Rassie Erasmus curtailed many Springbok careers - now Dave Rennie must do the same
The Springboks and Wallabies were at similar crossroads midway through the last World Cup cycle.
Both powerhouses were languishing with inconsistent results, ending up on the wrong side of an occasional lopsided thumping.
The 2017 series between the Wallabies and Springboks ended with two draws, perhaps the surest indication that the two teams were roughly in the same place.
However, after that year, one made drastic changes and one didn’t.
Two years later the two nations are in drastically different places but the lessons from Erasmus’ takeover will surely be taken and used by Dave Rennie and the Wallabies.
SARU employed a Director of Rugby for the first time ever in Rassie Erasmus in December 2017. Shortly after, Allister Coetzee was sacked as head coach of the Springboks with Erasmus taking over in 2018 as a caretaker.
Rugby Australia continued on with Michael Chieka’s reign despite 2017 being one of the worst seasons on record, which lead to another disastrous run in 2018.
Many of the Springboks squad inherited by Rassie Erasmus have not pulled on the green jersey since.
Lions fullback Andries Coetzee who played nearly every test in 2017 hasn’t played once under Erasmus.
Halfback Ross Cronje, who kept Faf de Klerk from starting regularly at Super Rugby level and sent him to the Premiership, was dumped as soon as Erasmus took over despite 10 starts in 2017.
Wingers Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule, lethal with ball in hand but turnstiles in defence, have not been seen since that season.
Stormers’ dynamic utility Dillyn Lleyds has made a solitary appearance after being a staple of the 2017 side.
These players hadn’t suffered a sudden drop in domestic form, however. The Lions Super Rugby team that made three straight finals had naturally formed a large portion of the Springbok side.
But South African Rugby had become seduced by the attacking rugby played by the Lions and, by extension, the All Blacks. They were chasing a game that their players couldn’t quite pull off at Test level, leading to some horrific periods of error-strewn rugby.
It was not the hardnosed style of rugby Erasmus had envisioned for the Springboks, and therefore these players would not fit the required standards.
The 57-0 drubbing at Albany on the North Shore by the All Blacks, the 57-16 thumping the year prior in Durban and the 38-3 loss in Dublin highlighted flakey and soft defence not fit for Erasmus’ version of Test rugby.
The door was abruptly shut to many of those responsible. The Springboks narrowed their game towards physicality and defence, simplifying their attack and pushing a ruthless, aggressive defence.
Changes to the Springbok eligibility rules opened up a swathe of expat players to Erasmus. Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw were swiftly drafted back in.
Other improving homegrown talent, like Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Aphiwe Dyanti, RG Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen, were blooded or rose in standing.
Erasmus capped 19 new Springboks in his first year in charge in 2018, the most since 2002 when 20 new caps were given out.
When the regime changes, so do careers.
For the Wallabies, this isn’t a ‘hand-the-baton’ to a successful assistant type of handover. It is a ‘strip this mess down and rebuild’ type of change.
Michael Cheika’s regime was blindfully loyal to a handful of non-performing stars and project players, while wins dropped to historical lows as the reality disconnect widened.
A generational talent, Kurtley Beale, finished the Cheika-era poetically with the kind of act Cheika’s team became renown for – he picked up a loose pass on his own 22, ran twenty metres across field before throwing a wild looping, sitting duck, cutout pass another twenty metres into the arms of Anthony Watson.
Beale has been in this Wallabies side since 2009, through three World Cups, amassing 92 caps and will go down one of Australia’s best ever talents.
Despite the on-field reputation built in the earlier part of his career, he cannot replicate the athletic feats of his 23-year-old self.
If the Wallabies are seriously looking towards 2023, Beale’s international career already ended with that pass in Oita. He will be 35 years old in France.
As a comparison, All Black Ben Smith was 33 years old last year and became a supporting member in Hansen’s World Cup squad.
Cheika’s regime persisted with players out of position, such as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto at blindside flanker.
As an edge runner, he was found wanting and in defence offered a mismatch for opposition backs. As a carrying option, he was inconsistent and his upright running was a liability.
Many would consider him a lock masquerading as a loose forward. Without the backing of Cheika, his international career could quickly stall.
Another Cheika-project pushed through early is the energetic lock Izack Rodda.
A big man with a big heart, Rodda’s hands let him down way too much at the international level with costly stone-cold drops a regular occurrence.
Rodda’s handling skills are lacking and doubts exist whether they meet the standard required by Rennie.
If Michael Hooper isn’t Dave Rennie’s captain where does that leave him? As captain, he would be guaranteed to start. Without the armband, however, his guarantee is revoked.
Liam Wright’s defensive numbers in Super Rugby this year are directly comparable to Michael Hooper’s.
If Wright is deemed a better lineout option, and Rennie has no desire to use a 7 as an edge-running wing, there is every chance Hooper is marginalised towards a bench role or splitting time in the 7 jersey with an up-and-comer like Wright.
A leader with endless heart for the cause, Hooper brings intangibles. There are few as tough as the New South Welshmen, but it’s undeniable there has been a lack of wins with Hooper at openside and as captain. In search of a winning formula, every option has to be tried if the Wallabies are committed to actually winning.
If Rennie wants a different captain, Hooper’s grounding isn’t so solid.
Australian Rugby has an abundance of young talent worthy of investing Wallabies caps in this year and 2021 – Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Isaac Lucas, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio among a few.
There are many players on the periphery that could service just as well as the incumbents – Matt Phillip, Jack Dempsey, Tom Banks, Tom Cusack, Lachlan McCaffrey, that weren’t given anywhere near the chance of others who didn’t perform.
More talent will continue to filter through from the successful Australian under-20 side that made the World Championship final in 2019, and the Australian schoolboy side that toppled their New Zealand counterparts.
If a losing culture is to be crushed and buried, there is no room for fairytale swansongs if the team is truly greater than the individual. Those heading to the Premiership for a short-term stint when rugby returns should probably look at getting a full ride.
The Wallabies wallowed under Cheika’s eye for so long that the impending culling may take some by surprise – but it will be a refreshing and much-needed jolt to Wallabies rugby when it happens.
Even with the same squad, Rennie could improve the results by taking Erasmus’ approach and simplifying things to avoid brain dead errors and self-driven capitulations.
By cleaning house at the same time, he has every chance to right the ship within 12-18 months.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments