South Africa will be playing in white for 3 tests, on home soil. That rarely happens.
Why the hell does Ireland get to play in green both home AND away!?! Maybe that's the edge they've had on us recently, the... Irish.
Oh, man... I just can't resist it! Here goes; me crystalballing SA's matchday 23 for drilling Ireland into our hardpacked earth just because we do need to drill them. Hard and long and messily. SA rugby fans remain frustrated and we need to make a point against this rising Irish side to undo the damage they've already done;
1 Trevor Nyakane* - its time to retire the Beast. We have options. Of those options Nyakane is black and merits his spot IMO.
2 Adriaan Strauss (c) - because he is senior and supposing Bismarck is out is a sure starter while we wait on our young hookers to step up. No Burger, JdV, Matfield, FdP and with competition in the backrow means Strauss is the likeliest senior player to play regularly.
3 Frans Malherbe
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Lood de Jager
6 Marcell Coetzee
7 Jaco Kriel
8 Duane Vermeulen
9 Faf de Klerk - Please can we try our hand at fancy rugby? Off loads, snipes, wrap-arounds etc.
10 Handre Pollard
11
12 Damian de Alende* - the real Beast. Does he still count as colored? LOL, what a ridiculous situation SA ruby is in thanks to politics!
13 Jesse Kriel - lets hope the Bulls play them 12 Serfontein, 13 Kriel, 15 Gelant
14
15 Warrick Gelant* - because its time to accept Le Roux isn't improving on his failings and if anything has gone backwards in what made him an attractive prospect in the first place. Is this his own or Meyer's fault?
On our wings I am going to have to go black as my team is nowhere near 50% black*. I'd like to get a bit of size though. This is going to be tricky. If I can't have size I want Shane Williams type elusiveness and/or playmaking skills. I'll go for one of our 7's converts or paint Le Roux black. Kolbe, Senatla, Ulengo, Hendricks if back in form, Mvovo.. but all these 7's guys are probably going to be unavailable with Rio 2016's 7's. I am at a loss here. Probably just stick in two who've previsouly done duty on our wings; JPP, Habana, Hendricks, Hougaard or Le Roux.
16 If none of the younguns step up we can always call on Bismarck, Burden or Brits. Will Armand van der Merwe stay in France or is he coming back? The other two Lions hookers and if he gets the time Mike Willemse also have a lot of potential.
17 Steven Kitshoff
18 Vincent Koch
19 Pieter-Steph du Toit - he didn't shine during the RWC but that's probably too much to ask of him just coming back from a helluva long injury lay-off. He'll get time alongside Etzebeth next year and I like the potential the combo has. But lets start De Jager.
20 Siya Kolisi* - because he is black and we'll probably need the numbers and he can do the business even if I think there are better options beyond him. Lets see how the first half of SR goes.
21 Cobus Reinach / Francois Hougaard
22 Pat Lambie
23 Willie le Roux - because of a lack of options and if we are behind with 10 to go why not gamble? Otherwise another center option in Serfontein seeing as Lambie could cover 15.
I know Rob houwing is not universally popular. But I am in 100% agreement with these 3 changes he is advocating:
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/WorldCup/3-ways-to-pep-up-Bok-attack-20151104
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You're right. 30 clubs with ProD2 (no idea if it's Currie Cup standard)
most if not all French club combos were overlooked:
Parra-Lopez at Clermont
FTD-Pelissié at Montpellier
Bastareau-Mermoz at Toulon
Rougerie-Fofana at Clermont
Toulouse backrow
etc
That's my feeling as well. I'm glad my following the top 14 (as much as any man can) is paying off.
Sadly, I don't see that happening. However, I reckon it will be pretty close. Schmidt said that the 6N and the South African tour are his main focus, so will be interesting to see if he bloods young players (which I hope he does), tries different gameplans or just goes for the comfortable win. Ideally, all 3.
