Fresh concern for battered Boks
18 Nov 2009
CJ van der Linde and Andries Bekker have joined the Springboks’ injured list after Tuesday’s loss to Saracens.
It’s been confirmed that Van der Linde, who left the field in the 11th minute, has a hamstring injury while Bekker took a knock to the ribs. Midweek coach Dick Muir told keo.co.za the severity of these injuries is not yet clear and that they may have to reassess their plans for the Test against Italy.
The Test 22 announcement has been pushed to Thursday to allow another ailing pair in Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis (both ribs) to recover. Muir admitted they can’t afford to lose any more forwards.
‘We expected to dominate against Saracens in the scrums, but then we lost CJ early in the match. We also lost a lot of momentum when Bekker went off in the second half.
‘To lose a player of CJ’s experience is a big blow, but it may provide the next guy in line with an opportunity.’
Muir conceded South Africa were outplayed at the scrum, but doesn’t believe the problem is shared by the Test team.
‘The midweek side has struggled but I felt the Test side held their own against France. It’s certainly something we’ll be able to fix before the weekend.’
Captain for the night Dewald Potgieter lamented the showing at the set-piece, but said referee James Jones was inconsistent in this area.
‘We were so determined to improve on our performance against Leicester. I thought we started off well enough, but after a few blows against us, the front row guys were coming to me saying they were confused by the referee’s calls.
‘There was a lot of confusion around the hit. He’d sometimes blow us for giving the hit, and then blow us when we relaxed a bit to take the hit.
‘We can improve in that area, but it was confusing.’
Muir said the fact that the dirt-trackers have lost both of their fixtures doesn’t render their part of the tour as a complete failure.
‘It was a game of two halves, and you can’t afford to be inconsistent against a team like Saracens. Having said that, I thought a couple of decisions did go against us in the second half,’ he said.
‘It was exciting to see the backs moving the ball around. All in all, it was a fruitful exercise. Some guys have shown they’re world class and some have shown they’re not up to it.’
Muir added that the overall tour record of 0 from 3 isn’t a cause for concern. He also waved away any suggestion that there’s suddenly more pressure to perform against Italy this Saturday.
‘You always hate to lose in a Bok jersey, but that record makes the situation read worse than it actually is. We can redeem ourselves by winning the two remaining games of the tour.’
The midweek side will return to South Africa on Wednesday, although four players who didn’t feature in the 22 against France will remain with the touring party.
Dewald Potgieter, Jongi Nokwe, Jean Deysel and Francois Hougaard will stay behind.
By Jon Cardinelli, in London
287 Comments
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18 Nov 2009, 16:19 pm
#245 Big Hit: Yes, he signed with Williams… close enough
Yes, the McLarens versus my hero, Felipe Massa, and arguably the best driver in F1 at the moment Fernando Alonso. Will be a treat to watch if Ferrari and McLaren are back to their best.. Not forgetting Seb Vettel, who is a superstar in the making, and RedBull. I’m looking forward to it already!
18 Nov 2009, 16:20 pm
#12 skopskiet: “Get a front row man”
Mate, Snor said in the press that he is a “SCRUM EXPERT”
You should be chilling, relaxed and confident that your Helium will show his mettle and coach the boks right out of this quandry.
Should you not?
Please dont blame **** and Gold when your head coach is the expert.
I suppose you will issue another Jake rant.
Over and out.
18 Nov 2009, 16:21 pm
#241 WP_: #236 Big Hit: No guys…watched the French game twice…fom 45 th minute we were goners in scrum….Smit played damn well though….
Beast and Bissy were piss poor….as a unit tha Bok front row is a shocker.
I would have 1 Heinke/ Wiaan….2 J Smit….3 BJ or CJ…
Would never ever want to see the Beast…bissy and smit combo again…
Unless the Sharks are playing the Stormers.
18 Nov 2009, 16:22 pm
#248 Puma: amen to that!
18 Nov 2009, 16:24 pm
#247 Fidget: ya, will be a fantastic game. Very big.
#248 Puma: I wish they would boet. Really I do. haha, seems it’s not that simple for our coaching staff to pick the best players…
If there’s a backline injury I’m sure they’d get hold of Jean tho… Surely…
18 Nov 2009, 16:24 pm
#252 grant10: when is the team announced for the weekend?
18 Nov 2009, 16:25 pm
#255 Big Hit: tomorrow.
18 Nov 2009, 16:26 pm
Better tight head props are generally smaller and compact robust short men not tall or bulky, hence BJ who is probably smaller than John Smit but pound for pound more powerful. Aus and Italian and French and Arg front rows all tough small battleship props not large men but stocky and tough. Thats what you want. Last true tight head prop we had was Kobus Visagie perhaps Richard Bands
18 Nov 2009, 16:26 pm
#255 Big Hit: what time is kick off Poms…kiwis??
18 Nov 2009, 16:27 pm
#257 skopskiet: ja….WP Nel also got the squat powerful build….hope he comes through in next years super 14
18 Nov 2009, 16:28 pm
#258 grant10: sadly around the same time, or half an hour later. I’ll watch both though. I think Italy will push hard, Mallet is nobody’s fool. .
