CJ fated to carry front row
CJ van der Linde, Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss have been gifted a fantastic opportunity to prove their front-row worth.
Injuries have robbed Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie Du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp of their respective chances to shine, and as fate would have it, three players who should always have featured now find themselves in line to battle the French.
Van der Linde’s move to Leinster was met with regret, Ollie le Roux once telling this website the incumbent Boks lacked a genuine tighthead who was as mean or versatile. It was a big disappointment of Springbok legend Os du Randt that Du Preez and Strauss failed to make the initial touring squad, as the Bok coaching staff obviously didn’t view the pair as long-term prospects.
Three injuries later, and Van der Linde, Du Preez and Strauss have the opportunity to alter perception. Those in the know reckon they deserve their Bok jerseys ahead of Du Plessis, Steenkamp and Ralepelle, and after being named on the bench, the weight of Test performance should be added to what would appear a one-sided debate.
The policy preventing foreign-based players from playing for the Boks is not set in stone, and this is why Van der Linde now finds himself in the mix. If he makes a big impact on this three-Test tour, how can the coaching staff continue to ignore his obvious talents?
It’s not as easy as rocking up and performing this Friday. The World Cup-winning tighthead hasn’t played for the Boks since the 2008 Tri-Nations and questions will be asked about his ability to perform in an altered South African set-up.
What’s in Van der Linde’s favour is his experience scrumming in front of locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. He also has enjoyed many games alongside Du Preez and Strauss for the Cheetahs at Super 14 and Currie Cup level.
Peter de Villiers has named the Cheetahs trio on a Bok bench that sees five forwards and two backs. These forwards should be utilised as the Boks look to maintain their intensity over an 80-minute period. If they make an impact, they need to be rewarded. If it becomes clear they will contribute to a successful World Cup defence, then they will need to be retained.
Keo.co.za has it on good authority that the French Test squad took heart from the forward capitulation at Leicester. Perhaps France don’t know that South Africa are touring with a first- and third-string side, rather than the conventional first and second, and thus expect the Bok seniors to be only marginally better than the Leicester losers.
Marc Lievremont has talked the Boks up over the past month, and his selections are geared toward a physical bout, with emphasis on the set-phases. William Servat (hooker) and Romain Millo-Chluski (lock) are powerful scrumming options while aside from a dependable second row the hosts will look to Imanol Harinordoquy as banker at the tail of the lineout.
The Boks are favourites in every department bar the scrum. They’ve been inconsistent this season, and given the amount of rugby Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and John Smit have endured in 2009, they’ll be hard pressed to deliver a strong showing.
De Villiers has his bankers on the bench. If the Boks are looking to realise the dual ambition of an unbeaten tour and squad development ahead of the World Cup, they could do worse than invest in Van der Linde, Du Preez and Strauss.
All three have the pedigree, but the proof is in the performance. A strong showing and they should become the understudies to the incumbents and not return to club and domestic obscurity when Ralepelle, Du Plessis and Steenkamp return from injury.
Heinrich Brussow and Morne Steyn usurped Schalk Burger and Ruan Pienaar respectively when both fell foul to injury. As long as Van der Linde, Du Preez and Strauss perform, they should be treated exactly the same. Through the ill-fate of three others, they now have that opportunity.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Toulouse
November 11th, 2009 at 8:54 am
2 people keeping talking **** about the sharks players , they both support WP, i wonder what their common denominator is ????
November 11th, 2009 at 8:54 am
#49 sharks_lover: Hi there Sharks_L see that Boyd is back as BackLine coach at Sharks? Don’t know if I am happy or not, its not as if we did so well this S14 with him? Players or coach
November 11th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Players going abroad should not be in the Springbok team. How else are we gonna maintain our high standards in Currie Cup & Super 14
November 11th, 2009 at 8:57 am
#52 Sharksgirl: gm sharksgirl hun hope you are well
yes i saw and not sure either, must be honest he didnt make much impact when last he was here
i think the sharks coaching are looking to much at all the scientific ****
they should get in a carel duplessis type backline coach and run the ball like the sharks used to in the old days
to me there is to much over the top planning and players not knowing their roles
November 11th, 2009 at 8:57 am
#51 sharks_lover:
LOl !!! On a serious note I think that both Kanko and Adi are going to step up for this game, I am predicting big games for both of them !!!
