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 9:21 pm
#338 tjokvol: that he is better than Kuun i cannot argue, but theres better hookers playing CC than him that deserves to be in front of the queue when it comes to springbok colours.
nothing to do with race mate.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
#339 carol:
XX ma’am, just fine thanks, and you?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#347 tjokvol: Never rated Straus. All arms and legs but going nowhere.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#340 TASSIES: I would put a tenner on with you too my friend. Don’t agree with everything, but would be happy with placing a wee wager on a win.
Cobus would be awesome. Just awesome. Better than BJ.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
#341 TASSIES: hi tassies…you are at least bold!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
#340 TASSIES: Hi Tasies, are you reading the”Monty” book as well? LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
#342 Robzim: hi rob…no….he is slow and kicks like a ….sorry proincess…a girl!!! I watch him all the time for wp and the stormers…as i am sure you do…he is pedestrian…i dont get the hype…no x factor…
November 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
#345 OCO: That injection is going to fkn HURT!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
#348 grant10:
The book will be banned !!!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
#351 tjokvol: I’m on top form thank you, and was looking forward to going to Wales on Saturday to watch the Welsh v the A.B’s. I hope the AB’s don’t just walk over them on Saturday like they did the Irish though!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
#350 rooijan:
how can you say he single handedly cost the Bulls the game, the ones that cost the Bulls the game were FdP, Habana, Matfield, M.Steyn, Chilli Boy came on the lst 10 minutes when they were already dead and buried, that shows to me its a racial deduction you are making because it is so far removed from fact it is absolute fiction.
Besides Wepener I doubt there is a better candidate to blood for Boks hooker behind Bismark than Chilli Boy, he was captain and U19 WC winner, same as John Smit.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#356 carol: is the book a good read…waiting for justrugby to buy it so i can borrow he s copy!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#359 carol: Ms Cheltenham. It’s the All Blacks. Not going to be pretty.
My wife & son went to Coldplay on Friday night. They said it was incredible. Chris Martin a major performer. Big stadium too. Really raved about it. Neitehr are huge Coldplay fans either.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
#348 grant10: Do I get a “walk on” scene in this epic! I don’t qualify for a “speaking” part!
You didn’t answer my question before….. Do you?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
#356 grant10:
Peter Grant played his best rugby at inside centre, has the ability to read the game and create things from midfield a lot better than he does as a FH, to slow and a bit one dimensional as a FH
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#355 carol: Nah. The Mbeki book. Trying to understand this man if this is possible.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#320 Robzim: It sure sounded like that. He said that the last match was like a “seer toon” ( a sore toe ). Everybody feels tired etc. Doesn’t sound good, does it ?#338 tjokvol: I agree that Chilliboy is better than Kuun, but he needs game time!!! You can’t simply start a test match, having played no 80 minutes in one match. When last did Chilliboy start and completed a match ? Two years ago?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#360 carol: wonderful Carol….Wales have to believe it…or they will lose again…must not be intimidated…i will be shouting for the Welsh big time…irish didnt believe…plonkers!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Anyone in England can tune into Radio 2 right now and hear Sherman Robertson on the Paul Jones Show! Cool blues..
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
#360 tjokvol: Now you’re talking kak like him.
Nothing to do with a better Sharks team was it? Who took their chances. Made their tackles. Scored their points?
Come on blaming individuals in a team sport is the reason you’re still in the Jake White ward.
Be a mensch dude.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
#346 SodaJoe:
You should check to see where the snide little racial attitudes creep into the discussion and then evaluate where the response comes from, if the thought is not a racial one to begin with then what is it? pretty blatant from where I’m sitting even if most around here prefer to turn blind eyes.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
#358 justrugby: You will get a major part in it. Probably egging him on…………!! LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#364 carol: Yes!!! Of course a part is up for grabs…rehearsal in June 2009…LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#361 grant10: My copy is signed!! Just think Percy “touched” my book!!! WRS says it is printed not hand written, (the spoil sport)!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
#363 carol: Beware any movie that Grant proposes making.
And that’s all I’ll say about that.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#338 tjokvol:
Yup Chilli was good against tired legs But you also rated Brits highly too didn’t you?
So much for objectivity.
Wp/Colour or better still, a combo of the two.
Same old, same old broken record.
BTW, PdV threw his toys out of the cot until he got absolute control. Now you try to say he has to rely on his advisors and doesn’t have control.
Once again a major deviation from rationality.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#364 justrugby: you right. But who then do we play at 10. Locker’s empty for now.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#371 carol:
yip, and I want royalties …lol
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#370 tjokvol: When you swim in dirty ditch water you often have to drink it too.
So jump over the ditch.
My very own Skopticism.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#362 SodaJoe: We tend to be a bit cautious about Coldplay. Seen as being a bit “middle class” and safe, however I do have a CD and rather like it!!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
#365 justrugby: great defensively and brave…but a giteau or carter he will nebver be…just dont get the hype my man!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
#375 OCO: Speaking about broken records Skopocoskiet.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#372 grant10: Dangerous suggestion……I might take you up on it!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
#365 TASSIES:
Hi Tassies,
According to his mother he is often misunderstood because he is too clever to communicate with mere mortals. Apparantly he also does not understand normal people because he cannot go down to that level.
She was dead serious when she said it. I do not know whether she is right or wrong but what I do know is that I also do not understand Thabo.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#379 carol: Keep that to yourself. But we are all “yellow”.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#359 carol:
I’ll be shouting for Wales with all my heart and lungs, and you know what they might even pull a little surprise, Warren Gatland would be over the moon if they could, and Cardiff is not such a happy hunting ground for the mighty AB’s
November 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
#360 tjokvol: the crucial last ten minutes he conceded a tight head and lost possesion when he carried the ball on the try line.
wepener, bismarck, skipper, tiaan liebenberg (before injury) all had great seasons and i rate them all above chilliboy on their performances.
but its apparent that you can’t accept when your player aren’t performing and have to turn it into a race thing.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#357 SodaJoe:
Spinal?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#376 TASSIES:
For sure, it’s the single biggest problem in Sa rugby. I would play Steyn there !!!! primarily because he has the desire to want to play there. He has shortcomings but nothing that cannot be sorted out. Give him the game time ,let him evolve into the posistion. I believe he is a better optiion than Pienaar, and I state this because pienaar was asked to play 10, he did not have the desire for it .
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#384 SodaJoe:
Then must be a spinal tap for sure.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
#374 SodaJoe: Oh good grief….., the friends that serve champagne in the bath up in millionaires row in Clifton. I have just remembered. Soda, you may have saved my reputation! (If there is anything left) LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
#380 grant10: Ruan. Our very own Giteau and Carter. But bigger.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
#365 TASSIES: Have you passed chapter one yet?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
#370 tjokvol: Skop it seems to me you are often correct in this observation but sometimes I think you’re reading lines that aren’t there. I wouldn’t play Chilli either, in my ron-on for reasons of experience and game time like the uncle says. But talent he certainly has. Boy needs time. Same as Mujati although I’m not so sure about the latter.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
#384 SodaJoe: “Yellow”, sorry is that S.A for middle class?
November 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#387 OCO: You’re not that bad. I’ll put in a good word. I will tell them that you are kind to camels.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#375 SodaJoe: strictly a book…#377 TASSIES: ruan will be fine…Frans will be better…but these blind bats [ skoppies chirp] dont get it…prefer mediocrity!
November 17th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#388 justrugby: The Jake White ward at Sterkies has a few more empty beds.
RUAN.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#375 SodaJoe: lol
November 17th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
#383 carol: i dare you!