What a huge investment in Pretorius
Jake White tried to play Andre Pretorius into shape today. It almost cost the Boks a match.
Don't get me wrong, I think Jake and Eddie Jones are doing a great job at the world cup and the team have my 100% support. Almost all the decisions have paid off. But taking Andre Pretorius along after such a long lay off was a huge risk.
Pretorius is a mercurial player at the best of times and such players survive on confidence. When his kicks were missing the posts, you could sense the contagion spreading to the rest of his game. His line kicking was atrocious and his running lines were worse.
So what to do?
If Francois Steyn wasn't showing such form and potential at inside center I'd say it is fairly obvious that he should be Butch's backup and be given time in the position. That would have included moving him to flyhalf as a sub for Pretorius at half time.
Considering the first choice side, and not wanting to disrupt two positions, the other option is moving Ruan Pienaar in as Butch's understudy.
But as much talent as Pienaar has, I get scared thinking of him replacing Butch there in a World Cup final.
So I think I'd settle on Julies moving to inside center and Steyn to flyhalf. Even that makes me scared given the youngster's inexperience.
What this all betrays is the lack of form and depth beyond Butch. And a few months ago I didn't think I'd even be saying that. So well done Butchie.
The rest
The Tongans were far faster to and physical at the rucks than the English. While our low numbers to the rucks and slow ball worked in the English game given the focus on field position and kicking (under that game plan you commit fewer players to the ruck in order to chase and bolster the defensive lines), it does hint that we'll be under pressure against sides with stronger, faster packs like the All Blacks. With Bobby playing loose and Roussouw slow to the ball, Wickus was left with too much to do with only really Bakkies in support. Juan Smith made a real difference when he came on.
If Roussouw was to be replaced in the first choice line up (which might be moot given what looked like a serious neck injury - get well Daniesaurus), Wickus, Juan and Schalk (as 6, 7 and 8) might be the combination with Bobby on the bench.
Meisiekind looked out of form at outside center and Ashwin looked a shadow of his former self. His lack of pace when he made a clear break was startling and sad.
Januarie looked far better. Gary Botha played hard in the loose, but his throwing and scrumming was shown up when replaced by John Smit.
For the other replacements, Monty looked fairly ordinary when winning his record 90th cap (that fly kick...), Matfield looked brilliant in the line outs, Steyn, Smit and Habana looked good. Both Steyn and Habana looked unfairly done over with the yellow cards. I'm not sure how disciplinary records come into play into this world cup, but let's hope it never comes to that.
The USA
The purpose of this game was to give our replacements some game time and allow them to find form if they are needed as replacements later in the campaign.
We learnt a few things, but the form was sadly elusive.
So I think we have to carry this forward to the match against the USA. I know Jake has said he will play his first XV and allow them to build momentum for the semis. But I think the second forty will allow us to do that. That said, I think Jacque Fourie needs game time.
My team for the USA would be:
15. Ruan Pienaar 14. Akona Ndugane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. JP Pietersen 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ricky Januarie 8. Bobby Skinstad (capt) 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Johan Muller 4. Albert van der Berg 3. CJ van der Linde 2. Bismark du Plessis 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Subs: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Botha, John Smit, BJ Botha, Percy Montgomery, Bryan Habana
Second half 15. Percy Montgomery 14. Akona Ndungane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. Bryan Habana 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ruan Pienaar 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit (capt) 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Ndungane gets a full game, the loose trio gets a test, Steyn gets a full run at flyhalf, Johan Muller (assuming fit), Bismark du Plessis and Julies get game time.
This leads to my team for the quarter finals:
15. Percy Montgomery 14. Bryan Habana 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Francois Steyn 11. JP Pietersen 10. Butch James 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smith 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit 1. Os du Randt
Subs: Wayne Julies, Ruan Pienaar, Bobby Skinstad, Johan Muller, CJ can der Linde, Bismark du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp
This allows Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn to be used as utility backs with Steyn possibly given the second half against Wales at flyhalf (Julies comes on at inside center). It also allows a full front row substitution if the match is won early. Johan Muller gives extra flexibility as a lock or loosie replacement.
