The centre stage
Injuries have upset the balance of Robbie Fleck’s Springbok selection, but rugby365.com’s columnist takes a look at the make-up of his Bok midfield this week, as well as trying his hand at a few more Super 14 predictions.
It seems like last week’s column generated a fair bit of debate, which is great as everyone will have their opinions over selections. We are all devoted Springbok fans, and want the Boks to do well, but it is also evident just how much talent is available in the country.
Since we last chatted, there have been a few developments on the injury front; most notably the serious leg injury suffered by Conrad Jantjes and the uncertainty over Adrian Jacobs at centre. (But I did find it interesting how unanimous the choices of Habana and JP were on the wing – it is hard to argue with that!)
Conrad’s injury and Jacobs’s shoulder problem will impact Peter de Villiers’s final selection… and, obviously, mine too.
The reason I went with Jaque Fourie at fullback last week was to make space for Adrian Jacobs at centre.
I consider Jaque Fourie to be the best outside centre in South Africa, but Peter de Villiers rates Adi as his No.1 outside centre – which he has full right to do. However, Fourie needs to be in the side, which is why I am very excited about him being in the mix at fullback.
Speaking of fullback, with Jantjes no longer available, that could possibly mean a recall for Sharks veteran Stefan Terblanché, who did not make my selection last week.
With Jantjes out, however, I would look at Frans Steyn as a possibility in the last line of defence as my two other fullback options, Louis Ludik and Zane Kirchner, are still both very young and a tad inexperienced.
Of course, Steyn is also an injury doubt now (and he is not playing for the Sharks this weekend), so, again, that could put a potential spanner in the works for De Villiers, but he should be fit for the Tests against the Lions, so I will continue to include him in my selection plans.
This week, I will look at the various options we have at centre, and next week I will look at the halfback – flyhalf and scrumhalf – choices. I had originally intended to do centre, flyhalf and scrumhalf this week, but there is just too much to get into, so I thought I would split it up this week.
CENTRE:
The contenders at outside centre:
Jaque Fourie (Lions)
Adrian Jacobs (Sharks)
Gcobani Bobo (Stormers)
Jaco Pretorius (Bulls)
The latest is that Adi Jacobs is now fit and he will be playing for the Sharks against the Waratahs this weekend. I hope he survives through till the Lions tour, but things could change, which is why I am now once again considering Jaque Fourie in the No.13 position.
Personally, I think Peter de Villiers should adopt a ‘horses-for-courses’ selection policy when it comes to Fourie and Jacobs.
Against the All Blacks – and, in particular the likes of Ma’a Nonu – I would play Fourie as his strength and power on attack and defence would be a more than useful string to the Boks’ bow. Fourie is the best defensive outside centre in the world, but he is also a fantastic strike runner – you need his strength in the midfield against the more physical sides; like the All Blacks and the Lions.
Jacobs, on the other hand, is more of a skilful player with this amazing ability to draw two players and put his wings and fullback into space – and at pace. This type of game would come in handy against the likes of England when you need to shift their big pack around.
There certainly is an argument for both players and this is probably the toughest selection to make, but I would pick Jaque Fourie to start at outside centre against the Lions – provided the fullback position is covered by Frans Steyn – and use Jacobs from the bench. He could be deadly against a tiring Lions defence.
My third pick at outside centre would be Jean de Villiers. There is daylight between Fourie and Jacobs and the next best specialist No.13, so if both Fourie and Jacobs were to go missing for some reason, I would look at Jean at outside centre, with Frans Steyn or Wynand Olivier able to slot in at No.12.
Jean played most of his junior rugby at No.13. He is probably the best all-round centre in world rugby, bringing strength and skill to the party and – if needed – he could actually be quite a revelation in the No.13 shirt.
My outside centre picks:
Jaque Fourie (my first choice), Adrian Jacobs (fitness issues aside – another form man) and Jean de Villiers (just in case).
The contenders at inside centre:
Jean de Villiers (Stormers)
Frans Steyn (Sharks)
Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs)
Jean, aside from being one of my back-ups at outside centre, is the best inside centre in South Africa at present.
He has played in a below-average Stormers side all season long, yet he still managed to perform, which says a lot about his class.
His approach to the game, skill and leadership make him an obvious choice at inside centre – especially given some of the injury worries at present – and it is not for nothing that he was voted as South Africa’s Player of the Year in 2008.
Steyn is the obvious back-up to Jean at No.12, but he could find himself at fullback in the light of Jantjes’s injury and the worry over Jacobs’s fitness. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, Frans himself is injured, but fortunately there is back-up in the shape of Wynand Olivier.
Olivier is playing some of the best rugby of his career, that after a very ordinary 2008 season when I – for one – did not rate him that highly.
His confidence is up, his skill is up and he is running into space beautifully and getting his outside backs involved, too. Defensively he is no slouch. In fact, I would go as far as rating him as the best defensive No.12 in SA – he does not miss any tackles – and his work-rate this year has been exceptional.
