As I had expected now that the Springboks have clinched the Lions Series, they are going to field a ‘B’ Team in the final test on Saturday against the Lions. Maybe PDV already has his eye set on the Tri-nations and he has decided to rest a couple of his key players and give the others a run. I am sure the fringe players who have been given the chance to play on Saturday are going to do their level best to try force their way in to the starting XV for the Tri-Nations.
The Bok Team in full is: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 John Smit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Deon Carstens, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Pierre Spies, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Frans Steyn.
I am looking forward to seeing how Kirchner does at the back. Finally Morne Steyn gets to start for the Boks. I believe if Staurday’s game was a do or die game, PDV would still have stuck with Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf. I rate Kanko highly and I hope he does not let me down come Saturday as I personally believe he is better than Spies! I can’t wait to see Chiliboy start in the front row. His lineout throwing is suspect at times so its going to be interesting! Let’s wait and see who the Lions name now with all their injuries.
Loading ...
10 comments
Guru says:
Jul 2, 2009
British & Irish Lions – 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Tommy Bowe , 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Paul O’Connell (c), 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Subs: 16 Ross Ford, 17 John Hayes, 18 Alun-Wyn Jones, 19 David Wallace, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Harry Ellis, 22 James Hook
Based on that Lions team which has just been released, at the risk of being hacked to death by my fellow bok supporters, i’m afraid to say i think that Lions team might just take this one. I would love to be proved wrong but the Lions team has better combinations, knows each other better and have a much better backline, man for man. I do not blame PDV though for using his fringe players, that’s the only way to ensure a well rounded team with players that are match fit. He obviously had Tri Nations in mind as Ron suggested. It will be interesting to see how ell the bok fringe players fare. The bok side is arguably the S14 “form team” so it will be intresting to see if the players that shone in S14 can step up at Test level. But my gut feel is not right with this team.
Fraz says:
Jul 2, 2009
I really don’t understand Pdivvy…….The chop is on the brink of making history with a lions whitewash and he throws and highly risky curve ball!!
Some of the changes have been begging to start i.e. kanko, brussow, morne, kirchner…….and even jaques fourie is solid, but why then take the experience of Jp and Habana off??? We will have some pace in Nokwe, but this isnt going to be a loose counter attack style game now is it…..but I can only hope that these newbies take the bull by the horn(or the lion by the nuts) either way and step up and shine…….
Lets see…. even a gambler wins every now and again!
Manny says:
Jul 2, 2009
At least the Bok fans are beginning to realise that PdV is arguably the biggest liability to the Boks.
I hope the Lions give the Boks a beating just to heap more pressure on PdV!
Kambas says:
Jul 3, 2009
kanko is no way better than pierre spies, i resent that. but am very excited to see how wynand olivier plays with fourie in midfield. this team is not bad and with the steadying influence of smit, matfield and du preez this team might just surprise you. the wings though are not solid and i agree with fraz on that one. but i think chilliboy played a great s14 albiet off the bench but i rate him above kuun and he should have been starting for the bulls if you ask me. he is a great player in the tight and that should come to the fore if his s14 form is to be trusted.
go Bokke.
my prediction, boks still to win 3-0.
Kambas says:
Jul 3, 2009
oh sorry boys but another key matchup for me is the vickery beast matchup, i think vickery will stick it to the beast this week. why you may ask, simply because his back is against the wall if he doesn’t do it this week then he is done with test rugby for the rest of his career.
oh guru i think the lions have a slight advantage in these positions, 15,11,8, and 4. apart from that i think the boks can match them evenly or are better in the rest of the team sheet.
Guru says:
Jul 3, 2009
I really hope I will be proven wrong Kambas. As individuals Wynand and Jacques are 2 of the best centres in the world but at test level there is far less space than S14 and the 2 centres will have to rely on working as a team. I have a bad feeling based on the fact that several bok combinations are new and a few players have not been tested at test level.
Ron says:
Jul 3, 2009
It would have been interesting if Roberts and BOD were playing in the centres then we would have seen how good Wynard and Fourie are. But alas Bowe and Flutey will give them a good test.
What should be in the Boks favour come game time is the 9,10,12 combination, that should be the platform the Boks should mould their game around as theses guys have done it all together.
I feel sorry for Jongi and Ndugs coz if Jones wants to be mean, he could just drop bombs on them all game as both of them are not great under the high ball.
I thought Vickery was already back in England having being sent home for his shocker in the first test!!!! As Kambas said, Vickery has to step up or else!! At least this time round he has a solid loock in Shaw behind himso that could help, but I still cant help but believing that Beast is going to have a party with him again on Saturday.
With no Bakkies on the field, Sheridan is going to be the bully..that should be fun!!
Fraz says:
Jul 3, 2009
What do okes think about the Bakkies ban!?!? would love to know considering that 5 secs after bakkies infringement one of the lions did the exact same thing to him and nothing said!?!?!?
Also what of sheridans homo tendencies in feeling up bekker?!?!
Ron what mail can I send you a pic to post to the sight!?!?!
Ron says:
Jul 3, 2009
You can mail it to info@iloverugby.co.za Fraz.
I think Bakkies reputation proceeded him with regards to his ban. If it were anyone else bar Bakkies they would not have been banned. I guess thats the reputation Bakkies has gotten over the years.
As for Sheridan…… no comment….that was just nasty!!!!!!
Fraz says:
Jul 3, 2009
I agree on the reputation thing, but also ifjones wasn’t such a girl i don’t think he would have been cited either….
And as for sheridan, where was the citing there???? This whole citing thing is good, but it really needs to get executed evenly accross the board as it really seems the bokke get done time and again and the blind eye flies right over the other teams…..
And interesting quote from bakkies “I can’t wait to see how people clean out rucks now!!”