Besides playing Jesse Kriel at outside centre in the first two matches of the Rugby Championship against Australia and New Zealand, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer hasn’t really experimented in terms of looking at Word Cup combinations.
You can take two things from that: A: That he is almost certain about his starting line-up and the squad that he is going to take to the World Cup. And B: That he thought possible wins over the Wallabies and the All Blacks would give them some momentum, maybe even some sort of psychological advantage heading into the tournament.
Going into a World Cup quarter-final, the only changes from the defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park would be Jean de Villiers coming in at centre, Victor Matfield back in the No 5 jersey and the master scrumhalf Fourie du Preez taking his rightful place at halfback.
It’s going to be unfair on either one of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, and Lood de Jager, because all three players are playing great rugby at the moment.
But that’s just the way it’s going to be, because Meyer is definitely going to mix in some experience for such a crucial match.
However, the loose forward positions are hardly settled, because the formulation largely depends on whether the uncompromising Duane Vermeulen recovers from a neck injury in time for the global showpiece.
In a country where you could run into a back-row forward around every corner, Meyer suddenly finds himself with a bit of a conundrum because of a lack of destructive ball carriers and bone-crunching tacklers.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Boks have a plethora of loose forwards who play towards the ball, with the Boks basically playing with two scavengers on the side of the scrum in their last two Tests.
The news of Willem Alberts’s return is great, as he fits that profile of a potent blindside grafter. And also because the other two preferred loose forwards in those Tests, Warren Whiteley and Oupa Mahoje, didn’t quite show enough venom with ball in hand or in the tackle when they came on as substitutes in that position.
What has been weird, though, is why Meyer hasn’t given Siya Kolisi a crack as a No 7 against either the Wallabies or the All Blacks to check his cover in that position.
It’s probably because Meyer sees Kolisi as another player who can play towards the ball, but I think the Stormers man is a top ball carrier and a top defender. And he also has that little bit of ball-sense that a top-class blindside flank needs in his arsenal.
Meyer won’t be able to take all three of Heinrich Brüssow, Francois Louw and Coetzee to the World Cup, because essentially one of your loose forwards must be able to cover lock.
Previous Bok coach Peter de Villiers took five loose forwards to the 2011 World Cup, which excluded Danie Rossouw, who was pencilled in lock, but who could also provide cover in the back row.
Vermeulen is a special player. There has been a lot of talk about who is the best No 8 in the world. But, as far as I’m concerned, Vermeulen wins hands down because of his all-round contribution. He is unbelievable with ball in hand, immoveable when fighting for the ball on the ground, a lethal defender and a top lineout option. Basically, four players in one.
So, if Vermeulen is fit, I would go for him, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Marcell Coetzee and Kolisi, while Alberts comes in as a loose forward who can cover lock.
With Vermeulen in the side, it gives Meyer the room to manoeuvre in terms of the make-up of his loose forwards, especially as far as the guy coming off the bench is concerned.
Kolisi is a lot more physical than Mohoje, and if Alberts is fit, the plans to convert Mohoje into a player who can cover lock should also be scrapped. Burger’s performance at Ellis Park also showed that he is an able back-up at No 8 for Vermeulen.
I like Heinrich Brüssow, I really do, but you have to go with Coetzee in the end because he can also play at No 7 in an emergency.
It will definitely be worth Meyer’s while to have a look at Kolisi at No 7 in one of the two Tests against Argentina. Who knows, he might just be that missing piece in his World Cup puzzle. - Cape Times
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