Selection conundrum for Coetzee

Injuries and lack of form make picking a squad for tour tough

WILL Elton Jantjies be in the No 10 jersey when the Springbok line-up against Australia in 11 days time or will Johan Goosen or Morne Steyn fulfil the flyhalf duties?

That is the big question ahead of the Boks’ departure to Australia on Thursday. Springbok coach Allister Coetzee names his squad today for the matches in Brisbane on September 10 and against New Zealand in Christchurch a week later.

Jantjies’ position in the team – and squad – is the hottest topic of discussion right now. The Lions man, who was so instrumental in helping the Joburg franchise play in their first Super Rugby final a few weeks ago – has had an up and down time of it since being entrusted with the Bok No 10 jumper following the injury to Pat Lambie in June.

The Lions flyhalf has not been able to replicate his Super Rugby form in the Test arena and on Saturday also picked up a groin injury, which could force him to miss the trip Down Under. Jantjies had scans done on his groin yesterday, with the results likely to be known only today ahead of Coetzee naming his touring group.

If Jantjies isn’t fit, the Bok boss will in all likelihood rely on Goosen and Steyn to play at No 10 against the Wallabies and All Blacks.

If it’s the younger Goosen who gets the nod then Coetzee will have to find a new fullback, possibly Jesse Kriel, or will there then be an opening for Western Province’s Cheslin Kolbe? Handing Steyn the flyhalf role would mean the Bok boss can continue with Goosen at fullback – a position Coetzee said he wanted the Francebased man to concentrate on going forward.

The problem for the Boks and the coaching team is that Willie le Roux is out of form and out of favour right now, so he’s not likely to make a return any time soon, while the other flyhalf options – Handre Pollard and Lambie – are both still on the sidelines. Pollard is recovering from knee and shoulder operations, while Lambie – who was seemingly Coetzee’s first choice flyhalf at the start of the Test season and who can play at 10 and 15 – is yet to return to the playing field after suffering concussion in the first Test against Ireland in June.

It will be interesting to see if there is a shake-up of the squad that did duty against Argentina. Besides the uncertainty surrounding Jantjies’ position, Coetzee has to find a replacement for wing Ruan Combrinck, who broke his leg in Salta on Saturday.

The options to the coach include bringing back JP Pietersen or Lwavi Mvovo or handing Courtnall Skosan an opportunity.

Sevens star Seabelo Senatla would also have been an option, but he is sidelined with a wrist injury, while the Cheetahs’ Sergeal Petersen is also currently out of action.

The only player who has part of Coetzee’s original training squad but didn’t feature against Argentina, but may be included in the squad now is Francois Hougaard (knee), but the coach will still not be able to call on props Frans Malherbe (neck) and Julian Redelinghuys (hamstring), flank Siya Kolisi (ankle) and eighthman Duane Vermeulen (knee).

And, will the Bok boss look north for the trip Down Under and consider a few more overseas-based menw such as Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Steyn and some others?

Saints sign Boufal for club-record fee

SOUTHAMPTON have signed attacking midfielder Sofiane Boufal from Ligue 1 side Lille on a five-year contract for a club-record fee, the Premier League club said yesterday. British media reported that Southampton paid around 16 million pounds (about R301m) to land the Moroccan international. Saints previously broke their record when they paid about 14.6 million pounds for striker Dani Osvaldo in 2013. “I’m very, very happy to sign for Southampton and I am really excited to play in St Mary’s Stadium in front of the fans,” the 22-year-old Boufal told the club’s website (www.saintsfc.co.uk).

Meares lauds Australian Olympians

TRACK cyclist Anna Meares praised the efforts of the Australian Olympic team during a welcome home ceremony at the Sydney Opera House yesterday, despite a disappointing overall showing in Brazil. Australia’s 422 athletes amassed 29 medals in Rio, their lowest total since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, with Meares claiming bronze in the keirin after failing to add a third gold to those she won in Athens in 2004 and London four years ago. “For some, we came home with personal bests and for some, we fell agonisingly short. But for all who arrived in Rio, we reached to achieve something great,” said Meares, Australian team captain and flag-bearer in Rio.

Spurs forward Chadli joins West Brom

FORWARD Nacer Chadli has joined West Bromwich Albion from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year contract, both clubs announced yesterday. The 27-year-old becomes Albion’s second permanent signing of the transfer window, with manager Tony Pulis having set his sight on bringing in five new players before tomorrow’s transfer deadline. “I feel very good to be here. It came very quickly but I spoke to the club and they have a good team, a good manager,” Chadli said,

Crotty, Taylor return from head injuries

ALL BLACK inside centre Ryan Crotty and hooker Codie Taylor have been cleared to play for Canterbury in New Zealand’s provincial championship this weekend before they return to the national side on Sunday. The players suffered head knocks in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship opener against Australia on August 20 and missed the second game in Wellington last Saturday. Crotty and Taylor’s Canterbury side play Northland on Saturday.

Quintana leads Tour of Spain

NAIRO Quintana retook the red jersey in the Tour of Spain after winning stage 10 to take a commanding lead in the general classification, while Chris Froome recovered from a poor start to the final climb to claim third in the stage and overall. The Colombian launched a late attack in the final climb of the 188km stage from Lugones to Lagos de Covadonga to pass Robert Gesink and held his own for the remaining 2.4km of the stage, finishing 24 seconds ahead of the Dutchman. Tour de France winner Froome produced a strong display in the second half of the final climb to overtake fellow favourites Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde and end the race third, one second behind Gesink. Quintana leads nearest challenger and Movistar teammate Valverde by 57 seconds and Froome by 58, while Contador dropped two minutes and 54 seconds behind.

McCourt agrees to buy Marseille

FRANK McCourt, the former owner of US baseball team LA Dodgers, said yesterday he had agreed to buy French Ligue 1 soccer club Olympique de Marseille, vowing to restore the team to its former glory. OM’s biggest shareholder, billionaire businesswoman, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, announced in April that she was selling her stake in the club. – Reuters