As Springboks face their final three tests of the year, many questions still hang in the air concerning the direction Coach Meyer is taking them. He is slowly showing signs that he might just be turning the corner with regard to his pragmatic game plan to a more complete one, although too slowly for most.
The squad chosen to take on Ireland, Scotland and England this month chose largely itself, with great reward for aspiring youngsters Arno Botha and Raymond Rhule. The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Schalk Brits. The former Lions and Stormers hooker, with that magical side-step, has been a consistent fixture and leading player in the English game since his arrival over three years ago. Unfortunately he has played in an era where John Smit and Bismark Du Plessis dominated at hooker with a more complete style of play, and Brits was never really going to get time to acclimatise himself and grow his game at international level.
The first starting 22 was named on Wednesday and some startling, although not surprising, selections were made. It is fair to say that most of the squad could have easily been predicted. Guthro Steenkamp was excluded with a slight knock and might have just been selected ahead of The Beast, considering his experience of the conditions in France over the last year. No other surprises in the forward pack, unless one considers the inclusion of Schalk Brits ahead of Chilli-Boy Ralapelle on the bench. The bench also includes a full front row with Pat Cilliers and CJ Van Der Linde taking their places, as the IRB’s law change comes into effect to prevent uncontested scrums. Hopefully it works, I am just upset about being demoted to player 24. I liked 23!.
The lock and loosies pick themselves, with Francois Louw – fast becoming an important cog in the South African side – passing a fitness test. But then comes the first revelation. Pat Lambie is given the start at flyhalf ahead of Jantjies and Steyn. The kid has been waiting for his chance and made a very good statement in his with the Sharks at the back end of the Currie Cup. Now it is his time to shine, and please let fate shine on him, because Morne Steyn is on the bench ahead of Elton Jantjies. OK, I should not be that harsh on Steyn, he is a good guy. Meyer has described the selection as an “insurance policy” as he did not want to sit with an inexperienced replacement like Jantjies.
Which is fair enough, but then there must be an idea to give Jantjies a start in the next few tests. But if we win, then I see few changes and then Jantjies is left wondering again. At least Lambie is there, which is movement in the right direction. Francois Hougaard continues on the wing, which I feel is a failed experiment. Like every other outside back, he needs to be put into space. He has not performed at scrumhalf as required and he should be demoted just like Morne Steyn was. We have ample wing replacements in Mvovo, Mapoe and Rhule to make up for what we seem to think we gain by placing Hougaard on the wing. Captain De Villiers who will be nurtured through this tour and will play inside Jaco Taute, who has not made his move to fullback as expected. I believe Taute’s move to fullback will probably happen against the weaker Scottish side.
This of course means Juan De Jongh stays on the bench, which is upsetting, but Jub-Jub should just look what has happened to Lambie to know that he just needs to bide his time. The forgotten man in this equation, Zane Kirchner, has got another shot and it is up to him to prove everyone wrong, this can only raise the quality of the
competition for the spot. He has not been terrible, but dramatically unspectacular. And South African fans are confused especially when they see the likes of Kurtley Beale and Israel Dagg do what they do from the back. We need to reshape our counter-attacking game, we just need someone to take that mantle and run with it. Excuse the pun.
Someone who I feel can take this responsibility now is JP Pietersen. He is in superb form and he just needs to be put into space and given license to play what is in front of him. The Sharks made the best of his form by just about putting him through in every set move. They always looked to play him in and it reaped lots of reward for them this year. The Boks should be looking to do something similar. In the absence of Habana, JP has a chance to take on a bit of a leadership role and it will be interesting to see if he flourishes under these conditions.
Overall, the Springboks will be looking at not only pulling through three victories but also in trying to gain confidence going into next year and shaping a more complete style of play. Remember, the ultimate
test of the work done, is the test matches against the All Blacks and after the last mauling they got, there is clear need to bridge a gap and it starts Saturday against Ireland. Also, remember the injury list: Du Plessis, Liebenberg, Oosthuizen, Bekker, Burger, Kolisi, Smith, Brussouw, Spies, Steyn, Goosen, Basson and Habana. As well as the absent: Fourie, Kankowski and Du Preez. There are places to be played for and the guys who get to put on one of the 23 jerseys in the next three Saturdays are in the best position to stake their claim.
We need the new generation to stand up and there is no better time than now!!
Springbok 2012 End of Year Tour
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