SARrugby.com

I do not want to start a provincial war on the issue of the squad - but I am frankly a bit worried about who was invited to the latest camp.   Lets look at the squad carefully - especially the franchise breakdown of players:-

Northern Bulls -     Forwards  -  7              Backline   -     7

Sharks                     Forwards  -  8             Backline   -     2

Stormers                Forwards   -  2             Backline  -      7

Cheettahs              Forwards   -  3              Backline   -    1

Lions                       Forwards    - 2             Backline  -      3

Now lets look at Super 15 performances.    The Bulls has got 14 players in the list and it makes up basically their Super 15 team - less one player.   Also a third of the total group.   Are the Bulls really that good - they should be miles ahead on the S15 points table - but they are not and may sink even further today.

The Sharks force seems to be amongst the forwards - if you look at the above - but they have not really shown that much in forward domination - their back line was better than most and most of their tries came from the back line.   Is there something wrong here?

The Stormers have a major rpoblem in scoring tries - they are top of the Super 15 log and have scored the least  tries - but they also have given away the fewest tries.   One of their main problems is their back line play - yet they have seven backline player included.     Is there something that i missed out here?

Cheetahs -  I think there are some players from the Cheetahs squad that is unlucky - they are s stronger than the number of players represented at the camp.     Even after the large victory against the Blues - the Crusaders have scored less tries than the Cheetahs in Super 15 - hence my comments in this regard.

The Lions are over-represented - after all they are bottom of the Super 15 log.

the above breakdown indicates a leaning twoards the Bulls - not surprising since the support staff of Meyer has been drawn from the Bulls and taking into account his past services for that franchise.   However, a Bulls team representing SA will be a huge problem and could cost us dearly.    I think that this has also led to some references to possible selection of Mattfield and Du Preez.   if those two are to be selected - the queestion is where do they play - I am sure in the case of Mattfield he could fit into the no 13 jersey - since that is where he normally was whilst he was supposed to be a lock forward.   Du Prees could possibly be a full back - since he was missing so often when his forwards won a ball - thus handing the ball back to the opposition.   At the best of times Du Preez was a very average scrummie in my book - his selection now would be a disaster,  since it would not be on merit.

Be it as it may - I hope thy ultimate squad would not be based on anything other than merit selection and performances.      

Very clever Mike. Your analysis shows some contradictions and possibly a slight bias. And there are some odd bits of logic. Kitshoff is omitted, but Greyling and Cilliers are included? If that's an experience thing, we have Coetzee in but no Johnson. And Deysel/ Alberts and Kankan make the squad but not the Sharks' starting team.

But I'm sure Meyer has a logic and prop forwards need some schooling. And I think many of the forty two players are not serious contenders, at least this time around.

Perhaps you will do the same analysis for us when the match 22 is announced. That's when the rubber hits the road.

 Kitshoff and Jordaan are not in as they are in the Bok U20 side, who are playing at the same time the England tests are on

SAFFEX - Thanks for that info - explain some of the ommissions