So who should be in the Bok squad?
We're getting close to that time of the season again. And Bok "selectors" everywhere are getting tense about who deserves the green and gold.
Here's my early selection with second choices in brackets.
I've tried to follow Jake White's logic of considering the incumbent and the impact of their team and Super 14 positional selections on their performance. I have also condsidered the incumbent in Joe van Niekerk's case - he has played to little rugby to be included purely on form - although he is beginning to look good.
At front row I think I'll be caned by some for leaving out OS, but I believe JD Moller has won aclaim from opposing sides. BJ Botha is the popular new cap on the other side of the scrum. Many will feel Sephaka and Andrews are quota selections as reserves, but I have been impressed with their recent form. I also believe Sephaka has not had enough starting game time. He looked particularly good against the Force.
Ross Skeate is selected out of position (5 instead of 4) as cover for Victor Matfield - but that is because I see them as similar players - modern athletic locks.
Johan Ackerman is a great backup for Bakkies - imagine playing 60 minutes against Bakkies and the Ackerman comes on - there's some "enforcer" for you!
Combinations are important. Besides this, I think that starting combination of Luke Watson and Schalk Burger are deserved in their own right. Both have played with 80 minute commitment every match. Pedrie Wannenberg breaks the provincial combination as starting eigth man - he has been immense for the Bulls.
Ruan Pienaar makes my starting scrumhalf spot - he is a huge talent. Fourie du Preez makes reserve as an incumbent.
Flyhalf is tough because we have not seen Jaco van der Westhuysen play there domestically. But his touches look good from fullback, and Jake picked him from Japan as flyhalf previously. It is a tough call for reserve flyhalf, but Andre Pretorius has played in a losing side and Meyer Bosman is the incumbent "future" player.
Centres - what a headache! No one has set the world alight this season. Barry has started playing again since being dropped from 13 and then returning at 12. He gets the spot as incumbent and with a glimmer of hope. Jacques Foruie gets 13 - without us seeing him there for the Cats. You know what they say about class and form - hopefully it's true. The Bulls pairing get the reserve spots. One has to worry about creativity here though. If only Habana had some game time at centre. There is no place for De Villiers based on his utterly inept defensive performance this Super 14. Joubert might have class, but his form is so long gone that he cannot make this squad. I somehow think Jake White will go with the incumbents though.
I would take a pasting on the Keo boards for my wings, but I think they're deserved. Habana picks himself. Paulse's experience in France could be huge factor for the world cup. I have no idea how well he has played for Clermont though. He makes the spot as incumbent. Akona Ndungane has showed hunger and commitment with flair on attack for the Bulls. Odwa Ndungane makes my reserve spot together with him showing similar hunger and flair to that of his twin brother.
Monty has had a quiet Super 14. He hasn't exactly done anything wrong, but he needs to look to join the line more on attack for the Boks. Fortuin is another new cap as reserve - he's tried hard for the Cheetahs and looked good.
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| Photo: Sasol Springbok Images |
Here's my early selection with second choices in brackets.
| First Choice | Second Choice |
|---|---|
| 1. JD Moller - Stormers | [Lawrence Sephaka - Cats] |
| 2. John Smit - Sharks | [Gary Botha - Bulls] |
| 3. BJ Botha - Sharks | [Eddie Andrews - Stormers] |
| 4. Bakkies Botha - Bulls | [Johan Ackerman - Sharks] |
| 5. Victor Matfield - Bulls | [Ross Skeate - Stormers] |
| 6. Luke Watson - Stormers | [Wikus van Heerden - Cats] |
| 7. Schalk Burger - Stormers | [Juan Smith - Cheetahs] |
| 8. Pedrie Wannenberg - Bulls | [Joe van Niekerk - Stormers] |
| 9. Ruan Pienaar - Sharks | [Fourie du Preez - Bulls] |
| 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen - Bulls | [Meyer Bosman - Cheetahs] |
| 11. Bryan Habana - Bulls | [Odwa Ndungane - Sharks] |
| 12. De Wet Barry - Stormers | [Wynand Olivier - Bulls] |
| 13. Jaque Fourie - Cats | [JP Nel - Bulls] |
| 14. Breyton Paulse - Clermont | [Akona Ndungane - Bulls] |
| 15. Percival Montgomery - Sharks | [Bevin Fortuin - Cheetahs] |
I've tried to follow Jake White's logic of considering the incumbent and the impact of their team and Super 14 positional selections on their performance. I have also condsidered the incumbent in Joe van Niekerk's case - he has played to little rugby to be included purely on form - although he is beginning to look good.
