I'm just glad Beast won't be facing Hayman again on the weekend. A TH bullying a LH is a rare sight. That said I wouldn't mind at all if both Beast and Jannie get rested; they seem to need it badly though looking at the stats Vermeulen is the Bok with the most playing minutes followd by Mvovo, F Steyn, Alberts and BdP who all seem fine; maybe just a prop thing as I can't believe Beast has suddenly turned ****. Or maybe the world XV scrum was just exceptionally good. I wouldn't know having played on the wing all my life.
So will we see any changes in the starting line-up? HM is not one to make changes easily. So same front row considering Malherbe is innjured, same 2nd row considering Etzebeth and PSdT are injured and TBH, no need to as Bakkies and Matfield actually both played well. Our backrow as a unit is great even if they don't stand out as individuals while sharing the workload like they do and with Arno Botha injured I don't really think there is any need to rotate (player rotation as a management tool should happen at SR level- here's looking at you Jake White, and AC).
Pienaar was once again pedestrian. Really what is he doing there. FdP added so much more impetus and I can't believe any of our local 9's won't add more than what Pienaar is offering. I know HM has a thing for the injured Schreuder which I also don't understand especially with the way Reinach, De Klerk and Hougaard (is he now in a good mindspace now that the Pistorius murder trial isn't headlining anymore?) have been going this year. M Steyn went better than I expected but I still feel the game against the world XV was the one to test both Goosena nd Boshoff. When Lambie is back where will he fit in. I don't even want to get on the backline I am so depressed De Allende is unavaiable.
I think there will be a few changes here and there...
Maybe Marcell v/d Merwe might get his first cap in place of Jannie (I hope).
At lock we will have to play BakTor. Flip is not with the Bokke this week as his brother is getting married on Saturday, which leaves us with Jacques Du Plessis and possibly Mohoje as back-up.
Our backrow shouldn't change, if they do, It might be Schalla in for Alberts...
At 9 we only have 3 options. Pienaar, Du Preez and Hougaard... I'd like to see Pienaar being ignored completely.
Fly Half, I think HM will stick with Morne, and keep Goosen on the Bench hoping he doesn't get injured by the time it's the Rugby Championship.
Centres... This is the big "?". HM has so many good guys on form in this position, who will he pick, as neither Steyn nor Pietersen had a poor game against the World XV.
The back 3 can also stay as they are, Habana looked hungry again, and while many don't like Hendricks, I love the way he plays, and he had a very good game IMHO against the world XV.
