5 Bok puzzles that may be solved

Allister Coetzee Photo: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Allister Coetzee Photo: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Published May 22, 2017

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The speculation, the guessing and the predictions will come to an end when Springbok coach Allister Coetzee names his 31-man squad for next month’s three Tests against France. Jacques van der Westhuyzen highlights five puzzles the fans will be hoping are resolved today.

1 The captaincy issue

Who’ll succeed Adriaan Strauss as team leader? It’s a major decision for the coach: he’ll want a man who is the undisputed first choice in his position - remember how much flak John Smit had to deal with when Bismarck du Plessis was pushing him? And even Strauss last year wasn’t seen as the best man for the job, with many wanting Malcolm Marx to start more regularly. 

Coetzee has to choose between fan favourite and South Africa’s most successful captain of the last three years, the Lions’ Warren Whiteley, the Stormers’ Siya Kolisi, possibly Eben Etzebeth, the Cheetahs’ Francois Venter and then, from abroad Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw, pictured. While SA will be desperate to know who the captain will be, they may have to wait as Coetzee is likely to only name his leader in the week leading up to the first Test.

2 Overseas players

There are no restrictions on how many overseas-based men Coetzee can pick now; the 30-Test rule only comes into play from the beginning of July. He won’t however, be a very popular man if half his team are from abroad. He is expected to have a good sprinkling of veterans from Europe in his squad, the favourites being Frans Steyn, Bismarck du Plessis, Steven Kitshoff and possibly Vermeulen. But then there is also Louw, a mainstay of the side over the last few seasons, and what about Francois Hougaard, many fans’ favourite to wear the No 9 on his back, JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana and even Jannie du Plessis?

3 Who’ll be the director?

Every man in the team has a big role to play but the flyhalf is the key position. It is the No 10 who directs play, makes the big decisions, decides to kick, run or pass, and is often also the man who has to kick the goals, penalties and drop-kicks. The All Blacks can pick Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Richie Mo’unga, Lima Sopoaga, Marty Banks ... who do the Boks have? 

Is it only Elton Jantjies in the running? He’s a class act at Super Rugby level because his coach believes in him and trusts him, as he does his coach, but does he feel the same about Coetzee and does Coetzee back him fully to play his own game? Handre Pollard is a major doubt because of injury, and no one is quite sure what Pat Lambie’s situation is. Is there going to be a surprise call-up for Curwin Bosch from the U-20 ranks, does journeyman Lionel Cronje, statistically the best flyhalf in SA, have a chance, and what about Rob du Preez and Jean-Luc du Plessis? And, what chance of Morne Steyn getting a call-up?

4 Same old, or wow?

Coetzee is under pressure to register a 3-0 series win. He is also under pressure to get the Boks playing an exciting, expansive game and to fix all the wrongs of the 2016 season. Will this make him pick an older, more experienced “conservative” squad, or will he throw caution to the wind and back some of the young and exciting players who have thrilled in Super Rugby this season. 

Not even considering Faf de Klerk as an impact player is unfortunate because he has something to offer the Boks, Harold Vorster has been awesome this season, as have Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan, Ruan Ackermann, Sergeal Petersen, Clayton Blommetjies, Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez, Lukhanyo Am, Curwin Bosch, Makazole Mapimpi, Andisa Ntsila, Chris Cloete, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw.

5 Transform the team!

There have been a number of black players who have performed superbly this year and will make Coetzee’s squad, but he must also give them a proper chance to show what they can do when he names his matchday squads. Here one thinks of some of the names mentioned above and others, like Skosan, pictured, Ox Nche, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Dillyn Leyds, Seabelo Senatla, Lionel Mapoe ... all players who deserve a decent opportunity. 

There will, as always, be selections that will surprise some, but Coetzee has a moral responsibility to pick a certain number of black players, but he hasn’t had the backing of everyone.. The Lions may be runaway Super Rugby leaders, but they have done little to boost the pool of black players Coetzee can pick from; the Joburg team having only a 20% representation up to round 11. 

The Cheetahs were not much better, at 25%, the Bulls 27% and the Sharks 29%. The Stormers’ matchday black representation was best at 38% and the Kings at 36%.

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