Heyneke Meyer’s World Cup squad threw up a few surprises but the make-up of his team will be up hotly debated right until he names the team for their first match against Japan on the 19th September.
There are three key areas that Meyer may well lose sleep over with some very tough but welcome decisions needed to be made.
THE BACK ROW
The rest of Meyer’s pack is quite straightforward, but the make-up of the back-row most certainly isn’t. After the surprise omission of Heinrich Brussow, a master technician at the breakdown, Meyer has opted for experience in abundance with his selection.
Sighs of relief would have been heard around the camp when Duane Vermeulen was passed fit as he was the only out and out number eight at the Springboks’ disposal. The fact that he is ranked as one of the best in the world would have added to that relief. He is a certain pick with Schalk Burger deputising should he be absent.
That leaves the two flankers. Willem Alberts has come back with a bang and, again, with his declaration of fitness and an impressive display against Argentina last time out, he has probably moved himself into a starting role in the number seven jersey.
So who then takes the number six shirt (remember, that’s the openside in South African rugby terms)? It looks to be a straight shootout between Schalk Burger and Francois Louw as the Western Cape Stormer, Siya Kolisi, predominantly plies his trade from the blindside, a fact Meyer has asked for him to address in the past to make him more versatile.
I don’t think many can call this selection as Louw is more consistent but every time questions are asked of Burger’s age and ability, he comes out with a performance that more than answers those questions.
HALF-BACKS
The omission of Cobus Reinach in favour of the uncapped Rudi Paige was one of the main headlines from the announcement. Meyer will choose from Fourie Du Preez or Ruan Pienaar as his starting nine.
Leaving Reinach out is all the more surprising because Pienaar and du Preez are of the same ilk. Neither really threatens around the fringe – Pienaar never really has and Du Preez doesn’t have the speed off the mark that he used to. Their service is snappy and on target nearly every time and they box kick accurately, but does that make the Springboks more predictable?
Fly-half seems to have become clearer since the last match. Pat Lambie was imperious against Argentina and Handré Pollard seemed to falter in the latter stages of the Rugby Championship. Lambie’s goal kicking has improved significantly and his 16 points from the boot, including a drop goal, will give South Africa more than one way of keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
CENTRES AND WINGS
These positions have to be discussed together because of one person: Jesse Kriel. He has been a revelation this season for the Bulls and also in his short time as a Springbok. His lines of running have created tries for himself and for others. He has torn some of the best defenders in the world to shreds. Meyer seems to want to pick him anywhere as he has played both at centre and on the wing so far.
Jean De Villiers is fit so will obviously start at inside centre. The midfield defence need him back and raring to go as without him there has been a severe lack of organisation when defending off the set piece.
Willie Le Roux and Bryan Habana will be two of the first names on the team sheet so that leaves a wing and outside centre to select. Kriel has been utilised on the wing with Damian de Allende playing inside him but the form of Lwazi Mvovo may just force Meyer to rethink this particular strategy.
Both Kriel and De Allende are class acts but the former looks more dangerous at thirteen and Mvovo’s try against Argentina is just an example of the sort of damage he can inflict on opposing defences.
These are difficult decisions for Heyneke Meyer and his team to make but with the sort of strength in depth he has in these key areas, they are sort of difficult decisions that he will embrace.
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Great writing Andrew … at least Meyer can now put his full concentration into his team selection knowing that the boks are definitely on their way soon … and that the small issue of a potential lawsuit against them was quite rightly squashed in the Pretoria high court today. Look forward to following your blog as we go !