As this
blog is starting a new journey, so is new Springbok boss Heyneke Meyer,
charged with the task of rebuilding the South African national side after a
tumultuous four years with PDV at the helm. For the first time since Jake White
was unceremoniously replaced, you can look at the South African squad without
the same sense of disappointment and bewilderment at the selection policy.
Despite having not played a match so far, it seems as if Meyer has gotten off
to a good start. His final training squad appears to have been picked on
playing form and there is a great deal for South African fans to be excited
about.
There are,
however, some deeply troubling questions surrounding the Springbok selection of
the final training squad. The first major issue was the repeated rumours about
the return of Victor Matfield. Whilst Matfield was undoubtedly a great player
and arguably the greatest line out forward ever (since the inception of
lifting), his return to the international arena was ludicrous and gave a troubling
image of a coach (and selectors) who sounded as if they just weren't watching
Super rugby. Lord knows what they’ve been up to but had they been watching,
they would have seen the Stormers come flying out of the traps at the beginning
of the season. In their engine room is the giant Bekker, long thought to be the
heir apparent to the Springbok second row, and young Eben Etzebeth. Etzebeth
has been a sensation – at only 20 years old and in his debut season of Super
rugby he has been one of the most in-form locks in the tournament and it would
be hard to argue against his innclusion in the Springbok match day squad. A monster in both the tight and the loose, he
is in prime position to become a truly world-class second row. You would also
presume that Meyer, having spent a brief spell in England, would know the
aerial capabilities of the Bulls’ Juandré Kruger. Whilst praise must be given
to the new coach for including these young players, any suggestions of a
Matfield return were bewildering – thank you to the IRB for putting an end to
the endless speculation.
The front
row selections appear well considered. With John Smit now gone, Bismark is free
to assume his rightful starting spot, probably alongside his brother Jannie. At
loose-head the Beast is coming into some good form after a spell on the side-lines
whilst Dean Greyling is still, and will continue to be, enormous. It seems
unlikely however that Bismark will assume his predecessor’s role as captain.
Despite having captained the Sharks on occasions, his inability to communicate
with other human beings appears to have ruled him out of contention. Jean De
Villiers would be the safe bet having captained the Stormers very well all season
and being guaranteed his starting place. However, in a Matfield-esque turn,
Meyer has thrown out the possibility that Fourie Du Preez may captain the side.
He’s a great player after all and an instrumental piece in South Africa’s world
cup winning side. All round a great choice…
Except for
the slightly bewildering, yet dauntingly obvious fact that he has not been picked
in any of the Springbok squads to date. Meyer is proposing to captain a player
who isn’t even (at this moment) being considered for selection.
In the back
row, Meyer has a selection issue at blind-side. With the legendary Juan Smith
still side-lined and Alberts struggling for fitness, the most in form South
African flanker to date would be the intense Marcel Coetzee of the Sharks. He
would provide an enormously physical carrying game to balance with Heinrich
Brüssow’s superiority on the floor.
Having
recalled Ruan Pienaar and (we’re led to presume) also recalled Fourie Du Preez,
Meyer now has five scrumhalves to choose from, but the safe money must surely
be on Francois Hougaard, who, having paid his dues on the wing, has cemented
himself as one of the premier nines in the Super Rugby competition. In the
centres JDV will definitely start, and will be pared with either of his club
mates De Jongh or Habana. The back three is remarkably unexciting but with a
dominant pack and experienced centres, it seems unlikely to matter.
The most
disappointing thing from a neutrals perspective is the injury to young Johan
Goosen. Probably the most in form fly half in the competition when he got
injured, Goosen was posing a serious and realistic threat to Morne Steyn’s
number 10 shirt. This would have been Meyer’s first real test of steel – would
he have picked the in form 19 year old over the metronome of Steyn or played is
safe and stuck with the Bull’s consistent playmaker? Unfortunately (and very
fortunately for England), it seems like we will have to wait another four
months until this question can be answered.
Meyer has
managed to avoid a lot of drama to this point by announcing such a large squad.
With 42 players named it would have been hard to have missed many players out.
Nevertheless, it seems as if the Bok amateur dramatics are set to continue.
Whilst they are going to be ruthlessly efficient on the pitch, the hilarious
inconsistencies look set to continue off it.
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