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 6:46 pm
#41 cab:
Mate I was not meaning to be disrespectfull to you.
I was merely pointing out how easy it is to get the front row right.
The real problem is a lack of respect by the coach towards this important facet of play.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
#49 Puma: Leave Balie in Durban, actually he’s in Germany right now with the Sharks Academy guys… give him a call!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
#48 Cool Beans: Physically the okes are shattered…the only ones who looked good were the replacements jaque and Frans Steyn…should have entrusted Sat game vs Scots to the so called 2 nd stringers….but no faith////now mountain to climb Saturday!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I doubt u Plessis is any stronger than Mujati, maybe a little better technique, though if it was Du Plessis propping up his brother and not captain Smit on Saturday maybe the scrum might not have collapsed on him,
alternatively if it were Du Plessis that ran on as the replacement I doubt our front row would have fared far better than it did either, seems to me the problem was on the other side of the scrum most of the time anyway.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Guys, the real poser here is, based on the last two weeks, would be be able to beat OZ, AB A team or dirt trackers? Answer is a resounding no.
That is more important than beating Scotland by 4 points.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#44 tight head:
hooker, oh right, see am also wrong about backs coach, think he started as forwards at london irish and then overall coach. fair enough, foley was also a hooker and the oz pack looks to have come on leaps and bounds. our scrumming seems to have improved overall, just think the selections are dodgy, but what can be done if the policy is not to select overseas-based players.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
#43 grant10: They are very tired. Straight after the 3N went straight into the cc and after the final straight into training for this tour. The guys are tired and they really don’t look happy. Something is not right. I think this gameplan does not work well with them at all. They know what will bring more wins but PdV seems he has not clue. Now read in the papers that he will play Habs on Sat even if he is out of form. I just feel these guys are not coached well at all and not really looked after. Maybe they should have been rested during the cc.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
#49 Puma:
Jake did not pretend he knew everything.
He listened to other people.
He was astute enough to understand himself.
I have personl experience of this with him.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
#49 Puma:
November 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
#51 tight head:
no problem, no offence taken, i like to read from your scrumming posts very much.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
#57 Puma: the guys are knackered puma…long day sat!!
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#53 tjokvol: It was I agree, I would say though, that judging by this season’s form, it’s more likely a case of Beast can’t hold up Smit and Mujati on his own. With Bis there they managed to scrape Smith along… but not like that. You have to give Beast the benefit based on this year!
Smit is the weakest, and fattest link, just fatter than English Breakfast Januarie.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#55 cab:
That policy is called:
How to shoot yourself in the foot.
You cannot expect to progress if you do not first pick your best players.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
#52 goyougoodthing2: Yes maybe PdV should give Balie a call. I think Jake had all this worked out perfect. He had so many working with him. He even had that eye coach. No wonder we got so many intercept tries!! What happened to her? Jake also had Balie working with the scrumming. Now there is no one. Why not?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
#56 Puma: Holy Moses where did he say he’s gonna play haBanana?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
#61 goyougoodthing2:
A front row has to be built over time.
If you do not pick the best scrummagers in the beginning you put yourself at a disadvantage.
We have thrown Beast and Mujati in too soon, because the coach does not understand the front row.
Beast got a serious hiding last Saturday.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#63 Puma: Egos mate. DM has a massive one, can’t comment about the rest. They just clueless.
Quite happy to have the brains trust of Balie, Scriba, Swys, etc etc in Durban thanks!
Not sure what this clown is doing, surely at some point, someone had to have had a chat with him, and he’s not listening. If no one has given him a call, then shame on all the rugby gods in SA, they need to say enough is enough, surely.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#60 grant10: Not sure if the heart will take another close win like that. It was a bit of both on Sat. Bad ref again. Players not playing well. Nothing seemed to work. I hope we don’t have another 1974 coming up with this Lions tour. You see they someone at each game taking notes on us. Who do we have? No one at all. We really should have our best players playing at all times. All other countries do. Why not us? BJ should have been there first time during the 3N already. For me on Sat I would play our wc centre pair. Steyn and JF. Or put Jf on the wing. Adi been great but in the wet conditions over there we need the big guys there. Habs should be left on the bench too. Not playing well at all.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
#57 tight head:
so you saying this coach does not listen to anyone, you saying its not Gold that is calling the shots iro the front row but its PdV the ex scrum half.
