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World Champs

I think you read too much into the comments of Ruan Pienaar - I do not think there really was a spat between the two players concerned.   Pienaar in all fairness was played on so many positions by various coaches that he never really found his feet ian any of those - and ultimately went to Ulster to play in his real position as scrummie.  More real advice to a less experienced player - but obviously done with a purpose.

Meyer obviously wants somebody ar flyhalf and put some pressure on the Sharks to play Lambie in that position - where he played well in the past - to see whether he can still play well enough in that position.   Pienaar - I believe  was merely making a public comment  on the issue to put more pressure on the Sharks in the relevant regard.   It worked - because Lambie was selected to play at flyhalf this weekend and is likely to play there in the latter stages of the competition.

Meyer has in fact a flyhalf selection problem.   In the absence of Goosen, he has to find a flyhalf for the EOYT.   Jantjies failed miserably and Goosen is not available due to injury.   He has an option of three choices- namely Lambie, Morne Steyn and Grant - but would probably perfer Lambie.

Insofar as Hougaard is concerned - if there is a spat between him and Meyer - so be it.   Hougaard  started off his playing career as a wing.    He was moved to scrummie by the Bulls when Fourie Du Preez left and thus found his way into that position in the Dpringbok team.   For a variety of reasons he failed miserably at scrummie - especially as he is not a batural scrummie at all.  The main problem became much more evident in the third POM test - but he also had to be benched fairly early in all the tests he played in this year.   When Pietersen was injured - Meyer thought that Hougaard could be returned to his original playing position at wing - since he obviously did not make the grade as scrummie.   Hougaard buggered up badly in the tests he played at wing - and he is unlikely to be retained in any position in the team, especially since Pietersen is back from injury.   He may be pissed off - but has only himself to blame.

As I said there is nothing much to be read into the whole situation.        

 Not sure that I agree with both of you on a few points.

1. ) Pat Lambie was 1st choice flyhalf for most of the Superxv season. Only when he broke his jaw and had some other injury did Michalak make it off the bench. Michalak took his chance against the Stormers, as a result Lambie got moved to 15. Lambie did however play more games at 10 than Michalak this season. So with Michalak gone, surely Lambie is the incumbent 10, with Michalak gone. South Africas weakness in depth of players in the inside backs (Flyhalf and inside center)- we have good wings/fullbacks etc most of the time.

2. ) Hougaard. I dont think his form is bad, apart from a few bad tackles. In the World Cup he played better than Habana on the wing, and last year overall he was amazing on the wing. It just seems the ball has made it more to the right hand side of the pitch more than left hand side. Habana is typically a 11. With JP a 14 it will be interesting to see if Habana will be retained at 14 or moved back to 11. 

Hougaard is still the 2nd best scrumhalf in SA. (OK his passing is not great, and his kicking is not either, but everything else is. Perhaps these are the 2 core skills for a scrumhalf, but I still think he is a good impact player. So he is good to cover the bench when the game opens up. Medium term though we do need to find a specialist to cover the springbok spot. 

Sharkbok

I like Hougaard as a player - but he had a miserable season in tests this year.   You are right about his problems as a scrummie and I foresee that Meyer would rather try and get Du Preez back as scrummy next year.   That would eliminate him from the ecrummy position and leave Hougaard in a very vulnerable position.   He would be out as a scrummy and it leave him with one option only - namely to play on the wing.

Hougaard did not get enough balls to show his ability as an attacking wing  - but he did get a few chances and failed to deliver anything at all.   His defence as a wing was atrodious to say the least.   I say he is vulnerable in that regard - there are better wings around that cab cover the existing wings - which I believe would be Pietersen and Habana in any event.   I beieve the one standout wing on CC level this year was Rhule and he is likely to provide the cover.

The above scenario leaves Hougaard out of contention completely and that could be the reason for the unpleasantness - if it in fact is really not only a rumour.   I think Hougaard under the circumstances may sign an overseas contract - lets wait and see.         

Bulle will fight tooth and nail to keep Hougaard as will Meyer. Hougaard is an exceptional player. Is it back to scrummie for him?  Like Lambie he must make the call and stick to what he prefers. Placed in an operative backline he would be fine as a wing. Habana also cant go on forever - 2 more years?

Still wonder if he could make it at scrummie - this is the whole dilema. Hence settle on a position he prefers and specialise.

Mikey, you should do some research about how and where Hougaard started...

World Champs

Nothing new about the Goosen issue - it has been clearly stated that he is out of rugby for 6 months - so how would you know anything more than the top SA medical specialists?   In any event SA medical practie is leaders in many fields in the world - so I assume you are ating on the rumour mill in this case and not the findings of the specialists.

As to the issue of Hougaard rumours abound - so I am not sure what will happen.   What I am sure of is that we have serious problems in the scrummie area and anything is possible.   However, that still dos not make Hougaard an acceptable scrummie.