By: Ashfak Mohamed
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has said that he intends to give his players “an opportunity to redeem themselves” in Saturday’s second Test against Ireland following the surprise 26-20 loss at Newlands.
“I’m pleased with the reserves who made an impact, but I believe that you always give players an opportunity to redeem themselves. They’re all disappointed and want the opportunity to fix it,” Coetzee said.
“Therefore next week they will get an opportunity to fix it. There’s no reason to panic – the only panic we have is to get it right for next week. The players understand that and are hurting.”
But is that the right way to go? The series is on the line at Ellis Park and the Boks cannot afford another defeat. That’s the problem with the South African rugby mentality – if a coach makes a few changes to a team after a loss, it is seen as panic setting in instead of it being an attempt to rectify the problems from the previous match.
Sure, sometimes players do deserve another opportunity to prove their worth, but several Boks have been battling at Super Rugby level for most of the season and didn’t show any signs of improvement at Newlands.
Fullback Willie le Roux is at the top of that list, and it is sad to see the man who was nominated for the 2014 World Player of the Year award struggling to get going. Apart from the obvious lateral running with ball-in-hand, Le Roux appears to have lost that ability to join the line in classical fullback style like he used to do in the past.
He seems to want to do too much on his own with regards to creating play instead of being a strike-runner from the back, which Ireland No 15 Jared Payne so brilliantly displayed on Saturday night.
It is a real pity that Coetzee doesn’t feel the need to call up Gio Aplon from France in the absence of Cheslin Kolbe. Incidentally Aplon is free to play at the moment as his club Grenoble finished their season last week and missed out on the playoffs – as the former Stormers man would’ve been an ideal figure at fullback with his speed and footwork, as well as solid boot from the back.
It is difficult to understand why Kolbe – who is part of the Blitzbok Sevens set-up ahead of the Olympic Games – cannot be available for the Springboks right now as the sevens side only compete in Rio in August. There is talk of a training camp coming up soon, but surely the 15-man Boks must come first?
In fact, both teams can be accommodated as their fixtures do not clash. The same applies to Juan de Jongh, who would’ve been a better bet at inside centre as Damian de Allende hasn’t reached his best form since his four-month layoff with an ankle injury.
De Jongh’s experience and skill would’ve been an ideal foil for Lionel Mapoe at outside centre, as De Allende just tucked the ball under his arm and sought contact, and hardly looked to offload in the tackle, which he does when he is on form.
So without Kolbe and Aplon, Lions star Ruan Combrinck should replace Le Roux at fullback for the second Test. Yes, he’s played mainly at right wing in Super Rugby, but Combrinck started out as a fullback and has all the skills to be a force from the back.
His running lines are excellent, he is strong in the contact and has enough speed to break the line. Combrinck also possesses a monster boot, is good under the high ball and tackles well.
JP Pietersen wasn’t at his sharpest at Newlands either, but with another Blitzbok in Seabelo Senatla unavailable, the experienced Sharks wing is likely to hold on to his place as the other outstanding wing from the Lions, Courtnall Skosan, is also inexperienced and Coetzee wouldn’t want to pick two debutants in the back-three for a series-deciding Test.
Jesse Kriel is ahead of Combrinck in Coetzee’s mind, but the Bulls utility has played at outside centre in Super Rugby and arguably lacks the kicking and defensive skills to be a Test fullback.
The other major contentious area is the loose trio, where overseas-based Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw looked off the pace at Newlands. Again, Coetzee will probably stick with them at Ellis Park, but Warren Whiteley is the man who should spark the Bok pack from No 8.
He was lively in the 24 minutes game time he received at Newlands as a blindside flank, but as previously mentioned, I have always felt that Vermeulen’s best position is at No 7.
But Siya Kolisi was the best SA loosie on Saturday and deserves a chance to establish himself in the starting line-up. Jaco Kriel’s explosive ball-carries and pace across the ground would also be a valuable commodity, so perhaps he should be handed a place on the bench.
It goes without saying that Pieter-Steph du Toit should start ahead of Lood de Jager at lock, while Julian Redelinghuys might be a more solid bet than Frans Malherbe at tighthead prop.