South Africa RWC Preview

[Melhor Time]

Lord Hope

Good explanations!

The 12 spot could go the way of Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh or Wynand Olivier. Olivier has been poor so far for RSA in 2011 and so will probably not be the guy. I didn´t go for JdV because from what I have seen of him he has not ben able to have the same impact on a match as previously. In any event I picked all three in the squad of 30.

I agree Pat Lambie shpuld not be 10 at the RWC as its a risk, as is Jantjies. Butch James is better than Morne Steyn but I think he lacks creativity, as is normal with RSA flyhalves! I went for Piennar as a guy with experience who is reliable and creative. Combining with du Preez does appear problematic, but there is a month to work on it. For the sake of RSA I hope Morne Steyn is left out of the RWC.

Props look like a strength but I didn´t want Jannie du Plessis in the XV as I´ve seen him go backwards in the scrums. Nonetheless he is in my squad.

About Chilliboy, or Mahlaste, I know he´s officially known by his nickname but as I was writitng for a Brazilian website and the guy is an unknown here I went for his real name. WIth Bakkies Botha its not neccessary.

Darwin 23

12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls): has been an issue, but so have the other options for 12, in my vie, as I said just now to Lord Hope. I don´t mind so much which of the three get the 12 shirt but think they will all be selected.

10 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, Ireland), 21 Elton Janjies (Lions): Pat Lambie for me is a great talent but is raw. Like Wilkinson at RWC 1999 or Carter at 2003. Talent for all to see but the timing is wrong. Peter Grant is above Morne Steyn for me and almost got the nod as did Butch James. I opted for neither to use Janjies as the reseve and Frans Steyn as cover. Jantjies was good for RSA in 2010, aside from goalkicking but this is not a factor given the alternatives in the XV. On form RSA would have to take Butch James and Ruan Pienaar with the third being open to debate.

27 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs): He´s a ballcarrier, like you say. Not much else. He´ll be needed on the bench for both Samoa and Fiji. Thats why I went for him. I´ll be surprized if he is not selected.

3 CJ van der Linde (Stormers), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), 17 Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls), 24 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks): van der Linde is not what he used to be but is still very good. His scrumaging is outstanding but whoever RSA go for should be ok as they have so much depth in this area... aside from John Smit.

Guys,

The Pro 12 is better than the ITM Cup. I´ll give my views on the ITM Cup when I post my New Zealand preview. The Pro 12 was an average competition 5 or so years ago but is getting better and better. Great to have the Italians on board and expansion may continue with Italy getting more teams and Wales... if the North get a team!

 

[psychic duck]

François Steyn should play 12 in my opinion, he is very overrated as a full back

I like Ruan Pienaar playing 10, but unfortunately he's not the best goal kicking option

 

[ranger]

Lord Hope

Good explanations!

The 12 spot could go the way of Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh or Wynand Olivier. Olivier has been poor so far for RSA in 2011 and so will probably not be the guy. I didn´t go for JdV because from what I have seen of him he has not ben able to have the same impact on a match as previously. In any event I picked all three in the squad of 30.

I agree Pat Lambie shpuld not be 10 at the RWC as its a risk, as is Jantjies. Butch James is better than Morne Steyn but I think he lacks creativity, as is normal with RSA flyhalves! I went for Piennar as a guy with experience who is reliable and creative. Combining with du Preez does appear problematic, but there is a month to work on it. For the sake of RSA I hope Morne Steyn is left out of the RWC.

Props look like a strength but I didn´t want Jannie du Plessis in the XV as I´ve seen him go backwards in the scrums. Nonetheless he is in my squad.

About Chilliboy, or Mahlaste, I know he´s officially known by his nickname but as I was writitng for a Brazilian website and the guy is an unknown here I went for his real name. WIth Bakkies Botha its not neccessary.

Darwin 23

12 Wynand Olivier (Bulls): has been an issue, but so have the other options for 12, in my vie, as I said just now to Lord Hope. I don´t mind so much which of the three get the 12 shirt but think they will all be selected.

