The gnawing doubt at the heart of the Springboks selection policy
Every sports fan inevitably reaches a tipping point. It doesn’t happen all at once. First it’s a trickle, then it’s a deluge. Suddenly you’re submerged in a sea of inescapable truth. You blink your eyes open as you come up for air and realise that all the players representing your team are younger than you.
If you’re a fan of the Springboks and still in your 20s, you’re in luck. No other side with a realistic shot at winning the World Cup in two months’ time has more men in their 30s than South Africa. There are older geezers – in sporting terms at least – knocking about in other squads. Johnny Sexton is 38. Argentina have a pair of 38-year-old front-rowers in Agustin Creevy and Franscisco Gomez Kodela. But with 19 members currently on their third decade around the sun, Jacques Nienaber’s outfit are older than most.
The reasons behind this are multifaceted. Nienaber inherited a core group from his predecessor and mentor, Rassie Erasmus, that had arguably not yet reached its peak. Four years ago the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Damian de Allende and a clutch of other key figures were in their late-20s and beginning to ascend the apex of their careers.
What’s more, Nienaber, either through a reluctance to change things up or a lack of options elsewhere, has largely stuck with the same group that won the World Cup in Japan. In fact, if everyone was fit, Nienaber could conceivably field 21 of the 23 players that beat England in Yokohama for the opening game of his team’s title defence and call it his best team. All he’d have to do is replace the now-retired duo of Tendai Mtawarira at loosehead prop and Francois Steyn on the bench.
None of this is news to anyone who has been paying attention but it is remarkable nonetheless and is perhaps not receiving the appropriate attention it deserves. What’s more, the relatively unchanged make-up of the Springboks squad can either be used as a stick to beat Nienaber – who might be painted as conservative by his critics – or as proof that Erasmus’ heir is adept at conserving a legacy and a match-winning game-plan.
There is of course a precedent for this. The Springboks are looking to do something that only the great All Blacks side under Steve Hansen achieved and that is defending a World Cup crown. Four years on from shaking the monkey off their back by squeezing past France in 2011, Richie McCaw skippered a team bursting with experience. Four of the 31-strong group that arrived in England had more than 100 caps to their name and Ma’a Nonu would join them by the time they trounced Australia in Twickenham. However, that squad only had 11 players in their 30s and Keven Mealamu was the oldest at 36.
And so one has to ask, has Nienaber allowed the Springboks to grow old under his watch? Some supporters might baulk at what may appear to be a snide chide lobbed from the safety of a laptop, but it’s worth a wonder. The recent form of Bongi Mbnomabi (32), Faf de Klerk (31) and Makazole Mapimpi (33) has been questioned by pundits online and on screen. The fitness of Siya Kolisi (32) is a serious concern. Champions all of them, and world class on their day. But some alarm bells are worth sounding even if they’re later dismissed as annoying fire-drills.
The truth is very few instrumental Springboks have yet to reach their best years and too many must look in the rearview mirror to see their own. Malcolm Marx is unquestionably a force that continues to rise. Important props and wingers could be described in such terms. Everywhere else though, gnarled veterans lead the vanguard. That isn’t necessarily a problem. Not when those grizzled and greying warhorses continue to excel.
At the heart of this is Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Roux, who both start this weekend against Argentina. Both have had their share of criticism – the former dismissed as too old and the latter regularly disregarded for his supposed weaknesses – but both continue to confound logic and time.
Vermeulen, at 37, is the oldest member of the group though he’s no mascot. The Springboks have used ageing players who are good around the camp to help inject bonhomie into World Cup campaigns. Bobby Skinsstad performed this role in 2007 while Schalk Brits set a benchmark for the job in 2019.
Vermeulen’s own story, one that includes the premature death of a parent and numerous injury setbacks, has proved a lightning rod for players and supporters who believe in the mythology of the Springboks. But, more importantly. he has continued to have an impact at the elite level 12 years on and could still challenge Jasper Wiese for first dibs on the No. 8 jersey.
Le Roux has less worries concerning his position in the team. No other Springbok player this past cycle has shown anywhere near the game management and tactical nous displayed by the 33-year-old fullback. Despite a litany of reasons touted by detractors – from an apparent lack of bravery and physicality, to his insecurity under the high ball – he remains the working brain in the backline. You get the full picture when you watch him live because his magic is not always captured by the four walls of a TV camera. Even without the ball he is dictating the direction of an attack or pulling teammates into position. It’s no wonder he has assisted more tries than any other South African on a Test pitch.
Le Roux and Vermeulen will play their last Test on home soil this Saturday against Argentina. They deserve a hero’s send-off in Johannesburg. Not that they’ll be thinking of that. This match against the Pumas will simply be a launchpad for their final push over the next six weeks.
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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