Meyer’s selection dilemma

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 02: Lappies Labuschagne of the Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld on May 02, 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo Lee Warren/by Gallo Images)

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 02: Lappies Labuschagne of the Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld on May 02, 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo Lee Warren/by Gallo Images)

Published May 5, 2015

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Pierre Spies or Warren Whiteley, Lappies Labuschagne or Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger or Marcell Coetzee?

Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer admits picking his loose forwards for this year’s World Cup in England will be his toughest task.

“The thing I’m worried about more than anything else is picking the loose-forwards,” said Meyer yesterday at the conclusion of the first day of a Bok training camp in Johannesburg. It’s a good problem though, one would think.

South Africa have always been blessed with world class loose-forwards and right now any one of at least 15 back row players could justify a place in the 31-man England-bound squad.

“I often watch rugby and I hear the guys saying ‘this guy has to go to the World Cup’, but what people don’t realise is that out of the 31, nine have to be front row forwards. So, in the forwards, you either go with four locks and five loose-forwards or three locks and six loose-forwards.

“Most teams will go with four locks and five loose-forwards ... so it’s going to be very, very difficult to pick five out of 12 world class loose-forwards.”

One would assume that Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw – Meyer’s preferred back row over the last three years – will be the first names on the squad sheet, leaving just two more places to fill. Burger and Coetzee have experience and in the latter’s case, he’s been part of just about every match-day squad in the last 36 months, while Spies remains a favourite of Meyer’s.

“Pierre is close to his best again,” said Meyer yesterday. “He’s always been a great player and we mustn’t forget he’s been out of the game for two years. I had a one-on-one with him earlier and even though he’s played over 50 Tests you could just see how excited he is to be back here.”

Meyer, though, added there are several quality loose-forwards who wouldn’t let the Boks down at a World Cup. “Pierre’s pushing the other guys, but then I could mention a lot of names who’re also playing great rugby. I think of Jaco Kriel of the Lions, who was at the last camp and isn’t here ... he played great rugby against the Bulls on Saturday.

“The reality is we’ve got 15 brilliant loose-forwards in this country and the question is: Who do we leave out?”

While picking his loose-forwards will be a challenge of a different kind, of concern to Meyer is the high injury toll, especially among his locks. “I’ve always been worried about lock and now I’m really worried. Eben Etzebeth has just recovered from an injury, Pieter-Steph du Toit is still out, Victor Matfield has been out with a knee and Lood de Jager is also still injured. If I had to pick a World Cup squad today we’d be in trouble.” On top of that Flip van der Merwe is not available to play international rugby at this stage.

Also, the centres are worrying the national coach. With Jean de Villiers still in a race to be fit to go to England and Jaque Fourie not available, Meyer said the injury list is concerning, but in other areas matters are looking up.

“Suddenly we’ve got great tighthead props coming through, I think of Vincent Koch who’s been great since moving to tighthead, the scrumhalves are okay and the 10s as well; there are guys coming through, as is the case at fullback as well. Jesse Kriel has trained with us before but he’s really put his hand up this season.” - The Star

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