Don't get me wrong, I think Jake and Eddie Jones are doing a great job at the world cup and the team have my 100% support. Almost all the decisions have paid off. But taking Andre Pretorius along after such a long lay off was a huge risk.
Pretorius is a mercurial player at the best of times and such players survive on confidence. When his kicks were missing the posts, you could sense the contagion spreading to the rest of his game. His line kicking was atrocious and his running lines were worse.
So what to do?
If Francois Steyn wasn't showing such form and potential at inside center I'd say it is fairly obvious that he should be Butch's backup and be given time in the position. That would have included moving him to flyhalf as a sub for Pretorius at half time.
Considering the first choice side, and not wanting to disrupt two positions, the other option is moving Ruan Pienaar in as Butch's understudy.
But as much talent as Pienaar has, I get scared thinking of him replacing Butch there in a World Cup final.
So I think I'd settle on Julies moving to inside center and Steyn to flyhalf. Even that makes me scared given the youngster's inexperience.
What this all betrays is the lack of form and depth beyond Butch. And a few months ago I didn't think I'd even be saying that. So well done Butchie.
The rest
The Tongans were far faster to and physical at the rucks than the English. While our low numbers to the rucks and slow ball worked in the English game given the focus on field position and kicking (under that game plan you commit fewer players to the ruck in order to chase and bolster the defensive lines), it does hint that we'll be under pressure against sides with stronger, faster packs like the All Blacks. With Bobby playing loose and Roussouw slow to the ball, Wickus was left with too much to do with only really Bakkies in support. Juan Smith made a real difference when he came on.
If Roussouw was to be replaced in the first choice line up (which might be moot given what looked like a serious neck injury - get well Daniesaurus), Wickus, Juan and Schalk (as 6, 7 and 8) might be the combination with Bobby on the bench.
Meisiekind looked out of form at outside center and Ashwin looked a shadow of his former self. His lack of pace when he made a clear break was startling and sad.
Januarie looked far better. Gary Botha played hard in the loose, but his throwing and scrumming was shown up when replaced by John Smit.
For the other replacements, Monty looked fairly ordinary when winning his record 90th cap (that fly kick...), Matfield looked brilliant in the line outs, Steyn, Smit and Habana looked good. Both Steyn and Habana looked unfairly done over with the yellow cards. I'm not sure how disciplinary records come into play into this world cup, but let's hope it never comes to that.
The USA
The purpose of this game was to give our replacements some game time and allow them to find form if they are needed as replacements later in the campaign.
We learnt a few things, but the form was sadly elusive.
So I think we have to carry this forward to the match against the USA. I know Jake has said he will play his first XV and allow them to build momentum for the semis. But I think the second forty will allow us to do that. That said, I think Jacque Fourie needs game time.
My team for the USA would be:
15. Ruan Pienaar 14. Akona Ndugane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. JP Pietersen 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ricky Januarie 8. Bobby Skinstad (capt) 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Johan Muller 4. Albert van der Berg 3. CJ van der Linde 2. Bismark du Plessis 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Subs: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Botha, John Smit, BJ Botha, Percy Montgomery, Bryan Habana
Second half 15. Percy Montgomery 14. Akona Ndungane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. Bryan Habana 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ruan Pienaar 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit (capt) 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Ndungane gets a full game, the loose trio gets a test, Steyn gets a full run at flyhalf, Johan Muller (assuming fit), Bismark du Plessis and Julies get game time.
This leads to my team for the quarter finals:
15. Percy Montgomery 14. Bryan Habana 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Francois Steyn 11. JP Pietersen 10. Butch James 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smith 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit 1. Os du Randt
Subs: Wayne Julies, Ruan Pienaar, Bobby Skinstad, Johan Muller, CJ can der Linde, Bismark du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp
This allows Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn to be used as utility backs with Steyn possibly given the second half against Wales at flyhalf (Julies comes on at inside center). It also allows a full front row substitution if the match is won early. Johan Muller gives extra flexibility as a lock or loosie replacement.
posted at 4:54 PM
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