Following on from GrootBlouSmile’s article about South African rugby’s next step. Here is my input.
Most importantly we need some intelligent players, players who can truly live up to the idiom of playing what is in front of them, not only the opponent but the referee, for too long South Africa players have not been coached to have the ability to think on their feet, to have the ability to adapt midstream.But before this is to happen SARU needs to get their house in order. South African rugby in the professional era has slowly been degraded into a collective mess of political correctness, incompetent coaching, poor administration at the top where individual self promotion and egocentric agendas are the order of the day.
There are a whole host of local candidates who will put up their hands for the job. Dick Muir and Gary Gold will be the first to throw their names into the hat. Rassie Erasmus, Allister Coetzee and Heyneke Meyer . Hopefully Jake White resists and does not put his name in the hat.
The most appropriate candidates in my opinion would be Nick Mallet, John Mitchell, Rassie Erasmus and Naka Drotske. Why? Well I think these guys can break the mould, they have all shown an ability to coach more expansive rugby and the willingness to be less conservative. Even though I would like to see John Mitchell be the next Springbok coach, I doubt whether he will want to get involved in the politics that is SA rugby.
One thing South African rugby doesn’t lack is talent, if you look towards the provinces and ignore all players older than 28 then these are the potential players who have in my view a shot at the international stage.
Prop
Beast Mtwarira (Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Wimpie Nel (Cheetahs), Eugene van Staden (Sharks), JC Janse van Rensburg (Lions), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Dean Greyling (Bulls)
Hooker
Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Deon Fourie (Stormers),
Lock
Andries Bekker (Stormers), Ross skeate (Sharks), Michael Rhodes (Lions), Juandre Kruger (Bulls)
Back row
Jean Deysel (Sharks), Joshua Strauss (Lions), Nick Koster (Stormers), Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs), Schalk Burger (Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Francois Louw (Stormers)
Scrum half
Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Dewaldt Duvenage (Stormers), Ruan Pienaar (UK)
Flyhalf
Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Center
Frans Steyn (Racing), Johann Sadie (Stormers) Juan du Jongh (Stormers), Jaque Fourie (Stormers), Alwyn Hollenbach (Lions), Pierre Spies (Bulls)
Wing
Lwasi Mvovo (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Michael Killian (Lions), Bjorn Basson (Bulls), Gio Aplon (Stormers), Bryan Habana (Stormers)
Fullback
Riaan Viljoen (Cheetahs/Griquas), Jaco Taute (Lions), Morne Steyn (Bulls)
There are some controversial positional choices I would like to see, Pierre Spies at center, apart from Jaque Fourie we don’t have strike runners, and we have more than enough loose forwards, so why not gamble and give it a shot.
If we are to break the mould and go for more expansive rugby Morne Steyn isn’t the pivot, but his boot and general positional play can suit him well at fullback.
Frans Steyn must settle at inside centre, he was enormous during the World Cup and has shown his ability to not only break the gain line, but also get the rest of his back line away.
South Africa must not forsake their strengths, they still need to do the basics right and first control the match, and only then will they have earned the right to attack, but a little more skill and adventurous play will be welcomed.
The future for SA rugby is bright, but only if SARU gets their house in order and appoint a coach on merit only, that, and a willingness to bring back the importance of winning every test. I do not ever want to hear a coach say “Judge me on the World Cup” and I never want to see a coach forsake one test for some greater goal somewhere in the future. A 75% win ratio should be the minimum goal, nothing less will be acceptable.
Some controversial choices but not too contoversial:
Add to the mix, Flyhalves, The Goosen lighty from FS, and the Greek kid from WP. Both seem exceptionally cool under pressure.
Not sure about Michael Rhodes as a lock. What about Franco vd Merwe. Fast DEVELOPING into a lock. He and Rhodes (and Wickus v Heerden)
are retreaded back row forwards.
Warren Whitely is also growing into a loosie of note who has blistering pace.
Let’s face it, we (think) we have loose forwards of international quality crawling out of the woodwork all over, but we actually have very few world class locks or inside centres.