So who decided about the front row when Smal was forwards coach, Os Smit and CJ were the front row that got annihilated in the 49-0 debacle, and that was against Australia, not even a scrumming powerhouse.
Ever since Kobus Visage and Richard Bands we have not had a front row to write home about, England, Ireland, France, Wales, NZ have done whatever they liked with our front row since 2002 or thereabouts, we have been on the back foot since time immemorial already, can’t even remember since when we dominated last,
although I would say the latest 3N games in Durban and Ellis Park were starting to look like we were coming out of the spiral, with Beast, Bismark and CJ up front.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
#65 tight head: I bow to you on this one for sure. It did look like it didn’t it.
He has a massive heart so I have hope, and he works like a cart horse so he won’t give up until he is up to scratch.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
#66 goyougoodthing2: If this was another coach he would have been gone already. Just pleased Muir is gone from the Sharks. He messed about with the rotation so much this year. Just look how much better the team played once he was gone.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol: To be fair, I’d rather ex scrum half Div working the forwards than the worst S14 coach in history, GGlitter. DM could coach the forwards, he’s not doing so hot with the backs, what could be worse.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol:
your last sentence, thats the front row that should have been selected.
CJ also brings tremendous physicality in the tightloose and in clearing out, something which has been sorely lacking in the exchanges on this tour so far.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
#68 tjokvol:
I am saying that whoever is making the selections in the front row has got it wrong.
I will assume that is the head coach as he has the final say.
As far as the past is concerned I simply don’t care what happened last season, last week or even yesterday.
I am not interested in comparisons.
I am interested in making the best rugby decisions for the games ahead of us.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
#70 Puma: Amen brother, I hear the team and staff at the Sharks didn’t shed too many tears when DM left either.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
#31 tight head:
Hehe,
Wonder if he was playing that old Beatles song “Why don’t we do it in the road”
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
People here are not giving Scotland the credit they are due, the Scottish forwards dominated the AB’s the week before, they were far more pumped for our game and had been targeting us as their chance to get out of the 3rd tier rankings.
Scotland were probably far better prepared this past week than England were, I’m willing to take a voucher that Scotland and Wales would have beaten France, Ireland, and England with the same level of commitment and energy they ploughed into trying to turn over the Boks.
In the last 10 years we have not come away from an EOYT without a loss, most times 2 losses out of 4 starts, last few years England and Ireland have wiped their asses on us, as well as France home and away.
Now all the cry baby’s on here are moaning cause we didn’t kill a very committed and fired up Scotland and Wales.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
End of the day, head coach is head coach. he has the final decision on all matters. That said, his first selections of assistants was probably his worst mistake.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Outa here now boys.
Happy blogging.
Remember it is all won and lost in the front row.
Eventually I will convert you all!!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
#65 tight head: He did a shame that. As I think he really can play well. For me Majuti was even weaker. BJ, CJ anyone of those would have been 100’s better. Why cant we just have the best there. It should always be on merit. Now heard that Habs will play and he is so out of form. Maybe JF could play there or even Steyn. Though I would rather they both started this Saturday at 13 and 12. Adi has been really good this season but in the NH wet conditions I think we need the bigger boys there. JdV too sometimes a little selfish and does not pass. Cost us two certain tries on Sat so did Jantjes by not passing.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
#78 tight head: Nice chatting to you again tight head. You keep us well informed.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
#76 tjokvol: We played like *****, could you not see that?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
#70 Puma:
Hallelujah that Muir has gone. Thought Putt would answer the call, then Muir. third time lucky
Hope for more golden years like under Mac.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
#79 Puma: JDV is a LITTLE too selfish… hell most times I think he thinks he’s the only one on the field.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
#82 OCO: Plumtree is the real deal.
Later folks enjoy.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
#74 goyougoodthing2: Yes just pleased we have Plum. He has his head on right. Knows his stuff well.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
#82 OCO: Plum is doing the business now I think. Just wait until the S14. I think we should do well with him there. I know he was there while Muir was but Muir must have had last say. Now its upto Plum and I think we have a very good coach in him.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
#79 Puma:
Ah so you saw that too! Thought it was only me.
JdV plays better on the wing (and he loves to be there, seldom in the centre of the pitch).
Not sure that Habs was not ‘miffed’ with JdV standing on his toes this last weekend. Can’t blame him for being ‘crowded out’ with no room to move. Habs needs space.
