Durban - The Boks’ misfiring midfield could be in for an overhaul ahead of Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, according to reports from Australia.
In five Tests to date in 2016, four of them on home soil, the Bok backs have scored just seven tries and the centres is an area where coach Allister Coetzee has room to manoeuvere as he looks to add venom to the ailing attack.
At training at the Anglican Church School in Brisbane, it has been reported that Juan de Jongh, pictured, has been running at 12 and Jesse Kriel at 13. If Coetzee indeed goes that route it would be a fairly dramatic but exciting call given that the pairing that has started to date this international season, Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe, has not gelled.
De Allende appears to one of the players more heavily affected by the uncertainty besetting a Springbok side caught between game plans in this post-World Cup year.
De Allende thrived last season under Bok coach Heyneke Meyer when he had a clear understanding of his role but this season he does not seem to know when to take the ball up or when to pass.
He was in rich form last year but is some way off recapturing the lethal straight-running game that saw him generate momentum for his team almost every time he received the ball.
Kriel, of course, was the No 1 choice 13 in 2015 but, like De Allende, did not have the benefit of an injury free Super Rugby season and has been on the outer under Coetzee.It has been difficult to judge Mapoe at international level because he relies so much on what happens at 9, 10 and 12, and he has not been anywhere near the Super Rugby form he displayed in combination with Rohan Janse van Rensburg at the Lions.
The latter has not been available for selection over the last month because of injury but is back playing for the lions in the Currie Cup.
He may well get a chance at Test level down the line but in the meantime Coetzee has an exciting option in De Jongh, who has a proven ability to break the line with his hot-stepping, and if he is paired with Kriel, he could well play the latter back into form with his incisive running and ability to offload in the tackle.
Those are skills that earned De Jongh a place in the SA Sevens squad at the Olympics and his selection might give the backline the catalyst that is sorely needed.
The Boks have scored 12 tries in the five Tests against Ireland and Argentina, with three of them going to lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and two to No 8 Warren Whiteley.
If the Boks indeed go the route of the positive attacking game, they need the midfield to come to the party and De Jongh and Kriel will provide a potentially explosive mix. The 28-year-old De Jongh has played 15 Tests for the Boks since debuting against Wales in Cardiff in 2010 at the age of 22. Until playing off the bench a month ago in Nelspruit against Argentina, he has been in the international wilderness since last starting against England at Twickenham in November 2012.
Coetzee will announce the Springbok team to play Australia on Thursday.
The Star