Cape Town - Kick and chase. One of the most polarising terms in South African rugby, it was used to describe the Bulls’ game plan during their amazing Super Rugby run where they won three titles between 2007 and 2010, even though they scored a truckload of tries.
It was also used to illustrate the Springboks’ style during the Jake White reign from 2004 to 2007, when Allister Coetzee was his assistant coach.
And while Coetzee’s Stormers team never quite replicated White’s approach, the Cape side also relied heavily on a well-drilled defence and a hard-working pack than breathtaking attacking play by the backline to reach a final and a number of playoffs.
That was the Coetzee blueprint, even though he spoke about gradually introducing a more rounded attacking game in his final year at Newlands.
Now at the Boks, the 53-year-old coach agrees that there has to be a greater emphasis on a ball-in-hand game, while “not comprising our traditional strengths”. But did he really believe in it? Well, based on his selection for Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies, you’ll have to say no.
In comes a 32-year-old Morné Steyn at No 10 in place of Elton Jantjies, while Patrick Lambie is suddenly a fullback again after starting the year as the first-choice flyhalf. How confusing is that?
As mentioned previously, Jantjies has battled with his form throughout the 2016 Test season, and only shown glimpses of the attacking flair for the Boks that he regularly displays for the Lions in Super Rugby.
Whether that is down to a Bok game plan that doesn’t suit Jantjies is neither here nor there – he needed to adapt his approach to whatever the coach requires, rightly or wrongly. And Coetzee again pointed fingers at the poor tactical kicking on Thursday, despite not referring to Jantjies, Faf de Klerk and Johan Goosen directly.
And that is where he made his changes, with Lambie at fullback, Steyn at flyhalf and Rudy Paige at scrumhalf.
So it is clear that he wants that trio to gain territorial ascendancy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, and it’s going to be with the boot – despite Coetzee stating that he hopes the message with those selections and tactics “is not that we are just going to kick – kick and chase”.
Coetzee emphasised experience as well, snapping back sharply when asked about possible criticism that most of his backs are playing out of position: “How would you feel if I say this is the most experienced backline that we could field for the year?”
If that’s the case, then there can be no excuses on Saturday about the lack of Test caps between De Klerk, Jantjies and Goosen, or the fact that all three are renowned more for their ball and running skills than their ability with the boot.
Coetzee, for the first time this year, was able to pick players at No 9, 10 and 15 who were well-versed in the type of game that history has shown he likes to utilise.
Also, he has refused to bring in the lively Jaco Kriel for Francois Louw at openside flank, and the industrious Steven Kitshoff in place of Tendai Mtawarira. Of course, outgoing captain Adriaan Strauss still holds on to his No 2 jersey.
So, with most of Coetzee’s preferred “pieces of the puzzle” in place, nothing less than a victory on Saturday is necessary to justify those decisions. Let’s see if it works…
@ashfakmohamed
Independent Media