In the lead up to the Wallabies clash with the Springboks in Perth this weekend. Here is what you need to know about how the Springboks have been travelling in 2014.
Article by ‘Blue’
This weekends match is between two teams that need to press the reset button after less than convincing starts to their respective campaigns.
Before I look at the Bok team, I’d like to reflect on where Bok rugby is at right now.
I wrote a post on the forums way back in April after the South African Super Rugby squad announcements and noted that I was worried and believed that the SA teams and indeed the Boks will take a step back this year.
I was told not to worry by Aussie fans no less. The main reasons for my pessimism could not be put to rest by what was a reasonably good Spring Tour after a strong finish to the Rugby Championship.
I’d love to say I told you so, so here it goes: I told you so.
Two things have been bugging me and they have only become more evident:
- Springbok Coach Heyneke Meyer’s reluctance to pick youth ahead of ye old faithful (albeit at times injury enforced), and
- Our Super Rugby coaches are stuck in the past. Most of the South African Super teams play to not lose. They do it in very different ways, but that is the subject of another discussion.
Although most of the SA teams had awful luck with injuries, it’s still a poor excuse. I believe our teams at Super level are not willing to risk enough through selection and this translates into not enough emphasis being placed on individual skills development and attac coaching.
This was my worry in April and it still is. Simply put I feel that our players are falling behind in skills so we keep things simple to make up for it and hope that Willie will go nuts.
The problem for the Springboks is that players come with a narrow mindset and it is near impossible for the Boks coaches to suddenly change everything in a short space. We therefore rely on individual brilliance and that never translates to consistency.
So where are the Boks at right now?
The Good
There is not much to say here other than:
- Lood de Jager has come on well for a lock that is only 21 years old. He was played out of position against Argentina but did reasonably okay. A good investment, which was forced through injuries to Matfield, Flip vd Merwe, PS du Toit and until recently Eben Etsebeth. That’s a lot of meat to lose.
- Willie Le Roux is still Willie le Roux (thank goodness), and he is getting better.
- Habana still has it. His try against the Argies in Salta showed he still has the pace and commitment.
- Adriaan Strauss, a hooker who would walk into any international team right now, showed his value as a leader. The Boks were losing. With 20 minutes to go he came on and changed the game. It as been a long while since I have seen one player make such a difference He read the riot act, took to the front. And the others followed. Brilliant.
- Handre Pollard showed glimpses of why Meyer rates him so highly at 10, but he is not ready
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfWuWlSLzqY
The Bad
- The breakdown – a hallmark of the Boks game under Meyer, was bad. Very bad. The Argie loose forwards outplayed the much lauded Bok pack at the collisions.
- Jean de Villiers is in poor form after a long spell on the sidelines.
- Bismarck and Jannie are tired. The little energy they had left was wasted arguing with the ref.
The Ugly
- The experiment of Damian de Allende at 13 can’t end quickly enough. He lacks the intelligence the play 13 and that is probably why he has never really played there. What was Meyer thinking? The Boks were very good with Serfontein at 12 and Jean de Villiers at 13. Why fiddle now?
- Ruan Pienaar is too slow for test rugby on fast tracks. He is simply not quick enough to the breakdown and his service is erratic. No wonder Pollard struggled at times.
The Unspeakable
- The Bok scrum, als known as that which shall not be named. Apparently they have been at it all week. Is the Argie thing just brilliant or is the Bok’s thing broken? We shall see on Saturday.
- Juan Smith’s return to international rugby. So bad that he withdrew himself from the squad to Australia (after Meyer STILL picked him).
- The absence of Fourie du Preez. The less I even think about this, the better.
Bok Team For Saturday:
1. T. Mtawarira
2. A. Strauss
3. J. du Plessis
4. E. Etzebeth
5. V. Matfield
6. F. Louw
7. M. Coetzee
8. D. Vermeulen
9. R. Pienaar
10. M. Steyn
11. B. Habana
12. J. de Villiers
13. J. Serfontein
14. C. Hendricks
15. W. le Roux
Replacements: B. du Plessis, T. Nyakane, M. van der Merwe, L. de Jager, W. Whiteley, F. Hougaard, P Lambie, D. de Allende
Changes from Salta:
Matfield in for de Jager, Coetzee in for Juan Smith, Strauss in for Bismarck, Beast in for Steenkamp, Serfontein in for de Allende, M Steyn in for Pollard.
Two new props come onto the bench.
First cap for Warren Whitely if he comes on. Very quick, athletic loosie who was brilliant in the Commonwealth Sevens.
My prediction:
Can’t pick it, sorry boys. Who will be more desperate?
Springboks Results in 2014
Argentina 31 – 33 South Africa
South Africa 13 – 6 Argentina
South Africa 55 – 6 Scotland
South Africa 31 – 30 Wales
South Africa 38 – 16 Wales
