The Springboks have little-to-no attacking arsenal as arrogant selections cripple the team
In the aftermath of the Springboks’ dismantling at the hands of the Wallabies in Adelaide, it appears to have been another case of ‘insanity’ by the Bok brains trust.
They are ploddingly sticking to what worked three years ago, even if the cracks already started to show.
The Springboks, as everyone knows, pride themselves on three things.
Those are a good kicking game, set piece dominance and rock solid defence.
When they get it right on the day – as we saw in the first Test against New Zealand in Nelspruit – it is a thing of beauty.
However, what happens if even one of those areas malfunctions?
It becomes a domino effect. Everything tends to crash, panic mode sets in and there is never a Plan B or Plan C to fall back on.
The Springboks have little to no attacking arsenal and literally rely on individual brilliance to save the day – as Cheslin Kolbe did against the British and Irish Lions and Am did against New Zealand at Ellis Park.
As we saw in Johannesburg in Round Two of the Rugby Championship, sometimes not even that is enough.
Bashing it up around the corner with one-off runners is easy to defend if you know it’s coming.
Against Australia, in Adelaide, we saw the hosts playing a far more intelligent brand, with average players, against a side stacked with players other nations envy and getting the victory.
A lot of talk came from the coaching and management about blooding players for the next world cup in France.
COVID-19 did rob them of a whole season of doing so.
The series against the B&I Lions was very much an emergency job, where going with the tried and tested was justified.
However, what happened after that?
Admittedly players like Aphelele Fassi, Rosko Specman, Jasper Wiese, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Evan Roos and Elrigh Louw were capped.
However, looking at the playing time for these guys – with the exception of Wiese – they didn’t play a lot of Test rugby.
If you look at the team selection for the second Test against New Zealand, Duane Vermeulen started – after coming back from surgery and played ahead of Wiese.
The latter did nothing wrong the week before.
How can that be justified? They know what they have in Vermeulen and it wouldn’t have done any damage to either let him play off the bench, or even let him regain fitness in the upcoming United Rugby Championship – then get him in for the year-end tour and give Evan Roos a proper run.
The same scenario played itself out with Elton Jantjies in the first Test against Wales.
This past weekend there was Francois Steyn, who came in off the bench after last playing for the Cheetahs against Griquas in a Currie Cup match back in May.
I just get the feeling reputation is what is important for the coaching and management and not form.
Have we not learnt from previous post-World Cup winning years on how to better manage players who are in their twilight years and let them be mentors for the next generation – as Schalk Brits were during the 2019 World Cup and Willie le Roux currently is for Damian Willemse?
The Springboks will play England outside the international window on their year-end tour and will most likely be without their overseas-based players.
In the absence of Vermeulen and Wiese, Will Evan Roos start – given that he just has 46 minutes of Test rugby to his credit?
Will the same thing happen with Elrigh Louw?
What about the centres?
De Allende (free agent) and Esterhuizen are both overseas.
Will Willemse be shifted to No.12 and Fassi play fullback?
It could have catastrophic effects and full blame should lay on the coaches and management, because of their arrogance in selection and lack of evolution in their approach to the game ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Angus Opperman
@AngyboyJ
@rugby365com
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments