Bakkies blow for SA
Bakkies Botha has failed to recover from a back injury and will be replaced by Andries Bekker for South Africa’s clash with Ireland.
As reported by this website on Wednesday, Botha was always doubtful to feature in the Croke Park Test, and it was confirmed on Friday that he will play no part. The Springbok lock picked up a back injury in the Italy Test which was exacerbated in the flight from Udine to Dublin.
Bekker comes off the bench to replace Botha while scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will now join the replacements. Danie Rossouw, who will start this game at No 8, will cover at lock.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin
November 28th, 2009 at 2:42 am
@CoachPete:
Yeah,Kearny is very solid and great under the high ball.
BOD is of course the best
Lets hold thumbs.
It has been a long season.
See u Coach – it is nearly 3 am here, I need to get some rest.
Later.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:44 am
@Valkyrie:
I think we all just want them to play tighter for this game
To be there at rucks and mauls and collusions
Thats what I want to see.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:46 am
@Robzim:
Cheers, its 5 pm in afternoon here, and only Valkyrie giving me a hard time.
Just kidding
November 28th, 2009 at 2:46 am
@CoachPete: still disgree coach but the way you stated it was very funny.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:50 am
@Valkyrie:
Yeah I dont take this blogging too seriously.
And if it does happen, we hope Bekker scores in the corner and not BOD intercepting and scoring under the posts.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:51 am
@CoachPete: i am also gonna give you some rest coach.enjoy the game and cheer bekker and matfield on whether they playing centre/wing or not.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:52 am
@Valkyrie:
yeah ok cheers.
Hey I cheer the Boks for 80 min no matter what or who is in the green jersey
November 28th, 2009 at 4:38 am
with a hopefully dominant front row we dont need Bothas power. Bekker has greata ll round skills and brings a lot more to the party. He has speed, ball skills and is a great link to the backs. Different types of players, both great and each has his value.
November 28th, 2009 at 6:33 am
@fantasticbarnsmell: @fantasticbarnsmell:
LOL!!! these have to be the funniest, and arb-est (yeah, not a word, i know) comments, EVER on keo! made my morning. now for those eggs in preparation for the green parade later.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:34 am
I sometimes wonder whether we realise what a problem we will have at lock when Matfield and Botha retire. Bekker is a fringing player who is a poor scrummager and far to loose a player for a lock. Why is it when we see a lock running with the ball that we think he I having a good game. Like Kankowski maybe he should try out on the wing. Any other solid locks in waiting that anyone can see?
November 28th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Bakki Botha is out injured, that already changed the UK odds from a 12:10 to 10:13.
Also, Bekker moved to lock in the line up while Hougaard is on the bench, the Boks are now with 4 forwards, 3 backs on the bench.
The Boks are persumed weaker and still have the Beast and Kirshner among the run ons, a certain handicap.
The referee Owen just been flattened by Mujati 5 weeks ago, it may affect his SA biases since Mujati got away with the lightest of punishments in the IRB book.
prediction:
Ireland by 3 to 10 points
November 28th, 2009 at 7:49 am
@fuzzy:
The odds were swinging in favour of Ireland when Botha was scratched, I guess it means SOMETHING?
These betting houses in London like Ladbrookes employ some of the best analysts and expert in any sport, be aware of that!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:58 am
@mark.a: A few come to mind:
Willem Alberts – 1.91m & 115 kgs
David de Villiers – 1.99m & 113 kgs
Nico Breedt – 1.98 & 115 kgs
Bakkies still the king at 2.02m and 122 kgs.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:00 am
@Hondo: Are the odds not primarily driven by betting activity?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:05 am
@mark.a: Bekker is clearly the heir apparent to Victor. His role with the Boks as a sub is to come on when the game is opening up. He usually subs for Bakkies because Bakkies has done the hardest physical job of the two locks and is most exhausted. If this squad had been chosen without Bakkies the selectors would have looked at a more traditional style number 4 as well. Unfortubately we don’t have too many standout 4s lining up at the moment.
Comparing Bakkies with Bekker is like comparing Bakkies with Victor. Neither is as good as the other at the other’s main role.
This combination is clearly a makeshift one but Bekker is clearly an enormous talent who will make a huge impact in future Bok teams.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:17 am
@stormer in a teacup: Very well said….i agree 100%.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:19 am
My concern is that without Bissy and Bakkies the pack looks like its lost a bit of ‘mongrel’.
