Testing our next best
28 Sep 2009
Peter de Villiers has one more tour to expose his second tier players to the international stage, writes Keo in his weekly Business Day column.
This time next year will be a fine-tuning process for the World Cup campaign, so when it comes to developing the depth of the squad, it has to start in November in Europe, with the Italian one-off the obvious target for those who must provide cover in New Zealand in 2011.
The view that the Springboks are the best team in the world is unanimous, but equally emphatic is that the second tier is not as imposing.
What if there is no John Smit, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Jean de Villiers at the next World Cup? This is a leadership quartet unrivalled in the world order at present and one that has been central to the Springboks’ success since 2004.
Matfield and Du Preez would be the obvious captaincy replacements if Smit was injured or rested, while De Villiers has international leadership capabilities.
De Villiers and Frans Steyn won’t be selected for the end of season tour because they are playing club rugby in France and Ireland respectively. But it would be outrageous not to consider them in 2011 provided they are fit and in form. Where they play rugby in 2011 should be irrelevant, as De Villiers owes it to South African supporters to select the best available South Africans for New Zealand 2011.
De Villiers also has to use the November tour to advance transformation because no new South African-born black players have been developed since De Villiers became national coach in 2008. The only new non-white Springbok De Villiers has picked in two years is Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, and he played in the dead rubber against the British & Irish Lions.
Jongi Nokwe, Adrian Jacobs, the Ndungane twins, Ricky Januarie and Chiliboy Ralepelle have all been in the national system for some time.
Fortunately for De Villiers there has been the emergence of exciting new talent, and even more fortunate is that he should be able to add a black forward to the abundance of black backline talent available.
Griquas loose-forward Jonathan Mokuena and Cheetahs loose-forward Ashley Johnson have made an impact in the Currie Cup and Cheetahs winger Lionel Mapoe is the best new wing talent, regardless of colour. That’s already three new faces De Villiers could add, while Western Province centre Juan de Jongh appears to have the X-factor.
De Villiers’s biggest challenge will be the management of his best players and the integration of the good young ones into a selection that provides balance and comfort and shows a coach can build, transform and win at the same time.
When you compare the standard of New Zealand’s domestic competition with the Currie Cup, you can see why South Africa currently has the edge over the Kiwis. At the moment South African rugby is blessed and we need to maximize this advantage because it can change very quickly.
The biggest question mark over the Springboks is whether they can be as potent without Matfield in the lineout or Smit’s leadership, and the tour allows De Villiers to play the one without the other. I’d still take both on tour, with the French Test in Toulouse as tough as the visit to Dublin.
What makes the Dublin showdown intriguing is former Bok forward coach Gert Smal’s presence in the Irish set-up. Smal knows the Bok lineout even better than Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
And currently it is the Bok lineout that defines the team’s supremacy, as they are guaranteed a first-phase platform and the contesting skills of Matfield and company means no opponent can take lineout ball as a given.
Everyone knows how good Matfield is, but I don’t think everyone appreciates just how significant he is to the woes of the opposition.
Equally, who is the replacement for Du Preez, should he be injured? Januarie plays a different game and his strengths ensure an alternative, yet less potent, approach. Bulls scrumhalf-turned winger Francois Hougaard is the Du Preez clone, but will De Villiers be bold enough to pick Hougaard as the back up to Du Preez?
With (Jean) de Villiers also not selected will Wynand Olivier be given the No 12 jersey or will Jacobs be the go to man?
Rarely has Currie Cup form been so relevant in asking questions of national squad importance because rarely in the last decade has the Currie Cup consistently been of such a good standard.
246 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
28 Sep 2009, 21:42 pm
#195 Mustard: news 24 boet
28 Sep 2009, 21:44 pm
#200 WP Till I Die:
is dawn pissed off?
28 Sep 2009, 21:44 pm
#197 charo: okay….Indians or Sri Lankans….poms or aussies i cut my wrists!#200 WP Till I Die: Please tell me its not the lady judo expert??
Anytime….just let me know….although WED i got a gig…
28 Sep 2009, 21:45 pm
WPtid- New management??? Hope its not a new pimp…,
28 Sep 2009, 21:45 pm
#202 charo: It was nt me!!
Would never upset the raven haired Goddess!
28 Sep 2009, 21:47 pm
#199 Slappes:
Naas Botha against all Currie cup provinces in 80′s. Hated him, but a real match winner and a NASTY BOTHA.
28 Sep 2009, 21:47 pm
@ 192 peter, agree. The best batting iv ever seen live was watchin sachin and azharudien bat for a day at newlands, smashing our bowlers all over the ground, was really good. I think batters back then where more techinically correct, today cross the line shots have become the norm and hand grips have become awkward. Is more exciting now with high scores though the purist must feel as though the norms been thrown out the window.
