Second-string Springboks team sends clear message to midfield hopefuls
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has been quick to quash any suggestions his side are showing the Wallabies disrespect by rolling out what appears to be a second-string team for the opening clash of the Rugby Championship.
“There’s no disrespect to Australia at all,” Erasmus said.
“If we didn’t have the tough draw in terms of travelling with New Zealand and Australia we would have picked the best first choice team for this one and the next.”
Tellingly, Erasmus’ comments seem to imply that the first Springboks team of the year is, by and large, a B team.
It was already expected that a weakened lineup would be rolled out to take on Austalia at Ellis Park, given that match against the All Blacks in Wellington a week later. Looking through the named side, it’s hard to argue with that prediction.
Captain Eben Etzebeth, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and prop Tendai Mtawarira will likely all be expected to back up against the All Blacks next weekend, but the rest of the side will likely to struggle to earn starts this year against the top teams.
Fans and pundits won’t be overly surprised by any of Erasmus’ picks for the second-string side.
The Springboks fielded what was effectively a first XV when they played their final game of 2018 against Wales. Of the side picked to play the Wallabies, only Etzebeth, du Toit and Jesse Kriel also started in the loss to Wales.
Etzebeth and du Toit’s selections this weekend are probably partially dictated by the need to keep some experienced faces in the side, but the more pressing reason is likely due to the lack of game time that those two have accumulated in 2019.
Injuries have limited Etzebeth to just 240 minutes of Super Rugby this year. Du Toit started the season strongly but hasn’t played a match since late May.
Outside centre Kriel is in a slightly different boat.
Midfield mix
Five midfielders have been selected in the Springboks squad for the Rugby Championship. Kriel is joined by his regular partner from the latter half of last year, Damian de Allende, as well as the Sharks pairing of Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am. The returning Frans Steyn, who debuted for the Springboks 13 years ago, is the final piece in the mix.
South Africa played four matches on last year’s tour to Europe. Close losses to England and Wales sandwiched tight wins over Scotland and France. The de Allende/Kriel partnership started in all four matches, with Elton Jantjies coming off the bench in three of the matches to take over from de Allende. Lionel Mapoe and Esterhuizen were the only other dedicated midfielders to also travel north but only Esterhuizen received any game time, and just 20 minutes at that.
You could be forgiven for assuming that Kriel’s 320 minutes of play on that end of year tour means he’s the obvious first-choice centre for the Springboks. That would perhaps be the case if it weren’t for the presence of Lukhanyo Am in the current squad.
Am wasn’t a part of 2018’s end of year tour on account of breaking his arm in South Africa’s clutch win against New Zealand in Wellington last year. Although Am was initially named in the touring party, his injury was healing up slower than anticipated and was replaced in the squad by Mapoe.
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The fact that Am was even selected in the squad at all should give you an idea of how well-regarded the former Kings player is by coach Erasmus. Am could barely pass a ball and hadn’t played a game of rugby in a month and a half yet was still considered one of the top four centres in the country.
As such, it should come as no surprise that Am has been recalled into the Springboks on the back of a very successful Super Rugby campaign.
Successful start to Rugby Championship
There’s a reason why Erasmus values Am so much. The Sharks centre played his first Rugby Championship match last year, against the Pumas at his home ground in Durban. Am partnered with Sharks teammate Esterhuizen for that much, with the Springboks emerging victors, 34-21. The outside centre scored the Springboks’ first try of the game.
Am then had the ignominy of playing in South Africa’s biggest ever loss to Argentina just one week later, falling 32-19 in Buenos Aires. Whilst Am didn’t cover himself in glory in that match, no Springbok did, with the forward pack getting belted by the Argentinians.
The embarrassment of that defeat was quickly replaced with glory however. Kriel started in South Africa’s next game, a loss to Australia, but Am was reinstated for the Springbok’s fixture against the All Blacks. He made some punishing tackles against the men in black, helping the Springboks to a 2-point lead at halftime before he had to retire due to injury.
When available, Am has been an almost certain selection for the Erasmus – and that looks like it’s set to continue when the Springboks face the All Blacks in a rematch of the Wellington match from last year.
Kriel still playing like a fullback
Kriel would have hoped that his efforts on the end of year tour in 2018 would have been enough to reassert himself as the first choice 13 for his national side, but that looks like it’s not the case.
Am showed in Super Rugby why he’s so valuable for the Springboks. Kriel is a converted fullback – perhaps better at running the ball – but Am is a midfielder through and through. His distribution skills certainly trump Kriels and he often chooses to put his teammates in space instead of looking to make the breaks himself. When Am does decided to carry, however, he’s a hard man to put down and is often able to keep the ball alive in the tackle. When you have as dangerous outside backs as the Springboks do, it’s easy to see why Am might be favoured.
Of course, there is a chance that Erasmus does still see Kriel as first choice. Few experienced players have been selected for the Wallabies match this weekend and having an experienced campaigner like Kriel in the backs will be invaluable for the relatively inexperienced line-up.
Regardless, Kriel won’t be want to get complacent. He has the first opportunity this year to prove that he’s a worthy starting centre for South Africa but already finds himself in the ‘B team’ and having to make up ground.
The World Cup kicks off in two months – that doesn’t leave aspiring Springboks lots of time to assert themselves on the international stage. Kriel’s battle for a spot in the midfield starts this weekend, and he needs to hit top gear right from the go.
The Springboks will face a strong Wallabies side this weekend that could see returning halfback Nic White starting in the 9 jersey:
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to comments