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Challenge: Patrick Lambie. Themba Hadebe/AP/Press Association Images
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Lambie touted as Springboks no 10 against Ireland

Coach Heyeneke Meyer stopped short of appointing the 22-year-old kicker the starting fly-half spot for the Dublin tie.

YOUNGSTER Youngster Patrick Lambie will have a chance to prove his mettle as fly-half in South Africa’s upcoming Tests in Ireland, Scotland and England during November, coach Heyeneke Meyer said today.

“He is tried and tested at Super Rugby level but I want to go forward with two flyhalves from here and I want to use this opportunity to see what Pat can do at this level,” Meyer told a media conference in Cape Town.

“For me it is very important at test level that your flyhalf be a good tactical kicker,” Meyer continued.

“I wasn’t impressed with Pat’s tactical kicking before and I asked him to work on that aspect. He showed me in the Currie Cup that he has done the necessary work and I have been very impressed.”

Meyer stopped short of appointing the 22-year-old Lambie the starting fly-half against Ireland on November 10, which remains a three-way struggle with current second choice Elton Jantjies and recalled Morne Steyn to replace the injured Johan Goosen.

Injuries will keep several senior players at home. Centre Frans Steyn, wing Bryan Habana, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and loose forwards Schalk Burger and Pierre Spies were not considered for the tour, prompting some soul-searching over how the Springboks play the game.

“Without wanting to be critical of the way things are done here, I would like to see changes in the systems going forward,” Meyer said.

“I think New Zealand have got it right. They intend to rest (Richie) McCaw on their European tour,” he added.

“The injured players can do a lot for the team, they are important for us. The (incoming) youngsters do well but when you have names like Habana and Steyn in your backline you have a really good team.”

- © AFP, 2012

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