Notwithstanding all of the stated need to groom four players for every position in preparation for next year’s rugby world cup squad, and hence the casting of wide nets for several alignment and fitness camps, Dr Rassie Erasmus and his team of specialist coaches and analysts have, it seems, opted to field their strongest available squad for the Test against England at Ellis Park on July day.
It is the Boks first game in the new Nations Cup tournament, which pits the Northern and Southern Hemispheres teams against each other, in mini world cup if you like. So don’t miss France vs New Zealand in the early morning.
Given all that there is no place for cool hand Handrè Pollard, whose place-kicking prowess and handling for the Bulls was alarmingly poor.
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So in comes the flashy and mercurial Manie Libbok, who in the last world cup had the audacity to pull off a try producing kick-pass, with his eyes closed. But does he have the nous and tactical sense needed in a tight tense Test match?
Fortuitously, Cheslin Kolbe’s emergence as a reliable place kicker relieves Manie of that pressure, in which situation his accuracy was more akin to a shotgun scatter than a rifle-like accuracy.
In addition, Libbok’s backline flair, because this is a Test match is counterbalance by the tried and tested centre duo of Jessie Kriel and Damian D’Allende.
Kolbe will be earning his 50th cap, despite all those skeptics — notably Heyneke Meyer — who said he was too small, while another pocket rocket Kurt Lee Arendse, clad in a scrum cap, is also capable of low flying and stepping, which will bamboozle the staid defence of the English — just ask Owen Farrell and big Joe Marler!
One can also ask just what Edwill van der Merwe, who also dons a scrum cap and is a prolific try-scorer, has to do, to earn a start in a Bok Test?
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At the back is Damian Willemse, another stepper from the Cape, but Ellis Park, at this time of year, is a hard, dry, cavernous colloseum, low on oxygen.
Of course, our front row of Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche will give their opposite numbers a taste of the highveld, while Eben you-know-who (Etzebeth), needs to be tough but squeaky clean, as he is likely to be deliberately provoked, and that word brings me to one Henry Pollock who delights in provocation — not just of his opponents on the field, but the crowd as well.
He also draws attention to himself by wearing a headband which pushes up his fair hair. Now none of that is illegal, but it will almost certainly have the desired effect of winding up Etzebeth and co. and one hopes that it does get get out of hand on or off the field.
Bok Cameron Hannekom is on record as wanting to play against Pollock, and Duane Vermuellen toyed with making a comeback for the express purpose of shaking Pollock’s hand.
Adding a little more fuel, England captain, podgy Jamie George praised Pollock’s approach. I repeat: rugby is rough and tough enough encounter without provocateurs and matadors.
Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi’s calm leadership for the 56 minute shifts he puts in these days will be much needed, while Pieter-Steph relentlessly chases the ball, and Jasper Wiese barnstorms at every opportunity.
Cobus Reinach has bounced back from injury, and although he may be just a little slower these days, a tiring English defence could be caught napping in the second half when no second wind is available.
It seems young Riley Norton may well have made his debut, given the absence of Itoje, but for a hamstring tear, while Zach Porthern’s scrumming prowess, under the watchful eye of oom Daan Human, is ahead of Nonthuthoko Mchunu at this moment, while Andre the Giant Esterhuizen in whatever position will fully test England’s resolve in the second half.
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It would be remiss not to congratulate and thank Bafana Bafana for a great run. And lastly, isn’t it ironic and tragic that in spite of all the talk about African football and solidarity, here at home we are marching against fellow Africans.
Perhaps instead of martial law we urgently need a Marshall plan to address unemoyment and poverty.
