Springbok depth, not starting XV, was the winner on Saturday
After a couple of tough years following the 2015 Rugby World Cup, South African rugby seems to have righted itself at the top level, with Springbok depth once again beginning to show through.
Few people who witnessed it will ever forget the Springboks’ now infamous 34-32 loss to Japan to Brighton in 2015, and although South Africa rallied and ultimately finished 3rd in the tournament, it paved the way for some testing seasons in the Republic.
In 2016, the Boks scraped a home series against Ireland, before heavy defeats to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, as well as being whitewashed on their European tour by England, Italy and Wales. They lost seven of the 12 games they played that year.
Losses were down in 2017 as the Boks drew home and away games with Australia, although they were still restricted to just six wins and a 50% win rate. Given that three of those six wins came at home against a France side in self-destruct mode, it was far from the record that South African fans, who are used to their team winning more than they lose, were not too keen on.
Despite still only managing a 50% win record the following year, 2018 proved to be the beginning of the turning tide. The Springboks beat England 2-1 in their home series, they edged out the All Blacks in Wellington in a memorable encounter and they were able to pick up some wins in Europe, seeing off both France and Scotland.
No one expected miracles when Rassie Erasmus was lured away from Munster in 2017, but results, as well as the performance on Saturday against Australia, have shown that there is a positive trajectory for the Boks ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
In a shortened format this year due to said Rugby World Cup, the Rugby Championship has done away with its two-legged fixture format and each team will play their opponents only once this season. Thanks to the short turnarounds and extensive travel requirements in the competition, Erasmus opted to keep plenty of his powder dry against the Wallabies at Ellis Park.
With a game against the All Blacks in Wellington looming next weekend, Erasmus sent 15 members of his squad on ahead to New Zealand to prepare, leaving himself with a group of players on the cusp of the Springbok starting XV, punctuated with a few key individuals and leaders that were retained to help with continuity.
The Wallabies weren’t at full-strength, either, having suffered through some injuries in the front row, but it was an Australia side much closer to the one we will likely see in crunch games in Japan later this year, than the one South Africa fielded.
Whilst acknowledging Australian profligacy, something which was as much to do with unforced errors as it was South African pressure, the 35-17 win for the Springboks was an encouraging endorsement of their new-found depth.
Up front, Tendai Mtawarira turned back the clock with a fine scrummaging display against Sekope Kepu, whilst Lizo Gqoboka took his debut opportunity well, with Steven Kitshoff set to offer another potent option in New Zealand this coming Saturday. Trevor Nyakane and Vincent Koch dovetailed well at tighthead and the Springboks had the upper hand on Australia at the scrum for the entire 80 minutes.
If there was one concern at the set-piece, it was the early hiccups at the lineout. Bongi Mbonambi grew into the game, though, and the chemistry and timing between him, Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager improved and gave South Africa a solid foundation. He won’t be displacing Malcolm Marx anytime soon, but Erasmus will be pleased that he has two such contrasting options as Mbonambi and Schalk Brits to call upon as deputies.
Etzebeth had a good game and was another selection that should provide continuity going into the test in Wellington, and between himself, de Jager, Franco Mostert and RG Snyman, the Boks are once again looking at a second row that is a match for any in the world, in terms of both quality and depth.
Pieter-Steph du Toit stole the show in the back row with a masterful performance. The Stormer’s physicality was hard for Australia to contain and his kick-to-score game was also in fine shape, as the 26-year-old continues to evolve into one of the most complete players in international rugby.
Francois Louw and Rynhardt Elstadt had solid games alongside du Toit, although if there was one thing the Springbok back row was missing, it was a potent carrying option in space, with Siya Kolisi injured and Duane Vermeulen likely to feature in New Zealand.
The return of Marcell Coetzee to international rugby was another reason for Springbok fans to celebrate, as Erasmus’ options in the back row are not only diverse, they are also deep. Kwagga Smith is in the mix, too, with South Africa boasting an array of skills that will allow them, should they want to, to tailor their loose forward selections to specific game plans or opponents.
Debutant Herschel Jantjies dazzled on his international bow at scrum-half, as Faf de Klerk was sent ahead to New Zealand, whilst Cobus Reinach put in a try-scoring cameo of his own. After being down to the bare bones in recent years, the performances of Jantjies and Reinach will have been pleasing for Erasmus, with the Springboks having looked particularly reliant on de Klerk of late.
Elton Jantjies had his moments in the 10 jersey, although there were also mistakes and rust, just as you would expect from a player in their first international game of the season. Taking risks is in his style of play and that’s a large part of what makes him such a special attacking player, as well as offering a different kind of threat on the pitch to incumbent Handré Pollard. Frustrations and moments you would like back come with that, unfortunately.
For all the lauding of South Africa’s growing depth, though, the stocks at fly-half are not in the rudest of health.
Pollard and E Jantjies offer a nice, contrasting one-two punch, but should one of them go down, the options are limited. Damian Willemse and Curwin Bosch are inexperienced at this level and have been bumped back and forth at full-back at Super Rugby level, whilst François Steyn is a valuable and versatile back, but not one who necessarily screams ‘starting fly-half.’
Steyn did, however, show the value of a utility back from the bench, covering fly-half, centre and full-back. Jesse Kriel went well at outside centre in the starting XV and although André Esterhuizen will have better games, the duo of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am went unutilised and offer plenty of ability.
There was a similar story in the back three, where Cheslin Kolbe and Willie le Roux were held back for the upcoming test with New Zealand. Warrick Gelant was effective defensively, despite having a few moments in possession he’d prefer went differently, whilst Sbu Nkosi put down a marker as to why he should be in the mix for the Springboks’ starting XV when everyone is available.
As performances go overall, it was a solid first outing for South Africa, although they will know that they are capable of playing much better and that the final scoreline arguably flattered them somewhat.
The winner on Saturday in Johannesburg, though, was Erasmus’ 31-man Rugby World Cup squad, rather than his starting XV. No one wins a Rugby World Cup with 15 players, they win it with a squad that can rotate and survive injuries, with minimal drops in quality and an ability to maintain consistency in playing style.
The likes of H Jantjies, Reinach, Coetzee, Nkosi, Steyn and Brits may not have battered down Erasmus’ door for a place in his starting XV on Saturday, but they took important steps towards establishing – or re-establishing – themselves as reliable depth options and competition within the squad.
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Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments