Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, his assistants Matthew Proudfoot, Johann van Graan, Mzwandile Stick and Chean Roux along with the players, are under siege and justifiably so.
Since Coetzee took over the reins of the national team through a hospital pass from his employers at Saru, the Springboks have failed to be convincing and even though they just managed to win the June series against Ireland, their frailties have been horribly exposed in the Rugby Championship.
This week will be an important one for Coetzee as the Springboks look to break a three-match losing streak that began in Salta against Argentina and ended in a horror second half show in Christchurch against the All Blacks.
The Rugby Championship is safely wrapped up and in the hands of the All Blacks again but the Springboks have the perfect opportunity to show they are better than what they have dished out in recent weeks when they host the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
This weekend’s affair could be a watershed moment for Coetzee and his team as they look to turn around a dire situation that has been partially of their own doing and largely that of the failings of Saru over a number of years.
Coetzee will have to now stand up and be counted.
His management skills have to come to the fore in a bid to save his team and fix the reputation damage suffered.
The coach’s abilities have never been in doubt until now and along with his assistants they will have to relaunch themselves into ensuring that the Springboks don’t sink further into the abyss.
In the end it will come down to the choices Coetzee makes for his matchday 23 and whether the players have it in them to give of themselves to the jersey, an ailing rugby nation and to their coach.
Coetzee has made some questionable selections in the Championship and the return to the Springbok set-up of Patrick Lambie and Willie Le Roux will certainly make certain individuals uncomfortable. Lambie’s presence will place more pressure on an already struggling Elton Jantjies but competition is a good thing.
After a stellar Super Rugby season where Jantjies guided the Lions to the final, the pivot has failed to replicate the red hot form that saw him dominate matches.
Back at home now, Jantjies will probably regain his confidence but he will also realise that his time as the number one pivot in the country is running out unless he shows it on the field on Saturday.
Le Roux’s return to the fold, after being overlooked because of poor form, will also see alarm bells ringing for incumbent fullback Johan Goosen who on his return to the national side has failed to replicate the superb form he showed for his French club.
However, Jantjies and Goosen are not the root of the Bok woes, because all of it starts with the failure of the team to assert their dominance on opposition teams.
Lack of experience is an issue, as is the lack of time the team has spent together in building on-field combinations and a brotherhood among the players.
Coetzee’s loyalty to certain players, especially those out of form, has also been a problem and it might be time for the likes of Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Kriel and Lionel Mapoe to be given the same backing that some of the elder statesmen have enjoyed.
The Star