10 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, Ireland), 21 Elton Janjies (Lions): Pat Lambie for me is a great talent but is raw. Like Wilkinson at RWC 1999 or Carter at 2003. Talent for all to see but the timing is wrong. Peter Grant is above Morne Steyn for me and almost got the nod as did Butch James. I opted for neither to use Janjies as the reseve and Frans Steyn as cover. Jantjies was good for RSA in 2010, aside from goalkicking but this is not a factor given the alternatives in the XV. On form RSA would have to take Butch James and Ruan Pienaar with the third being open to debate.

27 Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs): He´s a ballcarrier, like you say. Not much else. He´ll be needed on the bench for both Samoa and Fiji. Thats why I went for him. I´ll be surprized if he is not selected.

3 CJ van der Linde (Stormers), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), 17 Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls), 24 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks): van der Linde is not what he used to be but is still very good. His scrumaging is outstanding but whoever RSA go for should be ok as they have so much depth in this area... aside from John Smit.

Guys,

The Pro 12 is better than the ITM Cup. I´ll give my views on the ITM Cup when I post my New Zealand preview. The Pro 12 was an average competition 5 or so years ago but is getting better and better. Great to have the Italians on board and expansion may continue with Italy getting more teams and Wales... if the North get a team!

Two things:
1) If you have Henry Tuilagi and Census Johnston storming at you, sure you would be after a flanker that at least has a remote chance of tackling them?
2)What do you mean by "better" when you're comparing competitions? Better player talent? More viable financially? Better to watch? More attractive cheerleaders?
Whats your criteria?

 

[LPsoldier ZA]

Lambie raw? Yet you choose Jantjies coz he was good for RSA in 2010? He was hot/cold for Lions in 2010 Currie Cup and played one game for South Africa vs the Barbarians EOYT...

I agree to disagree.

 

[Shaggy]

Two things:
1) If you have Henry Tuilagi and Census Johnston storming at you, sure you would be after a flanker that at least has a remote chance of tackling them?
2)What do you mean by "better" when you're comparing competitions? Better player talent? More viable financially? Better to watch? More attractive cheerleaders?
Whats your criteria?

Yes, that's what I was trying to get answers to earlier ... everyone is entitled to their opinions on who or what is better than something else ... i'm more interested in "why"

 

[mattygboi]

the flyhalf should be butch! morne is a great asset when it comes to kicking but for every conversion he kicks i garauntee he'll miss 1 or 2 tackles, which to be honest we cant even afford to do in our pool matchs as samoa, wales and fiji all have potent backs that will ( just like aus and new zealand did) run in tries from everywhere! he was good when a kicking game was enough to win, but with the law changes after 2009(his star season) we need a defensive unit that can also counter attack.
plus south africa need a maritzburg college flyhalf! we havent won a wc without one

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

François Steyn should play 12 in my opinion, he is very overrated as a full back

I like Ruan Pienaar playing 10, but unfortunately he's not the best goal kicking option

With Lambie at fullback we don't need a goal-kicker at fly-half.

 

[psychic duck]

With Lambie at fullback we don't need a goal-kicker at fly-half.

yes, Lambie should be 15 then, Steyn 12, Pienaar 10 that's what I would select

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The only other options for fly-half are Elton Jantjies (NO), Peter Grant (Maybe), Sias Ebersohn (Definitely for the future). Pienaar fly-half is the best option we have if we want Lambie at full-back. I would prefer Lambie at 10 with Riaan Viljoen full-back though

 

[mattygboi]

The only other options for fly-half are Elton Jantjies (NO), Peter Grant (Maybe), Sias Ebersohn (Definitely for the future). Pienaar fly-half is the best option we have if we want Lambie at full-back. I would prefer Lambie at 10 with Riaan Viljoen full-back though

that all sounds good if we were playing an overseas tour! we cant afford testing viljoen at fullback...but he is a great talent for the future! lambie has earned a spot in the squad and his omission would be a surprise but id say the smart money is on frans steyn at fullback. hes been to a wc before he knows how to cope with the pressure ( long kick in 07 final) and hes got too much class to leave out! lambie should support butch at flyhalf!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Riaan Viljoen for the future? The guy is 28 already! When looking at the future I think Jaco Taute is one to watch. Viljoen needs a chance in the next 2 years otherwise a great talent is forever lost on us.