FS/JF at centre pair. Nothing wrong with that – ask the teams that played them in the RWC!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
#84 goyougoodthing2: Later mate.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
#84 goyougoodthing2: #86 Puma:
Yeh I think Plum will go far. I’m even thinking we might keep to the top better than with (bless his sole) Mac. Love to see it if we do.
Plum has no ‘airs and graces’. Good guy even if he is ‘one of them’
November 17th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
South Africa will probably at some stage field an “All Black” front-row on Saturday. Mujati, Chilliboy and Beast! I’m sure Andrew Sheridan & Co is looking forward to this hors-de-ouvre!
November 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
#73 tight head:
You were insinuating that Jake White ‘listened’ to people, and that this coach does not have a clue, yet if I look at our front row shenanigans in recent times, I tend to agree with cab, Beast, Bismark and CJ is probably the best we have had in a very long time, better even than last year at the WC where Argentina and England hammered our boys up front.
Jannie du Plessis is soft, Heinke and Ross Geldenhuys are far stronger,
Beast, Chili and Mujati might yet surprise a whole lot of the quota bashing brigade yet, I’d say just give it a couple years to mature the youngsters.
With all the ‘listening’ that Jake White did he could get absolutely bugger all right until he started listening to his chum Eddy Jones, before that whoever he was listening to was spinning him a whole lot of bunkum.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
#87 OCO: Yes JdV cost us on Sat by not passing. We would have had two certain tries there also Jantjes not passing cost us. I would play JF and Steyn this Sat. Adi on the bench. As shame as Adi has really done the business this year but in those wet conditions we need the hard guys there. Thats what I would do play the wc pair there. Even put Spies on the one wing or JdV on wing and bring on Kanko to start. Leave Bekker out and put Danie on the bench.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
#61 goyougoodthing2:
Fat ? Fat ? with a body fat % of 12, you call him fat !!! hahahaha
November 17th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
#78 tight head:
You’re just looking for cannon fodder aren’t you!
Cheers TH, always good to see you here and read your oppinions.
Cheers too G2. Have a good evening.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
#89 OCO: Looking forward already to the S14. We have a very good team and also a good coach now. Cant see Plum just rotating the guys at will like Muir did. Thats why Barritt also has left. Muir had Steyn mostly on the bench for goodness sake. Plum played him all the time. I think Steyn on the bench is a waste Really excited for our team next year.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
#91 tjokvol:
Hienke may be stronger but then he is a loosehead and geldenhuis well…..beast nailed him in the CC and he gives away 4 -6 penalties a game, no disipline
November 17th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
#90 Hier kom groot k..: Beast is a damn fine player he will get better and better. He is young. Mujati maybe not so sure about him. Chiliboy was fantastic in the under 19’s remember seeing him there he has lots of talent. The only thing he has hardly played this year at all. Now will be sent in on Sat. He is also injury prone. But I see a great future for him if he stays injury free and gets lots of gametime next year with the Bulls which I think he will. Then next year this time he will be so much better. Right now not so sure as he has hardly played this year. So maybe someone else should have gone on tour. But Chiliboy when fit is a great player.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
#91 tjokvol:
This has nothing to do with colour ….again !!. If they are the best front row, choose them but as a unit they are not. Mujati has struggled in every test so far, not cos of his skin colour, but because he does not have enouf leg strenght for tighthead yet. This will come with time and he will then be awesome. compare his lower body to that of the beast, BJ, CJ and Jannie. He is probably the most mobile of the lot but his primary job is scrumming. Remember all those calling for gary botha to replace smit cos he was more mobile ? and when it happened, it was a distaster of note. No, scrum first run seccond. WQe have awesome loose forwards, let them run around the park like gazelles
November 17th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
#95 Puma:
Looks like exciting times but I find if the Sharks don’t get their head in front from the start they seem to lose interest. Not like teams (e.g. Liverpool) who can come from behind (sorry couldn’t think of a Rugga team that actually can do this in retrospect).
Habs is not in the best shape so would put JdV on the left and use FS/JF at centre. Adi has been really good and IMHO has performed better than JdV all season. However, FS/JF gives a more dynamic centre combo that are defensively better and give more ‘go forward’ to the team in an ‘honest’ sort of wat rather than trying to be spectacular. Honesty brings more rewards.