|
Springboks
RWC 2007
Posted by Desmond - 31 July 2007 |
| |
The announcement of the Springbok squad amidst some smiling
performances from celebrities and dancers brought few surprises from
the national selectors. The desire of SA Rugby to project a
professional image has been achieved as far as I am concerned. The
composure from Oregan Hoskins before the announcement of the team
and the choreography produced by the dancers on stage had me in awe.
To cap it off a television advertisement which looks like it came
straight out of Hollywood courtesy of planet of the apes.
The make up of the squad has been pretty much common knowledge over
the last week or so and for the first time in many years there has
been a lot less controversy than usual, let’s hope the politicians
find a way to keep out of the Springbok camp until after the World
Cup. Four years ago chaos rained and the team was destined to fail
before they even set foot in Australia. This time round we have a
balanced squad and a stable management team, most of the players
have been in the system for the last three years and there has been
a significant improvement in consistency of selection. Sure there
have been the annual experiments with below par players and
controversies in the way the game is managed. The coach has been
outspoken and arrogant on occasions and there have also been several
heavy defeats but in general a far more stable environment than we
are accustomed to.
The condition of the players has improved significantly and this has
been applauded by our Southern Hemisphere counterparts. The
performances at Super 14 level have significantly improved and the
quality of rugby played at Currie Cup level appears to have
improved. The weekly debate about transformation has continued and
the national government is doing it’s best to bring about further
transformation. Hopefully the Provincial Unions will ensure the
development of the game at all levels and prevent the government
from further intervention. I sincerely hope that we do not lose the
Springbok as part of the emblem and that we are not forced to field
a majority of players who do not deserve to be there. The fact that
rugby is being targeted by the government is not surprising if you
consider the incompetence of many of the politicians that occupy
positions in the sporting arena.
South Africans are their own worst enemies at the best of times and
perhaps we should all get behind this team as they prepare to take
on the best teams in the World. 1995 is all but a memory now and
many have failed to follow the lead of Madiba. The euphoria of
success was followed by a period of stability which all but
collapsed in 2003, now at least we have made progress and we have an
opportunity to contest at the World Cup. I am quietly optimistic
that this team has what it takes to go all the way. Our best 15 is
as good as any in the competition and we have the ability to
unsettle teams that play to a specific pattern. The Springboks will
be successful if they dictate the way the game is played and if they
are not drawn into all out attacking rugby. It will not be pretty as
was the case in 1995 but then again who cares about that if they go
all the way.
I am personally satisfied with the selections but I believe that a
few errors have been made and deserve mention here. Taking two fly
halves who have a habit of breaking down is just plain stupid and
somebody should have identified it two years ago and done something
about it. Butch James if he stays fit will deliver what is required
and his performances in England last year and this year in South
Africa shows that. Andre Pretorius is more injury prone and delivers
only 50% of the time. If Butch James is not able to make it through
the World Cup we have a real problem, surely Peter Grant should have
been selected ahead at the end of last year and given as many
opportunities as possible. I would have taken the risk and selected
him ahead of Pretorius.
Ashwin Willemse and Akona Ndungane should not be part of the squad
and should not have been selected at all this year. Willemse is
living on past glories and were it not for Jake Whites obsession
with his performances of several years ago he would not be there.
Neither player has the explosive pace of a Habana nor have they
shown the kind of form to justify their inclusion. Let’s hope that
Francois Steyn and JP Pietersen are selected at left wing for the
major games at the World Cup. White and his coaching staff should
have selected Pietersen at every available opportunity since 2006.
We are extremely fortunate to have three quality scrumhalves and
hopefully form will determine who is selected as back up to Fourie
Du Preez, we all know who has shown the best form and so further
debate here is not worth the effort.
Jake White is blessed with a great deal of depth at forward and this
has allowed him to utilise the leadership skills of Bob Skinstad;
personally I believe that having a number of leaders on the field of
play is crucial to success at the World Cup and in John Smit, Victor
Matfield and Skinstad we have just what is required. The only
position that Albert van den Bergh can play is at lock and he should
also not have been selected for the World Cup, players like Pedrie
Wannenberg and Gerrie Britz offer so much more. Van den Bergh
battles to make the Sharks run on team and has been defensively
exposed at test level. Once again an opportunity to develop other
players in the last two years has been wasted.
For those that missed the announcement,
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach – Jake White
Forwards Coach – Gert Smal
Backs Coach – Alistair Coetzee
Players:
Percy Montgommery and Francois Steyn
Ashwin Willemse and Odwa Ndungane
Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier
Jean De Villiers
Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen
Butch James and Andre Pretorius
Fourie Du Preez, Ruan Pienaar and Enrico Januarie
Pierre Spies and Bob Skinstad
Juan Smith and Danie Roussouw
Schalk Burger and Wikus van Heerden
Victor Matfield and Albert van den Bergh
Bakkies Botha and Johan Muller
BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde
John Smit and Gary Botha
Guthro Steenkamp and Os du Randt
|
|
