Johannesburg - The Springboks as a whole need to step it up against Argentina in Salta on Saturday, but there are a few individuals who now also need to show they deserve their starting spot, writes Jacques van der Westhuyzen.
Damian de Allende
The 24-year-old inside centre was sensational as ball-carrier and distributor, let alone try-scorer in 2014 and 2015, but has yet to find his top form this year. His own struggles are hurting Lionel Mapoe outside him and the Stormers man now needs to put his best foot forward. There are some quality No 12s knocking on the door, like powerhouse Rohan Janse van Rensburg, so it’s time De Allende lives up to the hype.
Elton Jantjies
Will the flyhalf end up being one of those outstanding Currie Cup and Super Rugby players who just don’t take it up a level to Test rugby or will the Lions man stand tall and become a regular Test starter in years to come? That is the question being asked about the 26-year-old Lions star who has yet to produce his Super Rugby form in the Test arena.
Francois Louw
A seasoned campaigner, who’s played all over the world and been hailed a great by various coaches, from Cape Town to Bath. Louw was one of the standout players for the Boks in the years before last year’s World Cup, but he’s yet to replicate that form in 2016. Have the toils of European rugby got to him, or has his age (31) caught up with him? Either way, Louw needs to start delivering or stand aside for Jaco Kriel.
Lood de Jager
South Africa’s rugby Player of the Year for 2015 was the Boks’ best player at the World Cup, but he’s struggled to live up to his newfound status as the “best in the business” in 2016. De Jager is disappearing too often over the course of 80 minutes and he seems to have lost his turn of speed which set him apart from other second row forwards. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco Mostert are waiting for their chance.
Adriaan Strauss
He remains a solid performer and does his basics well; that is throwing into the line-outs and scrumming, but he’s just not at the level we’ve come to expect of him over the last five years. The captain has been quiet as a ball-carrier and also missed a few tackles, and as leader he’ll know the focus is squarely on him in every aspect of the game. Strauss needs a big, forceful game in Salta to shut the critics up, for a while, at least.
Tendai Mtawarira
The Beast will equal Os du Randt’s record as South Africa’s most capped prop this weekend and, hopefully, it’ll inspire the Sharks man to a big performance. It’s not as if the seasoned front row operator has been poor, it’s more he hasn’t been great. Mtawarira has been decent at scrum-time, and a little quiet around the field.
The Star