Springbok coach Allister Coetzee just couldn’t find his best centre pairing last year, but with a number of outside centres either returning to form or stunning with superb Super Rugby debut-season performances, No 13 shouldn’t be a problem this time around.
Last year the midfield, like a number of other positions, was a troubled area for the Boks, with a many players bizarrely dipping in form whenever they donned the green jersey.
Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe looked weirdly out of sorts on both attack and defence at inside and outside when they started during the three-Test series against Ireland, and when Juan de Jongh and Jesse Kriel got the nod, they didn’t exactly provide a lot of answers to the big midfield question either. Lions star Rohan Janse van Rensburg and in-form Cheetahs skipper Francois Venter were the least disappointing duo when they got a chance, but not even their performances were exact copies of their fine Super Rugby print.
Virtually all the Springboks’ inside centre options are currently unavailable due to injury. De Allende should make his return in two to four weeks, while De Jongh should be getting ready to go in one to three weeks – if they are recovering steadily after their respective ankle and knee injuries that ruled them out for 10-12 weeks earlier this season.
Last year’s best-performing No 12 (although he only played one game against the Barbarians…I still don’t understand why) Janse van Rensburg, on the other hand, has been ruled out for three months after sustaining a knee injury in the Lions’ win over the Stormers at Newlands.
The fact that De Allende and De Jongh will have missed on significant Super Rugby game time by the time they return to action could have a negative impact on not only their match fitness, but also on their preparation with the Boks. So there’s another addition to the Bok (inside) centre problem.
This should encourage Coetzee to have a look at a guy like Stormers youngster Dan du Plessis, who has been great for Robbie Fleck’s team until now, with his sharp running, strong passing game and rock-solid defence. But depending on the exact prognosis on his suspected shoulder dislocation suffered against the Crusaders this weekend, his near future isn’t certain either.
There’s also Lions No 12 Harold Vorster, who has done well to rack up the stats in the 'metres-gained' department in recent weeks, while his tackling, passing and the occasional linebreak have also made a promising prospect.
Even if Coetzee doesn’t take a serious look at these guys, it should at least be a consideration for the third and last Springbok training camp.
There are, however, a host of well-performing No 13s to choose from.
This past weekend was not super at all for South African teams, but Bulls centre Jessie Kriel at least produced something positive (well, him and the Kings) when he built on his stabilising form after a good performance against the Jaguares in Round Eight. He was instrumental in the Bulls’ win over the Cheetahs, and brilliantly finished off the match-winning try.
It’s been his defence and his huge carries that stood out over the last two weeks, while Lions No 13 Lionel Mapoe reminded rugby fans of what he can do since returning from injury, when he showed off his strength, stepping skills and a fantastic double dummy to snipe through the Jaguares and score the Johannesburgers’ second try of the match. And that was besides his defence and metres smashed.
The performances of these two men have been by no means isolated, but it’s the Stormers’ rookie centre EW Viljoen who has impressed week in and week out with his form since he made his debut against the Bulls at Newlands in the opening round.
He might not have looked as good in the Stormers’ 57-24 hammering by the unbeaten Crusaders at the weekend (there were not many who did), but his performances up until week nine have been filled with top defence, especially in the wider channels, strong carrying and fine running lines, while his offloading game should certainly be regarded as one of his best assets.
I think it’s safe to say that Coetzee has some sorting out to do when it comes to inside centre, but I believe the only sorting out needed when it comes to outside centre is rewarding good form (and allowing them to just play) and, of course, getting that combination right.