The Springbok team for the second Lions Test has been named. As expected, Schalk Burger comes into the starting XV at the expense of Heinrich Brussow. Brussow however still finds a place on the bench when many had thought we would be dropped from the match day 22. The inclusive of Burger is the only change to the starting XV compared to the first test. Some had thought that Adi Jacobs should be dropped from the starting XV after his average display in the first test but coach PDV has stuck with the center. If PDV has made a mistake in the starting XV, I think the inclusion of Jacobs could be that mistake!
We saw how BOD and Roberts made light work of Jacobs when the Bok center was defending at Durban. I am sure the Lions will be happy to see Jacobs starting again on Saturday and they will just attack his channel again. But who knows, maybe Jacobs and de Villiers will work hard on their defence this week in training.
Another notable change in the match day 22 is the exclusion of scrumhalf Ricky Januarie. Januarie had come under a lot of fire after his poor display in the first test when he came onto the field to replace du Preez. PDV has decided not to include another specialist scrumhalf on the bench and has rather opted in having Ruan Pienaar as the scrumhlaf cover if needed. Yet another blunder I think PDV has made! We know du Preez has a dodgy shoulder so if du Preez gets injured in the first 5 minutes on Saturday that could mean the whole backline game plan may have to change as Ruan will now be 9 and Morne Steyn will be 10. I wonder how many times that combination has run together in training?
Cilliboy also comes into the match day 22 as PDV has opted to go with a specialist hooker on the bench this time and not rely on John Smit. I am not sure why Danie Rossouw is still on the bench as they have Bekker to cover the locks and Brussow to cover the loosies.
The team in full is: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Chilliboy Ralepelle, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Heinrich Brussow, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Morne Steyn.
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7 comments
BP says:
Jun 23, 2009
interesting to see him keep that centre pairing as guru has pointed out that the lions made light work of them. obviously wasnt that impressed with fourie when he came on, i maybe wouldve gone with olivier at loftus and morne starting at 10. but i guess you’ve also gotta have some consistancy.
no reserve scrumhalf means that they’re gonna have to play ruan there sometime during the game i reckon, du preez wont play 80mins with his gammy shoulder…
still dont know what danie roussouw is doing there if they already have a cover for lock and flank in bekker and broussow. chilliboy there as well is interesting, bismark lasted the first test fine. so now you have 3 hookers and 3 props, it’ll be interesting to how they are used.
wouldve started with broussow and bought burger off the bench for his insane impact to lift the bok game when their mathc fitness starts to dwindle again
Guru says:
Jun 24, 2009
It only gets better people, I think PDV’s tactic is written all over this team, FORWARD PLAY. I was surprised that after the 20m maul the boks never used it again in the first test. PDV is clearly p;lanning on keeping the ball in the forwards and we will see many mauls and crash balls from the boks. I think it bis a clever tactic. Bok play is forward based and that’s exactly how this team has been selected. As for Adi, i am surprised at the amount of criticism he has copped. Yes he did leak on Saturday but this man had been solid for the boks for the last 18months. HE proved many critics wrong last year and even in the earlier part of the S14 before his injury, Adi JAcobs was solid in defence and pure magic on attack. I feel his criticism is unjustified considering this is the first match he has been weak on defence since he came back into the bok setup. I am looking forward to Saturday as I feel he will prove his critocs wrong yet again. As long as his shoulder keeps up, Adi will bounce back with a try on Saturday and he will be solid in defence. I think this team is much better than the first and PDV clearly plans on using his forwards much more and it makes 100% sense to me.
Manny says:
Jun 24, 2009
I’ve given up trying to work out how PdV thinks.
Guru is probably right, the Boks will play their usual 10 man rugby and try to once again boss the Lions up front. I hope The Geech has sorted out the defence of the driving maul, what the Bok did to the Lions in that department was ridiculous.
On another note, I was reading the IRB laws at scrum time, the front rowers are not allowed to push up in the scrum. That being the case, how did Vickery end up being pushed up?
BP, Guru?
BP says:
Jun 24, 2009
yeah i fully agree that the strengths for the boks lies in the forwards, and as you say its clear that they intend to do just that.
as to adi, i dont think he was great in the s14, and he shouldnt be picked if his shoulder isnt 100%, thats such a waste if you have a fully fit sub ready to go. wynand olivier was by far the best centre the entire s14, so why isnt he getting his shot, especially at loftus?
Kambas says:
Jun 24, 2009
Guru, after always having your back on this one i have to question this time round because i beleive that bum shoulder of Jacobs is too much of a risk mate considering they are facing an extremely dangerous centre pairing.
and would have stuck with brussouw and then boughtr on schalk but also looking at the shoe on the other foot and saying that if schalk is even half fit he should be on the park.
Fraz says:
Jun 24, 2009
I agree too with Kambas and BP on the brussow issue, I think he willshine in the tighter play of the first 50 mins, then to bring the raging animal that is the hulk on for a beast of an impact in the last 30 would be awesome!!
I also feel that having the extra hooker is wasted, bismark is solid as a rock and how much more effective would it be to bring on the flair of kankowski in the last half hour?!!?!?
And Guru I am afraid you are on your own with the Jacobs thing….I think he has played out of his socks last year and was a valuable asset for the team but unfortunately the injury has undeniably affected his play and when we have 2 brilliant replacements rearing to go we have to use them for right now. If Adi heals up properly he can play his way back in for tri nations.
Guru says:
Jun 24, 2009
Fair enough people, I agree that Adi should not be picked as his shoulder is not 100% healed. But not because he leaked on Saturday. In will concede though that if he is not 100% fit Olivier and Fourie would provide more than enough cover.
Regarding Heinrich, I do think he is a very good player and I’m happy he is in the 22 but I cannot hide from the fact that I am biased towards Schalk. Defensively his presence is second to none and just having him on the park is a major positive. I am more worried about his calf but if that can hold up then I have no doubt that he will step up on Saturday. At the risk of sounding like a PDV die hard,if i were the coach i would have done the same, started with Schalk for the 1st 60min and bring Heinrich for the last 20min. I think Schalk’s presence will make a world of difference on Sat, as long as he has completely healed.