28 Sep 2009, 21:48 pm
where is gunther when you need him?
old gunther would make a meal of the development on this thread.
28 Sep 2009, 21:48 pm
Charo with the Prado, and can speak Ibu, no?
28 Sep 2009, 21:49 pm
#207 Mustard: i was there that day….unreal …and proteas won the test still….Sachin went out to a catch off Adam Bacher ….what a knock by him and Azharuddin!!
28 Sep 2009, 21:50 pm
WPTID….send regards to your mate….good dude that..
28 Sep 2009, 21:51 pm
@grant10: Nah, boet, but she is luckily a massage specialist…
28 Sep 2009, 21:51 pm
#205 grant10:
naah, i think dawn is a bit protective of wptid.
she like to mother him.
28 Sep 2009, 21:51 pm
@ 206, lol i wonder how nasty botha wouldov done in todays game, with guys like spies dysel etc running at the flyhalf chanel, im sure his pants wudov atleast been dirty
28 Sep 2009, 21:52 pm
WPtid, yeah would be nice but the last time we were in firemans – eina! Stodders never was the same again.
28 Sep 2009, 21:52 pm
gents…been cool chatting….things to do….
Have a cool evening….WP to close the CC deal….
Outta here!
28 Sep 2009, 21:53 pm
#212 WP Till I Die: good one….enjoy my man….nothing beats the heat of the first 3 months!!
28 Sep 2009, 21:54 pm
Firemans….i am there!!
28 Sep 2009, 21:55 pm
#207 Mustard:
Have you ever seen Viv Richards’ swagger whenever he got in to bat?
Was it arrogance or extreme self confidence?? And no helmet to boot. Believe he never batted with a helmet on. Never in his career. Insane if you ask me. And Ian Botham, what a talent.
28 Sep 2009, 21:55 pm
#209 Slappes:
aha … you have a knowledge of lagos?
ibu very difficult,,but am trying to pick up twi and ga since i am now resident in ghana again
#213 charo:
dawn has a strong maternal instinct – very protective to those young men she feels needs it!!!
28 Sep 2009, 21:56 pm
PeterM , I still hate Naas.
28 Sep 2009, 21:59 pm
#214 Mustard:
Rob Louw was there and was GOOD AND FAST. Tried to put pressure but mostly failed. Only Morne dup resorted to late tackles and Doc mauled him.
28 Sep 2009, 22:01 pm
#221 Slappes:
I hated N Tvl and anyone associated with them. LOL
28 Sep 2009, 22:02 pm
@ 219, peter, only seen highlights packages of viv on espn, yep what a legend. Think bowlers back in the day mustov had sum sortov agreement with regards to bowling short, yes insane batting with no helmet. Or they were just scared the windies bowlers would return the favour
funny that the pull shot swivel was made famous by the windies batters…makes u think ne
28 Sep 2009, 22:02 pm
#197 charo
h charley why you dey say sorry-oh it only dey football…
#194 Peter Mkata:i was banned for a week for insulting ryan vrede last week saturday. Now i’ve got a criminal record. I see the Peter Mkata Rugby Tournament was back in the Nelson Mandela Bay & i think the Cacadu team won the whole thing. Beast was @ the boardwalk for a function & it was reported that pdv was going to address the youngsters & zola yeye to make a speech about the man that is peter mkata! “the best flyhalf the world has never known”
#192 Peter Mkata:tiger woods is a star, le bron james is a star, floyd mayweather jr is a star, usain bolt is getting there, michael schumacher, lionel messi another reason for me that has taken the gloss of the stars is their over exposure, while i used to wait a month or two for SLAM magazine so that i can read about the latest goings on in the NBA, now the blogs have it instantly and some more! Just my 2c worth anyway…
#190 grant10: i’ve learnt my lesson boet, even if ryan vrede is spewing the most preposterous drivel i will just ignore it…
28 Sep 2009, 22:07 pm
@Mustard: Reminds me of a joke my grandfather’s brother (who was a navigator in a Lancaster) used to tell. As Uncle Reg told it: Hans is helping Hitler dress, and hands him a red tunic. Hitler: Vot iss zees? Hans: Mein Fuehrer, Napoleon used zees trick, he vore red so zat if he vaz wounded ze troops vould not notice! Hitler: In zat case, bring me mein brown trousers!
