Neil de Kock: Springboks only one percent off being the team to beat
Given that the 45th test between South Africa and England is at Twickenham and outside the international window, the hosts will go in as favourites. For me, the timing of this test match is bitter-sweet because you always want whoever is available to run out.
Nevertheless, the Springboks have selected a strong side. In the backline, while the Boks have backed Damian Willemse at No.10, it was fantastic to see Manie Libbok’s performance against Italy.
He didn’t seem at all fazed and showed some really good skills, particularly passing out of hand. The more time a player of his stature gets at this level, the better. Jacques Nienaber has stated that Manie is second in line for the No.10 jersey and I think it’s right for any coach to say to someone new: “You’ve got to work hard and bide your time.” It might come quicker to some owing to injury or reshuffling of backlines but Libbok has put his best foot forward. He can rest assured that the coaches are sitting secure in the knowledge that they have got him to call on if need be.
In terms of the halfback battle, Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith line up against Faf de Klerk and Willemse. Van Poortvliet has been quite a revelation for Leicester Tigers and England and it will be fascinating to see how he does against the more experienced De Klerk, who has 45 test caps, and how the pair will approach this game. As far as Smith is concerned, he’s definitely proven that he’s a match winner at club level and the last time England faced the Springboks, he slotted the winning penalty at Twickenham.
It was interesting to hear Jacques say this week that he “doesn’t know whether we will ever get respect.” There won’t necessarily be universal respect in terms of the Bok game plan because everyone wants to see the ball going through the hands and tries being scored.
However, I do believe there’s a lot of respect out there in terms of how the Springboks achieve what they need to achieve. I think there is a subtle difference and it’s more the game plan that in many ways is not respected versus the Springboks as an entity. I think the team is respected but it’s the type of game that armchair critics don’t necessarily respect. From a coaching point of view, the Boks have to block out the white noise and it’s clear the team knows what they are trying to achieve down to the very minor detail. They believe it, follow it and the proof is in the pudding. Yes, we have fallen short in two test matches against numbers one and two in the world but I firmly believe that we’re only one percent off from being the team to beat.
Turning to England, their ability to come away with a draw against New Zealand last week, when they seemed dead and buried, says a lot about their resilience. Under Eddie Jones, the English have worked on how they want to approach games and whenever they come up against the Springboks, they always talk it up and say that they are equally as physical. England will aim to match and even supersede that physical onslaught and be the aggressors. I’m sure Eddie will be the one pushing that as hard as possible. It will be all about the collisions and England will also be out to stop the barrage of mauling and aim to diffuse the Bomb squad that is set to be thrown their way.
It doesn’t surprise me that Eddie has been outspoken in the media leading up to the game. I know Eddie well from my time at Saracens playing under him and he is no stranger to mind games off the field. However, he is such a seasoned coach and will come in with a specific plan. Eddie might say that this is the test the Boks would have been looking to target on their end of year tour but, for me, they would have targeted each game and there would have been a plan beforehand in terms of who we were playing. Make no mistake, the Bok ambition is to go out there and win every test match.
While the Springboks only have one win from three matches on the ongoing November tour, in recent weeks they have shown us something that we haven’t seen in some time. We have to give credit where it’s due because they have moved the ball around very well. They exposed Italy’s defence last week – scoring nine tries – and the week before against France to some extent as well. I don’t know if it’s a long-term plan and will continue but it’s been good to see the Boks poke holes and play some ambitious rugby.
In terms of the Rassie Erasmus saga, it’s not the first incident so I don’t think the Springbok squad are strangers to the controversy surrounding the team. I have no doubt that the Boks will be able to put it aside and focus on the match against England.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry 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.
1 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 commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments