— Cape Town Siya Kolisi’s nearly pleading appeal to Springbok supporters to “not give up on us” certainly revealed more about the status of his squad than he meant, and if the Boks lose today in Sydney against the Wallabies (11.35am), there is a risk of the whole green-and-gold structure collapsing in ruins.
The Boks lost back-to-back Tests in Australia at this time last year, and they are on the verge of repeating that calamity. When you realize that their next match is against the New Zealand-conquering Argentinians in Buenos Aires, you will understand my anxiety.
Because after a return match against the Pumas in Durban, the Boks face England, France, and Ireland on consecutive weekends in London, Paris, and Dublin, with the only respite on their end-of-year tour being against Italy in Rome, although let’s not forget that Italy defeated Wales in Cardiff last November, and the Welsh gave the Boks a torrid time on South African soil.
On current form, the Boks could easily lose three of those four games against genuine World Cup contenders, and ending the year with a win percentage of less than 50 percent — they are currently at 50 percent with three wins and three losses — would be disastrous in the year leading up to the World Cup.
Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber meticulously laid out the playing time of almost 30 players for this year’s 13 scheduled matches. However, there was always the possibility that things may go awry.
The team selections and game time for each player have been predetermined, and while we understand what Nienaber is attempting to do — build up match-fit, quality depth in each position prior to the World Cup — the problem is that if you hit a losing spiral, even the best laid plans of mice and men go awry, with apologies to Scottish poet Robert Burns.
And the Boks are on the verge of this after losing to Wales in Bloemfontein with a makeshift side, making poor choices in the second Test against the All Blacks, and failing to show up at the races in Adelaide last week.
If the Boks had played their best squad in every match this year, I believe they would have been undefeated, and every coach in any sport will tell you that it is MUCH simpler to tweak the game plan and a few positions when you are winning.
If the Boks lose today in Sydney, it would be their fourth straight defeat to Australia in less than a year, and the Aussies are not even considered World Cup contenders. When a result, the Boks’ confidence will be shattered as they go to Argentina.
The irony is, though, is maybe due to injury more than anything else, I believe the Boks will field one of their strongest lineups today.
The pack is rock strong — I prefer Kitshoff and Marx starting in the front row and Wiese and Mostert back in the loose trio — and in the two most vital positions in the backline (10 and 15), Willemse and Le Roux are their most in-form playmakers.
And mentally, Kolisi’s players are in the classic terrain that often results in a victory: they have their backs against the wall and have been written off.
I believe they will win, but God help them if they don’t…
Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 5 Lood de Jager, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain) 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff;
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Cobus Reinach, 23 Warrick, 22 Frans Steyn
Australia:
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10-year-old Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, Seven Fraser McReight, six Jed Holloway, five Matt Philip, four Rory Arnold, three Allan Alaalatoa, two Folau Fainga’a, and one James Slipper make up the top ten (captain).
18-Taniela Tupou, 16-Dave Porecki, 17-Scott Sio, and 18-Taniela Tupou serve as replacements. 19-Darcy Swain, 20-Rob Leota, 21-Pete Samu, 22-Jake Gordon, Andrew Kellaway, number 23
@MikeGreenaway67