Faf de Klerk and his band of brothers from the Lions emerged as the shining lights after a month of disappointment for South African rugby.
Sure, the Springboks won the series against Ireland 2-1 after fighting hard in the second and third Tests, but the SA ‘A’ team lost both matches to the England Saxons and the SA Under-20 team disappointed big-time at the Junior World Championships.
Allister Coetzee has won his first series as national coach, but he’ll know he has plenty of work ahead of him to get the Boks ready for the Rugby Championship.
New Zealand look unstoppable while Australia will be hurting after going down 3-0 to England and Argentina are never to be written off.
The Boks, and Coetzee, have it all to do to convince the South African public they are on the right path.
There were, however, a few highlights to be excited about. Going into the series there were serious questions about the scrumhalf position, but De Klerk eased the uncertainty with three strong performances, his showing in Port Elizabeth on Saturday worthy of the Man of the Match award, which he didn’t get.
The nuggety No 9 saved two certain tries by first intercepting a pass, when he leapt high in the air to grab the ball, and second, when he dashed off his ‘line’ to smother an Ireland player who was about to help his team across the tryline.
But De Klerk enjoyed a good series overall. His service was slick, quick and the longer he played the more confident he got and that can only be to the Boks’ benefit down the line. He’s a strong tackler and hardly put a foot wrong. He will get better and better and answered every questioned posed of his readiness to play Test rugby.
He was joined in the ‘positive’ department by all his Lions teammates, but most especially Ruan Combrinck, who may well have secured one of the wing berths going forward. A determined and highly-motivated character, Combrinck helped the Boks level the series in Johannesburg and then followed that up with a strong performance in PE.
Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Elton Jantjies and Warren Whiteley all had their moments and showed just how crucial it is for ‘in form’ players to be selected. They will all play more Tests for the Boks this year, so, too, Jaco Kriel who made his debut on Saturday. Lionel Mapoe had a quiet series, but he and Damian de Allende still have to get to know each other better.
Who would have thought a year ago though that a Bok matchday squad would include eight Lions players? It is proof just how far Johan Ackermann and his men have come and may just convince Coetzee that he might have to rethink his personnel for the Rugby Championship. Maybe he should get Kriel in that starting team, too, and what about Malcolm Marx as back-up hooker?
The Lions have been South Africa’s form team for two years and it’s time maybe that Coetzee backs those players as his Bok spine.
It’s been a topsy-turvy month, with not all that much to shout about, but Coetzee and his charges have made a start ... now let’s see what they can produce against stronger teams and away from home. - The Star