November 11th, 2009 at 8:59 am
#53 The Dude: Ja…its a complex issue…problem is a lot go anyway….despite the threat of non selection.
It is a dilemma.
Perhaps a limited amount of selections of overseas players….like 3….
Then we add JDV and F Steyn…pronto!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Schalk must ‘hou kop’…Dont need any 10 minute rests…not against then crazy Frogs.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am
#50 Sharksgirl:
2, if you count Jaques, although things have gone very quiet there.
I wonder when Keo and his team of bloodhounds are going to find out whether he’s signed for WP, going to sign or decided to join his mate Loffie at Boland instead.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am
#53 The Dude: only so many can go over and that cup is alreaday starting to run over
if you can be open about professionalism as a sport then dont call rugby a professional sport
i have no problem with them recalling players from anywhere to play for the boks
if it needs that you have a trial system withing the squad to see the players form so be it
but rugby is very far from being a professional sport
November 11th, 2009 at 9:01 am
#46 justrugby: haha, they are only suspect to some JR.
only to some.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:02 am
#55 justrugby: just mate i hope so kanko derserves his chance but also has to take that chance
it is in his hands
adi i hope finds form because even as a sharks supporter i have to admit he has been woeful of late
November 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
#56 grant10: On the whole I do agree with you, but playing for the SB is a major draw card that keeps many of our best in SA or if they go they go on short contracts. If we did select from overseas, there would be a majour exodus of our best, not our good player and we would lose all our quality for S14 and CC. That is the reality, so on this I have to stick to PDV’s policy of only choosing SA based players.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
#58 David: oops forgot about Jacques!!! and Habana
I doubt he would have gone to Boland, though stranger things have happened 
November 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
grant gm and i think schalk will be fine
the blokes a great player
and he is nowhere as over zealous as he used to be
November 11th, 2009 at 9:09 am
#61 sharks_lover:
Hopefully Adi is over his injury and as a result more confident with himself.
He is still one of the cleverest players in the squad and could bring out the best in Jaque Fourie.
Do agree he has struggled this year but it is time for him to recapture the form that we all know he is capable of.
I think Friday night he is going to deliver, WO good option though if it does not work out for Adi !!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:13 am
#64 sharks_lover:
I do not think there is a team in the world, if given the option to pick Schalk in their side, that will say ‘no thanks’.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:14 am
#59 sharks_lover:
I assume you’re taking soccer as the model for professionalism. Even there, there’re moves to reduce the number of foreign players in national club sides. Cricket and rugby national unions are also trying to fight against it, which is why they’re supporting an EU attempt to overthrow the Kolpak ruling.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:15 am
#54 sharks_lover:
Watching England play is a prime example of what you are saying, if ever there was a team that has been overcoached and is over “structured” and plays without any flair or “instinct” it’s the England team !!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:16 am
#63 Sharksgirl:
I doubt whether Tacitus and the like will ever consider Habana anything but a Bulls player.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:20 am
#69 David: Shame I think Tac will have sleepless nights come S14. Seeing Habana in hoops. But there is always a silver lining on every cloud at least it is not Spies turning out in hoops, that would have been a blow from which he would never have recovered
November 11th, 2009 at 9:22 am
#68 justrugby:
It’s an historical trait. England has always favoured the yeoman infantry over the more dashing cavalry. That’s why even the famous Light Brigade was treated as mere cannon fodder.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:24 am
#70 Sharksgirl:
Yeah, he’d have to completely re-decorate and repaper his bedroom.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Adi Jacobs at 12 and Zane at 15.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
#71 David:
This is true !!
