Highlighting Selections VI

Botha & Matfield - deadly combination

With Less than two weeks to go and PDV already having selected his squad for the upcoming B&I Lions tests, his selections in the engine room are looking pretty strong. Today we are taking a look at the lock selections for the Springboks.

With the lock combination of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield also pairing up together in the victorious Bulls Super 14 team, it would be difficult to separate them, arguably the best lock pairing ever to wear the Green and Gold jumpers.

Bakkies Botha is often labelled as a thug in the media for his role as the Bok enforcer. Personally I think that all has to do with mind games, as I don’t see anything he does any different to the game Brad Thorn or Nathan Sharpe play.

Having spent some time in NZ myself, the general attitude to Botha’s game is one of respect, even if the do have a bit of a moan about him from time to time, he might be the only Bok player that they generally do have respect for.

Victor Matfield went through a bit of a slump after the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup, where he was voted played of the tournament. His form since then however, if this year’s Super 14 is any indication, is back to it’s best. I do feel Matfield plays a better game when he isn’t burdened with the role of captain. I feel he should be left to play his game and not have to worry about being vice captain of the Boks. That responsibility can fall on the shoulders of Jean De Villiers, should he be PDV’s first choice.

# 4 & 5 are Bakkies Botha & Victor Matfield respectively. At the moment they put their own names down on the team sheet. Botha must however work on one or two temper issues which caught up with him in this year’s Super 14 competition.

There is some talk at the moment of Danie Rossouw possibly being a surprise selection at openside flank. I feel that the loose forward combination of Burger, Smith and Spies is the strongest possible combination in the loose though, and Rossouw can match the role of enforcer, coming off the bench as a lock backup the Bakkies Botha.

In Andries Bekker we have the tallest man in international rugby, as effective as Matfield in the lineout, Bekker’s only shortfall is that he tends to hang around in the backline a tad too often. In a way I understand where he is coming from, needing all of 3 steps to cross the length of the field, I do however think that if he doesn’t tighten up his game, he will be caught out by the B&I Lions.

Johan Muller might feel slightly unlucky not to have made the squad as he has had a solid season for the Sharks, and brings extra leadership to the team. We are in no way short of depth in the engine room though.

My choices: (starting/understudy)

4. Bakkies Botha/Danie Rossouw

5. Victor Matfield/Andries Bekker

Comments

Sean The Boss-man

Yo… Dooley. Nice Site. Who wouldda thunk it?

Jep, Smith, Spies and Brussouw or Stegman would be my choice. You need a ball fetcher in the modern game. Schalk can do it, but it’s not what the “wrecking ball” does best.

As we saw on saturday, a good team sheet, and a good performance all round… Vickery who? The Beastie ate him up. I think the high pitched one dissed the Lions BIG TIME by putting all the replacements on at the same time with so much on the clock. That Lions squad are NOT monkeys.

I think we were CONTAINING the game, not CONTROLLING the game, which is quite a big difference.

What the hell is January doing in the squad? He has been nowhere for two seasons. His delivery is as slow as the Post Office and his hands seem to greased or something. At the moment he couldn’t catch a cold. I say boot him out and bring in Kockot. Also… I don’t think AD did well on Saturday, we need a bruiser in there who can also run against those two centres. I’d definitely play Fourie or Olivier if he is recovered.

I was surprised to see John outscrumming whats-his-face from the sharks, who definitely FAKED that injury so they could get John back on the field to pull it together for the last ten minutes.

Anyhooo… Just a few thoughts.

cheers Cuz!!
http://www.blogspotrugby.com Dooley

@ Sean The Boss-man, I agree with the fact that we need a fetcher. Brussow is a great player, and even though I am a Schalk Burger fan, I’d like to see more of Brussow on the international stage. Burger does add alot to the game though, especially when he wears the Green and Gold, his game just seems to rise a few notches. Stegman needs another season or two, and needs to work on his discipline at times. There are other players ahead of him for spots in the squad.

Kockott would be my choice too. Januarie is skating on experience at the moment. PDV seems to prefer Vermaak though. I heard something interesting the other day regarding Kockott’s non selection. Apparently the rest of the players don’t get along with him. I don’t know how true this is, that’s just what I heard. I think he should definately be our 2nd choice though.

As for the Beast, Adi and Deon Carsten faking his injury, read the latest post on some of the key moments of the game.

Keep reading, post comments, and spread the word. Thanx for the support.