Bok team for Italy.

Springbok team announced for Italy.


Position Name Province Test Caps
15 Willie le Roux GWK Griquas 0
14 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 83
13 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 1
12 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 84
11 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 42
9 Jano Vermaak Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
8 Pierre Spies Vodacom Blue Bulls 50
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 20
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 17
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 8
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 11
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 42
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 21
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 41
Replacements
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle Vodacom Blue Bulls 21
17 Trevor Nyakane Toyota FS Cheetahs 0
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 2
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 23
20 Arno Botha Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
21 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N-Ireland 63
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 20
23 Jan Serfontein Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
Stats and facts:

South Africa and Italy have played each other 10 times since 1995, with the Springboks winning all 10 Tests. The Springboks have scored 533 points and 74 tries and conceded 129 points and 11 tries for an average score of 53-13.

A very powerful set of forwards. Not so sure about the backline, until Jan comes on that is...
Wouldn't mind facing that team in Cardiff..

Only weakness in that backline is Basson on defence.

The rest of the guys are in sublime form, may take a few minutes to settle, but I would expect them to be very solid indeed.

Fair enough, I haven't watched much S15 this year. Isn't Steyn going to Toulon or some other French team along with Habana? I would have thought Meyer would be using this tournament to find replacements.

Yes they are leaving, I think Meyer knows who his replacements are for Steyn, it is just the wings that is a concern.

Remember Steyn, Habana, Pietersen and Kirchner are leaving.

Glad Arno Botha is getting an opportunity. Tears round the park looking be involved everywhere, a bit like Schalk Burger when he came on to the scene.

Where is Schalk, still injured?

Yep, he had a bad run of luck, started training in the beginningnof the season, got a spasm in his calf, after investigation they found a cyst in his back, they drained it and then he got infection and were isolated for meningitis, then twommore operation to remove the cyst which fortunately was found to be benign.

So now he is recovering from the start all over again

dgttaylor wrote:Glad Arno Botha is getting an opportunity. Tears round the park looking be involved everywhere, a bit like Schalk Burger when he came on to the scene.

Mate I am super excited about him, reminds me a lot of Juan Smith's demeanor.

Big, fast, powerful and utterly focused..

Hasn't Spies left yet? What's the matter with Kankowski?!

He was great against the Cheetahs. Will go well to dislodge Alberts in the long term but if he can get some experience in these tests he could be a great impact sub for the rugby championship.

Chjw131 wrote:Hasn't Spies left yet? What's the matter with Kankowski?!

Kankowski has been called up to the 7's circuit.

Kankowski is lighweight, if you think Spies is a flat track bully, Kankoski more so.

To be honest both of them will be better midfilders than eighthman.

However Spies has been finding some good form this season.

If not now then when?

If you can't blood some youngsters now then when do you fancy it... away to NZ???

Habana, JDV, Steyn, Spies, Kruger, Du Plessis etc are very very unlikely to be in the RWC squad in 2 years time (Spies may get in the squad perhaps).

Whats the point of this tournament? Just to win?? If SA are to lose the tournament then they would be the laughing stock of rugby. Senior players are more likely to get injured then improve on current form.

Injuries I understand may have played a part...

Vermaak makes his debut aged 28... he is as good as he ever will be. van Zyl is what 21? Crazy decision.

FA give Meyer credit for the fact that he has selected 3 newbies for this test, maybe you'll see another three innthe next test.

perhaps thats the plan.... Vermaak at 28 is crazy though. He's having an indian summer thats it.

Injuries have clouded his selections I agree in part.

I'm really hoping Italy show the world they are no longer minnows by reaching the final.

Strong team, Bilt, strong team.

Surprised that Habana is there, though - you have other options this year that are staying put in the country. Le Roux is very exciting and I think that Vermaak at 9 is the best of a relatively weak bunch at present. No no no to Van Zyl.

I saw Arno Botha last at the JWC 2011 and he looked like a tyro then - I am assuming that he hasn't exactly regressed...

I see that Louw is in the squad so by the same token I am assuming that Italy get Parisse, Zanni and Castro back from the Barbarians too.

George Carlin

have you actually seen van Zyl play???

Happy for Vermaak. He deserves his chance and has been really good for a number of years. Getting his first cap at 28 is indicative of the depth SA has had at 9 over the last 8 years. Pienaar had to go overseas to get to play at 9 regularly his preferred position, Kocket is the top point scorer in France this year I think but hardly had a chance in SA.

Calling Vermaak the best of a bad bunch is harsh, playing for most other countries he'd have 50 caps.

I'd question if guys like Claasen and de Kock of Bath and Saracens would've made many S15 SA squads in recent years.

MMaaxx wrote:Happy for Vermaak. He deserves his chance and has been really good for a number of years. Getting his first cap at 28 is indicative of the depth SA has had at 9 over the last 8 years. Pienaar had to go overseas to get to play at 9 regularly his preferred position, Kocket is the top point scorer in France this year I think but hardly had a chance in SA.

Calling Vermaak the best of a bad bunch is harsh, playing for most other countries he'd have 50 caps.

