Springbok final squad selection.

First topic message reminder :

Tomorrow night after the Stormers vs Bulls derby in the super XV, Heyeneke Meyer will select his squad for the upcoming English tour. A few players outside of South Africa has been added to his initial squad of 42 already.

His original squad of 42 was:

Forwards (22):
Coenie Oosthuizen, Tendai Mtawarira, Dean Greyling, Jannie du Plessis, Pat Cilliers, Werner Kruger, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Andries Bekker out, Juandré Kruger, Marcell Coetzee, CJ Stander, Heinrich Brüssow, Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Josh Strauss

Backs (20):
Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Piet van Zyl, Morné Steyn, Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies, Peter Grant, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Bjorn Basson, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Lwazi Mvovo, Akona Ndungane, Zane Kirchner, Jaco Taute out, Joe Pietersen

Andries Bekker and Jaco Taute have both picked up injuries over the past week and are not available for selection.

Ruan Pienaar has been confirmed into the squad, with rumours but yet no confirmation of Fourie du Preez who is touted to be the Springbok skipper for the english tour.

I have not heard anything in regards to Frans steyn who will be available in SA as of today. The only news available is this.

Meyer, talking at the conclusion of the Springbok planning camp held in Durban on Sunday and Monday, said that while he has long-term plans for Steyn, he is not sure at this stage whether he will be selected for the first test or that he will be available.

“There are a few things that need to be sorted out but hopefully he will be ready to play,” said Meyer

The question now remains who will be in the springbok squad for the series, and I think it is important to realise due to the little time of preparation for the series it is likely that Meyer will look at the experienced players in his squad first, before thinking about expanding his thoughts to lesser experienced guys or new caps.

Experienced players in:

Props.
Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis
Hookers.
Bismarck du Plessis, Chilliboy Ralapelle.
Locks.
Flip v d Merwe
Backrow.
Heinrich Brussow, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies.
Halfbacks.
Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez (C)
Midfield.
Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh.
Wings.
Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Akona Ndungane.
Fullback.
Zane Kirchner.

Utility Backs.
Frans Steyn, Pat Lambie, Francois Hougaard.

Notes:

Immediate areas of weakness are lack of experienced players throughout the forward pack. Here Meyer will have little choice in adding a new look locking pair, back row and a bunch of newbies as back up to the front row. Of the squad of 42 the player that will be very unlucky indeed not to get in will be Adriaan Strauss who has been having a great season for the Cheetahs as there is no doubt Chiliboy ralapelle will be in the squad.

One area which Meyer will have to sort out very quickly is what position each of Frans Steyn, Pat Lambie and Francois Hougaard will specialise in, he is most likely going to use Hougaard on wing and halfback, Lambie will most likely be used primarily as a fullback and Frans Steyn as a midfielder or full back.

Concerns over some of the experienced players include, Zane Kirchner who has always promised big things in the Bok jumper but never delivered, and after having a good season for the Bulls, might once again be in the eye of Heyeneke Meyer, only to disappoint. Akona Ndungane is experienced and solid, I hope he doesn't get picked ahead of any of the other wings, our midfield scares the daylights out of me, if any of those players are selected in combination with Jean de Villiers who will be a shoo in as his experience will be vital on defence, we will not progress in any way, shape or form.

OK, we all know Meyer will select Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn at 9 and 10, so really not worth discussing anymore.

Back row could be devastating if Meyer picks the right combination of Marcell Coetzee and Willem Alberts who will be crucial, yet I think he will go the conservative route of Brussow, Spies and Alberts.

At lock there is little choice to pick Flip v d Merwe as Meyer wll want some experience, so because Kruger has been playing with him for the season, it will most likely be him.

If you want my opinion, I think Meyer's justification to pick experience is going to bite him in the back side, purely becuase of the young talent he is going to put on the bench or leave out.

The only +30 test experienced players I would definitely consider as part of this series are Beast, Bismarck, Jannie, Alberts, Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Jean de Villiers.

The only less than 30 test experienced players I would consider are Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen, Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Marcell Coetzee, Jean Deysel, Josh Strauss, Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Pat Lambie, Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon, Lwazi Mvovo and Joe Pietersen.

Under duress I would look at Pierre Spies, Heinrich Brussow, Ruan Pienaar and Zane Kirchner.

The more I read the news coming from the Springbok camp, the more convinced I am Heyeneke Meyer will for this test series, go for the tried and tested, even if they aren't the best players available.

Yes he is. Like how the commentators likened him to a mosquito.

Ohh, that TMO decision is going to be front page news on Monday

Kanko over Kolisi and STANDEr bad bad idea