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
I remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to comments