For the first time in this tournament – albeit against a 14-man side – the Boks showed attacking fluidity and continuity, and ran in some impressive tries in a 66-7 dismantling of Canada, writes former Bok hooker JAMES DALTON.
My biggest criticism of the Boks thus far has been their inability to keep the ball alive and play to play again. Too often they have been found kicking the ball away aimlessly on attack, going straight to ground and not looking for the offload and pretty much not capitalising on the superior territory and possession that they’ve had in all their matches. There have been glimpses of flair, but there has been no continuation.
In drubbing a weak Canadian side on Tuesday, led by Cobus Reinach’s superb hat-trick, the Boks finally showed that they are stylistically capable of a certain brand of rugby – one that will win them matches.
If we are to assess the results as the pool stages draw to a close, there’s not much that separates the All Blacks and Boks. What will be the Springboks’ biggest challenge, is to emulate the consistency of the playing style the All Blacks manage to implement every match.
Even in this past clash with Canada, the Boks were a lot more sluggish in the second half than the first, a trait that needs to be erased come the quarters.
In looking to the quarters, Erasmus also has to make a few big decisions regarding selections. Senior players such as Faf De Klerk and Willie le Roux have been firing at 50-60% at best, and in the case of Le Roux, especially, I would not be picking him in the playoffs.
I would start Cheslin Kolbe at 15, who has been arguably the form Bok backline player of the tournament so far, and play Makazole Mapimpi and S’bu Nkosi on the wings. This would also allow for Damian Willemse, one of the try-scorers against Canada, to sit on the bench as cover at both fullback and flyhalf.
In terms of other backline players, it was lovely to see Frans Steyn firing again and asserting his presence as a quality senior player. His value at 12 and as an experienced player can be seen and he needs to remain in the set-up come the knockout stages.
With regard to the forwards, the form hooker is without a doubt Bongi Mbonambi, whose scrumming, lineouts, physicality in contact and work rate has surpassed Malcolm Marx’s this year, with the latter player seeming to have lost some of the X factor that defined him in 2017-18.
When I was playing for my country I weighed only 94kg, it was my mental strength that counted. Marx is already a big boy, and I hope he has the mental strength to match as we’ve seen his value when he is on form.
We needn’t worry, however, as we’re spoilt for choice, with Schalk Brits firing for the first time in the green and gold. Bongi would be my starting hooker, but it will be interesting to see who Erasmus selects as his backup in the knockouts.
While the Boks finished their pool stage against another sub-par side, at least they have done so with a bit of flair. This instills the confidence in the minds of spectators that when the backs and forwards do communicate and combine – and when players do step up and play to their potential – the Springboks can play a lethal and clinical brand of rugby.
It is consistency and continuity that appears to be our enemy – let’s hope this will be remedied come the quarters.
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
