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While it’s great to see Springbok coach Peter De Villiers selecting some fantastic offshore talent, it’s hard to hold much hope for this ‘cobbled together’ mob actually beating Wales (ordinary as they have been).
The problem doesn’t lie with the quality of player selected, or their experience – they have about as many Test caps as the victorious 2007 World Cup 15.
In my view, it’s the lack of combinations that’s disturbing.
There are no question marks surrounding the front row. These guys have played together in numerous squads over the last couple of years, however sporadic that may have been.
They’ll find their groove as will Bekker and Russouw. Both these men have been a part of the Bok setup for a while, even if their game time together has been limited.
The trouble begins, however, in the loose forwards.
Big Joe has been out of the fold for a couple of years and I doubt he’s ever met Potgieter or Louw, who have one cap and no caps respectively. How they are going to gel into an effective unit with only one weeks training is beyond me.
I approve all the selections as I believe they’re fantastic players who deserve a Bok callup – it’s just using them all at once that seems crazy.
Januarie and Pienaar together seems like a nightmare: Ruan is short on confidence at flyhalf and Ricky is fat, undisciplined (on-field and off) and must be totally demoralized at being dropped by the Stormers but still miraculously selected by the Boks.
The centers are an interesting pick.
James and De Villiers are old hands who have played many games together, but both one step closer to the scrum (likewise James and Pienaar). It will be interesting to see if they can find any sort of chemistry in this bizarre mash-up, with no training time, the answer has to be no.
Steyn and Ndungane were national and provincial partners and should add some reassurance to new cap Aplon (who is a fantastic selection, in my opinion, even if he is too small for international rugby).
Bringing Bosman, De Jongh and Basson on at any time will compound the issues even further – though one can’t help but feel that a 2nd half with Ruan at 9, James at 10, De Villiers 12 and De Jongh 13 looks far more stable and convincing.
I’d like to pass comment comment on Chiliboy’s inclusion, but the fact of the matter is, I’ve never seen the guy play (and I watch a lot of rugby). He might be Spies and Bismarck combined, but how would we know?
He’s been in senior rugby for four years without ever getting a game. I’ve seen him run on for about a minute every now and then, but how can a player be expected to find any form without regular game time?
It’s a travesty of mismanagement.
Hanyani Shimange springs to mind – the poor guy warmed the Bok and Stormers bench for years before packing it in and moving to Boland just so he could feel the grass under his feet. But, by then, his career was in ruins.
No doubt Chiliboy is headed for the same fate having only one start in eighteen Super 14 Games and eight tests.
It’s sad and an incredible disservice to a reportedly talented player.
Wales would have to be monumentally awful to lose at home to this crew, but then again, they are just that.
Springboks: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Butch James, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 CJ van der Linde. Subs: Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Bjorn Basson.
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.