It is clear that Coetzee is too clueless to select and coach a proper side - he beats Meyer by just about a neck in the rugby coaching stupidity stakes. I believe that he had a chance to show some indication that he knows what is needed from a coach – but it is obvious that he is clueless.
That is why I think a drastic rethink is necessary and the team for the remaining to tests must be as follows:-
Full Back
Goosen is doing a good job enough job at full back so he can remain in that position.
Wings
The one wing should be Habana - but the other one is a serious problem. I do not really think Hougaard is the answer on the wing and would go for Willie le Roux in that position. The back=up can come from Ismaiel of the Bulls or perhaps even a player like Petersen of the Cheetahs.
Centers
It is by now clear that De Jongh and Mapoe are not test material players. Mapoe is reasonable – De Jongh is not even remotely so. The answer at the centers should be between Kriel, Van Rensburg and De Allende, with one of them on the bench. In due course Vorster can be brought into the picture.
Flyhalfs
I was horrified by Jantjies today – he was watching the chaser and missed a sitter when fielding a kick-in – one try given away. In another case he made an aimless kick caught on the halfway line and I swore and said the AB’s would score a try from that BS before they in fact scored one. Steyn is a has-been and should be send packing. Lucky enough Lambie is playing again and he should be brought into the team forthwith. Goosen can be his back-up and Steyn should be send back to Stade Francais.
Scrummies
I think the answer is obvious - De Klerk and Hougaard should fit into that position.
Loosies
The present combination is not a combination at all – it comprises of three different players of varied abilities. Mohoje is a farce, Louw is too slow to be an opensider while Whitley is a reasonable choice at 8 in the absence of Vermeulen. I would go for Kriel at 6, Louw at 7 and Whiteley at 8 – with Labuschagne on the bench.
Locks
No problem - Etzebeth, Du Toit and De Jager remain the top three.
Props
Here we got a problem . With both Malherbe and Redelinghuys out injured the third choice prop to my mind remains Krog. I would pick him still – but Adriaanse is a sick joke. I would rather have any other prop at 3 than that one. Watching the CC on and off think that there are some props that can do the job better than Adriaanse. On the loosehead side I would stick with Mtawarira and Kitshoff – even though the former is really getting over the hill.
Hookers
Marx is my forst choice hooker – but we will have to put up with Strauss for the time being.
My team with available resources would be the following:-
15 Johann Goosen, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damien de Allende/ Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 11 Brian Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Francoiis Louw, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit/Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincient Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Malcolm Marrx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit/Lood de Jager, 20 Pieter Labuschagne- 21 Sikhumbutze Notshe, 22 Francois Hougaard, 23 Damien de Allende/ Rohan Janse Van Rensburg
When the injured players return – some of the above can be replaced as well. I think that Coetzee is for example a must for the future.
