In our preview to the Rugby Championship game between the Springboks and All Blacks last Friday we posed 10 burning questions Heyneke Meyer’s team needed to answer. Here rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen answers those questions.
Can the Boks win without Victor Matfield?
Well, they haven’t won in two outings - Matfield leaving the field in the early stages against Australia and not starting against New Zealand. But the defeats weren’t because Matfield wasn’t on the park. His replacement Lood de Jager was superb in both clashes; he was strong in the line-outs, powerful as a tackler and busy as a ball-carrier. If Pieter-Steph du Toit recovers from injury in time for the World Cup, the Boks need not worry about their No5 locking position. De Jager has been a revelation.
Will the absence of a big ball-carrier have an impact?
Captain on the day Schalk Burger took up the role of smashing into the first line of defence and he did it extremely well, but the Boks are definitely missing Duane Vermeulen and Willem Alberts. Both men have a presence on the field and get good go-forward for their team so Meyer will be hoping Vermeulen, especially, is ready for the World Cup.
Will Heinrich Brüssow be able to convince his coach he must go to the World Cup?
The specialist openside made a slow start in his comeback to Test rugby, but he eventually settled and got stuck in like we know he can. He was a big presence at the breakdowns and with Francois Louw the Bok flankers dominated their opponents. The Boks didn’t lose on Saturday because of a lack of quick ruck-ball. Brussow is a class act and depending on what style Meyer wants to adopt in England, there’s certainly a place available in the team for the former Cheetahs man.
Are Ruan Pienaar and Handré Pollard title-winning quality?
Pienaar’s service was swift and good, while his two box-kicks hit the mark; it’s just a pity the Boks didn’t contest either one, gifting the All Blacks possession on both occasions. He’s a steady operator but can still ask more around the rucks and mauls. Pollard, too, enjoyed a good outing; his attacking play ensuring the All Blacks had to keep a close eye on him throughout the match. He kicked less than the week before and when he did it was better executed on this occasion. It’s now pretty certain He’ll be the No10 at the World Cup.
Has Willie le Roux sewn up the fullback position?
Le Roux was steady at the back and joined the line brilliantly for the Boks’ opening try. With no-one pushing him for the fullback berth it’s almost guaranteed he’ll be in the last line of defence in England - and why not?
What will we learn by starting Beast Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck, again?
The Bok scrum has been hugely impressive to date, with Jannie du Plessis especially standing tall. It’s been a little worrying how things have fallen apart when he and Mtawarira have left the field. So, too, Bismarck. Meyer’s backed his Sharks front row - despite them being heavily criticised at times - and they’ve paid him back. The problem is we still don’t know who’s really next in line.
Will we see more aimless kicking?
The Boks kicked far less than we’ve seen in recent times and for much of the contest their plan to hang onto the ball worked a treat. But, as Meyer quite rightly said, it’s not so much the kicking that’s the problem, but the quality thereof and the contesting when the ball’s been put in the air. It’s still a concern and something Meyer and Co will have to rectify in the coming weeks.
Can the Boks go the distance?
Again the Boks came up short because their bench just didn’t have any impact late on. This resulted in losing a tight game, one which SA dominated for big chunks, in the last seven minutes. The visitors’ bench was more experienced and dynamic, but we mustn’t forget the Boks also suffered because some key men picked up injuries - like De Jager, Jannie du Plessis and Francois Louw. The Boks, though, have to learn quickly how to play for 80 minutes.
What would a win/defeat do for the Boks?
The reality is the Boks were the better team on the day. Meyer and Co will be encouraged by the strong showing in the set-pieces, at the breakdown and, yes, even in defence. The backs also looked menacing with ball in hand, probably more dangerous than the All Blacks, and had they taken a few more chances they’d have won this contest. As Meyer said, “millimetres are the difference between winning and losing” and he’ll know his side are good enough to beat the best in the game. Once all the injured have returned, the Boks will pack more punch, especially on the bench and they’ll go to the World Cup in confident mood.
Will Jesse Kriel’s hot form leave Heyneke Meyer in a quandary?
The more he plays the more pressure is being piled on Meyer. How the coach is going to find a place for Jean de Villiers only he knows. Kriel was again extremely good in just his second Test, asking questions with ball in hand and being strong in defence. He also contested strongly on the ground and scored a wonderful try.
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