18 Nov 2009, 16:28 pm
#252 grant10: Ok I believe you.. I only wathced the game once…
I know the scrumming tailed off… not sure why. CJ didnt look all that confortable when he came on around the 50th minute… (?) Smitty was good all around the field tho I though.
I also wouldnt have taken Beast off so soon…
18 Nov 2009, 16:29 pm
#261 WP_: Beast was better than CJ who was repeatedly penalised for technical infringements (once unfairly I thought).
18 Nov 2009, 16:32 pm
#253 grant10: #254 WP_: Yip, wish those players were on their way to the Bok camp too. Should always select the best.
18 Nov 2009, 16:32 pm
#257 skopskiet: True that…
#260 Big Hit: They will, as they did to the ABs…
If Bissie cant play I wonder if PdV will have Struass at 2. I would. Seeing as there arent too many other options in the front row unless BJ comes straight into the starting line up with JS at 2
18 Nov 2009, 16:35 pm
#264 WP_: BJ has had plenty of rugby so he could do that. Would be a good option for the Ireland game too as cover as he scrummed against the other Irish props fairly regularly in the ML
18 Nov 2009, 16:35 pm
#260 Big Hit: #261 WP_: Mallet will have those Italians breathing fire and brimstone…and of course the first scrum gonna be a sight to behold!Clever coach…
WP…CJ should not have come on at all….PDV should have trusted Wiaan du preez…the specialist ;oosehead…why play CJ out of position?
That is what frustrates me about SA rugby….the nonsensical decision making….off thr field!
BH…RP played a very good first 40 last nite….
And Earl was very, very slick!
18 Nov 2009, 16:37 pm
#262 Big Hit: Absolutely. Not sure whay Beast was taken off. He was looking very solid.
CJ is more of a tight head anyway do it’s perplexing that he was put on at loosehead while a specialist loosehead Wian Du Preez sat on the bench…
18 Nov 2009, 16:38 pm
WP…where is this BJ news….i am nervous now….is your source a trustworthy one boet??
18 Nov 2009, 16:38 pm
#267 WP_: snap!
18 Nov 2009, 16:43 pm
#265 Big Hit: Good to hear. That’s what might just happen…
#266 grant10: Agreed about the silliness and non-sensicalness of it. DOESNT make sense!!!
Oh well . Sigh
Looking forward to the Italy game Big Time…
18 Nov 2009, 16:47 pm
#269 grant10: haha yup Snap!
Great tactical analyses from both of us!
#268 grant10: Hope it comes soon boet! It will surely…
Anyway, cheers mate and Puma and BH and others.
Catch up later on! Hopefully they announce the BJ story soon!
18 Nov 2009, 16:51 pm
#271 WP_: cheers
18 Nov 2009, 16:53 pm
#265 Big Hit:
BJ is the best TH to play for the Boks since Vissagie and possibly Garvey.
Werner Kruger will become a Test quality TH soon, but till then it’s BJ only
Unless you have in mind Sephaka (will give you a 15 minutes of a great TH)
18 Nov 2009, 16:57 pm
#266 grant10:
“And Earl was very, very slick!”
Gee
Don’t even say it as a joke, slick in faking tackles? passing ball to the opposition? forward passes that were dropped?
18 Nov 2009, 17:00 pm
#274 Hondo: Cmon Hondo…Earl was superb. You know it…drop the KKK act…you come over far too intelligent than that!
Agree re BJ by the way….not so sure about W Kruger though.
18 Nov 2009, 17:02 pm
#266 grant10: yes I missed the Sarries game, doesn’t surprise me that they won though, they’ve been winning everything this season. I guess the consolation for SA is that they’re mostly South African too.
Earl is a full-back he’s getting better and better. Hopefully for him they don’t move him around now. RP needs game time at 10 for Sharks imo, maybe Hernandez will move out one or rotate with Terblanche at 15. I actually think Pienaar is a better attacking flyhalf than Hernandez who stands a little deep.
18 Nov 2009, 17:05 pm
#273 Hondo: Im def no scrum expext but I do remember BJ giving away loads of penalties in the last few games he played for SA. I think it was because of some technical issue the refs werent happy with. Not sure if hes sorted this out yet.
18 Nov 2009, 17:10 pm
#274 Hondo: What game were you watching mate
18 Nov 2009, 17:17 pm
okay …its official….BJ on holiday in SA…flying out tonight to replace the injured CJ….
18 Nov 2009, 17:21 pm
Where did you see it Grant?
Believe me now do you?
18 Nov 2009, 17:21 pm
#276 Big Hit:
Ruan was standing a bit deep last night and not even trying to get to the advantage line. He tends to run away from his SH instead of taking the ball at speed and running straight, before offloading.
18 Nov 2009, 17:26 pm
#280 WP_: lol…WILL NEVER DOUBT YOUR WORD AGAIN….RUGBY 365
18 Nov 2009, 17:36 pm
Hehe Grant no worries boet
Good on Rugby 365.
18 Nov 2009, 17:55 pm
so now we gone through the entire gamut of bok front rower’s and still not able to stand tough, saffa props gone soft. Wonder if Bj actually be the answer or if they shouldn’t have called WP Nel or K. Buys instead
18 Nov 2009, 17:59 pm
#284 skopskiet: how about we give WP a call
18 Nov 2009, 18:01 pm
It’s a strange time for BJ to be taking a holiday, right at the start of the NH season.
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