Zane Kirchner will become the latest Springbok in Saturdays final B&I Lions test match

Congratulations to Zane Kirchner who will receive his 1st Springbok cap in tomorrow’s final B&I Lions tour test match.

This is something, however, that I am very much against. Capping a player just for the sake of capping him. It goes against the whole ethos of the Springbok. There is no doubt that Zane Kirchner is a talented player, and his time as a Springbok will definately come (tomorrow in-fact), but I feel he showed, during the Emerging Springboks VS B&I Lions game, that he needs more time. He has had a great Super 14 season this year, but is one great season in the Super 14 enough?

I feel Zane Kirchner showed us in both the Super14 final as well as the Emerging Springboks game, that his decision making needs work. Don’t get me wrong, I think that Zane Kirchner is a talented player, but there was no need to call him up to the Springbok squad at this point. We have more that enough cover for fullback with the likes of Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and even Jacques Fourie being able to slot in the #15 jersey. (I wouldn’t play Jacques Fourie there, but if he is needed, I’m sure he will do fine.)

If PDV absolutely wanted to call someone into the squad for worst case scenario, why not call in Stefan Terblanche, who is already a capped Springbok, and more than showed he still has what it takes. Terblanche would also bring a calmness to this new look squad.

Give Kirchner another Super 14 season, let him work at the few aspects of his game that need work and bring him in next year, the best he can be.

Like I said, I do rate him as a player and wish him the best of luck for tomorrows test match. Give it horns. Go Bokke!