Unnecessary risks by Bok coach for Aussie tour
THE biggest goal for the Springboks in the 2022 Rugby Championship is to beat the Wallabies in Australia.
They haven’t done so in the last five matches Down Under, with their last triumph coming in Brisbane in 2013, where they pulled off a stunning 38-12 victory.
So, Bok coach Jacques Nienaber would want to pick his strongest possible squad for the two-test trip east, but I don’t think he did that when the 34-player group was announced on Monday.
The most contentious picks were at hooker – or rather, the lack of back-up following the knee injury to Bongi Mbonambi, which will keep him out of action for four weeks – and among the loose forwards, where Nienaber is taking unnecessary risks.
Nienaber said that Deon Fourie will cover Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba. Now Fourie – who will turn 36 next month – is an unrelenting character who will give it his all if required, but he should not be put in such a difficult situation in the national team.
Fourie is honest enough to admit that his lineout-throwing problems in his previous life as a hooker at the Stormers and Western Province was part of the reason he eventually morphed into an openside flank, where he was outstanding for the Cape side in their march to the United Rugby Championship title earlier this year.
He didn’t feature at hooker for the Stormers even when there was an injury crisis in that position, with the likes of youngsters such as JJ Kotze and Andre-hugo Venter called upon by coach John Dobson.
So, why is Fourie suddenly being considered as a back-up hooker for Test rugby?
The best solution would have been to select Johan Grobbelaar, who was excellent for the Bulls in the URC, whether it was with his lineout-throwing, scrumming or general play.
Dweba had another tough outing against the All Blacks after battling against Wales as well, but he is a fine prospect and is worth persevering with, especially with Mbonambi out.
But if he or Marx were to sustain an injury just before the first Wallabies Test next Saturday in Adelaide, it would’ve made greater sense to have Grobbelaar on the bench instead of Fourie.
Nienaber spoke about how the 34-player squad was “in line with the standard travelling squad for the Rugby World Cup”, so surely you would want three specialist hookers in that group?
The same goes for the scrumhalves, with the four picked for the Australian trip being a bit much. Nienaber needs to make a call on which three halfbacks are the best between Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach – and some may feel that Grant Williams was also unlucky to miss out.
There has also been an understandable outcry on social media about the group of loose forwards that were chosen, with Stormers star Evan Roos the major omission.
The Bok press release said on Monday that Nienaber “would make changes to the squad for the two Tests against Argentina in Buenos Aires and Durban as he looks to give his expanded group of players a chance to prove themselves with an eye on the Rugby World Cup”, but with the quest for victories in Australia, in-form players should have gone on tour.
Stalwarts Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-steph du Toit were well off the mark against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, with both coming off injury layoffs.
Vermeulen in particular had a hard task as he hadn’t played rugby in two months following knee surgery, but was then expected to front up to a determined Kiwi side playing for the future of their coach Ian Foster.
Jasper Wiese still has a lot to work on, but he at least is 100% fit and has operated at full tilt in every Test he has played this year.
Kwagga Smith is also a solid option at No 8, and Roos is the promising youngster coming through alongside Elrigh Louw, who was selected.
Nienaber revealed that there will be a different squad used for the two Argentina games, so hopefully URC stars such as Roos, Louw, Warrick Gelant and perhaps even Manie Libbok will get game time.
SPRINGBOK SQUAD
Props: Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane Hookers: Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Salmaan Moerat
Loose forwards: Pieter-steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen Utility forwards: Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard Midfielders: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen
Outside backs: Makazole Mapimpi, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Warrick Gelant Utility backs: Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Frans Steyn