Gotta be careful about asking Schalk to provide the enforcer stuff….he will be a marked man….
Anyway….at least scrums should be better.
I still think Boks by 5
November 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am
With BJ and JS on we may play tight enough. My concern is still Shalk, he flies around but is less and less effective.
It just gets clearer everyday, its Juan we need to look after to the RWC .. if he was on I would have no worries.
Vermulen may be the next great 7 but he needs to drop the silly stuff. I have very rarely seen Juan get involved off the ball .. i guess thats experience. Biz needs to learn that too.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:27 am
@bananas: Juan Smith is an absolute must for 2011….with Bakkies the 1 player that must be looked after in my book….he has been very missed !
Today it appears both the Kiwis and Boks will play in white jerseys….i wonder if thats ever happened before….?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I’d play Maku instead of Smit. Rugby should become more representative and john is not getting younger. Maku is the next bok captain, why not play him now.
My Bok team for 2011 :
Beast
Maku (cpt)
Guthro
Matfield
Botha
Brusouw
Spies
Ashley Johnston
Heini
Francis
De Jongh
Adi
Habana
JPP
Zane/Earl (Earl better than Danie Gerber by miles)
November 28th, 2009 at 8:33 am
@grant10: Shouldn’t the Irish and French play in their alternate strip? Remember 2004 we played the Irish in white at Bloemfontein and Newlands?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
@VALKYRlE: You taking the piss?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
@Werner: no….hosts retain strips….read it on rugby 365
November 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
@VALKYRlE: I tried to understand your reasoning with Maku as next Bok captain (even though he’s 3rd choice at the Bulls), but when I saw Guthro at 3 I knew you can’t be serious… and then I saw Earl at 15 and your comment… think you should lay off the booze or pass that spliff over this way!
November 28th, 2009 at 8:37 am
@grant10: Ok, like the white strip every now and then though! Are the All Blacks playing in white or that ****** grey jerseys they used in the WC?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:38 am
@Werner: He also gave it away by opting for Bakkies over Bekker after his previous posts.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:39 am
@stormer in a teacup: lol, yeah true!
November 28th, 2009 at 8:40 am
@VALKYRlE: I would play Smit over Maku …
November 28th, 2009 at 8:40 am
The Crystal ball calls the 2011 WC team to beat France in the final as follows
15 F Steyn
11 habana
14 mapoe
13 J Fourie
12 J De Villiers
10 MS
9FDP
8 Spies
7 J Smith
6 Brussow
5 Andries Bekker
4 Bakkies Botha
3 BJ Botha
2 Bissy
1 Beast
16 CJ vd linde
17 Heinke vd merwe
18 Dewalt potgieter
19 Chilliboy
20 R Pienaar
21 J De Jongh
22 JP Pietersen
November 28th, 2009 at 8:41 am
@VALKYRlE: Earl is a great player no doubt, he just needs to train harder and commit to the sport.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:42 am
@Werner: White for kiwis as well…
November 28th, 2009 at 8:44 am
marathon rugby session ….Boks,Wales and France….all close….
Bobs your aunt!
November 28th, 2009 at 8:45 am
@grant10: I still wouldnt drop JPP in all the big games he has produced for me. Maphoe no doubt a great prospect.
I am not so sure Bakkies will make 2011, I think Vic has a better chance although Bekker is almost equal now.
Who is your Capt ?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:58 am
@bananas: OOps!!
LOL
Juan Smith
November 28th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Still far too much rugby to be played….a lot can change before 2011…
November 28th, 2009 at 9:02 am
like your team grant10, but i think inspector victor gadget will still be there leading the lineout
November 28th, 2009 at 9:03 am
what time is ko?
November 28th, 2009 at 9:07 am
i think our scrums will be ok today considering how poor the Oirish are at scrum time, il admit i knw **** bout scrummaging as i playd in the backline but BJ realy looks the biz
November 28th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I would have put Rossouw at lock and brought Deysel in at number 8. Bekker isn’t physical enough at ruck time. I reckon without Bakkies we are gonna struggle at the breakdown.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Valkyrie: Lol, it must be great to live in lalaland!! The blue hoops? That’s a good chuckle to start the day!!
