Now then, before you read this let’s get one thing straight. This article is certainly not aimed at degrading what Japan achieved on Saturday, in fact it’s the complete opposite. It enables us to highlight where the Springboks were outplayed, out-muscled and out-thought by a superior side on the day. That said, this was not the Springbok performance that many expected so where do they go from here?
Firstly, all is not lost. Should South Africa win every group game from here, they will more than likely top their group. It’s how they achieve this that will be the main concern for the supporters of the men in green.
There were three main areas of concern for Heyneke Meyer at the weekend that need addressing, and fast.
The Back Row
Willem Alberts pulling out of the game just moments before the first whistle turned out to be a bigger blow than expected. Alberts has come back fresh from a long-term injury and in the final game against Argentina before the World Cup he put it in the type of dominant performance at the breakdown and in the loose that was clearly missing on Saturday.
Pieter-Steph du Toit just isn’t the leader that Alberts is but you cannot lay the blame solely at his feet. Francois Louw was just not quick enough to the breakdown to disrupt any Japanese ball and his place is now surely at risk.
The other main issue – and this has become something of a buzz phrase in the world of rugby – was the balance of the back row. Schalk Burger played admirably at eight and did what was required at the set piece and carrying of second and third phase ball but he still has the mentality of a flanker in that he looked to link the play rather than finishing off what has been created in front of him.
The fit-again Duane Vermeulen does all of this and more. He will almost certainly play a part against Samoa and if flanked, injuries permitting, by Alberts and Burger, the balance of the back row unit will have a greater fluidity to it which will in turn tighten up the type of loose play that was so costly against the Brave Blossoms.
The Midfield
Jean de Villiers has had a wretched year with injuries and he is not quite back to his best. He has lost 6kg since his latest injury, a broken jaw suffered against Argentina in The Rugby Championship, and on Saturday it showed. His style of all action play hasn’t changed but he was not winning the collisions that put the Springboks on the front foot as he usually does.
His relationship with Jesse Kriel is, admittedly, still in its infancy, but on Saturday De Villiers came up short in what he is the best in the world at; organising his defensive line. When the pressure came on, South Africa needed a cool head but there were gaps opening up because the line speed of the usually brutal Springbok defence was allowing Japan space and time to gain territory and possession in dangerous areas.
Kriel is the future and needs another shot but De Villiers should sit the next one out with Damian de Allende slotting in at inside centre. De Allende offers more than De Villiers at this stage of his career in that he is now a bigger ball carrier and will help South Africa get the front foot ball that enables the exciting Kriel to pick the devastating, defence-splitting lines that we saw during earlier in the year.
Inside the centres, Pat Lambie didn’t have his finest hour in the Green and Gold but Meyer should stick with him to settle the ship. He may not be as exciting a runner as Handre Pollard but that is not what South Africa need right now. They need someone that, given quicker ball, can distribute and release the exciting back line that South Africa possesses. Lambie ticks these boxes and should start again.
The Back Three
Meyer’s back three is probably a lot easier to dissect. Bryan Habana will keep his place and the temptation that he has had in the past to play Jesse Kriel on the other wing will probably get the better of him as well. Lwazi Mvovo didn’t have any impact at all and looked fallible under the high ball so his place is at serious risk.
With that in mind, and the possibility of Kriel moving to the wing that just leaves full back. At the weekend, the Boks were short of players that can turn a game on its head and that was never more prominent than in the 15 jersey. Willie le Roux will have to be the first name on the team sheet this weekend to bring that old clichéd ‘X-Factor’ to what was a very one dimensional unit last Saturday.
A whole nation will be watching on when the Springboks run out on Saturday against Samoa but they must take heart from the depth in their squad and the personnel that Heyneke Meyer can bring onto the field.
Win at all costs or the dream recovery is over before it has even begun.
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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