The Springboks have moved closer to creating the sort of depth they will need if they are to be successful in next year’s Rugby World Cup, and that starts with a massive challenge at this year’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer’s hand has been forced in many respects, with several players injured or unavailable because of club commitments overseas, but he still has managed to select a top team to go into this year’s tournament.
Yet perhaps the most telling of the moves made in selection over the past few days has been in those who have been omitted from the 30 man squad.
Considering that you need at least two players of class in every position for a World Cup squad, the Boks are moving ever closer to this team, even though they continue to be criticised for using experience where necessary.(Have ou victor as an advisor not asa player!)
Vodacom Super Rugby injuries haven’t done them any favours, and have kept several top players – including the likes of Arno Botha and Pieter-Steph du Toit, while long term injuries to Fourie du Preez, Flip van der Merwe and Jaque Fourie – have hampered selection as well.
Given the hope that these players may well return to fitness and be in form by the time the World Cup rolls around, this year’s Rugby Championship is a key one for players who are hoping to make the trip to England next year. While they can impress, they can also play themselves out of the squad, as players such as JJ Engelbrecht and Juandre Kruger have found out over the past year.(JJ is a wing and Juandre a 7)
While Meyer doesn’t like the term “dropped”, the exclusion of players such as Coenie Oosthuizen, Siya Kolisi and Johan Goosen is a clear message for them to up their game if they want to still be a part of the Bok squad going ahead. (Quite correct. In Goosenes case though its justa case of conditioning and hardening up)
All three have had setbacks in terms of form and injury, and need to concentrate now on regaining that form so that they can return to the Bok squad for the end of year tour.
In Oosthuizen’s case, it seems a poor Super Rugby season, coupled with some patchy scrumming in the Castle Lager Incoming Series cost him his place, and while his neck problems have been a worry since he moved to tighthead, his setpiece work needs some attention before he can make it back. (Perfect summation so snaspter please take note)
Meyer explained his thinking in the move, but hinted that Oosthuizen needs to up his game in the scrums.
“To say they were dropped is a harsh thing. The tough thing for a coach is that you can only choose 30 players and that is tough. At the end of the year we will have a bigger squad and there is not a big difference between the players at the moment. The big thing is that these players have never let the Boks down. Unfortunately you can only choose 30,” Meyer said.
“Coenie I still believe is a great player, especially outside of the scrummaging, he is one of the best around (AGREE). He is one of the best on the field and has done the best for us. He has been struggling with a neck problem for some time and he knows where he stands. I truly believe he will come back into the squad. We only picked five props, and that makes it difficult. I know Coenie, he is a great player and he will be back.”
Kolisi hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons with the Stormers, often starting off the bench behind Nizaam Carr and Schalk Burger during the season. A personal setback, as well as increased competition for places has placed him at a disadvantage, and the success story of 2013 will need to take another step up – and become a classic openside flank if he is to be a Bok again.(Wouldnt back my house on it - Kolisi appears to lack ticker))
The truth of the matter is that players such as Teboho Mohoje give an extra boost in terms of lineout work, something Kolisi doesn’t have in his arsenal. He isn’t a ball-carrier, and drifts between the lines of loose forward at times, prompting the need for him to specialise.
Add to that the fact he was told – as was Marcell Coetzee – a year ago that his path forward is as an openside, and the decision is understandable. Coetzee has reorganised himself into one of the best in the game while Kolisi – perhaps not entirely his own making- has stagnated.
“On Siya, I believe he has to focus on openside. Marcell (Coetzee) has come through very well there and Oupa (Mohoje) has come through as a blindside flank. At openside there is a lot of competition with Marcel and Flo (Francois Louw)(SEESM HE SI NOT THINKING OF LOUWAS A SEVEN. BAD MISAKE IF SO). It was a tight call but Oupa gives an extra option in the lineouts. Siya played off the bench most of the year for the Stormers and went through a bit of a bad patch. He knows it is just a matter of time before he can come back and it is in his hands right now.”
Finally Johan Goosen’s injury problems seem to have caught up with him, especially as he was part of the squad for the entire June series but played only a few minutes.
Unfortunately for Goosen, Handre Pollard’s rise to prominence came at the wrong time for him, and the Free Stater’s move to Paris was also a part of the situation as well.
While Racing Metro announced Goosen would not be part of the Rugby Championship back when they signed him, this was denied by the Bok management at the time. It seems they will happily allow him to try and play a season without injury and get himself back into form at the moment, rather than keep him as part of the Bok squad where he may not necessarily play.(WISE MOVE)
The bottom line is that Meyer still rates Goosen, and if he can prove he is injury free and without baggage, he could find himself part of the Bok squad to next year’s Rugby World Cup. But the ball is firmly in his court at the moment.(AGREED)
“Johan Goosen is a quality player. I have always said if he wasn’t injured he would play 100 tests – he is one of the best I have ever coached.(PLEASE NOTE DR MOZ) Unfortunately he has been injured and with Handre Pollard coming through and with the squad of 30 – there are only a set amount of overseas players that can be picked.
“I think it was a good call for him to play a lot of games in France, and find form. He has always been great when he plays, but he is always injured. We just felt that he needs some game time – he’s just moved to France and he needs to find his feet there. He isn’t out of the reckoning, he will be back. The thing that kept him out is that you can only pick three 10s and Pat (Lambie) can play 15 as well, he’s our second fullback. It was a tight call but he is still in the mix.”
S OME GOOD THINKING BY MEYER AND A FEW ERRORS. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON MATCH DAY
