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In much the same fashion, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will have to ask some tough questions when putting his backline together for the Rugby World Cup later this season.
Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff will have just four Test matches to settle on a final World Cup squad and get the backline purring.
Either way you cut it, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I imagine the final selection (especially for the World Cup squad) is a similar situation to a high stake’s poker game, take the gamble and go all in or play it safe and hope that your superior opponent makes a mistake somewhere down the road.
Every coach going to the World Cup will believe he has the foresight regarding selection; however, Erasmus’ immediate concern is to ensure a balanced backline is chosen.
A key ingredient will be finding a backline that fires more than it doesn’t.
Erasmus seems to favour an Elton Jantjies and Handre Pollard 10 and 12 combination, which facilitates having dual play makers on the field.
The Boks’ offensive game needs every possible ability to get its rhythm as quickly as possible.
This is especially pertinent considering the weather conditions in Japan and the way the Springboks have struggled to find a balance to their attack.
Erasmus’ cerebral tactician Faf De Klerk will form the base of his backline, De Klerk has grown into an exceptional player and tactician, whist never losing his ability is to break around rucks and create plays from nothing.
His tactical kicking has improved immeasurably, and he is arguably South Africa’s most important player in the back’s division going to the World Cup.
With Aphiwe Dyanti, Sbu Nkhosi as last season’s incumbents and the sensational form of Makazola Mapimpi and Roscoe Specman, the Boks are blessed with wings of the highest order.
There finishing ability is without question, the only one that remains is how the Boks find a way to get them with ball in hand while they still have space to attack.
The crucial choice in often deciding that is your outside centre, Jesse Kriel has been in good form of late and his finishing ability is superb.
However, Lukhanyo Am’s form and most critically his decision-making has made him my standout Super Rugby player from a South African perspective.
So many of the Sharks tries came from his ability to read the play and choose correctly, which has seen the Sharks look enterprising in an otherwise dour season.
Finally Willie Le Roux as the experienced incumbent will marshal the attack from fullback, another player with great game breaking ability and once again a player able to create offensive play around.
He and Faf De Klerk have combined impressively during Erasmus’ time in charge and when the Boks have looked impressive and assured when these two are producing their best offensive plays.
I would dearly love to be a fly on the wall when Rassie Erasmus goes through his selection debates with his staff.
Some pundits and fans argue you should be playing your best team every time you take the field, while others argue you should be experimenting (I use that word loosely) with different players and combinations.
From my personal perspective I would just like to see a Bok backline using more refined offensive tactics than the usual blunt offerings.
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.