Meyer has plenty of Springbok selection posers

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer names his 31-man Rugby World Cup squad Friday with injuries, form and race some of the issues occupying his mind.

Among those racing against the clock to recover from injuries are skipper and centre Jean de Villiers, scrum-half Fourie du Preez and No. 8 Duane Vermeulen.  

The Springboks endured a disastrous Rugby Championship campaign, losing all three Tests against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina in a shortened competition.

There has been criticism from sections of the public and media and a national trade union umbrella body that not enough black stars have been given game time.

AFP sport highlights five of the issues Meyer must consider before naming his squad at a hotel in Indian Ocean city Durban for the September 18-October 31 tournament in England.  

JEAN DE VILLIERS

The 34-year-old inside centre and captain appears set to be picked despite a disastrous return to Test action in which he broke his jaw having just made a miraculous recovery from a serious knee injury.

A respected Johannesburg Times columnist labelled him a "carthorse" after the Springboks were humiliated 37-25 by Argentina in Durban -- the first loss to the South Americans.

Western Province coach John Dobson said "you would not think Jean is a world leading centre" after De Villiers played for them in a pre-Currie Cup season game.

Even though the jaw injury will reportedly prevent De Villiers facing Japan on September 19, various comments by Meyer suggest his first-choice skipper is going to England.  

FOURIE DU PREEZ

Meyer has publicly insisted numerous times this year that his selections will be based on form rather than reputations, but Du Preez is a glaring exception to the rule.

The 33-year-old scrum-half has not played since the Japanese season ended last February with several promised returns during the Rugby Championship failing to materialise.  

Du Preez was part of the all-conquering Northern Bulls squad built by Meyer almost a decade ago and the coach is convinced one of his favourite stars can help South Africa conquer the world.

Among the reasons Meyer hopes astute tactical kicker Du Preez recovers from a knee injury is that second-choice Ruan Pienaar had a modest Test season.

LOOSE FORWARDS

Who to leave out will be the major challenge for Meyer when it comes to his flankers as he has plenty of top-class operators.

Assuming they are declared fit, ball-carrier Willem Alberts and scavenger Francois Louw are the likely first choices in a back row ideally completed by Vermeulen.

That leave a quintet of Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi and Teboho 'Oupa' Mahoje fighting for probably three places.

Burger, who led the Springboks against the All Blacks recently with De Villiers and vice-captain Victor Matfield unavailable, should be among those who get the nod.

MORNE STEYN

Opinions are sharply divided over the ace goal-kicker and fly-half whose four penalties won the French Top 14 final for Stade Francais two months ago.  

In the Springbok playmaker pecking order, Patrick Lambie and Handre Pollard are competing to be first choice, and Steyn and Elton Jantjies to make the squad.

Former star South African fly-half and now TV analyst Naas Botha says "Morne is back to his best, not just with the boot but with his general play, and is a 'must' for England".  

But 2007 Springbok World Cup-winning playmaker Butch James believes Steyn should be included "only if the other contenders are not kicking well at goal".

RACIAL MIX

The plan this season was for Meyer to choose seven black players in each matchday 23, but it has not happened once in four World Cup warm-up matches.

Instead, five were chosen and not more than three started until the non-Rugby Championship Test in Argentina when the figure rose to four.

Some white Springbok supporters believe blacks weaken the team, but the only match won by the twice former world champions this year was when the percentage of black starters increased.

A justifiable complaint from sections of the media is that virtually every time Meyer has to choose between white and black players of equal ability, he opts for the white.
Source: AFP