Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said he was bitterly disappointed by the Springboks’ 24-17 defeat against the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday, and promised to make a few changes before they face the All Blacks next Saturday at the Sky Stadium in Wellington at 09:05 (SA Time).
Erasmus acknowledged that the All Blacks outplayed and out-thought them at the breakdown, especially the counter-rucks that spoilt most of the Springboks’ attacking opportunities from their usual dominant rucking.
“I don’t think the All Blacks did anything illegal; we just didn’t control it (rucks) well enough. There were many things we got wrong, but conceding those early 14 points and thinking you can still win is a problem.”
However, I can not see many replacements Rassie can make, except for welcoming back Jasper Wiese at eight, enabling him to balance his loose forward combination.
Unfortunately, the “Bomb Squad” game plan evolved RG Snyman, Ruan Nortje, Malcolm Marx, Kwagga Smith and Franco Mostert into specialist subs. Thomas du Toit is not as dominant as a tight head, leaving only Wilco Louw to start at tighthead.
At the back, Rassie morphed several garden-dwarfs into superheroes, well knowing that their commitment to the defence is well below par. Willie le Roux’s commitment to the defence is known to be extremely below par, and despite his brilliant service to the Springboks, it is time that Rassie kiss and send the Springbok great on his way into the sunset.
Then Rassie needs to send a few SOSs to join the squad ahead of the tests against Argentina and the upcoming Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
Firstly, and I know many hate him, I will give Evan Roos a call. We need a player who can help us get over the advantage line with explosive power and cause panic in the defence of our opposition. Depending only on Pieter-Steph will not work. If and when Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw are fit again, we can have the heated discussion about who is the best of the three super-talented Springboks.
At hooker, we have a serious problem, as the next Bongi Mbonambi has not been born yet. We need a hard-as-nails hooker that can stand his man in the first forty minutes of a Test. Maybe Johann Grobbelaar? Maybe Jan-Hendrik Wessels, only after he had some surgical interventions; however, I can only see him adding value off the bench.
My third SOS will be to Faf de Klerk. We missed our blonde meisiekind’s commitment on especially the defence and attack.
Will the current squad take us to a fifth World Cup win in 2027? I fear not, and time is running out for Rassie to identify the next generation. Unfortunately, the ageing current group will not be allowed with their “kieries” onto the field in two years in Australia.
Will Rassie have the nuts? I do doubt it.
Our team has been chosen from the squad on tour and assuming all is fit. We have made seven changes to the matchday 23 that was disgraced by the All Blacks at Eden Park.
15 Manie Libbok, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Jesse Kriel, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Vincent Koch, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.