Johannesburg - South Africa will be desperate to have a fully-fit Pieter-Steph du Toit at the World Cup. And, former winger James Small wouldn’t mind seeing one of the Lions’ rising stars in coach Heyneke Meyer’s final group.
In spite of having recovered from a serious knee injury that was set to rule him out of action for the year, Du Toit is still touch-and-go to be fit for the World Cup, starting in September in England. The 22-year-old lock is seen by Mark Andrews as a key man for the Boks.
“I’m really concerned about the lock position,” said the 1995 World Cup winner. “Pieter-Steph is potentially one of the greatest locks South Africa will ever have and without him there we’ve got a big problem at lock. He has the best of every lock that we’ve ever had. He can tackle, carry the ball up, take kick-offs, line-outs, lead the defensive line, and he can read the game. He’s an incredible player.”
Du Toit hurt his knee ligaments in March but has recovered quicker than expected and will be hoping to make the cut when national boss Heyneke Meyer names his first Bok squad of the year on Saturday. Meyer is set to announce a group of between 30-35 players for the match against the World XV, the Rugby Championship and the Test against Argentina.
While impressed by Du Toit, Andrews doesn’t seem to feel the same about 38-year-old Victor Matfield following his return to action after two years on the sidelines. “You can never take away what Victor has done ... but you’ve worked out the shortcuts (after such a long time). You also know cleaning an oke out at full pace will hurt, so you wait for Willem Alberts to clean out. I think Victor is past that stage in his career and has become smart,” said Andrews. “I think when it comes to quarters and semis you need to have okes who are prepared to die in that jersey and write themselves off for that ball. My concern is that possibly he’s got wise to that.”
If Du Toit doesn’t make it, says Andrews, his preferred man at No5 would be Flip van der Merwe.
Small said he’d like to see the Bok backs play with more freedom this season. Asked what he thought of the performances of the backs over the last few seasons, he said: “There isn’t any backline play. I’d like to see us be a more complete rugby side. I don’t want to criticise the guys, I know how hard it is coaching, how hard it is to get your ideas onto the field, but if we happened to play a more expansive game it’s not something that would be expected of us. I think we’ve got quality in every position, but we’re not using it.”
One player Small wouldn’t mind seeing in the final Cup squad is Lions star Ruan Combrinck. “Heyneke’s got it pretty much covered, but a kid like Combrinck could be one of the unlucky ones. He’s a good player, he’s got pace, he carries the ball in two hands, kicks with both feet, kicks it a donkey mile.”
Former Bok skipper and No8 Morné du Plessis also feels the Boks need to match the All Blacks game if they’re to be successful in England. “What I’d like to see is another element ... some excitement, a new form of rugby, running and tries being scored. I’ve got a feeling it will be different this year. The All Blacks are setting the pace; they’ll run with the ball and score tries and if you want to beat them you’re going to have to do the same against them.”
He added he was worried about the amount of rugby the current generation are subjected to. “In 1995 Kitch Christie had the team he wanted for six months. We got together for the first time in January that year ... he knew what his final squad would look like, and he got them.
“I don’t think today Meyer can say he’ll be able to pick the team he wants. They still have Tests to play (before the World Cup), there are injuries, there are guys overseas; it’s very tough. Two things count going into a World Cup. The teams that have won have had big guys and they’ve generally been experienced squads. You can’t ignore form though. I’m sure Heyneke has a plan and if ever there was someone who’s methodical in that regard it’s him.”
Added Andrews: “It’s no use going into a World Cup with 150 Tests behind you and you’re not in form. If Heyneke can get the combination right, between experience and form, we’ll have a great chance.”
The Star