 

[mattygboi]

Riaan Viljoen for the future? The guy is 28 already! When looking at the future I think Jaco Taute is one to watch. Viljoen needs a chance in the next 2 years otherwise a great talent is forever lost on us.

wasnt aware he was so old sorry my mistake! as for his chances i would rather see us bleed in younger blood in the next two years, like sadie, ebersohn, lambie, etc.

 

[SavageLez]

Lambie has a shocking kicking ration for SHARKS! He has improved in 2011 but still not tried and tested at TEST level!
NB* The sitter he missed in front of the posts on the UK tour last year?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Lambie had a kicking ratio of 86% this year for the Sharks! That is even higher than Dan Carter, Morne Steyn and James O'Connor!!!

 

[DJRonStar]

Pat Lambie in 2 - 3 years will be one of the best players in the world. That is my prediction.

Has no fear and will only get better with more test to his name.

 

[mattygboi]

Lambie has a shocking kicking ration for SHARKS! He has improved in 2011 but still not tried and tested at TEST level!
NB* The sitter he missed in front of the posts on the UK tour last year?

he missed a sitter on his debut and at the age of twenty! give him a break he has come a long way since then....he willl face his toughest test against the all blacks this weekend and i expect he will impress! do yourself a favor and watch him

 

[SavageLez]

I love Lambie, just saying he is not the man to go to when it comes to kicking at this years RWC. I agree, he is our future but his time for kicking at poles will come. We have a 90% kicker in Morne Steyn and he deserves his chance at this World Cup. He has proved himself as a kicker and that is what any team needs at the RWC. People forget that he has the record for kicking 40 plus consecutive kicks @ Test level. HE has also proved himself in the Lions Series. Agreed he is not the most attacking Fly Half but Lambie can come into that channel if he is playing fullback. If Oz can cover Quades weaknesses with Ione covering his channels defensively we could also think out the box and use Lambie strategically. This strategy will ensure that we do not have any obvious weaknesses when it copmes to attack or kicking goals.

Pick your kicker (Morne) first in a WC and then your players!

 

[Seaton]

Just a wee thing on Lambie's kicking at poles.

If he were still around, JJR could attest that Lambie was an absolute ace-kicker at school and youth levels, and playing on full sized fields, nae the reduced ones.
He once went something like 20 consecutive kicks without a miss, mightily impressive for a school boy. His kicking had a bit of wobble last year in his 'debut' year, but is gradually returning to his former standards.

Anyhoo, with Smith out of contention, who does everyone think will make up the loose trio going into the tournament?
Brussouw, Schalk and Spies are definites, with Alberts looking to be 4th choice, and with Russouw 'able' to cover a loose-forward position, there should be one more loosie.
Steggman has recently sustained an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, and as the sole other 'decent' (depending on who you are) in the country, I would have put my money on him. So, Johnson, Deysel and if fit, Vermualen are the left over culprits. I cannae decide which PdVivvie will go with, but will most likely prefer the two former over the latter.

 

[Darwin]

Just a wee thing on Lambie's kicking at poles.

If he were still around, JJR could attest that Lambie was an absolute ace-kicker at school and youth levels, and playing on full sized fields, nae the reduced ones.
He once went something like 20 consecutive kicks without a miss, mightily impressive for a school boy. His kicking had a bit of wobble last year in his 'debut' year, but is gradually returning to his former standards.

