Why the Boks must win
rugby365 columnist Steve Farrell takes a look at the Currie Cup Final, the bolters in Peter de Villiers' Springbok team and most importantly, he explains why the Boks MUST win all their matches on the year-end tour.
It was tipped to be the best Currie Cup Final in recent memory, two teams on top of their game, and it was the Sharks that finally broke their play-off duck with a well-deserved 14-9 victory.
It wasn't as pretty as many thought it would be. It was hard and uncompromising - everything you'd expect from a Currie Cup Final. Both sides defended as if their lives depending on it, but you always had the feeling that the Sharks had the beating of the Bulls.
They created more opportunities and it was ultimately a case of the Sharks' game-breakers giving them the edge. Ruan Pienaar's sniping break and score in the first half and Frans Steyn's try in the second proved to be enough for the home team.
But many a Sharks fan would have been squirming in their seats as the final minute approached, after the Bulls pushed the Sharks off their own ball to win the scrum. They had one final chance but it wasn't to be as the Absa Stadium erupted as one as the hooter sounded.
This wasn't the only drama on Saturday, as the Springbok squad for the November tour was announced.
As is customary with Bok selections, there were a few selections that raised some eyebrows, most noticeably Earl Rose's inclusion at the expense of Butch James and Peter Grant. Although James was not expected to be included, Grant was widely favoured to wear the No.10 jersey for the Boks. But in a surprise move, De Villiers stated that Ruan Pienaar will wear the No.10 jersey with Rose providing back-up.
Rose's selection is puzzling for me. Yes, he had a good start to the Currie Cup campaign, but when the Springboks entered the fold during the latter part of the competition, he was shown up dreadfully. So much so that Lions coach Eugene Eloff moved him to fullback for their semifinal clash with the Sharks. He is a running flyhalf, but he does not possess the all-round ability to play on the international stage. His defence is very weak and he will be exploited by opposition if he gets a run. He has the ability to do some good things, but he is also guilty of letting his team down, as was the case in the big games in the Currie Cup.
Personally I would have gone for Grant. He is more direct, and in the Northern Hemisphere, you need a direct approach. He doesn't have a huge boot and this is one area where he needs to work on, but Rose's kicking out of hand is not too flash either. Grant's defence is one of his strong points and his combination with Jean de Villiers at No.12 could have worked extremely well.
I am in two minds about Ruan Pienaar playing flyhalf. Yes, he has all the attributes to be a very good No.10, but he recently stated that he wants to play scrumhalf.
It's a catch-22 situation for Pienaar. He will get some decent game-time at flyhalf, whereas if he plays scrumhalf, Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie are ahead of him in the pecking order. So in that regard I think it's a good thing that he plays at 10. He's young, he's talented, and if nurtured into the role slowly, could become a great flyhalf. It's worth Pienaar giving this a go to cement his berth in the Bok line-up.
Wales, Scotland and England will provide us with a few answers as to whether the Sharks hero has what it takes to become South Africa's premier No.10.
Another left field selection by De Villiers was that of skipper John Smit at tighthead. The move is a clear indication that De Villiers wants to accommodate both Smit and Bismarck du Plessis in the same front row. Smit is a great leader, that much is clear, but with Du Plessis playing some fantastic rugby, Smit can no longer be guaranteed a starting berth in the No.2 jersey.
The Boks need Smit - he still has a lot to offer Springbok rugby - so personally I like this move by De Villiers. It shows that he is thinking long term as Du Plessis is young, and barring injury, will be around in 2011.
Smit turned 30 earlier this year and will be 33 by the time the next World Cup rolls over. As far as front row forwards is concerned, that is not over the hill. Remember a certain Os du Randt? If the Bok captain can establish himself as a premier tighthead prop and continue to lead his team through to the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, then South African rugby will be in good hands.
Looking ahead to the Springbok tour next month, it is crucial that the Boks come away with three wins.
There are a few reasons for this... firstly Peter de Villiers needs to create a winning culture in the team - something he has failed to do up to now.
Secondly, and more importantly, wins over Wales, Scotland and England will be a big boost ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour next June.
The Lions series will be a massive test for De Villiers and his coaching staff, as the Lions management are notorious for leaving no stone unturned before a series kicks off. De Villiers needs to find his combinations now, it will be too late next year to tinker with combinations.
There are a few selection posers facing De Villiers.
One of them is in the midfield. Jean de Villiers selects himself at No.12, but with Jaque Fourie back from injury, and Adi Jacobs having established himself this season, who is going to wear the No.13 jersey? Fourie is a world class centre, he has proved that over his 36-test match career, but Jacobs took his opportunity with both hands in Fourie's absence. I would be inclined to start with Jacobs against Wales with Fourie on the bench and ease him back slowly into the Bok setup. The World Cup-winning centre has been hampered throughout his career by injury, and having only recently returned from a broken jaw, I'd be hesitant to start with him for the Wales test, but would like too see him in the starting line-up come the England clash.
Another jersey up for grabs is the right wing berth. Despite Bryan Habana enduring a quiet season by his lofty standards, he has made the No.11 jersey is own over the past few seasons. That leaves the obvious candidates of JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane and Jongi Nokwe fighting it out for the No.14 jersey. Pietersen impressed me immensely on Saturday. He looked for work throughout and was constantly asking question marks of the Bulls defence. In my mind he outplayed Habana on the day. Nokwe has been superb this season with his express pace being a huge advantage. But with winter fast approaching up north, I'd be hesitant to play him. Odwa Ndungane was once again rock solid on the weekend and didn't make any mistakes. He has become incredibly reliable for the Sharks and is very good under the high ball. So for me he is the best man for the job as far as these three are concerned.
What about the possibility of playing Frans Steyn on the right wing? He is solid under the high ball and strong on defence, not to mention his booming boot. I think he could be effectively used on the wing against Wales, Scotland and England. As I've said before, I'd like to see him at fullback, but that doesn't look like happening anytime soon. He has excelled at inside centre for the Sharks this season, but with Jean de Villiers playing exceptional rugby, that position seems out of reach for the youngster. With a more tactical game needed on the heavy fields of the northern hemisphere, Steyn as right wing could just work.
Up front, Ryan Kankowski deserves an extended run at No.8 ahead of Pierre Spies, whilst the engine room likes like being the Beast, Bismarck and John Smit. It will be very interesting to see whether the Boks play with more structure than they did earlier in the season, or whether they continue to play like they did against the Aussies in their final game of the Tri-Nations. A mix of the two would be my ideal gameplan. Lets wait and see...
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