Category: Springboks

View the positives and negatives of the 2012 season: (more…)

The Springbok backline play under coach Heyneke Meyer has ranged from shocking to abysmal. Many are pointing the finger at backline coach Ricardo Loubscher, and when you look at his coaching CV you can understand why.

His claim to fame to date has been coaching the backline of the Vodacom Cup winning Bulls in 2010. Hardly a reason to elevate him to his current position with South Africa’s premier team.

He served his apprenticeship under Meyer at the Bulls and it seems that he was merely brought in to be a yes-man to his controlling mentor. In any case, the man appears to be completely out of his depth.

Ricardo Loubscher Coaching CV

Ricardo Loubscher, a former Bok winger and fullback (4 tests), who was coached by Meyer at the Bulls as a player, was then lured into coaching in Pretoria and learned the trade under Meyer and Bulls coach Frans Ludeke for seven years.

Loubscher has been a backline coach to the Bulls junior teams, and was also the Bulls backline coach for the Vodacom Cup team that won the title in 2010.

He has also assisted Meyer in coaching the Tuks Varsity Cup team, splitting his role between Tuks and the Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup side.

Backline coach – Bulls – 2010 Vodacom Cup winners
Assistant coach – Tuks Varsity Cup team
Backline coach – Springboks

The Springbok team to take on Scotland has been named.

– Juan de Jongh starts at 13, Jaco Taute moves to the bench.
РGurthr̦ Steenkamp starts in place of Beast Mtawarira who has returned to SA.

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. JP Pietersen (Sharks)
13. Juan de Jongh
12. Jean de Villiers (captain, Stormers)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Patrick Lambie (Sharks)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Francois Louw (Bath)
05. Juandre Kruger (Blue Bulls)
04. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse)

Replacements

16. Schalk Brits
17. Heinke van der Merwe
18. CJ van der Linde
19. Flip van der Merwe
20. Marcell Coetzee
21. Morné Steyn
22. Jaco Taute
23. Lwazi Mvovo

Make you predictions HERE

The Springbok team to take on Ireland has been named.

– Patrick Lambie starts at flyhalf, with Morne Steyn on the bench.
– Hooker Schalk Brits comes in on the bench ahead of Chiliboy Ralepelle.
– JP Pietersen starts at wing after missing The Rugby Championship.

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. JP Pietersen (Sharks)
13. Jaco Taute (Stormers)
12. Jean de Villiers (captain, Stormers)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Patrick Lambie (Sharks)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Francois Louw (Bath)
05. Juandre Kruger (Blue Bulls)
04. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Replacements

16. Schalk Brits
17. CJ van der Linde
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Flip van der Merwe
20. Marcell Coetzee
21. Morne Steyn
22. Juan de Jongh
23. Lwazi Mvovo

The 31-man Springbok squad to take on Ireland, Scotland and England on the end of year tour has been named.

OUT: Bryan Habana – injured his knee in the Currie Cup final.
IN: Raymond Rhule – the young Cheetahs wing makes the squad.
IN: Schalk Brits – the London-based Brits comes in as cover hooker off the bench.
IN: Gurthro Steenkamp – France-based Steenkamp comes in to cover at prop.
IN: JP Pietersen – returns after sitting out The Rugby Championship.

Uncapped players making the squad: Jano Vermaak, Franco van der Merwe, Lionel Mapoe and Arno Botha.

Provincial make-up: Bulls (8), Sharks (7), Lions (6), Overseas (4), Western Province (4), Cheetahs (2)

The Springbok Squad

Willem Alberts (The Sharks) – Loose forward, 17 Tests
Arno Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Loose forward, 0
Schalk Brits (Saracens, England) – Hooker, 3
Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions) – Prop, 3
Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks) – Loose forward, 9
Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province) – Centre, 12
Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province) – Centre, 81
Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks) – Prop, 39
Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) – Lock, 8
Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf / Wing, 24
Elton Jantjies (MTN Golden Lions) – Flyhalf, 2
Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Fullback, 21
Juandr̩ Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls) РLock , 5
Pat Lambie (The Sharks) – Fullback / Flyhalf, 17
Francois Louw (Bath, England) – Loose forward, 14
Lionel Mapoe (MTN Golden Lions) – Wing / Centre, 0
Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks) – Prop, 41
Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks) – Wing, 7
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – Scrumhalf, 60
JP Pietersen (The Sharks) – Wing / Centre, 45
Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Hooker, 21
Raymond Rhule (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Wing, 0
Gurthr̦ Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) РProp, 38
Morn̩ Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) РFlyhalf, 41
Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Hooker, 18
Jaco Taute (MTN Golden Lions) – Utility back, 2
CJ van der Linde (MTN Golden Lions) – Prop, 73
Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Lock, 20
Franco van der Merwe (MTN Golden Lions) – Lock, 0
Jano Vermaak (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf, 0
Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province) – No 8, 4