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Breaking down Rassie's 10 best options for the 'Bok Backrow'
One thing the Springboks have never been short of is quality loose forwards, think Andre Venter, Schalk Burger, Gary Teichmann or even newly appointed Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus to name a few.
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The list is endless and there is a continuous conveyor belt of quality flankers and No 8’s to select from. The new Springbok coaching team has plenty of options available to them but the combination of the loose trio is usually more important than specific individuals.
The uncertainty around the makeup of the loose trio is even more complex with three potential front-runners in the mix for the captaincy in Warren Whiteley, Siya Kolisi and Duane Vermeulen.
Here we look at some of the choices for the year ahead and leading into Japan 2019.
Warren Whiteley was Allister Coetzee’s captain and it is no secret that the men in Green and Gold missed his leadership in a poor 2017. The Lions’ No 8 is extremely mobile and not your traditional South African eighthman. The Glenwood old boy has extremely good linking skills and his balls skills alongside his elusive running makes him an extremely good all-round package for the loose trio. There are questions being raised around his injuries and his continuous playing schedule in Japan and South Africa needs to be managed.
The Thor-like Duane Vermeulen is a bruising ball carrier that continually gets over the advantage line. The 31-year-old has a thunderous tackle and is extremely effective in the tight loose. A major concern is the fact that his future still seems to be uncertain as to where he will base himself. He is perfectly suited for the northern hemisphere where it is all about inches. The hard fields of the southern hemisphere haven’t been a familiar place of late for the Toulon loose forward and one feels he will have to get down south to add to his tally of test caps. An extremely good blindside option.
Siya Kolisi had an incredible 2017 and firmly put himself on the map from an international point of view. The Stormers’ captain was only second best to Malcolm Marx as SA Rugby Player of the Year. Kolisi is an extremely talented ball carrier and mobile loose forward who adds a massive amount when the game loosens up. At 1.88 metres and 105 kilograms he is not big enough for the blindside when compared to the likes of Jerome Kaino and Scott Fardy, he is also not an out and out openside flanker. Eddie Jones referred to Chris Robshaw as a six-and-a-half and the same could be said of Kolisi who offers plenty to the loose trio.
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Franco Mostert is a definite dark horse among the names mentioned but is a player that will add immense value to a Springbok pack. He has a massive engine and gets through a truckload of work in the loose. The former Tukkies stalwart is a fantastic lineout option and his athleticism is second to none. Mostert will need to gain some experience on the side of the scrum if the 27-year-old is to be considered, however he could potentially be an extremely exciting choice with all the second-row options available.
Roelof Smit could be the bolter among this group. The Bulls openside flanker gets through an enormous amount of work in the loose and creates havoc at ruck time, slowing down opposition ball and turning over possession regularly. Smit has unfortunately had a string of injuries and needs a run of games to be considered, he is definitely an outsider but has plenty to offer the Boks if they are looking for something different.
Francois Louw has been a consistent performer in the Green and Gold and doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. The opensider who plies his trade in Bath is a menace at the breakdown and makes a massive amount of tackles for both club and country. He is rated as one of the best in Europe, which speaks volumes taking in to account the quality of scavengers up north. The former Western Province loose forward is dependable and still has plenty to offer the Springboks.
The loose forwards stock is bursting at the seams with quality players, particularly when you still have Pieter Steph Du Toit, Nizaam Carr, Cobus Wiese and the Du Preez twins also in contention. The challenge for Erasmus remains to get the combination right.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
20 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
9 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
20 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
9 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
20 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
20 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
20 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to comments