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Coach Heyneke Meyer’s habit of giving younger players token time on the totem pole is unlikely to see the Springbok tribe riding off with the Webb Ellis Cup next year.
The South African frontline attack continues to be packed with ageing warriors, such as Victor Matfield, while emerging young braves are allowed to join the battle only in the later stages.
The Springbok coach has brought in a handful of younger players, but he still hangs on to the idea that seasoned fighters will pull us through when the World Cup wagon rolls around.
The Championship crown has all but gone. Now is the time, with just 10 Tests left before the World Cup, to start bringing the younger and fitter players into the starting line-up.
They will only gain experience when given decent time in battle. How does Meyer expect to do this by relying on older players? Experience is valuable, but so, too, is youth.
So far, he has squandered the opportunity to blood them apart from the inclusion of 20-year-old Handre Pollard. Pat Lambie is a case in point. At 24, he’s been an emerging star blessed with talent, but has been largely ignored and given scant game time amid Meyer’s big-is-better philosophy.
The 37-year-old Matfield has more scalps on his belt than any other player and 115 Test caps going into the crunch against the Wallabies at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
The South African, who has an octopus-like grip in the lineouts, has proved a match-winner in the past. Fans give war-whoops and holler when he plays. But Matfield, who first played in the World Cup back in 2003, about 12 years ago, no longer has the pace about the field.
It showed in the defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington. He won’t be any faster in a year’s time, so I believe he would be used better as an assistant coach.
There should be no question of the ability of scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who reads a game well and whose pinpoint kicks into an All Blacks laager can cause havoc. Bismarck du Plessis, too, is another potent force. A man who takes no prisoners, he’s always “bizzy” at the breakdown and as greedy and strong as Richie McCaw.
For me, a question mark hangs over captain Jean de Villiers. He, too, has lost pace. He relies on power while guile and a side-step are not among his weapons. Meyer appears stuck with de Villiers as captain, but I don’t believe the 33-year-old is there on ability.
To talk about benching de Villiers sounds like heresy and I am sure that Meyer, sitting in his wigwam, would recoil at the suggestion. However, I believe that Juan de Jongh, who has a devastating side-step and undoubted flair, would be a better choice at centre playing outside Jan Serfontein.
Our backline, which has looked metronomic and with easy to read tactics, could click better if de Jongh was included.
In the starting line-up, I would keep the “Beast” Tendai Mtawarira as a prop, but Jannie du Plessis, who has battled to last 80 minutes, would have to go. So, too, would other members of the Old Guard Matfield, Gurthro Steenkamp, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn.
In time, the World Cup is a year off. Injuries will always be a problem, but if all goes well, this would be my starting line-up with a chance of hanging the Webb Ellis Cup atop our totem pole.
Willie le Roux (15), Cornal Hendricks (14), Jan Serfontein (12), Juan de Jongh (13), Bryan Habana (11), Handre Pollard (10), Fourie du Preez (9), Duane Vermeulen (8), Marcell Coetzee (7), Willem Alberts (6), Pieter-Steph du Toit (5), Eben Etzebeth (4), Marcel van der Merwe (3), Bismarck du Plessis (2), Tendai Mtawarira (1 – captain).
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.