Jul 10
24
Time To Shake Up The Springboks Brains Trust
As an avid Springbok supporter, it pains me to see the drivel we have had dished up on three consecutive weekends. Whilst we are not getting any favours from the refereeing fraternity (it will be interesting to see the bans handed out after the Springbok Aussie clash) it is clear the Springboks have no real game plan.
The rules have changed and we have clearly not adapted. The Boks play aimless rugby and do not display the ‘brains’ we have developed in our Super 14 teams. Kicking the ball aimlessly at your opposition might work in primary school, but for our top sportsmen to do it week in and week out is ridiculous. Players like Habana are shadows of their former selves on current form. Every time he gets the ball, the same predictable thing happens. His handling of late has been atrocious and its clear he needs to be rested. Other senior players are not doing our team any favours by transgressing early on in every game. The coaches need to show some balls and a player who stupidly hands the advantage to the oppostion early on, needs to be dropped. A lengthy ban will ensue in the case of a tip tackle, so the coaches need to give the spot to a newcomer who will be the incumbent. Any player who stupidly transgresses should have to force their way back in the hard way.
Speaking of coaches, I wonder what it is that Dick Muir actually brings to our team? His backline charges are devoid of ideas, unable to tackle, and frankly dont appear to be as committed as they should be. It makes me wonder why Muir was selected in the first place, ahead of a far more experienced and more successful coach in Allister Coetzee. Mark my words, should SA select Coetzee, our game will improve and so will our results. He is a seasoned campaigner who should have gotten the head coach job in the first place in my opinion. Lets hope sanity prevails and he will get a look in once the de Villiers era has fully crumbled.
Moving on to the players, its a sad day to see Habana get the ball and aimlessly punt it sttraight back to his opponents. Pierre Spies goes to sleep in the big games, and Victor Matfield certainly isn’t the king of lineouts at the moment. It is at times like these that these players should be rested. No-one is bigger than the game yet we see once great players being given chance after chance.
Now that the Tri Nations is gone, the Springboks need to show some creativity. The time is perfect to bring in the fringe players and allow them to stake their claims. Players like Francois Hougaard bring urgency, speed and determination to their game. Juan de Jongh is streets more exciting than the predictable Wynand Olivier. Habana needs a rest and would be capably replaced by Bjorn Basson. Chiliboy Ralepelle deserves an extended run in the starting team. John Smit and Matfield are not the once formidabble lineouts force and as such should be rotated to the bench to recharge their batteries.
Schalk Burger should captain the team in the foreseeable future. Duanne Vermeulen should replaced a strangely quiet Pierre Spies. My side would look something like this.
Steenkamp
Ralepelle
Bj Botha
Burger (c)
Louw
Vermeulen
Bekker
Rossouw
Hougaard
Steyn
de Villiers
Fourie
Aplon
Basson
Steyn
