Cape Town - There was a moment in Saturday’s match against Japan where the cameras showed Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer looking up to the heavens. I’m no FBI or CIA lip reader, but I’m pretty sure he said: “Asseblief Vader.”
It was a moment that summed up all that is bad about the Boks at the moment. The South African rugby team and their coach are at a point where they need divine intervention to beat Japan in a World Cup match. Japan!
This result will go down as one of the greatest upsets in rugby history, maybe even in the history of sport. It was like the Proteas losing a Test match against Afghanistan on a green top at the Wanderers, or Pieter-Dirk Uys dressed in drag knocking out Mike Tyson for the heavyweight championship of the world.
But the warning lights were already flashing a few months before the Boks even stepped onto the pitch in Brighton, for it was in that ill-fated match against Argentina in Durban where their deficiencies were exposed big time.
The pillars of Bok rugby have always been their ferocious defence, a strong kicking game and their physicality. And, over the last few years, Meyer has tried to incorporate that with a style where they actually attack via a ball-in-hand approach.
All of these factors were supposed to come together in a glorious onslaught on the William Webb Ellis trophy. But in their first match in England, they were sliced and diced and turned into sushi.
In Durban, the Pumas got in between the Boks, disrupted their ball at the breakdown and took their chances by cracking open the fragile Bok defence in the wide channels. You don’t have to be a rock scientist - as Frans Ludeke once said - to know that Japan coach Eddie Jones was going to try and exploit those areas again.
Japan, the rugby powerhouse that they are, also showed what a little thinking outside of the box can do. My sports editor Ian Smit mentioned on Sunday that their famous win wasn’t just built on heart and defence, but on skill and the element of surprise, illustrated by their innovative kickoffs, superb use of width with their second try and their 13-man rolling maul for their first try.
But still, the Boks should not be losing to Japan - ever.
The fact is, the majority of this South African side are either undercooked, over the hill or out of form. The coach is also confused about how he wants this team to play. He seems to be stuck between somewhere and nowhere.
The likes of Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Fourie du Preez looked as rusty as old nails and the plan to ease them into the tournament backfired like a 1985 Ford Escort.
The way the Boks approached the match and the personnel Meyer picked for the clash also didn’t make sense. Why would the coach pick Zane Kirchner instead of Willie le Roux if the plan was to give the ball some air and attack the Japanese on the outside?
At least Le Roux would have provided some variety on attack, as the Boks were as predictable as an Australian soap opera.
Ahead of the match, Meyer also decided to pick Du Toit (a lock who can also play flank) ahead of Siya Kolisi (a flank who can play flank) after Willem Alberts withdrew because of injury.
And the South African Rugby Union still wants to know why the public are upset that black players aren’t getting a fair chance to represent the Boks.
The scary thing is that Meyer’s side can still go out and win the World Cup. Remember France made the final of the last World Cup after losing their opening match against Tonga.
But for that to happen, the Boks will need a little more than divine intervention. Less “Asseblief Vader” and more spirit and creativity, please, Heyneke.
Cape Times