Spring Tour: South Africa - England - 1st Test (09/06/2012, 16:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Kings Park, Durban (09/06/2012, 16:00 GMT)

​

The Springboks will take on the English team 3 times. The first Test is this Saturday, 09/06, played in Durban, home of the Sharks.

 

[B10]

My prediction for the team:

1. Corbs
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Botha
5. Parling
6. Dowson
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. Strettle (maybe Wade, I read Strettle is struggling with a injury)
12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

16. Mears
17. Doran-Jones
18. Palmer
19. Haskell
20. Youngs
21. Hodgson
22. Goode

First test is our best chance for a win so I'll be optimistic and go for a narrow win in an ugly game.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Given the fact that Heyneke Meyer wants to start with a conservative style, to have a better chance at winning (his words, not mine) I fear we might see this:


1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Keegan Daniel
7. Willem Alberts
8. Pierre Spies
9. Francois Hougaard
10.Morne Steyn
11.Bryan Habana
12.Jean de Villers
13.Wynand Olivier
14.JP Pietersen
15.Zane Kirchner


Oh boy, are we in for a surprise when Kirchner, Spies, Habana, Olivier and Steyn will be put aside by England... I fear the worst. Or maybe I am just nervous and want to lower expectations to increase the euphoria later on

 

[Draggs]

Given the fact that Heyneke Meyer wants to start with a conservative style, to have a better chance at winning (his words, not mine) I fear we might see this:


1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Keegan Daniel
7. Willem Alberts
8. Pierre Spies
9. Francois Hougaard
10.Morne Steyn
11.Bryan Habana
12.Jean de Villers
13.Wynand Olivier
14.JP Pietersen
15.Zane Kirchner


Oh boy, are we in for a surprise when Kirchner, Spies, Habana, Olivier and Steyn will be put aside by England... I fear the worst. Or maybe I am just nervous and want to lower expectations to increase the euphoria later on

Peter de Villierstastic!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

My prediction for the team:

1. Corbs
2. Hartley
3. Cole
4. Botha
5. Parling
6. Dowson
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan

9. Dickson
10. Farrell
11. Strettle (maybe Wade, I read Strettle is struggling with a injury)
12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi
14. Ashton
15. Foden

16. Mears
17. Doran-Jones
18. Palmer
19. Haskell
20. Youngs
21. Hodgson
22. Goode

I agree with this for the most part:
Haskell is, apparently, unlikely to play the first test due to arriving late to the camp because of his commitments with the Highlanders.
I imagine Fearns will take his place on the bench.
Not sure who will get the 22 shirt. Goode is more versatile than Brown, however he covers 10/15 and we'll already have a specialised 10 in the 21 shirt in (presumably Hodgson). Flood would probably be the more sensible option for the bench as he also plays 12, however I think I'd prefer Hodgson (shock horror ) as Flood is just back from injury and Hodgson is the better tactical kicker (and distributor...) which may be needed in the latter stages of a Boks test. I hope Flood starts the first mid-week though, and shows he's over his injury and can carry his recent Tigers form to England.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Palmer start over Parling (who would be on the bench). Not sure why, but I've got an inkling.

 

[Saintjay]

Duty rumour that he is going to start Eben Etzebeth and Juandre Kruger as locks and Marcell Coetzee on one on the flanks. Kirchner at full back.

Not knowing the palyers that well I'm unsure if that's good for the Boks or not.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Etzebeth and Coetzee... That's good.

Kirchner.... NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Heyneke Meyer will pick combinations for the first test, and he said that Keegan Daniel is his number 1 Eighth man at the moment. So I think the team will look like this:

1. Beast Mtawarira
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Jannie Du Plessis
4. Flip van der merwe
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Marcell Coetzee
7. Willem Alberts
8. Keegan Daniel

9. Francois Hougaard
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Francois Steyn
13. Jean De Villiers
14. JP Pietersen
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Chilliboy Ralepelle
17. Coenie Oosthuizen
18. Eben Etzebeth
19. Pierre SPies
20. Ruan Pienaar
21. Pat Lambie
22. JJ Engelbrecht

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

So tell me what combination is Kirchner part of? Man, Lambie should play.

 

[Draggs]

Add Lions to the end of that pic, Eze
Is Francois going to be ready for the first match?

