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10/07/2008 12:51
JJ Harmse
How on earth did we get it so wrong in Wellington? Not only in the way we played, but also in the poor team selection by coach Peter de Villiers. The bench in particular, had no impact and we regressed once we called on our reserve players.
It is clear that De Villiers is naive and inexperienced, but one should give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he can correct the mistakes he made against the All Blacks.
Let us give the Boks another chance to make history in Dunedin. If we manage a win at the House of Pain, the pain of Westpac will disappear in an instant.
The way we play will also be so important. In Wellington, we looked clueless for long periods, but hopefully De Villiers has now had time to explain his gameplan in more detail.
I am still baffled why only Schalk Brits was flown over to replace John Smit. Most rugby scribes were confused by the decision to only take two hookers on tour for exactly the reason that transpired. Smit is on his way back and Brits is now number three in the pecking order. What if Bismarck du Plessis or Brits get injured in Dunedin? Then we have to fly someone out to Perth again and once again who will have to work very hard to combine with his locks and props.
I know Perth is not that far, but it will still be a scramble if one of the hookers breaks down.
Made a difference
If we took three hookers from the start, Brits would have settled in nicely by now. In addition, it would have given De Villiers another option when he picked his team.
With Smit departing and Brits only arriving with three sessions left before the Test match, De Villiers had little option but to start Du Plessis. I have no problem with the Sharks hooker. In fact, I thought he made a difference when he replaced our national captain.
If he took three hookers in the first place De Villiers could have started any of the remaining two in Dunedin and whoever was going to fly in from South Africa could have time to adapt.
The brutal confrontations between the two sides indicated that injuries are not far off. Du Plessis, and the way he plays, will be right in the thick of things. If he breaks down, Brits will be forced into action. And yet another player will have to fly across the ocean to join the team.
The squad looked disjointed from the start and it proved more evident once Smit was injured. Let's hope the Boks can regroup and make history at Carisbrook. I will certainly back them to beat the All Blacks, but reserve my judgment until I see the squad selected.
Good prop forwards
I am attending the Coca-Cola Craven Week in Pretoria. How lucky can one be? There are some fantastic players at this year's showpiece, although no standouts like the Ebersohn twins, Nick Koster and Marnitz Boshoff last year.
Overall, though, the standard of play is good and for once, there seems to be an abundance of good prop forwards. Tightheads are normally the most wanted by unions at weeks like this and there certainly were some players who had the talent scouts lining up.
I understand shopping lists for players are important at this week, but I sometimes wonder if this is not bad for the quality of rugby. Every player tries to impress anyone who can offer a professional contract. Sometimes they try too hard or become selfish when they have the ball. Pity, because some good rugby could have been played.
All the big rugby universities attend to try to lure talented players. Some have bigger budgets than others do. Some are looking for depth in certain positions, some look at players that can still be developed. All offer academic excellence as well, something that is important and a good thing to see.
Talking the truth
The decision faced by players and their parents (sorry agents, forgot about you), are often difficult ones. Big union or smaller union? Rugby as the main course or a course where rugby compliments the studies? Hard decisions to make, that is for sure.
All the players here dream of becoming great Springboks. The reality is that only a handful of this vintage will. Let us hope that all concerned in the process of signing or luring players, are honest and are talking the truth.
Maybe the Craven Week agents have become like prostitutes, selling their wares (players) at the highest bid. It is sad, because there is still some honesty in the way the kids play this wonderful game.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
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