I'd question if guys like Claasen and de Kock of Bath and Saracens would've made many S15 SA squads in recent years.

Which is odd given Hougaard has had a bunch load of caps at 9 and he is the worst test 9 I've seen since Bergamasco. The fact that Pienaar was brought back into the fold is testimony to how bad Hougaard was in that position. He's a great player don't get me wrong... but he's a winger not a 9.

Biggest regret for SA at 9 is Rory Kockott. Superb player... PDV should hang his head in shame.

This is what Heyneke Meyer had to say about Willie le Roux.

“I’ve had a chat with Willie and told him that what I am expecting from him in this test match is what he has done at Super Rugby level. I don’t want him to change anything from what he does at the Cheetahs. That means he will be given licence to play his natural game.”

Hougaard started with a bang and huge things were expected of him but got messed around initially being shifted to wing and used as an impact player. Similar to Pienaar in his earlier years.

Everyone is waiting for Hougaard to recover his earlier form and every now and then there are glimpses of it. The problem is that he is not the type of scrum half for HM's type of game plan. If used the right way I think he could be great

I wonder who is running the infamous debut bok initiation ceremonies now that Smit and Matfield have retired... lets hope for Willie's sake its not Eben! I imagine Spies and JDV will do it in all seriousness.

fa0019 wrote:George Carlin

have you actually seen van Zyl play???

Yep - just in the defeat to the Canes though. From your reaction, I am willing to believe that this was not a representative game for young Piet.

I like Hougaard on the wing, he has great acceleration and an eye for the gap... I'd have him over Habana.

Thing is his core skills have never been good enough. His pass is poor, he can't kick and he gets bullied by opposition forwards.

The bulls knew this and preferred to play him anywhere but.

George Carlin wrote:

fa0019 wrote:George Carlin

have you actually seen van Zyl play???

Yep - just in the defeat to the Canes though. From your reaction, I am willing to believe that this was not a representative game for young Piet.

Piet van Zyl has been a rising star for the last 2 seasons. He's been electric. His acceleration is like watching Jason Robinson. Try viewing his performance vs. the Reds this year. He's been very consistent and a main reason why the Cheetahs regardless of Goosen's absence have been doing so well this year.

fa0019 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

fa0019 wrote:George Carlin

have you actually seen van Zyl play???

Yep - just in the defeat to the Canes though. From your reaction, I am willing to believe that this was not a representative game for young Piet.

Piet van Zyl has been a rising star for the last 2 seasons. He's been electric. His acceleration is like watching Jason Robinson. Try viewing his performance vs. the Reds this year. He's been very consistent and a main reason why the Cheetahs regardless of Goosen's absence have been doing so well this year.

Great news for Arno Botha, not so much for Willem Alberts though.

A.berts has picked up an injury so Arno Botha will start tmorrow.

Final team.

15 Willie le Roux GWK Griquas 0
14 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 83
13 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 1
12 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 84
11 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 42
9 Jano Vermaak Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
8 Pierre Spies Vodacom Blue Bulls 50
7 Arno Botha Vodacom Blue Bulls 0
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 17
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 8
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 11
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 42
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 21
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 41
Replacements
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle Vodacom Blue Bulls 21
17 Trevor Nyakane Toyota FS Cheetahs 0
18 Coenie Oosthuizen Toyota FS Cheetahs 2
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 23
20 Marcell Coetzee The Sharks 12
21 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N-Ireland 63
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 20
23 Jan Serfontein Vodacom Blue Bulls 0


I am seriously excited to see this team run out tomorrow, full of youngsters with extraordinary talent. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

Really, where do SA get all of these great back rowers? They have better depth here than any other side in the world. With Smith recently retired, Burger injured for over a year, two flankers that any team would struggle to replace. Yet they keep producing world class players here.

Spies, Vermeulen, Alberts, Louw, Coetzee, Brussow, Kolisi..

I haven't seen much of Botha, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is another world class player.

So much talent available.

You'll enjoy him mate, he reminds me of my hero Juan Smith. Big tall fast powerful, focused and a boatload full of potential.

Can't wait to see him in a Bok jersey

I can't wait to see him then, Juan Smith is a total legend. I am assuming he has more talent/potential than Coetzee? He seems to have jumped ahead of him anyway for that blindside spot.

Will Kolisi get a shot with the boks soon? What a player he looks to be too. I reckon he will be the next openside for the boks after Louw.

He has tons more than Coetzee, Coetzee reminds me a lot of Burger in his younger days, when he just went uncontrolled into tackles and just went haywire, only Burger was twice the player.

I am hopiing Kolisis at least gets and opportunity off the bench, I like his pace and his vision to look for the hole and the support runner to offload to.

He is not as big, but is a monster in defence and his ball carrying belies his size.

Any young 8s coming through? Can the likes of Botha play at 8?

He could possibly yes, but with Spies and Vermeulen, I doubt we will see anyone else there for the near future, Knakowski is still in the wings, the Kings have a rather decent no 8, can't remember his name though.

Ha, can anyone tell me more about the debut ceremonies?

It is a secret mate, have no idea.