Thought provoking article though, but it all counts for nought if the right coaches and management team aren’t picked.
Spies at center? He can’t tackle, but I would put him at wing. He could be bigger than Lomu in terms of impact there.
Jacques Fourie. Born 4 March 1983 in Carletonville. That makes him 29 next year. So does he really qualify under your “no older than 28” rule?
Scrumdown, because of our shortage of classy centers, we need him for two more years whilst the next coach develop some depth. He is still in good form, if you look at Brian O’Driscoll who is 33 I think Jaque will be a big loss of he was to retire from international rugby with immediate effect.
I think that when they hit 30, they should be benched… coz 30 is really old in sport.
Hey have you all heard, after the next round of the CC THE LIONS WILL STILL BE TOP OF THE LOG!
Now that’s news that SA Rugby can build a future on!
5 @ pink bokkie:
Pinkie… welcome to Rugby-Talk.
You need to enter your real name and surname in your Profile…. not Pink and Bokkie.
We (I as webmaster) require it here, it is just to keep riff-raff out, we won’t be bothering you and neither will those details appear anywhere on the blog.
@grootblousmile okay… now, not to sound blonde, but where do i go to change it?
5 @ pink bokkie:
If you think 30 is old… then you may call me and Scrumdown and SuperBul and Puma and Pietman and Just for Kicks and The Young Turk and Biltongbek…. “Oom”…..
Hahaha
8 @ pink bokkie:
Just click on jour Name (pink bokkie) just above the Leave a Reply box….
Oh, and tell us who you support in rugby….
okay, i think i found it 🙂
I support the sprinkbucks – obviously and then i support the sharks 🙂
Lol at the Scrumdown…
i assume you support the bulls, with the whole “blou” thing in your name and scrumdown the lions?
11 @ pink bokkie:
The Tjarkies…. oh damn!
Don’t worry, we will educate you about rugby… properly
12 @ pink bokkie:
Naturally!
LMFAO
12 @ pink bokkie:
Just out of curiosity, how did you manage to find Rugby-Talk?
Google?
Someone sent you here?
Pink bokkie, and Oom Lion4ever will teach you about a real rugby team 🙂
Rhodes good as a loosie, but has proven a revelation at lock. He is the kind of lock you need. A hybrid of Bakkies and Victor. Someone who can be the “enforcer” but who has the ability and speed to play loose, and is developing into a good jumper. And agree about Franco developing into a good lock
Sad thing is 99% of rugby supporters agree with you on the future of the rugby, that last 1% seems to be the top brass who make the decisions. Lets hope they start seeing the light this time.
Something that has always astounded me is the fact that we have had qualified doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc in the Boks, yet thinking on their feet is very successfully coached out of them whilst they are on the pitch. Perhaps there is more to our coaches than we think! LOL
@ grootblousmile:
Google, I was reading on sport 24 about bryce lawrence that someone posted on facebook and i just love google!!! and i ended up here… and i thought – cool
18 @ Lion4ever:
The real contenders for the vacant No 4 Springbok lock contenders will show their hand in Super Rugby 2012….
Rhodes has been good… maybe he’s one that stands out.
20 @ pink bokkie:
This site is indeed COOL.
so, how does this site work?
23 @ pink bokkie:
Like Magic!
I’m the head honcho, SuperBul is my fellow webmaster… and we have 14 people who write for us.
We concentrate on South African Rugby and are read right across the globe, with about 13 000 hits a day.
You won’t find a better Rugby Discussion web site anywhere….
colour me impressed
25 @ pink bokkie:
Looks like you are situated in the Woesrand (West Rand) somewhere… near Florida?
@ grootblousmile:
In Constantia, why? are you already stalking me? lol
biltongNEK
but
will we ALLOW the new coach to do so (bring his own ethos and gameplan to the boks)
how about our so-called strength of sarugby?
how about the way we always played the game?
what about danie craven turning in his grave?
27 @ pink bokkie:
I don’t stalk…
Just indicating the site’s capabilities….
27 @ pink bokkie:
You will find Rugby-Talk addictive.
We have become quite a community here.
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