Anyhoo, with Smith out of contention, who does everyone think will make up the loose trio going into the tournament?
Brussouw, Schalk and Spies are definites, with Alberts looking to be 4th choice, and with Russouw 'able' to cover a loose-forward position, there should be one more loosie.
Steggman has recently sustained an injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, and as the sole other 'decent' (depending on who you are) in the country, I would have put my money on him. So, Johnson, Deysel and if fit, Vermualen are the left over culprits. I cannae decide which PdVivvie will go with, but will most likely prefer the two former over the latter.

Any news on the fitness of Vermeulen? If he was fit I would pick him (but I don't think the South African selectors will...). Kankowski is another that may be in contention, but he seems to be out of favour at the moment. I think they will go for Johnson, but personally I wouldn't pick him.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lord Hope

Good explanations!

The 12 spot could go the way of Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh or Wynand Olivier. Olivier has been poor so far for RSA in 2011 and so will probably not be the guy. I didn´t go for JdV because from what I have seen of him he has not ben able to have the same impact on a match as previously. In any event I picked all three in the squad of 30.

Wynand Olivier has ALWAYS been poor in a green jersey.

François Steyn should play 12 in my opinion, he is very overrated as a full back

I like Ruan Pienaar playing 10, but unfortunately he's not the best goal kicking option

Agree, Steyn doesn't have the game to play at 15. He should only be considered at 12 along with JdJ and JdV. JdJ is probably cursed because the fact that he can play 13 as well puts him in as a bench option where Steyn is probably likely to end up (22 jersey) as he can cover 15 as well. The other option is to have Aplon in at 11 and he could move to the back. My preference would be to drop JdV though and have JdJ at 12 with Steyn at 22 (that AND drop Habana for Aplon). lambie is a good shout for 15 at this stage as that's wher he has played most of his rugby though not at a high level (okay, Junior RWC is probably very high LOL). It'd be good to give him that experience (which he has earned) but i hope he goes back to 10 at the Sharks and post RWC for SA as that's where we need him alongside Sias Ebersohn and Johan Goosen or Elton Jantjies for the future. My preference would also have been Viljoen at 15 with Lambie at 10 but that option became impossible last year as that's when we should have given it a go. At the back we do have Taute and Ludik who should be good for the Bokke.

Lambie raw? Yet you choose Jantjies coz he was good for RSA in 2010? He was hot/cold for Lions in 2010 Currie Cup and played one game for South Africa vs the Barbarians EOYT...

I agree to disagree.

I agree LOL

The only other options for fly-half are Elton Jantjies (NO), Peter Grant (Maybe), Sias Ebersohn (Definitely for the future). Pienaar fly-half is the best option we have if we want Lambie at full-back. I would prefer Lambie at 10 with Riaan Viljoen full-back though

T_T

Could have been beautiful. Viljoen adn Smith missing the RWC makes me very sad. Pity Vermeulen probably won't make it as well (as back-up) behind Rossouw, Deysel, Johnson.

 

[psychic duck]

PdV has been messing up the Springbok side ever since he took over, here are 6 managerial blunders from his time in charge

• As stormer2010 says he nearly, by not selecting Brussow, lost the 2009 Lions series (I believe without Brussow the Lions would have won)
  
• He selected Adrian Jacobs ahead of Jaque Fourie for two years
• He had endless loyalty to Ricky Januarie, despite him long being viewed universally as crap, was dropped about a year and a half too late
  
• Still has endless loyalty to John Smit, he selects him on the stupid basis that he's a "good leader" despite being about the fifth of sixth best South African hooker, Nelson Mandela is a good leader should he be expecting a call up to Springboks pack?
• Still has Zane Kirchner in the 50 man RWC squad ahead of players such as Riaan Viljoen
• Has allowed Bryan Habana take his place for granted and his performances has suffered because of that

 

[SavageLez]

Duanne Vermuelen if fit, Kankowski (can double up as a lock) or Deysel are the obvious options but PdV will have political pressure to add players of colour so my thinking is that Ashley Johnson will get the nod.

Johnson has had a great season but his defence is weak and you can't have that @ Test level!