Neil de Kock: Damian Willemse selection suggests the Bok plan is progressing
We may be a little over a year out from the next World Cup to be staged in France from September but I don’t believe the Springboks missed a trick by failing to refresh their side.
There are always names that you think can be given a shot but generally what the Springbok coaching staff are doing is affording the incumbents the opportunity to retain their places and prove their long-term worth.
The last time the Springboks played was against England in November so it would be pretty harsh to say to the guys who played then, “Listen guys, five of you are not playing this weekend against Wales.”
I like the consistency in terms of selection that the current Springbok management has in place. It was in contrast to when I played for South Africa from 2001 to 2003 where I experienced a period of inconsistency in terms of selection. As I found during my time at Saracens, when teams build consistency with regards to selection, it usually reaps rich rewards somewhere down the line.
Jacques Nienaber – who has selected uncapped forwards Salmaan Moerat and Elrigh Louw on the bench for the first Test against Wales – alluded to not naming more new players in the match day 23 when he said that it’s not an academy and they are not there to develop players.
And if Nienaber believed that the new, young and fresh faces were ready, I think they would have been picked first up. He obviously believes they have to develop a bit more and get more playing time under the belt.
In terms of the Bok backline, Damian Willemse starts at fullback with Willie le Roux shifting to the bench, while Elton Jantjies comes in for Handre Pollard.
Le Roux has been an outstanding servant to South African rugby and I think the criticism he is dealt at times is quite harsh. He has been solid for us for so long but the truth is that the Springboks need to think about progressing.
Damian is an out-and-out footballer and can play anywhere. He is an incredible athlete, has brilliant skills and boasts a massive boot. He is strong, physical and can step so it’s an opportunity to stake a proper claim for that position.
Beyond Willie, fullback has been a position which has been up in the air and you wouldn’t necessarily say, “That’s our next guy.” It’s someone’s opportunity to stick their hand up and say, “I want that jersey for the next six years.”
I’m still not 100% convinced that fullback is Damian’s best position – he had strong showings for the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship at 12 – and I would like to see him in the midfield but the national coaches know what they are doing.
In terms of Elton, who has played 42 Tests, contrary to popular opinion I think he has already found a balance to his game. Because he came from a Lions background where they ran everything, everybody thinks that that is still what Elton does. But if you look back at his Tests, he’s been very crafty.
He’s accurate off the boot, puts in kick-passes, gets the ball in-behind and can also clear lines when he needs to. Elton has developed into a very well-rounded N0 10 and can run a game with ball-in-hand but is equally adept mixing it up now and matching the kicking game when he needs to.
In terms of whether someone like Andre Esterthuizen, who was voted RPA Players’ Player of the Year, would be frustrated waiting to get his chance, I would say yes and no.
The team comes first and if it means a 6-2 bench split is going to give you a better chance of getting the result you need then I think every player in the squad will understand that.
The Springboks are definitely not going to hand out caps just to give another backline player an opportunity to get on the field and play a Test because you run the risk of going against your strategy.
The Boks’ current plan is to play a combative game upfront with fresh legs coming on at 50 minutes. It’s team and strategy first before individuals.
Last season, the Springboks’ win-loss record was 7-5 against tier-one nations which equates to 58 per cent. If the men in green and gold look at those numbers, I’m pretty sure that they would be the first ones to admit that they would want to improve.
To have them fifth in the power rankings ahead of the Test season is a bit of a dig at the Springboks and the style we play. I believe the defending world champions deserve a bit more than that.
However, rankings really mean nothing and the team will be focusing on internal growth and laying down a marker starting this Saturday against Wales.
Following an 11-year career with Saracens, which saw him earn 264 caps, Neil de Kock now works in the rugby division at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. De Kock, who featured in 10 Test matches for the Springboks, provides RugbyPass with expert opinion and insight focusing on South Africa.
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden 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 comments