Who will captain the Boks?

SA coach faced with several options

[caption id="attachment_102632" align="alignright" width="212"] VICTOR MATFIELD[/caption]

COACH Heyneke Meyer will have two big decisions to ponder this week – who to play at outside centre and who to choose as captain against Scotland. Jean de Villiers was both centre and skipper but he has been forced out of the World Cup with a fractured jaw leaving both positions open to change for Saturday’s clash against the Scots.

Lock Victor Matfield should be the obvious choice as captain – as one of the squad’s two vice-captains along with flank Schalk Burger – but he is not certain to play.

Also, it is telling that, as of yesterday afternoon, Meyer had not officially named his captain for the remainder of the tournament.

Matfield is struggling with a hamstring strain and could miss the crucial Pool B encounter at St James’ Park.

In that scenario, Burger would seem the only choice, but there is no certainty that he will start either. If Willem Alberts comes through a fitness test today the burly flank might be thrown into the fray against the Scots immediately.

Burger would then have to move to the bench as he covers all three loose forward positions.

Also, it makes more sense to start Alberts in case he breaks down.

If he were on the bench and one of the other loose forwards were injured early in the match, Alberts would have to get through almost an entire game. If Alberts is going to be involved, it would have to be as a starter.

In that scenario, Meyer would have to appoint a new captain and the only candidate is No 8 Duane Vermeulen.

“Jan Serfontein and JP have played at centre together before and we’ll make a call later in the week,” he said. -Craig Ray