Tank Lanning
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer had hinted during the week that Morne Steyn needed a break from the game and that Johan Goosen would get a run against the Aussies, and with the young Cheetah pivot having been running at flyhalf during training, it was not that surprising to see him named in the Bok side to take on the Aussies on Saturday.
Not surprising, but still a pretty bold (for the conservative Meyer that is) and good call. Be it through public pressure or be it through coming to the realisation that Morne Steyn is not the man right now, it is great to see this prodigious talent getting a start at the highest level.
What was surprising though, was the elevation of Jaco Taute ahead of Juan de Jongh to be bracketed with Frans Steyn to start at centre. Steyn has a dodgy ankle and will need to pass a fitness test today. Fail, and Taute comes from nowhere to start! I really did think Meyer would keep the other Steyn at flyhalf with De Jongh coming in at centre …
Tough on De Jongh, who seems not to have the coach’s faith, but another exciting step …
Many people (me at the front of the queue) have been calling for Boks to play a more possession based game and take the ball closer to the advantage line, and Goosen is the man for that. I would have gone one step further and selected Pat Lambie at fullback, but Meyer is by nature a conservative fellow and likes Kirchner at the back. As said before, I do not think he cuts it at the highest level, but the coach clearly does. There has been talk of political pressure keeping him in the side, but with Taute leap frogging De Jongh, that actually cannot be the case. Meyer just rates Kirchner!
Jean de Villiers is certainly not playing his best rugby, falling off tackles, and losing the ball in the tackle, but it would take a brave, brave coach to change his skipper now. And I would agree.
I also think we might see the best of every player if the Boks were indeed to move to a more ball in hand game plan that sees people running at space, rather than other people, and taking the first point of contact a little wider.
Andries Bekker needs proper game management given his back issues, but he has had a week off and looked better when on against the All Blacks. He needs to do a little more donkey work, but probably deserves a start, as does Eben Etzebeth, who is back from suspension. Not that Flip van der Merwe had a bad game when starting though – and that is good news for the Boks.
Meyer likes Coenie Oosthuizen, who is a really exciting ball carrier, and is working hard on being able play both sides of the scrum. But he is just back from a pretty serious neck injury though (only one game for the Cheetahs), so I would have gone with the tried and tested CJ van der Linde on the bench. He can definitely play both sides, and his form in the Currie Cup has been good. We all saw what an “Out there” prop selection on the bench did last time!
Keeping Morne Steyn in the squad, but not selecting him is a good move as it allows time away from the game. I would have him on a beach somewhere playing boule, though. I am yet to be convinced re Jantjies ability at Super Rugby level, let alone international, but he is in the squad and is in top Currie Cup form, so let’s have a look at him. If playing Goosen, one might as well go the whole hog. Having Steyn as backup is like being half pregnant …
I called for a new look Bok side to rekindle my (and many others based on comments and discussions) waning enthusiasm … And got it. Now the Boks just need to tweak that game plan to allow these guys to play some rugby. Will we see that on Saturday? I think we might … Well, at least a step toward that!
The Springbok side named to take on Australia in Pretoria on Saturday:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn/Jaco Taute, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Jaco Taute/Juan de Jongh, 22 Patrick Lambie
The side I would have selected:
15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Jaco Taute
The current 30 man Springbok squad:
Forwards (17): Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Juandré Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Francois Louw, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen
Backs (13): Jean de Villiers (captain), Juan de Jongh, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Jaco Taute.
I think the only reason Taute “leapfrogged” De Jongh is because if Steyn is out, De Villiers will play inside and Taute (a better outside centre than De Jongh in my opinion) will play outside. Dont think Heyneke will play two young, inexperienced (Internationally) players next to each other.
Taute/De Jongh – Tank, you know HM’s obsession with size in each position. That can be the only reason he has leaped frog De Jongh. IMO Taute is very predictable – many of his tries/runs are as a result of poor tackling by the opposition.
Great team selected, bar some injuires the best team of the year. Taute is exciting player with a good future and HM has realised this. De Jongh is a good player too, but his passing game/distribution skills is not that great, esspecially at test level. I rate Jantjies, he could have started even, more experience than Goosen, but both our great prospects and SA has not had all round talented flyhalfs like these guys in a long time….NEW ERA of exciting Bok rugby to start now I hope:)
This springbok side is starting to look better and better. If they play like they played against NZL, and with the new flyhalf, we should win the game. Another thing, I think Jean would be better at inside centre. When he played alongside Jaque Fourie he was at inside and Jaque at outside. Maybe it will be a good move if Taute is at outside and Jean inside. Maybe that is the reason why Jean is not playing his best, playing out of position?
Meyer hammered the fact that he wants/trusts combinations…now all of a sudden Taute leapfrogs de Jongh(who is a fantastic game breaker and has X-factor) and in so doing, throws out the Stormers combination of de Villiers(moving to 12) and de Jongh. Doesn’t quite make sense, but elated at the selection of Goosen. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get told/coached to play Steyn type rugby! I seriously hope Frans Steyn can pass the fitness test, his hard running and strong flat passes would be an amazing asset with an attacking flyhalf taking the ball up a little harder!
Bring on the running rugby! GO BOKKE
Hi Tank, I agree with most of your comments (as usual). I hope Lambie get some more game time !! He really deserves it.
I feel for Jantjies – although Goosen is my first choice as well, I am concerned that Jantjies might feel that Meyer does not really believe in him: he had the opportunity to give Jantjies a run against England but he didn’t. If he stays on the bench once again for the full 80 his confidence may take a dip
Ditto! And spot on with Lambie. This is far more exciting Bok side. Goosen is a very exciting selection. A more gifted and natural footballer we havent seen in a long time for the Boks at ten. There will be pressure on the young man, but I think he will handle it. Would it not be wonderful to see Habana and Hougaard get the bal in space? Jean has not been great but he is at his best in a backline with an attacking mindset. Goosen will take it up and ask questions of the opposition defense, something that hasn’t been the case at all with Morne at 10. Opposition defenders have to look after Goosen otherwise he will hurt you because he is extremely pacy. Carter, Cruden, Evans, Mehrtens, Spencer is and were all extremely dangerous nr 10’s and this creates opportunity for players outside of 10! Lets hope Goosen announces his arrival in a big way on Saturday!
Oh yes and dont forget about Larkham!