Good points raised here, MANY consistent with what Beeno has been saying. Beeno noted the lack of form from Marx and how Nyankane had done well and looked better right now than Malherbe.)
Depth in the front row was certainly underlined and a bench that makes a massive difference were all upshots of the Springboks’ 16-all draw with the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
Rassie Erasmus’ hopes were pinned on playing two different sides in his opening two Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixtures over the last fortnight and, after the opening two games of the tournament, it is certain that Erasmus took more out of the contests than any of the other Southern Hemisphere nations on display.
And that, in a World Cup year, is worth gold.(Please note Dr Mozzzz and Organhuffer!)
While Herschel Jantjies’ heroics in drawing the game were laudable, probably the biggest plus-point for Erasmus over the last fortnight has been the emergence of a second, all-black front row that can easily start in any game across the planet and has the power to make a significant difference.
Frans Malherbe’s indifferent showing will be a concern, but the bench on Saturday and the front row at Ellis Park of Beast Mtawarira, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane have provided a platform for the Boks to work from in both games that has certainly raised expectations of them unseating the Wellington three of Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx and Frans Malherbe.(Kitshoff definitely musnt be replaced as his work rate is outstanding. The experienced Beast can close out the match. Start with Nyankane. Marx is under pressure and that is a good thing.)
The rejuvenation in Beast Mtawarira’s game has been remarkable after he was written off last season by many pundits and the veteran prop probably now is in the inside lane to start the game against the All Blacks in September.
LINEOUTS ARE MARX’S ACHILLES HEEL
Malcolm Marx remains the No 1 hooker, but over the last two weeks Mbonambi’s fire and exuberance have provided the Boks with more than just a second option, and while Marx remains No 1, the pressure certainly is mounting with a number of poor lineout throws early in the game in Wellington. (The early errors which could as well have been partly the locks as well was sorted so forget about that. Marx is not currently showing the energy of old)
But that has always been Marx’s Achilles heel, and while he practices doggedly for hours on end, the pressure of big games seems to highlight it, something that will weigh on the coaches minds’ going into the World Cup.
On every other aspect of his game, Marx is unmatched and certainly adds a fourth loose forward dimension to the Boks when he does play weekly in the loose.
But Mbonambi’s game has been on an upward curve over the last year and packing down alongside Beast has made him a better player, while his passion shines through no matter where he plays.
BIGGEST WINNER THIS SEASON IS NYAKANE
Still, the biggest winner over the past six months of action has been Trevor Nyakane.
Nyakane came into the World Cup year still with question marks over his ability as a tighthead and while he offers the Boks the ability to play both sides of the scrum from the bench, it was clear he needed to be a starter in Erasmus’ mind if he wanted to be certain of his World Cup place. (NO he was always going to go simply because he can play both sides)
The move of Daan Human to coach the Bulls’ scrum certainly played a massive role in Nyakane’s strengths this season and from being demolished in the Currie Cup last year by Western Province to being one of the form tightheads in Super Rugby shows just how much Nyakane has progressed this year.
And on the evidence of the Johannesburg test coupled with his performance from the bench on Saturday in Wellington, there seem to be no more doubts about his ability as an international tighthead prop.
When the Bok scrum was struggling on Saturday (ONLY WHEN MALHERBE GOT FATIGUED), the change in the front row not only brought stability, it allowed the Boks to attain a crucial ascendancy over the All Black scrum at a crucial time in the game. The reserve front row not only put their hands up in Johannesburg, but also sent out a massive message in Wellington that scrum depth is at an all-time high.
And with the Argentinean scrum suffering badly in Brisbane against the Wallabies, the front row will certainly become an attack point as the Boks look to win their first Rugby Championship in a decade in Argentina the weekend after next.ARGIES ES FRONT ROW COST THEM THE MATCH AGAINST WOBBLIES.)
BENCH A KEY COMPONENT FOR WORLD CUP
The other massive aspect of Erasmus’ thinking has been on creating not only squad depth but a bench that can make a difference. (ABSOLUTELY)
By playing 11 players who won in Wellington last year, Erasmus rewarded a starting line-up that had a mental edge over the All Blacks and arrived in New Zealand without fear.
But he also went about looking at a bench that could make an impact, especially in the dying moments of the game, and by trusting his gut was rewarded with Jantjies’ heroics on the night.
It was clear to those close to the team that Jantjies wouldn’t have made the trip to New Zealand but after his two-try spell at Emirates Airline Park, he was hastily added to the flight roster on the Saturday night.
It was a case where Erasmus trusted his gut, where he rewarded form and let Jantjies ride the wave. And while there is a long road ahead for Jantjies to become the No 1 halfback in the team, he certainly shows little fear of whoever the opposition is and is taking his chances when they are presented to him.
Etzebeth was also not in the running before the Australian test and was added to the starting line-up when Erasmus reviewed his performance on the plane, but in doing so, RG Snyman’s explosive running off the mark and his offloads – the most in Super Rugby by a tight forward – gave the Boks something else to rely on from the bench.
Francois Louw’s emergence from the bench showed the depth at loose-forward and he made a crucial turnover in the last 20 minutes that helped get the Boks over the line when New Zealand were threatening to break away.(PLEASE NOTE OU MAAAAIKIE!)
And in the backline, Frans Steyn and Jesse Kriel both made significant impacts, at least on defence as they marshalled the backline against the growing All Black threat to ensure the Boks were still in it when it counted.
Kriel made seven tackles as a substitute, Steyn five and RG Snyman six off the bench. Nyakane made six and Mtawarira nine in their appearances, showing that on defence the bench played a significant role.
And on attack – well Jantjies’ moment gave the Boks a sigh of relief, a draw that felt like a victory, and a chance now to claim the Rugby Championship if they can repeat their performances in Argentina in the final game.
YES AND START TO GET THE BOKS WIN/LOSS RATIO LOOKING MUCH BETTER.