 

[TRF_heineken]

So tell me what combination is Kirchner part of? Man, Lambie should play.

Lol!! I knew that would get your attention!!

I'm just kidding about Kirchner... I'd like to see Lambie there of course. Kirchner should be at his flat in Pretoria.

By the way, that pic is way too old to be funny anymore, The Stormers still only have a Vodacom cup in their trophy cabinet for the last how many years??

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

F Steyn is out for the 1st test so, with the players available, I'm hoping for;

1 Mtawarira
2 Du Plessis
3 W Kruger
4 Etzebeth
5 J Kruger
6 J Strauss
7 J Potgieter
8 Coetzee
9 Hougaard
10 Pienaar
11 Habana
12 De Villiers (c)
13 Olivier !!?! (seeing as F Steyn and Fourie aren't available and De Jongh not in the squad)
14 Petersen
15 Lambie

I'd definately play Lambie and Pienaar out of prefered position to keep M Steyn and Kirschner out. I'm just tired of them underperforming but getting the nod becuase "there isn't anyone else with the experience". Fooooook, no one will ever have the experience if not given the chance!!

16 Oosthuizen
17 Strauss
18 Van der Merwe
19 Daniel
20 Vermaak
21 Goosen (because a crocked Goosen is better than the alternatives)
22 Aplon / De Jongh (because it's never too late LOL)

 

[TRF_heineken]

F Steyn is out for the 1st test so, with the players available, I'm hoping for;

1 Mtawarira
2 Du Plessis
3 W Kruger
4 Etzebeth
5 J Kruger
6 J Strauss
7 J Potgieter
8 Coetzee
9 Hougaard
10 Pienaar
11 Habana
12 De Villiers (c)
13 Olivier !!?! (seeing as F Steyn and Fourie aren't available and De Jongh not in the squad)
14 Petersen
15 Lambie

I'd definately play Lambie and Pienaar out of prefered position to keep M Steyn and Kirschner out. I'm just tired of them underperforming but getting the nod becuase "there isn't anyone else with the experience". Fooooook, no one will ever have the experience if not given the chance!!

16 Oosthuizen
17 Strauss
18 Van der Merwe
19 Daniel
20 Vermaak
21 Goosen (because a crocked Goosen is better than the alternatives)
22 Aplon / De Jongh (because it's never too late LOL)

Where did you read that Francois Steyn is out of the first test???

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/EnglandinSA/Kirchner-set-for-No-15-jersey-20120604

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Where did you read that Francois Steyn is out of the first test???

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/EnglandinSA/Kirchner-set-for-No-15-jersey-20120604

Someone mentioned it a bit higher up in this thread (at least I think it's this thread).

The guy is mos getting married.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Someone mentioned it a bit higher up in this thread (at least I think it's this thread).

The guy is mos getting married.

The third test, the last one, when we are already 2 up.

 

[peanuts40]

Was a bad week for S.A sports, hope The Boks can make up for it with a win.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The third test, the last one, when we are already 2 up.

That's what i also thought. Glad it is the case.

 

[User1245]

Given the fact that Heyneke Meyer wants to start with a conservative style, to have a better chance at winning (his words, not mine) I fear we might see this:


1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Keegan Daniel
7. Willem Alberts
8. Pierre Spies
9. Francois Hougaard
10.Morne Steyn
11.Bryan Habana
12.Jean de Villers
13.Wynand Olivier
14.JP Pietersen
15.Zane Kirchner


Oh boy, are we in for a surprise when Kirchner, Spies, Habana, Olivier and Steyn will be put aside by England... I fear the worst. Or maybe I am just nervous and want to lower expectations to increase the euphoria later on

I agree that is the most conservative team and Meyer will probably pick close to that. I'm not sure how much to read into the news report that says Kirchner is running at fullback. I reckon its a toss up between, (1) Meyer trying a few things out on the 1st day just for testing, or (2) Establishing a team ASAP since they don't have much time to practice before the 1st Test.

Good news is Spies isn't captain.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Yep. Spies not captaining the side leaves a spot open for Kanko haha

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[Sker]

I want to believe Heyneke Meyer is not stupid, I really really do. He must have a masterplan, he must have some devious scheme. Fooling us all! Maybe if I repeat that over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...