Out with the old and in with the new. That has got to be Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s policy if he hopes to resurrect his team for the end-of-year tour to Europe.
Coetzee spoke earlier this year about playing a more attacking game and giving form players an opportunity, but it didn’t really happen, and now the chickens have come home to roost following the 57-15 mauling at the hands of the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.
To concede nine tries and score none on home soil is more than “embarrassing” – the word that the coach used to describe the outcome of the record defeat. The time has come for Coetzee and selector Peter Jooste to remove their straitjackets, start afresh and grow the Bok team once and for all.
It was astonishing to hear afterwards that Coetzee almost bemoan the fact that the Boks had to win every Test they play. “We are under constant pressure to win Tests. We are between a rock and a hard place – we need to blood new players at the beginning of a new four-year cycle, but we cannot experiment too much. We are embarrassed, but we need to stand up and show we have fight left in us.”
He is, of course, referring to the “win-at-all-costs” mentality that’s entrenched in South Africa, no matter how it is done. That is what Coetzee achieved last weekend when he hauled out Morné Steyn and took the Boks to the old “kick-and-chase” game plan to grind out an 18-10 victory at Loftus Versfeld.
Such an approach might have worked against a struggling Wallaby outfit on the highveld, but it was never going to be the case in Durban against the All Blacks. Yet Coetzee stuck with the same plan, and the result was total annihilation.
Don’t be sidetracked by the fact that the score was still 22-15 to New Zealand going into the last quarter. The Kiwis had run the Boks to a standstill by that stage with ball-in-hand, which is why the gaps opened up in the final 20 minutes.
That speaks to the All Blacks’ superior fitness levels, but also the “type” of players Steve Hansen and his selectors pick – skilful, mobile athletes who are also good at their primary roles, whether it’s scrummaging, jumping in the lineouts or fielding up-and-unders.
Coetzee needs to start over, and try to deliver on the promises he made at the beginning of his tenure, such as picking youngsters and introducing a more attacking brand of rugby.
The selection of Sharks flyhalf Garth April in his first squad was refreshing, and the coach spoke about not being scared to follow New Zealand’s lead to pick youngsters, citing the example of Lima Sopoaga’s dream debut in Johannesburg last year.
Instead, Coetzee was initially reluctant to pick many of the Lions players who had taken their team to the Super Rugby final, and then the likes of Ruan Combrinck and Faf de Klerk played starring roles to clinch the series over Ireland.
In recent weeks, though, the coach has totally gone into his shell, going back to his Stormers template of supposed strong defence and a flyhalf that can kick the goals.
Yet Coetzee continues to choose defensive liabilities such as De Klerk and Steyn, players with low work-rates such as Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss and Willem Alberts, out-of-touch players like Damian de Allende and others out of position in Pat Lambie and Francois Hougaard. Coetzee pointed to fitness levels and aerial skills as two of the major Bok problems, but a lot of the issues can be rectified through selection.
For a start, pick a proper fullback – not a retreaded flyhalf who had 20 minutes of Currie Cup action after being out for three months with concussion – and a real wing instead of a scrumhalf out wide.
Coetzee’s stubborn refusal to bring in the experienced Gio Aplon from France beggars belief, but then why not Cheslin Kolbe? Lionel Mapoe hasn’t started with Juan de Jongh, and perhaps the Lions’ Rohan Janse van Rensburg can make a difference with his footwork and power.
Rudy Paige did enough at Loftus to reclaim the No 9 in the next Bok game against the Barbarians on November 5 in London, while Elton Jantjies – who needs to work hard on his tactical and goal-kicking – should also get another shot at No 10 as he is the only flyhalf in South Africa who can create space for his teammates.
Jaco Kriel simply has to start ahead of Francois Louw, and Sikhumbuzo Notshe should return from injury for the Currie Cup semi-finals this week, and will bring much-needed speed into the loose trio at blindside flank.
Others outside the squad who should be considered are specialist wings such as Sergeal Petersen, Jambo Ulengo and Leolin Zas in the absence of Seabelo Senatla, while Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch is a special talent who must be on the November tour (and he is a superb goal-kicker as well).
Coetzee can change the “win-at-all-costs” mentality in South African rugby by coming out and stating clearly that he wants to move on to a new path, which is sure to take some pressure off and buy him some time in the eyes of the public as playing the old way is not bringing in the results either.
Now is the time to experiment. Coetzee needs to start on a clean slate, try something new and keep persevering.
Otherwise, the Springbok team are in danger of languishing among the also-rans of world rugby rather than being genuine contenders to the All Blacks’ throne.