so how are we looking player-wise for each position going forward. with some of the old guard leaving JdV, Burger, Habana, FdP, Matfield etc and possibly the likes of du Plessis bros, Alberts and Ruan joining them. would be interesting if someone with more local knowledge could do a 1-15 with all the candidates for each position.
with guys like de Allende and Kriel (also hoping Senatla could be Habana's long term replacement but he's still relatively untested) we could be in for exciting times ahead but i can't help but think our games needs to evolve to allow us to compete with the best.
our forwards can compete with anyone and give the team a great platform to build on but the backline is starved of the ball too often then we expect wonders from them when they do eventually get it.
dare i say it but could possibly do with some kiwi coaches working with the provinces and the boks, those guys seem to know the game inside out.
Its almost a pointless excersize though because of the 50% race quota. Like Smartcooky stated above I certainly am glad I don't have to balance race quotas going forward in my fantasy XVs but its a (backroom) reality for Meyer most of his critics tend to forget and I include myself. The worst of it IMO is that the black players that do make it will have that questionmark over their heads of "are they there on merit or because of special treatment?". Anyway, in my view:
LOOSEHEAD:
Inside track:
Tendai Mtawarira - staying on at the Sharks I believe, is black and experienced if not quite our current form loosehead
Trevor Nyakane
- is black and there on merit IMO
Steven Kitshoff - our form loosehead and out of selection due to injury and probably quotas, moving to France next year before getting his cap(s) is probably hurting his chances
Maybe:
Heinke van der Merwe -
Youngster who could step up:
Thomas du Toit -
Olli Kebble -
HOOKER
Inside track:
Adriaan Strauss -
Bismarck du Plessis - I can see him staying around the Bok fold despite being in France by dit of the fact that our other options will be needing time and experience at SR leve first and Brits and Burden are also old and in Europe.
Maybe:
Scarra Ntubeni - has been groomed for a spot and is probably still in contention but has failed IMO to get enough consistency in his core duties to warrant selection for the Stormers nevermind the Bokke.
Robbie Coetzee
Armand van der Merwe
Youngster who could step up:
Malcolm Marx
Mike Willemse
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Inside track:
Frans Malherbe -
Jannie du Plessis -
Vincent Koch - I can see him getting another chance. He got owned by streetwise Ayerza in his test debut but 1) who wouldn't and 2) we won't get Poite and his incompetence at scrum time every test.
Coenie Oosthuizen - sad but true.
Marcel van der Merwe -
Maybe:
Julian Redelinghuys -
Youngster who could step up:
Thomas du Toit - seeing as the Sharks are looking to switch him over though why I wouldn't know seeing as he is a good loose head as is despite his young age.
LOCKS
Inside track:
Eben Etzebeth -
Lood de Jager -
Maybe:
Pieter-Steph du Toit - probably unfair to judge the youngster right back from injury and thrown into the thick of things. I'll back him to take that bench spot.
Oupa Mohoje -
Juandre Kruger -
Flip van der Merwe -
Francois van der Merwe -
Youngster who could step up:
Marvin Orie
Paul Willemse - in Europe though
Jandre Marais - also in France
Ruan Botha - will he get time behind Etzebeth and PSdT at the Stormers?
Jean Kleyn - also behind in the pecking order at the Stormers but has shown some good grunt
Stephan Lewies - will he regain form coming back from injury?
Franco Mostert
Jacques du Plessis - also heading to France
LOOSIES
Inside track:
Duane Vermeulen - because we can't have rookies in every position and he is still going very well.
Francois Louw -
Marcell Coetzee -
(I don't see Brussow, Burger or Alberts carrying on much longer really mostly due to age and not being shoe-ins)
Maybe:
Siya Kolisi -
Jaco Kriel - has already done more than enough to warrant starting ahead of Louw, Coetzee and Brussow IMO
Warren Whiteley -
Arno Botha -
Nizaam Carr -
Youngster who could step up:
Where do I start.. TBH I don't think anyone below these above will get a look in soon; we are just too well stocked here.
... I'll update with my reasons when I get the time. Also still need to do the backs..