Building a dynasty
If Peter de Villiers wants the Springboks to build on their recent success he’ll need to develop a quality second-string contingent.
A year ago, South Africans had to endure Kiwi taunts about how the Boks’ 2007 World Cup win was a fluke. The Boks bombed out of the 2008 Tri-Nations when they diverted from a more structured approach, and the All Blacks finished the year top of the IRB rankings. The Boks finished that tournament last when they should have finished first.
2009 has been the year 2008 should have been. Superior personnel, superior tactics and just reward. The new Bok management should have built on what worked during Jake White’s tenure, and fortunately for the sake of Springbok rugby, they’ve learned their lesson.
The result is a win over the British & Irish Lions and a Tri-Nations title. In terms of ambition, it doesn’t have to end there. As long as these players are fit and available, the Boks are well capable of an unprecedented world title defence come 2011.
Peter de Villiers was humble following Saturday’s victory, and he and his assistant coaches will know they have plenty to do in the next two years. The Boks are blessed with a gifted match 22, but as the head coach himself admitted after defeat in the third Lions Test, they are a bit thin on depth.
The 31-year-old John Smit is yet to decide whether he will continue with the Boks. If he does commit to SA Rugby, he will command a larger leadership group that includes Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith and Fourie du Preez.
That list of players inspires confidence, but to win big tournaments you need to have quality in reserve. To build a dynasty and sustain success, the management need to look at the alternatives and start giving them opportunities.
The Jean de Villiers move is a classic example.The Bok centre made a massive contribution to the Tri-Nations victory and will be sorely missed when he heads to Irish club Munster. He may yet return in time for the World Cup, but alternatives need to be identified, alternatives that can perform a similar role.
De Villiers’s World Cup dream was shattered when he tore his bicep in the first 2007 pool game against Samoa. Frans Steyn stepped in at No 12 and proved a great replacement.
Steyn won’t be available in the forseeable future so what are the other options at No 12? Wynand Olivier had a fantastic Super 14 and would complement Jaque Fourie well in midfield. Playing Adi Jacobs at inside centre would alter the Bok attacking dynamic as he’s a completely different player to De Villiers. Because of Jacobs’s suspect defence, the Bok midfield would also become a target.
This is just but one example. Who is going to replace Fourie du Preez if he gets injured? Ruan Pienaar is the second best scrumhalf in South Africa and would be the logical choice, while a player like Jano Vermaak must be close to joining the wider squad. Du Preez’s a class apart, but Pienaar and Vermaak have the kicking game to ensure the Bok gameplan wouldn’t suffer in Du Preez’s absence. There’s no longer a place for Ricky Januarie as long as the current tactics hold sway.
Pienaar has enjoyed mixed success at flyhalf, and is currently the alternative to Morne Steyn. Apart form his obvious goal-kicking attributes, Steyn’s all-round game has improved immensely since he played his first Test this June. He’s always been a good flyhalf when his pack is going forward, but he’s also learned to perform when his forwards are under pressure.
Pienaar’s opportunities have been limited by injuries, but time is running out. He needs to be afforded an extended run at Test level, and in two years the Boks may be in a rare position when they possess two great and experienced pivots.
There are players like Odwa Ndungane who can fill a gap, but the Bok management needs to seek out players who can offer as much as a Bryan Habana and a JP Pietersen. Pienaar has been mentioned as a fullback option, but what if he were to get injured? Conrad Jantjes will be back in 2010, but there needs to be a drive to develop an understudy. Zane Kirchner is one that springs to mind.
Peter de Villiers told the press on Saturday that ‘Players make coaches’. If De Villiers can keep a group of 30 players together in the build up to the 2011 World Cup, they might just make him the greatest coach ever. In developing that elite group, however, he’ll need to start cutting the dead weight and identifying the men to support players that have quickly become legends.
By Jon Cardinelli
September 14th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
PdV is quite a changed fellow. Despite being a big detractor I have to say he is totally committed to his players and I think they know that- especially after his defence of Schalk. He has a happy squad and a humbler outlook. He has finally got the Total Rugby he demanded and I think all SA supporters owe him a cheers of thanks for 2008. Now if he can build thew depth we need……. well done so far PdV
September 15th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Right on the money Jon, for the Boks too have any chance of continuing in their present form they need to have a ’second’ team. Depth and (a better one than we had) rotation was the strength for the AB’s, never really short any where.
September 15th, 2009 at 5:01 am
#152 captain fantail:
Rotation was a strength? Most people would point to the WC loss as a symptom of rotating the team too much.
You need about 25 players who are capable of starting the game and the team not losing much.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:40 am
#151 peterg123: I also must take my hat off to him, and congratulate him and the coaching staff for a season very well done. I said before the Lions that I would reserve judgement until after the TN..well, he’s proved himself in the most emphatic way possible. Don’t think the detractors have any leg to stand on. Go Pdv, go Bokke!