter. Kom nou.
London. – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday dismissed media criticism as an attempt to sell newspapers
Any chance the Bok mentor had of keeping a low profile in the English media were probably dashed by his comments. And he even brought the late Princess Diana into the argument presented at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
“Criticism appears in newspapers everywhere. People don’t just want to hear that the world is good. They don’t like progress. People prefer to write about things that will sell newspapers,” said De Villiers.
“Some years ago Di died tragically. People made a big deal out of the rumours and never said ‘shame’.
“Everybody is worried about the weekend’s game. As a team we aren’t over the moon about our performance, but currently it’s two wins from two games on tour.”
De Villiers was quizzed a few times how important Saturday’s test is against the background of his first year as Bok coach. He tried to evade the questions.
There were questions he interpreted incorrectly and he also gave answers that could be interpreted in different ways.
“I would never be able to deliver results. That is something you can write about,” he said.
“I am only here for the players. I will manage and lead then, analyse opponents and work out strategies, but if we don’t work together as a team …
“We experience the pressure and that’s great. To have that pressure, play for your country and do your best. It’s very important to have that kind of pressure.”
British journalists quizzed De Villiers about how he would motivate the world champions for Saturday’s game.
“It’s your biggest challenge to get them motivated. If you look at where we started last November. They took a month off, then played in the Super14 and after that Currie Cup rugby.
“They know they have five days left and then it’s the end of the year and they can return to their families. I know it will be difficult and that’s the challenge.”
November 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
545 wooden spoon: pdv can only keep a low profile if he appoints a spokesperson.did he really have to bring princess di into this..is this article real?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
#546 ruggalover: From News24 and written by Liam del Carme.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Johannesburg – The Cheetahs, and to a lesser extent the Stormers, have the draws from hell in the 2009 Vodacom Super 14 rugby tournament.
The tournament ominously starts on Friday the 13th (of February) for the Cheetahs but the central union will not appear at home in Bloemfontein until April 4 – Week 8 of the tournament.
The Cheetahs have six straight away games, and then their bye, before they will have home-ground advantage.
Naka Drotske’s men will be involved in South Africa’s first game of the year against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 13 but will then leave on a tough five-match assignment overseas in which they will play the Force, the Reds, the Hurricanes, the Blues and the Highlanders.
And if that’s not bad enough the Cheetahs, who face the prospect of starting off in Australia before ending up in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand, have also been farmed off to minor grounds to play the Hurricanes and the Blues in New Plymouth and North Harbour respectively.
The “one year home, the next away” nature of the draw has also thrown up a tough tour for the Stormers in which they’ll take on three of last year’s semi-finalists, the Crusaders, the Waratahs and the Hurricanes (plus the Brumbies and the Chiefs!) while criss-crossing the Tasman between Australia and New Zealand.
The Bulls have the same away assignment as the Stormers but they at least will start in New Zealand and return home via Australia for two games.
The Sharks, semifinalists last year (and now also the Currie Cup champions) have pulled a favourable draw – if there is such a thing in the Super 14!
John Plumtree’s charges will start off away to the Stormers in Cape Town and then have one game at home against the Lions before heading off on a four-match tour that does not include fixtures against last year’s top teams.
The Sharks will thus be away from the Absa Stadium for five of their first six fixtures but will then be able to look forward to a run at home including top sides the Hurricanes, the Crusaders, the Waratahs and the Bulls.
The draw for South Africa’s five teams on a home-and-away basis is as follows:
BULLS
February 14 HOME vs Reds in Pretoria
February 21 HOME vs Blues in Pretoria
February 28 AWAY vs Lions in Johannesburg
March 07 HOME vs Stormers in Pretoria
March 14 BYE
March 20 AWAY vs Hurricanes in Wellington
March 28 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
April 03 AWAY vs Crusaders in Christchurch
April 11 AWAY vs Waratahs in Sydney
April 17 AWAY vs Brumbies in Canberra
April 25 HOME vs Chiefs in Pretoria
May 02 HOME vs Force in Pretoria
May 09 HOME vs Cheetahs in Pretoria
May 16 AWAY vs Sharks in Durban
CHEETAHS
February 13 AWAY vs Lions in Johannesburg
February 20 AWAY vs Force in Perth
March 01 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
March 07 AWAY vs Hurricanes in New Plymouth
March 13 AWAY vs Blues in North Harbour
March 21 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
March 28 BYE
April 04 HOME vs Brumbies in Bloemfontein
April 11 HOME vs Sharks in Bloemfontein
April 18 HOME vs Chiefs in Kimberley
April 25 HOME vs Crusaders in Bloemfontein
May 01 HOME vs Waratahs in Bloemfontein
May 09 AWAY vs Bulls in Pretoria
May 16 HOME vs Stormers in Bloemfontein
LIONS
February 13 HOME vs Cheetahs in Johannesburg
Februay 21 AWAY vs Sharks in Durban
February 28 HOME vs Bulls in Johannesburg
March 07 BYE
March 14 AWAY vs Stormers in Cape Town
March 21 HOME vs Brumbies in Johannesburg
March 28 HOME vs Hurricanes in Johannesburg
April 04 AWAY vs Chiefs in Hamilton
April 10 AWAY vs Blues in Auckland
April 18 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
April 24 AWAY vs Force in Perth
May 01 HOME vs Crusaders in Johannesburg
May 08 HOME vs Highlanders in Johannesburg
May 15 HOME vs Waratahs in Johannesburg
SHARKS
February 14 AWAY vs Stormers in Cape Town
February 21 HOME vs Lions in Durban
February 28 AWAY vs Chiefs in Hamilton
March 07 AWAY vs Blues in Auckland
March 14 AWAY vs Reds in Brisbane
March 21 AWAY vs Force in Perth
March 28 HOME vs Brumbies in Durban
April 03 HOME vs Hurricanes in Durban
April 11 AWAY vs Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
April 18 HOME vs Crusaders in Durban
April 25 BYE
May 02 HOME vs Highlanders in Durban
May 09 HOME vs Waratahs in Durban
May 16 HOME vs Bulls in Durban
STORMERS
February 14 HOME vs Sharks in Cape Town
February 20 HOME vs Reds in Cape Town
February 28 HOME vs Blues in Cape Town
March 07 AWAY vs Bulls in Pretoria
March 14 HOME vs Lions in Cape Town
March 21 BYE
March 28 AWAY vs Crusaders in Christchurch
April 04 AWAY vs Waratahs in Sydney
April 11 AWAY vs Brumbies in Canberra
April 18 AWAY vs Hurricanes in Wellington
April 24 AWAY vs Highlanders in Dunedin
May 02 HOME vs Chiefs in Cape Town
May 09 HOME vs Force in Cape Town
May 16 AWAY vs Cheetahs in Bloemfontein
November 18th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I would say the Sharks have the best draw for next year. Yesssssssssss, step 1 to the Cup dealt with without getting on the field.