Allister needed wake-up call to pick right Boks

Johan Goosen has not convinced as a fullback and had his best moments when coming into the flyhalf channel in Salta. Photo: Samuel Shivambu

Johan Goosen has not convinced as a fullback and had his best moments when coming into the flyhalf channel in Salta. Photo: Samuel Shivambu

Published Aug 28, 2016

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Cape Town – The one thing the Springboks have generally lacked in 2016 are speed and decision-making skills, and those aspects can still be corrected with better selection to see them get back into the Rugby Championship.

I’m sure Allister Coetzee will be as devastated as the rest of South Africa about what happened in Salta on Saturday night, but the 26-24 defeat is actually a blessing in disguise. That’s right – the Boks needed this defeat to serve as a wake-up call, not only to the players, but to the coaches and selector Peter Jooste.

It doesn’t matter what kind of game plan is employed – the Boks can’t afford to continue to pick so-called “bruisers” in the modern game. The one department in which Argentina swept the floor with the Boks is their agility in open play and at the breakdown, and the manner in which they transferred possession when they had ball-in-hand.

Where the South Africans sought contact when carrying the ball 90 percent of the time, Los Pumas tried to avoid it and make the ball do the work. The old-style SA ploy of using their “traditional strengths” won’t work against southern-hemisphere teams, who have added the physical capabilities to their naturally-athletic approach to cancel out the Boks’ long-held advantage.

That is why I have to disagree with Victor Matfield’s comments on TV that “rugby is still the same”. It’s not. Ironically, the manner in which the legendary Matfield operated – relentless work-rate, excellent skill for a lock and a good turn of pace – is exactly the type of player the Boks need to have in their make-up.

The All Blacks are masters in the modern game, mixing up their play with dynamic backline play and skilled forwards who pass the ball as well (and the cynics might say even better) as South African backs.

That is why heavy-footed forwards such as Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Lood de Jager and Francois Louw battled in Salta and in fact Nelspruit last week. There are more explosive and skilful replacements who can make all the difference, like Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Kriel and Sikhumbuzo Notshe who must be brought into either the starting line-up or the bench for the next Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

The few times that the Springbok pack did generate front-foot ball, the backline were much more effective, and that happened mainly in the second half when all the replacements were on the field.

Suddenly Faf de Klerk got the ball out quickly, Elton Jantjies could line up flat and attack the gain-line, and centres Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe could have a go. Johan Goosen joined the line, and Bryan Habana was brought into the game.

That led directly to Habana’s try when quick ruck ball saw Jantjies run on to the ball and Goosen running a good line up the middle, the move was shifted from left to the middle to the right, and it came back to Jantjies – who had three touches in that passage of play – with Eben Etzebeth and Louw producing unbelievable offloads to release Habana out wide.

But the backs also need to carry some of the blame for the Salta loss. De Klerk was too inconsistent with his passing and his tactical kicking left a lot to be desired, while De Allende again didn’t look to create space for the outside backs and mainly tucked the ball under his arm and charged into the nearest defender.

The one time he actually hit a gap, he almost scored when he lost the ball just short of the line. That is the kind of thing he was renowned for in 2015, but he seems to have lost that silky touch. Juan de Jongh’s quick feet and ability to anticipate play on attack and defence is needed at inside centre.

Coetzee said afterwards that Jantjies was replaced by Morné Steyn due to a groin injury, so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt in that regard. But if Jantjies is fit, the coach has to persevere with him if the Boks are going to become an attacking force.

Coetzee needs to put the blocks in place for the Bok attack to flourish, which is where Jantjies’ playmaking skills will come to the fore. And if that is to happen, Steyn cannot continue to be the back-up flyhalf.

Goosen has not convinced as a fullback, and had his best moments when coming into the flyhalf channel in Salta, so he needs to be the flyhalf reserve at the moment.

A specialist No 15 in Gio Aplon would be ideal for this Bok backline, as his experience and cool head would be as valuable as his express pace and creativity from the back, with Cheslin Kolbe the next in line.

Ruan Combrinck’s injury-enforced absence for the rest of the Championship is a big loss, and Coetzee’s default mode will probably see him recall the experienced JP Pietersen at right wing.

But a braver decision would be to bring in the in-form Lions No 11 Courtnall Skosan, who is playing with great confidence and is fully versed in the attacking direction that the Boks need to move towards.

Habana can easily shift to right wing, and as vice-captain, can take over the full reins from Strauss until No 8 Warren Whiteley settles into the team as a regular starter.

At the moment, all seems to be lost for the Boks. But the situation can be turned around. With just a few critical selection calls and total belief in an attacking approach, they can get back on track.

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