28 Sep 2009, 22:08 pm
@ 223 why lol they even got steve hofmeyer
28 Sep 2009, 22:09 pm
#219 Peter Mkata:
Yes, there are not many top sportsmen with personalities these days – all so serious, focussed and non smiling, for example Woods, Armstrong, Schumaker and Federer.
Imo, the most charismatic sportsman in the world today is the Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi. I am not a big motorsport fan but this guy is something else – a crowd pleaser, clown, genius, daredevil, show off, fierce competitor, entertainer – OK, it probably helps that he is an Italian.
Bolt is also getting there.
28 Sep 2009, 22:10 pm
@ 226 wp til u dead, lol hilarious
28 Sep 2009, 22:12 pm
cheers guys enjoy your evenings.
28 Sep 2009, 22:12 pm
#226 WP Till I Die:
com’n, spill the beans. does dawn know about your latest romance?
you going to have to spill the beans to her some time or other.
28 Sep 2009, 22:13 pm
WPtid,
and some ystergarde horsemen still wear brown.
28 Sep 2009, 22:15 pm
#231 charo:
jeez, talk about repetition!
anyway, about to go to the airport to check in for my flight back to sa.
later guys
28 Sep 2009, 22:17 pm
#225 Transformation:
Yeah Transie
-I read about that tournament – great when such great legends are recognised. Many don’t even know bhut Peter. Was lucky to see him play with Cheeky in early 80′s at Dan Qeqe stadium.
Saw Saru president (Hoskins) on SABC news publicly apologizing to PdV for having demeaned him when appointed as a bok coach infront of the pre-unity SARU banquet in PE OR Cape Town – not sure.
-Missed the Ryan Vrede debacle. Was away for 2 weeks. He surely deserved whatever you threw at him.
28 Sep 2009, 22:22 pm
#228 Robzim:
Agree 100%. Is it professionalism? Sport at the end of the day is entertainment. You never forget Ali’s showmanship or Shane Warne for that matter!
28 Sep 2009, 22:22 pm
The Ryan Vrede debacle?
28 Sep 2009, 22:27 pm
WPTID, transief said Ryan was a *** cullert.
28 Sep 2009, 22:28 pm
#233 Peter Mkata: oh well hoskins didn’t have to do it in my book. Because every institution is this country whether corporate or academic has or needs to have (AA; BEE, EE etc) policies to redress the imbalances of the past. So why would SARU be exempt? Anyway that’s my 2c worth again.
I would love to meet pdv! He seems like such cool ou toppie, i’m sure i’d laugh my @ss off in his company.
28 Sep 2009, 22:34 pm
#236 Slappes:lmao…oh hell no i didn’t say no such!
#235 WP Till I Die: i insulted him & he came on the blog to say that the language is getting out of hand & that children read keo too…then roy banned me.
28 Sep 2009, 22:41 pm
Transf, but yourre out on medical parole now? Youve got friends high up?
28 Sep 2009, 22:49 pm
How’s this for a potential black Bok backline?
9) Heinie Adams (yes I rate him highly)
10) Burton Francis
11) Bryan Habana
12) Juan de Jongh
13) Fabian Juries (I REAALLLY RATE HIM as a playmaker 13 with speed)
14) Lionel Mapoe/JP Pietersen
15) Zane Kirchner
That would be a most effective line, full of talent, skills speed and stepping.
Also black faces in the forwards include Beast,Chilliboy, and Mpho Mbiyozo (who I rate as a fetcher – also an awesome 7′s player with all the skills and power).
No black locks I am afraid…
28 Sep 2009, 22:51 pm
#240 SjamBok: Actually I would ove to see a game between the current Boks and an SA “Impi” black team.
The boks would win, but I dont think that it would be as much of a walkover as everyone thinks (assuming decent black locks and props can be found).
29 Sep 2009, 03:00 am
#223 Peter Mkata: reminds me of the days of Peter Whipp, Agie Koch, Bossie Clarke, Hempies, Shaun Povey, Div Visser, Hennie Bekker, Divan. Spent many days at Newlands, often witnessing WP ahead against NTVL with minutes to go, then that Naas bloke kicks some penalty to grab a win in the dying minutes.
29 Sep 2009, 05:45 am
#28 PissAnt: Keo has no influence or control over who PdV picks for his team. I believe we will be foolish to be too dogmatic on this point when RWC comes around. Then we will want to represented by the best of all eligible contenders. We will be defending champs playing in NZ against a nation whose desperation to win can be seen from the moon.
29 Sep 2009, 07:55 am
#137 David: Groepe sonder grense.
29 Sep 2009, 08:37 am
#244 stormer in a teacup:
Thanks, but that wasn’t the book I was thinking of.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.