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The 5 players in 'last chance saloon' according to former Bok coach
By Ian Cameron
At least five Springbok players are in last chance saloon ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France later this year – according to former South Africa head coach Jake White.
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All five have been selected to face Eddie Jones’ Wallabies later today. Bulls head coach Jake White said that today’s match in Pretoria against the Wallabies represents a crucial opportunity to prove their worth and secure their spots in the Springbok squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
White included his Bulls skipper, Duane Vermeulen, who battling hard to make the plane to France against stiff competition in the back row, in the shortlist of five players.
“It brought a smile to my face seeing Duane captaining the side. As captain of the Bulls, he always found Loftus a happy hunting ground, so in many ways his selection is very much a sentimental choice. Everyone is fully aware that the next few months is his swansong. Some players wilt under pressure but knowing Duane, it will likely bring the best out of him. Supporters are openly questioning whether he can make the 33-man squad next month, so these next few weeks are make or break. He knows Evan Roos and Deon Fourie are waiting on the bench to make an impression, so this is the time for him to put his hand up and stake a claim for a World Cup place.
“There has been a lot of chat about Jean Kleyn’s return. I watched a podcast with Brian O’Driscoll, talking about what is required to play in the engine room with Ireland. The bottom line is that the skillset Jean Kleyn possesses is probably better suited to the Bok team than Andy Farrell’s side. Saying that, his game has markedly improved since he went to play for Munster. Ireland haven’t missed a trick but Rassie (Erasmus) and Jacques (Nienaber) have shown their street smarts and got it right. They pulled Jason Jenkins into camp during the Autumn Series to get his IP on what Leinster did, and now they’ve got Munster’s RG Snyman and Jean to give them the inside track. Remember they have to circumnavigate the pool stages with a very buoyant Ireland in their way. That’s what canny coaches do; they find an edge.
“There’s no Handre Pollard or Siya Kolisi through injury,” wrote White in his RugbyPass column. “No Eben Etzebeth or Cheslin Kolbe. No Malcolm Marx or Faf de Klerk and Steven Kitshoff was only pulled in at late notice. Of course, that excuse will only go so far with the South African public but what the Springboks are saying to the Wallabies is, ‘psychologically, what sort of shape are you in if you can’t even beat a Bok squad with so many changes, it’s only going to get harder from here on in’.”
White then list the five players he believes are already fighting for their place on the plane.
“South Africa have been shrewd in their selection because for a lot of these guys; Duane, Cobus Reinach, Deon Fourie, Jean (Kleyn) and Andre Esterhuizen, this is last chance saloon. The coaches have already pencilled in 27 or 28 names for France and five or six places are up for grabs. Take Cobus (Reinach). They’re resting Faf (de Klerk) and Herschel Jantjies, so he knows he has to deliver. Jeopardy can motivate players to reach new heights.”
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Boks need a second specialist 12 at the RWC. It would be very surprising for them to pick Pollard as backup for De Allende. I think that Esterhuizen can book his ticket with a good performance or two, especially in defense and in executing Bok midfield structures.
In 2019 the Boks had only one specialist 12, namely DdA. But they had Frans Steyn as a utility back, and Frans had won the 2007 RWC in the 12 position. He was a replacement for an injured JdV. And in both tournaments (2007, 2019) Frans could cover 12 without impact elsewhere in the team, as he was not a starter. Moving Pollard to 12 would obviously impact his role at 10. The current Bok utility backs have much less proven experience at inside centre, so Jacques and Rassie must be looking very carefully at Andre.
Esterhuizen is an interesting pick. He’s been in Damian De Allende’s shadow for most of his career, but if Squidge Rugby’s analysis is right and the Boks now want their 12 to be able to switch between playing like a 9th forward and being a playmaker then Andre the Giant has the natural skill set for that.