The changes the Boks must make to return to winning ways
Given South Africa’s perilous position, don’t expect Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber to ‘experiment’ too much Down Under.
Given Nienaber’s generally mossbacked approach since taking over from Rassie Erasmus in 2020 and given how the experimentation in the second Test against Wales in July went pearshaped, any tryouts are likely to come in the latter stages of the Rugby Championship – if South Africa is in a favourable position on the standings.
Given the embarrassing 23-35 loss at Ellis Park in Round Two, putting out a ‘winning’ combination will be most likely what Nienaber will do when he announces his team on Monday for the first of the back-to-back matches with Australia.
The Wallabies host the Boks in Adelaide this coming Saturday, August 27, and in Sydney a week later.
Nienaber has brought his team announcement forward a day, from the usual Tuesday routine.
That is already a clear indication of how determined he is to right the listing Bok ship.
While there will be at least one change – on the right wing, where Jessie Kriel is set to miss the game as a result of the concussion he suffered at Ellis Park – the bulk of the team looks set to stay unchanged.
Of course, there are some areas of concern – such as the front row, loose forward and scrumhalf.
Those are areas for debate and speculation.
Canan Moodie and Warrick Gelant are in the running to replace Kriel – a simple case of raw talent against experience.
Moodie is the future, but Nienaber may be tempted to go the ‘conservative’ route.
Some pundits have hinted that Lukhanyo Am, who moved to the wing at Ellis Park, could start in the No.14 jersey and create a midfield vacancy that could see Andre Esterhuizen come into the picture.
The big question is at scrumhalf.
Will Francois de Klerk, who was concussed in the first Test in Nelspruit and missed the Round Two outing, start in Adelaide? Or will Jaden Hendrikse – who produced the ultimate horror show at Ellis Park get another run?
There is also Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach to consider.
Conservative = De Klerk.
Another player who was so disappointing in the Johannesburg outing that his absence is likely top be greeted with cheers rather than jeers, is veteran World Cup winner Duane Vermeulen.
Jasper Wiese has not let the team down, even though his questionable discipline is becoming a proverbial prickly pear for the team. Elrigh Louw is waiting in the wings.
Given the underwhelming performances of Joseph Dweba and Retshegofaditswe Nche at Ellis Park, the names of Trevor Nyakane and Malcolm Marx will come up when the starting XV is discussed.
The bench can also do with some refreshing – especially if Nienaber moves away from his preferred six forwards and two backs split to a more traditional five-three selection.
The names of Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn could feature, while utility forward Deon Fourie could get a look in.
Jan de Koning‘s proposed starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Willie le Roux.
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, 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 commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments