'Brilliant': Springboks talk bomb squad, decision to back Willemse
Amid the fallout following last weekend’s defeat for the Springboks on the Gold Coast was much debate amongst their supporters for a reconfiguration of their replacements bench bomb squad as well as whether to continue with Damian Willemse as a sub. This was after Quade Cooper’s last-gasp penalty secured the Wallabies a two-point win in round three of the Rugby Championship.
The selection of a bench containing six forwards and just two backs has generally been a strength of the Springboks, the bruising physicality and added energy of their sub forwards becoming an important factor in their gallop to their 2019 World Cup success. It’s a tactic they have mostly persisted with since their return to the Test rugby fold in July this year.
It helped them to clinch the series versus the Lions and assisted them in getting off to a promising start in the Championship versus Argentina. However, last Sunday’s defeat to the Wallabies was particularly painful, sparking conversations about the value of having so many forwards which limits the number of the backline alternatives on the bench.
The Springboks had veteran Morne Steyn on the bench for the decisive third Lions Test and he came off it to strike the winning penalty, but this was something that proved beyond Willemse when he came into last Sunday’s fray following an off day for Handre Pollard off the tee. Despite this outcome, South Africa have stuck with their six/two bench split and have kept faith in Willemse, but assistant coach Mzwandile Stick insisted there was a selection debate and the issues weren’t ignored.
“It’s a week in, week out story when it comes to team selection,” he explained ahead of a rematch where the Springboks have made two changes to their XV, benching Steven Kitshoff for Trevor Nyakane and including Marvin Orie for the concussed Lood de Jager. “When we select it is something where there is always massive debate, so it’s something this week that we had to debate, having a six/two split on the bench or five/three.
"I wouldn't say desperate…"
– So focused is the Springboks skipper on revenge that he admits he didn't even know his team's No1 world rankings status is under threat this Saturday #AUSvRSA #Springboks #Wallabies #RugbyChampionship #TRC2021https://t.co/9PbbNFUINr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 17, 2021
“That is something that we as coaches go pound for pound in the boardroom when it comes to selection. It is nothing new to us as coaches. Handre didn’t have his best game but we didn’t lose the game only because of that. The discipline was what let us down mostly on the day. Handre has been brilliant for us, probably since 2018, when he is always up there but we are all human beings, sometimes you are going to have an off day but it is not only up to him. We as a team had to make sure we looked at ourselves and also the coaching staff and the leadership to make sure that we turned things around.
“And with Damian Willemse, we all know that Damian is a brilliant player, a brilliant player, and he has got a lot of days coming in his future,” continued the Springboks assistant. “He will get better and we didn’t lose the game because of the guys that were kicking at the posts. That is something that we as coaches understand and it’s one of the main things why we had continuity in our team selection. We believe in our six/two split on the bench and it worked for us before so there is no reason for us to doubt it and panic. Hopefully this week things will go well and the result will be on our side.”
"The feedback and the work from them has been good, from Joel’s and the referee’s side"
– Seven weeks is a long time in rugby judging by how the Springboks have engaged with officials this week compared to Rassie's July rant #Springboks #RSAvAUShttps://t.co/9vMrouERvH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments