Johannesburg - There will be a fierce battle for the Springboks fullback berth between Johan Goosen and Jesse Kriel, with mercurial Ruan Combrinck adding a bit more spice to the competition, ahead of their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit next week.
With long time fullback Willie le Roux not making the cut in Allister Coetzee’s 31 player squad due to his erratic form this season, the coach revealed that he will be choosing his next No 15 from those three utility backs. Coetzee also made mention of the frailties the team suffered against Ireland with a string of left-footed kickers in the backline.
The half-back pairing of Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies are both left footed, while Le Roux and wing Lwazi Mvovo also kick off the left foot.
As much as the Bok mentor has options between Goosen, Combrinck and Kriel, it seems as though his mind could already be made up on his No 15, Coetzee waxing lyrical about Goosen’s exploits for his French club Racing 92 this past season.
Combrinck, although an option at the back, has all but cemented his place on the wing after a strong showing against the Irish in June and the Lions, while Kriel’s lack of game time at fullback during Super Rugby could heavily weigh against him when Coetzee makes his final decision.
“I think (Goosen), (Combrinck) and (Kriel) give us options at the back,” said Coetzee on Monday.
“First and foremost, and the most important thing about our fullback is his positional play and assisting the back three.
“Goosen has been outstanding in Europe, not just from behind, but as a 13 and as a 10. I’m sure playing alongside Daniel Carter has also helped him a lot. But we are sitting again with a right-footed and left-footed combination if you have Goosen, Jesse or Combrinck there with Elton as a left-footed player.
“That’s where we were bogged down with Ireland in the first Test... most of the kicks were down the left-hand side because of what we were facing.
“So, the balance and combination is right with those kind of right-footed fullbacks and your left-footed No 10 and nine
“The mindset is to look at him as a 15 for our first two Tests,” Coetzee added on Goosen’s versatility.
While Coetzee is spoilt for choice at fullback, there is a looming crisis at prop with Trevor Nyakane ruled out of the first two Tests of the Championship due to a niggling ankle injury. He was on Monday replaced by Sharks prop Lourens Adriaanse.
Adding to the depleted stocks at prop for the Springboks are the injuries to Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lizo Gqoboka and even seasoned campaigner Jannie du Plessis.
“We are facing a prop crisis in the country. We have Malherbe, Coenie, Trevor and Gqoboka out and we have Marcel van der Merwe who has gone overseas. We are really battling in that department ... We’ve got Vincent Koch, and Julian Redelinghuys has played very well and has grown as a tighthead, so fortunately we have those two players and with Lourens we should be fine,” Coetzee said.
The Springboks will continue with their training in Joburg for the remainder of the week with the nine Lions players joining the squad on Thursday.
The Star