I do, however, rate Steyn’s boot a lot and think he would be a better back-up to Jean – fitness and fullback issues aside – but Olivier would by no means let the Springboks down were he to be pressed into action.
My inside centre picks:
Jean de Villiers (my first choice), Frans Steyn (my back-up – given his utility value – he simply has to be in the Bok 22 if fit) and Wynand Olivier (the form man in South Africa at present).
Ok, so there you have it. Catch my halfback selection next week, but – to end off with this week – here are my Super 14 predictions for Round 13:
CRUSADERS v REDS:
Friday, May 8 – 9.35am
The Crusaders have come off a very good tour of South Africa, where they managed to beat the Sharks and a fired-up Lions team – although their loss to the Cheetahs was a surprise.
They can still make it into the semifinals, provided they pick up two bonus point wins in the final two weeks, and Richie McCaw looks to be back in the mix, which is a huge boost.
The Reds, meanwhile, took another heavy loss last week, which is a pity as I do rate their style of play – even if their execution is a bit off at present.
Fleckie’s prediction: Expect a few tries from both sides, but, in the end, the Crusaders will do enough at home. The Crusaders by six, at least.
LIONS v HIGHLANDERS:
Friday, May 8 – 7.10pm
The Lions played well against the Crusaders last week – even if the scoreline does not reflect as much.
The Highlanders pack should get the upperhand, but I think the game will be won out wide where the Lions should hold the edge.
Fleckie’s prediction: They’re at home, so I am plumping for the Lions – by five points.
CHIEFS v HURRICANES:
Saturday, May 9 – 9.35am
This is the game of the weekend – no doubt about it.
I thought the Chiefs were excellent against the Stormers and they were not half-bad against the Bulls the week before. They will be very happy with their tour of SA and it has left them as very serious semifinal contenders at this stage.
Both sides have fantastic backlines and strong-running loose forwards and we should be treated to a real spectacle – as well as some pretty appetising one-on-one battles in terms of All Blacks selection.
Fleckie’s prediction: Phew, this one could really go either way… I am, however, going to back the home side – the Chiefs, only just.
BRUMBIES v BLUES:
Saturday, May 9 – 11.40am
The Brumbies showed a dramatic improvement in their big win over the Reds and I am expecting more of the same against the unpredictable Blues. They are at home, and even more clinical in front of their own crowd.
The Blues were blown off the park by the Hurricanes last week and without Ali Williams this week they will be vulnerable – even with Rene Ranger in such fine form on the wing. He really is a class act and one of the most exciting players to emerge from NZ in recent years.
Fleckie’s prediction: The Brumbies by more than five points.
SHARKS v WARATAHS:
Saturday, May 9 – 3pm
The Sharks, at times, seemed like they had their confidence back against the Highlanders; we were treated to glimpses of the Sharks of old.
Steyn and Jacobs’s injuries and Kockott’s suspension won’t have helped them much, but the Sharks still has a lot of quality – especially with Ryan Kankowski playing like he is.
The Waratahs did well to win in Bloemfontein last week, after all, the Sharks suffered a big loss there and they will take some confidence from there.
Fleckie’s prediction: Tuqiri is the only really dangerman in the Waratahs side. The Sharks pack will dominate and help the home side to a win by at least five points.
BULLS v CHEETAHS:
Saturday, May 9 – 5.05pm
The Cheetahs have been good since returning home from their disastrous overseas leg. But this weekend they will in Pretoria… and Loftus is not Bloemfontein… it will be a different story altogether.
Heinrich Brüssow and Juan Smith will play their hearts out, as usual, but the Bulls front five – especially with Bakkies back – will bully the visitors into submission.
Fleckie’s prediction: It could get messy; Bulls by 15.
STORMERS v FORCE:
Saturday, May 9 – 7.10pm
The Stormers had their moments in the first 20 minutes against the Chiefs, but it was a case of men against boys thereafter.
Injuries have ravaged them once again – with Burger and Jantjes out now – but it was great to see two off our UCT players, Martin Muller and Tiger Bax, get opportunities last Saturday. It’s a great boost for the club, but also the Varsity Cup and the local league. (Speaking of which – don’t forget that UCT and Maties are playing the curtain-raiser to the Stormers-Force game on Saturday; kick-off 4pm!)
The Force more than held their own against the Bulls at Loftus last week, which is no mean feat, and with that man Matt Giteau leading their attacking charge, they should have too much for the home side.
Fleckie’s prediction: Look, you never know – the 2009 Super 14 has been so unpredictable – but I think the Force will sneak in by a few…
Chat next week,
Fleckie
PS. Join the iafrica.com/rugby365.com tipping competition and take on myself and the rest of the guys at Primedia Online in our 2009 Super 14 prediction competition. Click HERE now to enter!
Robbie Fleck is a Tournament Host for the 2010 Cape Town Tens. For more, visit www.capetowntens.com
