Surely, it would make more sense to put on the Reinach on the wing, given Grant Williams is the 2nd choice scrumhalf.
Williams needs more game time at 9 for the Boks
This is a patch work side instead of having a settled side to test combinations. The Boks could be undercooked against the Irish who have started with 1st choice teams, just tweaking combinations.
Can either of them provide solidity out wide? It seems selections are reduced to primitive deductions such as x runs fast so he can play wing, or y has "x factor" so can play whatever position. Spaghetti thrown at the wall, and little appreciation for the rigours and nuances of each role. Of course, one can simply blag positive waffle to the plastics and they will eat it up, so why worry? It's not like the Bok as are being held to any standards. Wing it and lie. Job done. If they fail, just blame racism and bias and the plastics will be up in arms defending the farce.
Perhaps this means Reinach has been promoted to the match day squad. Why else would they play the 2nd choice scrumhalf on the wing.
There is no rhyme or reason to some of the selections, some of it is bizarre and frightening. Still trying to work out what they achieved in the first test against Wales, the test which wiped out Evan Roos's Bok prospects. About the only time they got it right is when we faced the ABs. The idea of not having a specialist reserve Hooker is madness.
a neutral view......
Every week, we seem to be getting new innovations and plans from the South African management team.
Prior to the World Cup, the rugby world went into meltdown when coach Jacques Nienaber named a 7-1 split bench against the All Blacks.
Likewise, there was a surprise when they picked four scrum-halves in their initial 33-man squad for the World.
Now they’ve not only used all four scrum-halves but used them all in one game and, at one point, had three on the pitch at the same time.
In the forwards, they’ve also tested flanker Marco van Staden as a hooker against Romania. That may come in handy now that instead of bringing in Joseph Dweba to replace injured hooker Malcolm Marx, they’re bringing in fly-half Handre Pollard. Who knows what they’ll come up with next?
in contrast .....
It’s no secret that Ireland, under Andy Farrell, have been one of the most consistent sides in terms of their team selection.
Key players regularly get picked, with just enough rotation to ensure not all their eggs are in one basket. Ireland could have fielded much different sides against Tonga this week or Romania the week before.
They could have had twelve or so changes and still walked away with maximum points. But that wasn’t the case, and Farrell has stuck to his guns on squad selection.
Based on what we’ve seen, it has paid off, and Ireland have looked as slick as ever.
Their upcoming games are tougher than the first two, but based on what we’ve seen, they’ll be razor-sharp heading into the business end of the competition.
Perhaps Williams was given a run at wing so they could test his utility value off the bench to make sure he can cover wing by fitting into the Bok systems.
Or, Reinach has leap frogged into the backup scrumhalf on the bench.
Surely it would make more sense to have started Williams at 9, given how little game time he has had for the Boks
It would have been more meaningful had they started the kid at scrummie......practice makes perfect
Williams is probably a future star but still too erratic, for now.
He needs to calm down and know when to take his chances. That'll come, but I'd still pick Reinach ahead of him for this WC.
Speed can't be coached it's a precious and rare commodity..... Williams is blessed with plenty. He's one of several go to's in that backline. Geez it's snap crackle and pop with Arendse and Kolbe not to mention Moodie
Don't blink is my advice to the opposition.
Cut him some slack, he's just a kid stepping out onto the world stage, his plusses far outweigh his minuses'.