I remember a great line from the movie “Charge of the Light Brigade”, ammo was an issue and the order was not to shoot until you see the white of their eyes…..classic !!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:41 am
#56 grant10: You’re an obvious admirer of both JdV and Steyn. I think Juan Smith is the greatest rugby player on the planet but I wouldn’t want him in the team if he plays outside South Africa. If you’re not good enough to be a Bok then by all means go to Europe. Despite professionalism I feel the top Boks incl. Bok hopefuls have an obligation to the supporters
November 11th, 2009 at 10:01 am
#42 Sharksgirl: wot happened to chester?
November 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am
one thing i dont uderstand , why do we have bekker on the bench we all know bakkes is going to get subbed around the 65min mark to keep him fresh but why have bekke when matfield stays on the whole game .instead we should have a loose forward like jonson on the bench or deysel or another back
November 11th, 2009 at 10:05 am
#57 grant10: this game will be the true test as to whether schalk really is a 9 pt giver, cos of penalties, and 70 minute player, cos of sin binning
some people here might have to eat some real humble pie come friday night
November 11th, 2009 at 10:11 am
#77 mbaxman93:
Remember that the substitute bench is there as cover for injured players, not just tactical reasons. Besides, with both Danie and Bekker there, more positions are covered in case of emegency. Danie can cover 4,7 and 8 if needed and Bekker 5 and 4 at a push.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Damn weather
November 11th, 2009 at 10:22 am
#76 Papoose: He was given the boot apparently. A bit unfair to judge him though on a 4 game performance really imo
November 11th, 2009 at 10:22 am
#80 Dawn: yes it’s raining in CT today isn’t it. There was a segment on GMTV about Cape Town this morning, I didn’t realise you guys had penguins, cool as hell!
November 11th, 2009 at 10:24 am
#66 PissAnt: agreed PA and gm mate ^5
i would love to see schalk , deysel and alberts together as a unit for the rugby up north
of course i am a brussow fan , but if there refereeing is like it was last friday night and the northeners seal of the rucks as they were allowed to i cant seen brussow being effective
a more physical aproach is needed and lots of ruck cleaning out
November 11th, 2009 at 10:31 am
#82 Big Hit:
Yep.
Penguins live at Boulders beach.
We also have big sharks. National Geographic loves them.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:35 am
#82 Big Hit:
Not THOSE Sharks.
The ones with teeth that swim.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:41 am
dawn we are the cute sharks
November 11th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Big Hit,
Its easy to identify the Cape sharks from the Natal ones: the Cape sharks have had their top teeth removed and have ended up with winegums as a consequence..
November 11th, 2009 at 10:43 am
#86 sharks_lover:
S true.
Natgeo had a programme on a coupla weeks back about one of our sharks called “Haai”.
I can imagine where that name came from. Local fishermen at Kalkies!
Was strange to hear the American narrator say Haai every 5 mins!
November 11th, 2009 at 10:44 am
#87 bloukie: hehehehe
November 11th, 2009 at 10:44 am
#87 bloukie:
So not true.
We jump out the water and chomp everything.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:44 am
And the penguins at The Boulders sound like donkeys…hence the name jack-*** penguins.
Cape Town can be a very confusing place…
November 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
#91 bloukie:
Racist.
There. I used the R word.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
#88 Dawn: lol
November 11th, 2009 at 10:46 am
#91 bloukie:
And Natgeo loves our penguins too.
So there.
Don’t see them running after bulls in Tshwane.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
#91 bloukie:
In fact, the water is lovely around Fish Hoek this time of year.
Fancy a dip?
November 11th, 2009 at 10:49 am
#90 Dawn
Last thing that “chomped” anything was Bertha (can’t remember if that was her name) the hippo in Seekoeivlei.
Different animal to a Cape shark, but same set of of top teeth.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:49 am
#91 bloukie:
It’s called civilisation.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:49 am
#66 PissAnt: same story isnt it
prophet is without honour in their own land
November 11th, 2009 at 10:50 am
#94 Dawn:
November 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Daai hippo het selfsie gangsters nervous gehad innie Lavender next door..