CoachTaru - Bok coach (Part 1)

With the Lions Test series a month away from commensing, CoachTaru has started to assemble his Springbok squad for the upcoming Lions tour. I have decided to do my thorough selection per position and therefore my first phase of selection will strat from the back and concentrate on the back three division. At the momentum, i must admit that it is still to early to start looking into my team that i will assemble for the Lions tests as injuries and form may play a leading role. Plus, i dont really know what is going on in my mate, DiV (he's responsible for selecting the the extended training squad of probably 30) with regards to whom he will invite in his initial training squad. As the chief selctor on the final cut, once the training squad has been announced, i will surely be able to take up my job of naming the match 22 that will run onto the park at the Shark Tank on the 20th of June.

For now, we shall look at the Part 1 selection criteria, the back three.

WINGS

The current contendors

1 JP Peterson (Sharks)
2 Bryan Habana (Bulls)
3 Jongi Nokwe (CHeetahs)
4 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
5 Akhona NDungane (Bulls)
6 Henno Mentz (Lions)
7 Tonderai Chavanga (Stormers)

JP is currently the form wing and would be a fans favourite to be on the starting side. I will play him any given saturday! Nokwe (Val's gym partner) is probably the quickest winger in world rugby at the moment , but it could be risky to unleash him as a starter against a Lions team set to kick to the corners with the likes of Jones and O'Gara and he could struggle. he has improved his game and his confidence or rather lack of it, that Val used to pin-point as his weakness is slowly maturing and would most likely use him in the near future. The Ndungane brothers are just off the chain, both offensevely and on attack and i would not leave them on war. But i suppose they fall-short of outright pace. (I can see NK already smiling and ready to pounce on me, especially with my next comment). Yes NK, Habana is still one of the best attacking weapons in the world and arguably the best finisher in world rugby. He may have been burnt by the Saders wing, or whoever (i doubt if he got burnt by Giteau as you claim), but he's form is slowly picking and should be ready by the 20 of June, if injury free.



My first choice

JP and Habana starting with Nokwe and Odwa as back up.


FULLBACK

The current contendors
1 Zane Kirchner (Bulls)
2 Louis Ludik (Lions)
3 Stephan Terblanche (Sharks)
4 Hennie Danniler (Cheetahs)
5 Conrad Janties (Stormers)

Div like Jake White are serious believers of loyalty and consistency in selection. Had Conrad not been injured, he would have been an automatic chioce for DiV, but then he hasnt really shone this year. Some critics see his injury as a blessing in disguise (well i feel sorry for him) and now we are faced with a daunting task of picking between the on form and expereinced Terblanche as well as the evergreen Zane and Louis Ludik. Terblanché seems to be everyone's favourite and it is hard to argue, given how well he knows his game and the role he fills for the Sharks with his superb positional sense, his strong kicking game and bravery under the high ball.

However, i have always voiced my opinion about choosing younger players in that position and also looking beyond the Lions tour. Therefore my selections may not be highly favoured by most people, but as the self-designated coach of the Boks, i will stand by my choices and will live by my decisions.

We have plenty of talent in the backline and one has to look beyond the incumbent players in the positions. Jaque Fourie and Frans can also settle well at fullback and should not be written off seeing they are likely to be second choice in their preferred positions. So they should also be considered for selection. You cannot simply leave someone like Fourie on the sidelines, so it makes sense to try and accommodate him somewhere. He is the best defensive back in the world (NK, im not fetching for records or stas, although it may be arguable), he is a natural runner and, of course, he started out playing for the Lions in the No.15 jersey - it would not be a new position to him

My first choice

Jaque Fourie is my first choice, with Frans (Stop laughing NK) and Zane as second and third choice respectively

In closing, i say unto you ladies and gentleman, this is my back three for the Lions test, Jp, Fourie and Habana, if you are not happy with, its fine. However, you are welcome to comment on it and make suggestions. If ever there are any other "better" suggestions, they have to be convincing and good enough to make me eat my words but this is IT!!!!! We'll talk tomorrow when i post my Midfield combinations.