At front row I think I'll be caned by some for leaving out OS, but I believe JD Moller has won aclaim from opposing sides. BJ Botha is the popular new cap on the other side of the scrum. Many will feel Sephaka and Andrews are quota selections as reserves, but I have been impressed with their recent form. I also believe Sephaka has not had enough starting game time. He looked particularly good against the Force.
Ross Skeate is selected out of position (5 instead of 4) as cover for Victor Matfield - but that is because I see them as similar players - modern athletic locks.
Johan Ackerman is a great backup for Bakkies - imagine playing 60 minutes against Bakkies and the Ackerman comes on - there's some "enforcer" for you!
Combinations are important. Besides this, I think that starting combination of Luke Watson and Schalk Burger are deserved in their own right. Both have played with 80 minute commitment every match. Pedrie Wannenberg breaks the provincial combination as starting eigth man - he has been immense for the Bulls.
Ruan Pienaar makes my starting scrumhalf spot - he is a huge talent. Fourie du Preez makes reserve as an incumbent.
Flyhalf is tough because we have not seen Jaco van der Westhuysen play there domestically. But his touches look good from fullback, and Jake picked him from Japan as flyhalf previously. It is a tough call for reserve flyhalf, but Andre Pretorius has played in a losing side and Meyer Bosman is the incumbent "future" player.
Centres - what a headache! No one has set the world alight this season. Barry has started playing again since being dropped from 13 and then returning at 12. He gets the spot as incumbent and with a glimmer of hope. Jacques Foruie gets 13 - without us seeing him there for the Cats. You know what they say about class and form - hopefully it's true. The Bulls pairing get the reserve spots. One has to worry about creativity here though. If only Habana had some game time at centre. There is no place for De Villiers based on his utterly inept defensive performance this Super 14. Joubert might have class, but his form is so long gone that he cannot make this squad. I somehow think Jake White will go with the incumbents though.
I would take a pasting on the Keo boards for my wings, but I think they're deserved. Habana picks himself. Paulse's experience in France could be huge factor for the world cup. I have no idea how well he has played for Clermont though. He makes the spot as incumbent. Akona Ndungane has showed hunger and commitment with flair on attack for the Bulls. Odwa Ndungane makes my reserve spot together with him showing similar hunger and flair to that of his twin brother.
Monty has had a quiet Super 14. He hasn't exactly done anything wrong, but he needs to look to join the line more on attack for the Boks. Fortuin is another new cap as reserve - he's tried hard for the Cheetahs and looked good.
posted at 9:54 PM
3 Comments:
considering injuries, form and incumbents/class, my personal selections would be somthing like this.
1 - OS (no gurthro so lorrie)
2 - smit (brits)
3 - BJ (eddie)
4 - botha (roussow)
5 - matfield (van den burgh)
6 - burger (watson)
7 - Juan smith (AJ venter)
8 - big Joe (P3 wanneburg)
9 - enrico (ruan pienaar)
10 - jaco/james if fit (meyer)
11 - Habanero (akona ndugane)
12 - JDV (wynand olivier)
13 - Jaque fourie (maruis... groan)
14 - brent russell (breyton)
15 - Percival. (JP pieterson)
our loose trio is probably, along with the backline the most contentious positional combo to select. i dont feel its possible to leave AJ venter out completely and juan smith barely makes it into the no. 7 spot instead of making way for AJ and going to 8. joe is class at eight and assuming he can regain some of his form, should be starting there. pedrie wanneburg is showing some competence at 8 and deserves his spot on the bench. luke watson is the dedicated fetcher.
i reckon if butch is back he must start or come off the bench in the first springbok game. if on form butch is the incumbent springbok 10. meyer is the understudy and jaco can cover fullback. i feel breyton will add loads of value with his knowledge of the french game, but if we're gonna start with a 'breyton' type of wing, there is no way we can justify leaving out brent russell.
Thanks for the comments.
There's been a whole lot of discussion on the Keo board - where there was a whole lot of debate about the loosies and backs!
I guess AJ has shown more form (and has more versatility) than Wikus van Heerden, so that can be justified.
I thought hard about JP Pietersen and I think he could get a spot above Odwa Ndungane.
You have Akona on the opposite wing to that which he plays for the Bulls - may not be a big issue.
I was a big Brent Russell fan, but I'd rather keep Fortuin as FB reserve and pick Pietersen as cover for Breyton. Russell just has not succeeded enough in the chances he has been given - that might be harsh given the way he has been used, but hey.
Can't agree with your lock backups though.
Butch needs a lot of game time to prove he's up to it and can use his arms...
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