The next time we see the Springboks in action it will be in their opening game of the World Cup in England against Japan.
Their pre-competition fixtures are done and dusted and now, with 30 days to go to kick off, rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen looks at five major talking points in their build-up to the tournament.
Results
It is said momentum is key in sport and that without it you have little chance of overcoming the obstacles in front of you. Also, it is said winning is a habit and failure to achieve this leaves one with more hurdles to overcome.
Well, sadly, the Boks don’t have momentum going into the World Cup and they certainly haven’t made winning a habit.
It has not been the best of build-ups for coach Heyneke Meyer and his squad, winning just twice this year – against a weak World XV first-up in June and against Argentina in Beunos Aires last weekend. In between the Boks lost to Australia (away) and New Zealand and Argentina (both home), but only one of those results would have raised an alarm in the Bok camp (and across the country), and that was the one against Los Pumas in Durban. The Boks were well and truly out-gunned on the day, and the criticism that followed was quite unbelievable, to say the least. Meyer’s men, however, would have learned a lot from the defeat, most crucially that they can never, ever underestimate an opponent and rest on their laurels.
But the Boks going so close against Australia and New Zealand, and then completely dominating Argentina this last weekend, will give them plenty of confidence in England. And, let’s not forget, the Boks have four pool games to play before they’re likely to face England or Australia in a World Cup quarter-final – enough for them to get some momentum and a winning habit.
The Game
There is little doubt the Boks have played a more expansive, attack-minded game in the last two years than was the case when Meyer first took charge. They have scored some wonderful tries and Meyer hasn’t been afraid to pick some young and exciting players, such as Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard,, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager.
On a number of occasions now the Boks have matched the flair and attacking intent of both Australia and New Zealand, but they’ve given nothing up in the grunt department. The Boks have remained – and will go into the World Cup – a strong scrumming unit and a dangerous line-out component. They have also been able to play different styles of rugby, with different personnel. Meyer has the option of going with the big bruising trio of Francois Louw, pictured centre, as specialist openside and ball-carriers Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen, pictured right, or he can vary it by using Heinrich Brüssow and Marcell Coetzee and Schalk Burger.
There are also options at the back – and the Boks have shown they can either play a kick-based game or keep ball in hand. Defensively, they’ve been good (bar one poor showing in Durban, but there were reasons for that) so there are not too many issues there, but if there’s one area they have to work on in the coming weeks it’s their tactical kicking, which is still not up to scratch.
The Captain
The elephant in the room is now Jean de Villiers, pictured. What to do with him?
After months of hard slog to overcome a knee injury De Villiers returned to action and looked all set to be named captain of the Boks for the World Cup. He would have gone to England with a few question marks hanging over his head, but he would have been fit and fully recovered.
But now, with a month to go, De Villiers has a broken jaw and there are new doubts about his readiness. It’s a horrible situation to be in for Meyer and De Villiers – who, if picked, will almost surely miss the first game. It would not be the end of the world were that to be the case, but it’s also not ideal.
Making matters more complicated is the fact Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel have become quite a formidable midfield pairing, leaving Meyer with an almighty tough decision to make should he name De Villiers his team leader.
With just 31 players to be named in the final squad, can Meyer justify a place for a man who so deserves to lead his team to the showpiece, but really has done little in the last year to warrant selection? And, picked or not, how will the players feel about whatever decision Meyer makes?
The Injured
Not only has it been Jean de Villiers’ knee, and now jaw, that has thrown the cat among the pigeons in the build-up to the World Cup, but a string of injuries to several players that have robbed Meyer of picking who he’s wanted to. Also, the sidelining of players has robbed the Boks of playing as a tight-knit unit this year, with Meyer having to make changes every week.
While it appears there is enough cover at centre should De Villiers not make it to England, the same cannot be said about some other positions; most crucially scrumhalf.
Meyer is banking on Fourie du Preez being fit – and he’s insisted the veteran will be in England – but just what the scrumhalf will bring to the party no one knows. Picking a player who hasn’t been in action in months is a massive gamble by Meyer – one that will pay off handsomely or bomb spectacularly.
Also, will Duane Vermeulen be over his neck issues? South Africa must pray he’s fit and ready to rumble because if one thing has come to the fore in recent weeks, it’s that Vermeulen is a much-needed man in the Bok pack. But even if he is declared fit, he’ll arrive in England without much game time behind him and there will be fears one bad knock could spell the end of his competition. But there are more. Will Victor Matfield’s ailing body hold on for another month or two and will JP Pietersen and Marcell Coetzee, pictured, be fit?
The Youngsters
Plenty of criticism has been levelled at Meyer recently for picking too many “oldies” – men like De Villiers, Matfield, Du Preez, Schalk Burger and even the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck. But, the majority of these men have shown they can still mix it with the best and if truth be told, Meyer’s final squad will be a good blend of youth and experience.
Meyer may be banking on some veterans – but who wouldn’t when, or if, they’re still performing – because it’s been shown in the past that winning teams generally have a good few old hands in the mix. Experience is key in big games and in big moments, but, of course, there’s always room for the younger man and how these men have stood up. Kriel and De Allende, both pictured, have been a breath of fresh air, so has Le Roux at fullback, while Pollard has shown he has enough talent to be a match-winner on the big stage. Lood de Jager has been a revelation and probably the find of the year so far, so while there are some older men Meyer will look to for leadership and guidance at the World Cup, it’s the young men who may end up being his biggest weapons in England.
The key though will be whether Meyer has enough confidence to pick a rookie ahead of a veteran in a KO match – Kriel ahead of De Villiers, De Jager ahead of Matfield, Nyakane ahead of Mtawarira?
Possible Squad
Backs (13): Willie le Roux, Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Lionel Mapoe, Jean de Villiers, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard, Pat Lambie, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Cobus Reinach; Forwards (18): Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Victor Matfield, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jannie du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Frans Malherbe, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Schalk Brits. - The Star