Jaco Taute, Elton Jantjies, CJ van der Linde and and Coenie Oosthuizen have been called into the Bok squad for the home Tests …
Only two scrumhalves have been selected which means Jano Vermaak misses out. The selectors felt that Vermaak is familiar with the game plan and can easily be brought back in should his services be required.
Dean Greyling misses out after his brainfart in Dunedin but with both Oosthuizen and Van Der Linde in the squad, Meyer now has five props for two games, meaning three guys will fight for a single spot on the bench.
Still no space for Gio Aplon or Heinrich Brussow, but thankfully Francois Louw remains part of the squad, and will likely start against the Aussies as a fetcher.
Squads are easy to pick, though, it’s the match 22 that counts. Johan Goosen seems set to start, but what will Meyer do at fullback?
Zane Kirchner will stay, so the Boks now have both Taute and Pat Lambie fighting for those 4 minutes at the end of a Test match …
Is there really any point in having Morne Steyn in the squad if he is not starting? He is no impact player. Surely it would be better for him to get game time in Currie Cup and build up his confidence again?
The Bok squad:
Willem Alberts (Sharks) – 15 Test caps
Andries Bekker (Western Province) – 27
Craig Burden (Sharks) – 0
Pat Cilliers (Golden Lions) – 3
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) – 7
Juan de Jongh (Western Province) – 10
Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province) – 79
Jannie du Plessis (Sharks) – 37
Eben Etzebeth (Western Province) – 6
Johan Goosen (FS Cheetahs) – 2
Bryan Habana (Western Province) – 81
Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls) – 22
Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions) – 0
Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls) – 19
Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls) – 5
Pat Lambie (Sharks) – 15
Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province) – 3
Francois Louw (Bath, England) – 12
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) – 39
Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks) – 7
Coenie Oosthuizen (FS Cheetahs) – 1
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – 58
Jacques Potgieter (Blue Bulls) – 3
Frans Steyn (Sharks) – 53
Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls) – 41
Adriaan Strauss ( FS Cheetahs) – 16
Jaco Taute (Golden Lions) – 0
CJ van der Linde (Golden Lions) – 73
Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls) – 18
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province) – 2
Tank what has he got against Heinrich? Everyone else in the country rate him as world class! There must be more to this?
Yep, very strange. I know he thinks Brussow gives away too many penalties
Hi Tank
I have no problem with Taute getting a call up, he’s been knocking on the door for a while, he’s also versatile. However, so is Lambie and he’s seen no game time to speak of.
How can Meyer believe Kirshner is better than either of the other two? Kirshner’s idea of variation is to run into the opposition or launch an up and under. Mind blowing!
Hi Tank – so bietjie Afrikaans vir afwisseling. Baie mense hemel Brussouw op. Ek is nie op die oomblik een van hulle nie. Enige ou wat die Cheetah/Lions wedstryd gekyk het moet saamstem dat Brussouw nie veel van ‘n faktor was nie, so ook nie teen WP die vorige naweek nie. Francois Louw is hier en nou ‘n veel beter roep. Hoe Morne nog in die groep bly weet net Heyneke. Enigeeen van Goosen of Jantjies is beter as hy. Ek is baie jammer vir Jantjies en Lambie – hulle verdien ordentlike speelkans en nie paar krummels teen die einde nie. Bevrees ons kaptein lyk ook vir my poegaai, maar kapteinskap moet baie uit Jean haal.
Groete.
Christo
I think he is keeping Kirshner because he needs to keep certain number of players of colour in the team. Especially if JP Peterson is not playing. However, when JP returns, we might see Lambie getting more game time. Then Hougaard might also move to the bench and play as an impact player.
In cricket the tough call is always do you go for the bowler or do you drop him and select the good batter. I believe rugby is no different, sometimes its defence vs. attack, its a tough call and I will back Taute’s defence.