Cotton wool key to Bok backlash
There’s nothing to be gained by starting an already exhausted Bok senior side against Saracens and Italy.
Peter de Villiers was clear about his goals when naming a 37-man squad to tour England, France, Italy and Ireland. Five wins from five matches was the target, and the Bok coach also hoped to develop some untried youngsters and work on strengthening the second-choice combinations.
South Africa suffered the worst possible start to the tour with the dirt-trackers going down to a depleted Leicester, and the Boks’ reserve front row returning home with injury. The senior side was outmuscled in Toulouse, and unless the Boks reassess their priorities, the tour could finish in disaster.
To salvage this tour, the Boks need to beat Ireland in Dublin. To beat the Irish, the incumbents will need to time to recuperate, and giving them the next week off could also aid De Villiers’ secondary ambition of developing the second-string.
It’s yet to be confirmed whether the team named to start against Saracens will be available for starting positions in the Italy Test. One hopes this is the case, because the Boks’ best could do with a break, especially after the beating they took at Stade Municipal.
Wian du Preez, Adriaan Strauss and CJ van der Linde are picked to front Saracens, a powerful Free State combination that should provide the South Africans with stability at scrum time.
The smart move is to start these three against Italy, a side renowned for their scrum. The Boks would have a shot at parity despite the absence of Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and John Smit, while the frontline players would be spared a physical tussle a week before the game that really matters.
Ireland’s scrum was poor against Australia on Sunday, an encouraging sign for a Bok team that’s endured their own problems in this facet. Nevertheless, you’d want your best players available for this clash, and you’d want them firing at something close to 100%.
Again, the Boks are well capable of beating this Irish outfit, but after Friday’s French lesson, they will know that intensity is everything. It’s the last game at the end of a taxing year, but they’ll need to be at their brutish best.
The most recent selection suggests De Villiers and company are taking the Saracens match seriously, but they need to keep their eyes on the prize. The Six Nations Champs have been hyping the 28 November fixture as the ultimate north versus south clash, and those British & Irish Lions players who tasted defeat earlier in the year will be desperate for revenge.
It won’t help the senior Boks’ cause to arrive in Dublin after what should be a physical battle in Udine. With respect to Italy, this is a Test where the fringe players should get a start. Start Danie Rossouw and Andries Bekker in a Test environment, and see what loose forwards Jean Deysel and Dewald Potgieter have to offer when awarded an official Test cap.
For Du Preez and Strauss, it’s a massive challenge scrumming against a team that includes Martin Castrogiovanni, but they’ll have one of the world’s best and most experienced tightheads alongside them. In an ideal rugby world, that’s how you’re supposed to blood newcomers – by surrounding them with experience.
So let’s hope the announcement of the side to face Saracens isn’t a case of the Bok management hitting the panic button. Let’s hope the first team aren’t rolled out in Udine, because it won’t contribute to success in Dublin.
The Irish press believe De Villiers’ job will be on the line by the time the Boks arrive. There’s no chance of the South African coach being sacked after the Boks’ success in the Lions series and Tri-Nations. But the Irish are correct in assuming South Africa’s tour would amount to a failure if they’re downed at Croke Park.
By Jon Cardinelli, in London
November 16th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Dragon Schmagon
November 16th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Boks vs Italy:
1. Du Preez
2. Strauss
3. Van Der Linde
4. Rossouw
5. Bekker
6. Brussow
7. Potgieter
8. Johnson
9. Adams
10. Steyn
11. Habana
12. Olivier
13. Fourie
14. Pieterson
15. Kirchner
16. Du Plessis
17. Smit
18. Matfield
19. Deysel
20. Du Preez
21. Pienaar
22. Jacobs
November 16th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Bring back Butch,Frans and Jdv-
Bring in Mapoe
chuck out Ndungane
November 16th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Who is cotton wool anyways-is he any good?
November 16th, 2009 at 5:52 am
any idea who the ref is for the italian test? he will need to know his scrum rules inside out, coz there sure will be many of them.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:11 am
#3 leerkassie:
While I agree, it would be great to have these players in the mix, the game against France was not lost by the backs – even though Morne Steyn had a bad game.
Our front row lost their battle.
Bakkies and Victor were both bullied.
Schalk slipped off way too many tackles.
And Kanko was nowhere.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Although Adi at 12, in terms of him giving us go-forward ball, was an utter failure.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Imagine:
Mtawarira
Smit
Van Der Linde
Botha
Matfield
Brussow
Smith
Spies
Du Preez
Steyn
Habana
JDV
Fourie
Pieterson
Steyn
Van Der Merwe
Du Plessis
Strauss
Nel
Rossouw
Bekker
Burger
Potgieter
Pienaar
Hougaard
James
Olivier
Jacobs
Mapoe
Ludik
November 16th, 2009 at 6:23 am
The dirt-track front row will be utterly smashed by Italy. In fact, the glory boys of the best possible front row are going to be crushed by Italy too.
A Bok scrum simply completely lacking the front-row grunt to destroy Italy?
Italy? Jeepers!
The times, they sure are a’ changin’ …
November 16th, 2009 at 6:25 am
#9 TheTackler: Yep, especially with New Zealand’s front row getting beaten by the Italians the week before.
Van der Linde is not a great scruming prop, never has been. I don’t know why every-one thinks he is going to sort out the scrum.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Well, the Italians sure dealt to the second-string AB scrum. No doubt about that, and good on Mallett’s men. At least the ABs came away with a win, which is all that counts. But, rest assured, if you dare to field a discombobulated experimental legion against the Roman Empire, you’re marching to a crucifixion. It can get messy.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:38 am
#11 TheTackler: The Italians have a good scrum, both nothing else. The Boks can get massacred in the scrum and will still win easily. Brussouw will destroy them at the break down, the Boks will rule at the lineout and will dominate the tackle point.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:48 am
The Irish will be as up for it as the French were.
