Cape Town – Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said after the defeat to Ireland at Newlands that “Test rugby isn’t the same as Super Rugby” when speaking about the lack of discipline in the first half.
But after a number of in-form Super Rugby players from the Lions turned the game around in the last quarter of the second Test at Ellis Park, perhaps Coetzee should revisit his thoughts about players in the southern-hemisphere competition.
Warren Whiteley, Ruan Combrinck, Julian Redelinghuys and Franco Mostert gave the Boks the necessary urgency and accuracy that they had lacked in the first half at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Ireland 19-3 ahead.
Their speed, skill and intensity in everything they did on the night were a testament to the form displayed in Super Rugby.
Compare that to the likes of Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw from northern-hemisphere rugby, as well as those who haven’t been at their best in Super Rugby like JP Pietersen, Damian de Allende, Willie le Roux and to a lesser extent Frans Malherbe and captain Adriaan Strauss – all of whom have battled in the first two Tests.
The rousing last 20 minutes at Ellis Park proved to Coetzee that he simply has to change his personnel to play the high-tempo game that can win the series against Ireland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, and can challenge the All Blacks in future.
Both Vermeulen (elbow) and Whiteley (shoulder) have injury concerns at the moment, but if both are fit, the Lions skipper should start at No 8 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The manner in which he scored his try – running on to the ball at speed and stepping past two defenders to dot down – was a perfect example of what he can bring to the Bok unit.
Vermeulen may have sought contact in a similar situation, which is what he did almost every time at Newlands, and he will have to regain that spring in his step from previous years if he hopes to play a part in the new Bok era going forward.
If Whiteley is ruled out, then Coetzee should pick a “like-for-like” replacement like Nizaam Carr, who plays a similar game to his Lions counterpart at No 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe was outstanding for the South African A side at openside flank against England Saxons 10 days ago, and it was a pity that he couldn’t play for SA A again in George this past Friday.
But Notshe is a brilliant ball-carrier with tremendous pace who is better suited to blindside flank rather than as a linking player at No 8 who can create space for others and have good stepping abilities, like Whiteley and Carr. The Stormers star, who also has two Test caps to his name, performed well on attack and defence for SA A at No 8 in Bloemfontein, and he would excel in a high-paced style of play.
There have been growing calls for Jaco Kriel to get an opportunity, and he could be the ideal replacement for Louw at openside flank. His work-rate has been outstanding for the last few years in Super Rugby and he deserves a chance, with Notshe as the dynamite package off the bench.
Combrinck was terrific after coming on at halftime, and while he should start in PE, it shouldn’t be at the expense of Lwazi Mvovo, but rather JP Pietersen. Combrinck replaced Mvovo at the break after he dropped a few high balls, one of which led to a try for Ireland.
But the Sharks flyer was the best Bok back at Newlands, and has done enough good things to earn another chance, with Pietersen again not contributing much to the cause at Ellis Park.
Malherbe’s penchant for conceding penalties at the breakdown has been further exacerbated by his scrummaging battles with Irish loosehead Jack McGrath, which should see Redelinghuys wearing the No 3 jersey in PE.
Pieter-Steph du Toit’s lively outing was welcomed at No 5, and Mostert added extra punch that can keep him on the bench ahead of a possibly fit-again Lood de Jager.
Pat Lambie (concussion) could be ready for the decider, and Coetzee may just opt to bring in his preferred flyhalf due to Elton Jantjies’ missed goal-kicks on Saturday.
But Jantjies played with renewed vigour when, along with his franchise teammates, the Boks played at a similar intensity to the Lions. So, the left-footer will be a better bet for that type of game than Lambie, who has a more tactical approach to his play.
Coetzee rather flippantly stated after the game that the likes of Combrinck, Redelinghuys and Mostert had taken their opportunities, but that “those guys are not Lions players, they are Springboks”. But the reality is that they are Lions players too, and there is nothing wrong with supporters calling for players from their franchise to be in the Bok team.
It is rather an indictment on Coetzee that he waited until it was almost too late, at 19-3 down and with the series on the line, to make use of them. Let’s hope that the Bok coach is bold enough to make the big calls when he names his team on Thursday.
@IndyCapeSport