Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Neil de Kock: Damian Willemse selection suggests the Bok plan is progressing

(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

We may be a little over a year out from the next World Cup to be staged in France from September but I don’t believe the Springboks missed a trick by failing to refresh their side.

ADVERTISEMENT

There are always names that you think can be given a shot but generally what the Springbok coaching staff are doing is affording the incumbents the opportunity to retain their places and prove their long-term worth.

The last time the Springboks played was against England in November so it would be pretty harsh to say to the guys who played then, “Listen guys, five of you are not playing this weekend against Wales.”

Video Spacer

Wales captain Dan Biggar previews the Springboks series

Video Spacer

Wales captain Dan Biggar previews the Springboks series

I like the consistency in terms of selection that the current Springbok management has in place. It was in contrast to when I played for South Africa from 2001 to 2003 where I experienced a period of inconsistency in terms of selection. As I found during my time at Saracens, when teams build consistency with regards to selection, it usually reaps rich rewards somewhere down the line.

Jacques Nienaber – who has selected uncapped forwards Salmaan Moerat and Elrigh Louw on the bench for the first Test against Wales – alluded to not naming more new players in the match day 23 when he said that it’s not an academy and they are not there to develop players.

And if Nienaber believed that the new, young and fresh faces were ready, I think they would have been picked first up. He obviously believes they have to develop a bit more and get more playing time under the belt.

In terms of the Bok backline, Damian Willemse starts at fullback with Willie le Roux shifting to the bench, while Elton Jantjies comes in for Handre Pollard.

ADVERTISEMENT

Le Roux has been an outstanding servant to South African rugby and I think the criticism he is dealt at times is quite harsh. He has been solid for us for so long but the truth is that the Springboks need to think about progressing.

Damian is an out-and-out footballer and can play anywhere. He is an incredible athlete, has brilliant skills and boasts a massive boot. He is strong, physical and can step so it’s an opportunity to stake a proper claim for that position.

Beyond Willie, fullback has been a position which has been up in the air and you wouldn’t necessarily say, “That’s our next guy.” It’s someone’s opportunity to stick their hand up and say, “I want that jersey for the next six years.”

I’m still not 100% convinced that fullback is Damian’s best position – he had strong showings for the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship at 12 – and I would like to see him in the midfield but the national coaches know what they are doing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related

In terms of Elton, who has played 42 Tests, contrary to popular opinion I think he has already found a balance to his game. Because he came from a Lions background where they ran everything, everybody thinks that that is still what Elton does. But if you look back at his Tests, he’s been very crafty.

He’s accurate off the boot, puts in kick-passes, gets the ball in-behind and can also clear lines when he needs to. Elton has developed into a very well-rounded N0 10 and can run a game with ball-in-hand but is equally adept mixing it up now and matching the kicking game when he needs to.

In terms of whether someone like Andre Esterthuizen, who was voted RPA Players’ Player of the Year, would be frustrated waiting to get his chance, I would say yes and no.

The team comes first and if it means a 6-2 bench split is going to give you a better chance of getting the result you need then I think every player in the squad will understand that.

The Springboks are definitely not going to hand out caps just to give another backline player an opportunity to get on the field and play a Test because you run the risk of going against your strategy.

The Boks’ current plan is to play a combative game upfront with fresh legs coming on at 50 minutes. It’s team and strategy first before individuals.

Last season, the Springboks’ win-loss record was 7-5 against tier-one nations which equates to 58 per cent. If the men in green and gold look at those numbers, I’m pretty sure that they would be the first ones to admit that they would want to improve.

To have them fifth in the power rankings ahead of the Test season is a bit of a dig at the Springboks and the style we play. I believe the defending world champions deserve a bit more than that.

However, rankings really mean nothing and the team will be focusing on internal growth and laying down a marker starting this Saturday against Wales.

Following an 11-year career with Saracens, which saw him earn 264 caps, Neil de Kock now works in the rugby division at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. De Kock, who featured in 10 Test matches for the Springboks, provides RugbyPass with expert opinion and insight focusing on South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

14 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

14 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named All Blacks team to play France
Search