O Connell, O Gara and O Driscoll will be burning to put one over the Boks after losing the Lions series.
I await with morbid fascination to see the hits O Gara gets from Bismark, Bakkies and Schalk.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:53 am
#11 TheTackler: A4Y’s
November 16th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Did anyone notice that Sarries only had one Saffa in the side against the Ospreys? It looks like they rested them to play against the Boks.
It’ll be interesting to see how Johnson and Deysel get on against the likes of Ernst Joubert and WO against Barritt.
BTW, what’s this rubbish of calling it an FS front row? I thought CJ was a Leinster player?
November 16th, 2009 at 7:00 am
More Mnr Staal.Hoe lyk dinge?
November 16th, 2009 at 7:21 am
#15 David:
Brits
Reynecke
Van Heerden
Joubert
Melck
De Kock
Hougaard
Barrit
November 16th, 2009 at 7:35 am
#17 puff:
Yeah, Reyneke was the only one to play on Saturday. The loose trio contest should be a humdinger. My money’s on the Sarries trio. Always was a fan of Ernst and Wickus should give Pottie a lesson due to his experience. I actually see young Potgieter as a Wickus in the making.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:42 am
#7 puff: Seems that you do not know much about rugby
November 16th, 2009 at 7:47 am
i will pack out laughing if saracens & the italians smash the two-thirds of the much vaunted free state frontrowo smithereens. Then we will be back to square one.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:17 am
#20 Pearl Rose:
So what is your prediction, rugby is a simple game, isn’t it?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:19 am
#19 Charlie:
And you seem so observant
November 16th, 2009 at 8:20 am
#20 Pearl Rose:
I can just imagine the panic around here if that is going to happen.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:26 am
#20 Pearl Rose:
And that you will find amusing ? why ??
November 16th, 2009 at 8:35 am
#24 justrugby: because the fs frontrow is over-rated!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:39 am
#25 Pearl Rose: If that is the case i dont want to even think how poor the Sharks and current Boks front row is.
That Cheetahs front row moered them stupid!!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:40 am
#25 Pearl Rose:
The current one is (individually good players but don’t gel as a unit) , whether the one picked for Tues is , we don’t know, they certainly proved their worth in the CC.
Even if they were to be exposed at a higher level, it’s no laughing matter, well not to this Bok fan anyway !!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:41 am
En Tannie Kofski was useless, Ad is nie ‘n binnesenter nie, Beast was absent
November 16th, 2009 at 8:42 am
The midweek match is beginning to resemble a Springbok trial game. God help us if Sarries hammer us as we’ll have Grant10 screaming for all their Saffas to be brought back to SA.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:43 am
#20 Pearl Rose: Why , they showed against all local opposition that they were the best.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:44 am
If Spies played like Tannie Skofski did, we would have had an outrage this morning. I seriously think he must play 7’s
November 16th, 2009 at 8:45 am
#26 grant10:
Maybe that’s the point, G10. Maybe, just maybe we don’t have a front row good enough to compete, let alone dominate, the NH teams’ packs. That would be a travesty in itself.
Can you imagine?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
#30 capebull:
The best in SA, does not translate to the best in the world.
You can be the best sprinter in your school and still come stone last in the inter school’s competition.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I wish Keo would start a new thread on Ras Dumisani.
I need a laff.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Has anyone else picked up that with the Aussies hell bent on improving their physicality , scrum dominance and aggresive play at the breakdown, all good things I might add !!!!…..their back line suddenly looks sterile and devoid of penetration !!!!!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:52 am
#35 justrugby:
If Ireland drew with Australia, they will beat SA.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:53 am
JC, why is there nothing about the reduction of Heidelberg RC’s suspension on the site? You did run the story when it broke. It would just be good journalism to report on it now that it is finally concluded, don’t you think?
While I’m at it, can’t you keep us up to speed with the treatment against cancer of one of my all time favourites, Rob Louw, in the USA, please?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:56 am
That Ras Dumisani lost us the game.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:56 am
#35 justrugby:
“…their back line suddenly looks sterile and devoid of penetration !!!!!”
Let’s stick to rugby here, JR.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:56 am
#37 nama1:
Rob Louw has cancer?????
November 16th, 2009 at 8:58 am
#29 David: LOL…i will be chomping red meat and drukking my 10 kg dumbbells ….try and sort the kak out myself….
Rather put me at 3 vs Irish though…..very scared of those spaghetti boys after witnessing there demolition of the kiwi scrum!!
November 16th, 2009 at 8:59 am
#32 nama1: Sacriliege i tell you!
The Boks and Kiwis have gone soft….strange that the 2 x best scrums in the SH is Aussies and Argies!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:00 am
#35 justrugby: missed the game…but was ecstatic at the result…..BOD is the man!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:02 am
#35 justrugby: if they struggling to penetrate i know a good Pharmacist!
November 16th, 2009 at 9:02 am
#36 Dawn: Good morning young lady…..had a jorl Fri nite at Firemans Arms….
November 16th, 2009 at 9:03 am
#38 Dawn:
Just listened to his interview with John Robbie on 702. Just heard one of his songs – it was really good.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:04 am
#43 grant10: That guy is pure class mate.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Fck the front row selections against the Italians. Who are we going to pick as singer? In the land of opera, this is potentially our biggest embarrassment of the entire tour. The way things are going for us, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Div steps up to the mike and clears his throat.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:06 am
#47 Blindspot: yeah…..best on the planet….arguably of all time…..although Danie Gerber may sneak my vote.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:09 am
#44 grant10:
It’s one thing having the “goods”, it’s another thing altogether knowing what to do with it !!!