Lets be honest and not mince wwords on what happened in the 4 RC tests this yeat and look at the resons for the improvement of performances and especially taking into account. and determine where here are still problems that needs to be ironed out.
Forwards selections
Lets in particular look at the performances of the forwards.- which was not the major problem - but there were sticky points that would need attention. The fact is that there are a few poblems that kept raising its head in matches The fact is that Erasmus made a problem on relying on the elederly to lead the charge in the first three tests and they failed badly, Kolisi at 8 was a flop and so was the one replacement prop - but the problm relates to namely Kolisi, Etzebeth, Koch and Marx and in the first 3 tests all four failed, Kolisi is not a no 8 player, Marx made the throw-ins at line-outs a lottery ticket, Etzebeth at best was not good enough and as a result the the Tight 5 malfunctioned as a unit.
A great admirer of Etzebeth one has to be fair - his performances on both URC level and for the Springboks were under-whelming. I gained the impression especially that his battered body over the years since 2012 took is just too much to coninue on the level he used to perform in the past. Apart from that he struggled for months with concussion problems and my own impression of him is that he is just not good enough to continue on the same level he used to perform in the past.
The player in the first hree matches who made a difference when he came on from the bench was De Jager - but he is also injury prone - so I do think it is time to move from him as well. With a probem in the Tight 5 Du Yoit had also not how up to his true value as a player and obviously also not correctly used in the hird three tests as well,
I think that yesterday the chang es made by Easmus for the test yesterday made me believe that the forwards The Tight 5 sitiation was improved yesterday. Marx must have being warned that his line-out how-ins was sub-par and eneds to improve and it worked better, The use of Du Toit as a jumper was clearly evident yesterday so did the othe aspects of the game. When Kolisi left the feld Du Toit took over th captaincy and yesterday and he and Snyman was brilliat in performnces theor performances.
For the future I t hink there are players like Hanekom, Roos and Steenkamo that would return from injury next year and will strengthen the team when they return from injury in the coming UEC season starting on 26 September this yer, I would nto be surprised if players like Mbonambi, Mostert and Etzebeth be sent back to their franchies to play on URC level and or for their overseas clubs.
The backline performances
So what went wrong in the first three tests insoar as the backline is concerned. The problems tarted with Willams at scrummie in the first instance. He was hoeeible hen playng intests this year, Rinach was an improvement on Saturay - but to my mind we have to start looking beyond Reinach as well. He was vastly better tan Williams was - but eh aso fruistrate the ell out of me when he knocked on balls three times - the most prominent. To my mind there are young er players like Jantjies and Papier that should be used and then there is also Van den Berg in the squad at oresent rhat should be brought into the team ovr te next year.
The second problem is Pollard, Lets face facts - Pollard was all along a top class flyhalf - and he is still a reliable goal kicker - but Pollard since 2014 had many injury problems and for lenghty periods neve played tes rugby, He was at his best in 2019. Since then he as contracted by Montpellier and Leicester - but he was released from both his contracts and that would nopt hapepn if his performances were up to standard, He is now back with the Bulls and one wonders whether he will last much longer as well. On the whole he lost pace and hs decisionmaaking was substandard in the tests he played in this year, When it comes to replacement of Pollard I still think the Number 1 choice is Sacha, In that regard his injuries remain a problem and i still t hink h should reduce his contact play and concentrate more on being a pivot and not charge into forwards as often as he ebcame this year, To my surprise Libbok had a good match - his first test ever - and may be useful - but am not a totaly convinced person bout him.
As to the center pairing in the three previous tests the center paiing malfunctioned and I t hink needs a really serious look at in future. As to the pairing yesterday a careful analysis indicated that the repalcement of De Allende is Willemse, Esterhuizen yesterday was better than expected but in analysis his own ball carries were about average and he passed he ball well while he again scored a gifted trie made up by other players but despite the hee-haw of a few members he was still a very average player and his age is also a factor, The number 1 replacement inside ccenter remains to be Willemse - and one swallow does not make the summer. I do not think he is at 31 years of age and with due regard to his performances in his previous tests he is a real investment in the future. As to Kriel - he was poor in the tests he played in this year and making him a captain of the team was one step too far for him. The fireworks in the backline yesterday started off with Willemse and he was the real player that produced the goods in the backline attacks. Willemse is a very good center - but can play well in both the flyhalf and full back position - but he is a specialist at center and that is where he belongs,
I liked what I saw of Hooker yesterday and Kolbe was back to topline performance - while we have a string of other very useful wings - so that is not a real problem for the future,
The remaining problem for Erasmus tp solve is at full back. Willie must be eliminated from future selection and Fassie from an eagle in the past after his injury turned into a poor player at present, I still think that we must look again at a player like Green and players like Van der Merwe to use at full back and get rid of Willie who never in 2025. had an acceptable game on the URC and test level this year, A magnificent player in the past his age caused a decline in perfirmances and he should be retired from playing on test level. I doubt whether Ackerman will pesist with him in future on URC level anyway. .
. , . .
, , . , ,