Overated powder puffs!!
November 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am
@DEE DAH: Agreed. I don’t think Deysel has played much rugby at 8 though, so maybe Schalk to pack at the back.
Come to think of it, that makes a hell of a back-row; Brussouw, Deysel & Burger. All are good on the ground, all have impressive work-rates and Deysel and Burger are as hard as TheTackler at a pre-school. The Irish would get no ball at all.
Bekker’s upped his physicality a lot though, and his work in the tighter aspects of the game has improved.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:52 am
@VALKYRlE: @70 Man I want to sell the stuff you smoke, it really is good. The Bekker and the might of the blue hoops taking over was funny, but your Maku as captain bit was the clincher!! That was so hilarious, it could almost be sad if it wasn’t so funny!!
As for your 2011, here are possible players that will force their way into the squad. Representation my ***!! This is pro sport, if you want to win the world cup, pick the best, or go into politics!! You want rugby in SA to be like soccer, where their only chance to take part in the WC is to host one??
Beast – Heinke/Coenie Oosthuizen/Wian du Preez/CJ
Maku (cpt) – Bismarck/Adriaan Strauss/Tiaan Liebenburg
Guthro (joking??) – WP Nel/Kevin Buys/BJ Botha
Matfield – Bekker/Hargreaves and David de Villiers backing up
Botha – Sykes/Flip vd Merwe/Anton van Zyl
Brusouw – Stegmann/Wessells
No 7??? – Juan Smith/Vermeulen/Deysel
Spies – Alberts/Potgieter/Ashley Johnston
Heini – Jano Vermaak/Sarel Pretorius
Francis – Morne Steyn
De Jongh – Robert Ebersohn
Adi (Jokeing) – Jacque Fourie/Phillip Snyman
Habana – Basson/Mvovo
JPP – Mapoe
Zane/Earl – Wilton Pieterson(Earl better than Danie Gerber by miles)If you mean Dandre maybe, but Danie, the stuff you smoke is really good!!
November 28th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I just hope the Bok brains trust aren’t fast-tracking young Hougaard like this because Fourie Du Preez has intimated to them that he may not be around for the next world cup.
I read in the latest SA Rugby mag that his contract with the Bulls ends in 2010, and thereafter he claims he has some big decisions to make about his future.
The guy has won everything and may feel that a big payday overseas is on the cards.
If so I reckon PDV and Muir may be looking at Hougaard (who is very much in the Du Preez mould) and Vermaak as our two top scrummies.
The Boks will be a far lesser force without Du Preez in 2011.
Say it isn’t so!
November 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Pitch report:
Just looked out the window.
Can’t believe it.
Totally blue sky.. sun just up, very little wind, not a cloud in sight.
Great day to run the ball
November 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
SA need to groom an enforcer.. I am worried.. Bekker is not up to scratch and the way Bekkar is treated like a raggy doll omn the pitch is not called for. He gets picked up and thrown around.. They should call up Sykes..
I saw Bekker treated like a raggy doll against Saracens.. I am worried about this one.
As for BOD he is onll as good as the sort of ball he gets. Plus he had a quiet Lions test. The Ozzies were done by a good move.
November 28th, 2009 at 10:53 am
@VALKYRlE: what a kuk opening statement’maku over smith’.please change your nick or *** back to the dark side.
November 28th, 2009 at 10:53 am
@Tbozknows:
Quiet Lions Test?
Was he in the stand with a beer watching the Golden Lions?
November 28th, 2009 at 10:54 am
@Valkyrie:
Are you giving yourself grief Val?
November 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
The trouble with Bekker is that he he is too similar physically to Matfield and they don’t gell as a team with themselves, whereas it’s better if there is a foil which Botha is.
On another note I cannot believe some of the things that people on this site having been saying about Bakkies, but then it’s easy to trash somebody who can’t hit back. The only questtion about Bakkies Botha is whether he would make the all-time Bok team and after thinking about it for a year I would put him with Matfield and coach Frik du Preez. Bakkes is that good – he’s a colossus and his absence today make Ireland favourites to win this game, whereas before you could put your house on a Bok backlash victory; the team is out balance now and this is probably the best Irish team there has ever been – and they are playing at Croke Park.
November 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Above doesn’t make sense … should read @coach Frik du Preez as a number 8 (he certainly had the seed) …