Following on from GrootBlouSmile’s article about South African rugby’s next step. Here is my input.
Most importantly we need some intelligent players, players who can truly live up to the idiom of playing what is in front of them, not only the opponent but the referee, for too long South Africa players have not been coached to have the ability to think on their feet, to have the ability to adapt midstream.But before this is to happen SARU needs to get their house in order. South African rugby in the professional era has slowly been degraded into a collective mess of political correctness, incompetent coaching, poor administration at the top where individual self promotion and egocentric agendas are the order of the day.
There are a whole host of local candidates who will put up their hands for the job. Dick Muir and Gary Gold will be the first to throw their names into the hat. Rassie Erasmus, Allister Coetzee and Heyneke Meyer . Hopefully Jake White resists and does not put his name in the hat.
The most appropriate candidates in my opinion would be Nick Mallet, John Mitchell, Rassie Erasmus and Naka Drotske. Why? Well I think these guys can break the mould, they have all shown an ability to coach more expansive rugby and the willingness to be less conservative. Even though I would like to see John Mitchell be the next Springbok coach, I doubt whether he will want to get involved in the politics that is SA rugby.
One thing South African rugby doesn’t lack is talent, if you look towards the provinces and ignore all players older than 28 then these are the potential players who have in my view a shot at the international stage.
Prop
Beast Mtwarira (Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Wimpie Nel (Cheetahs), Eugene van Staden (Sharks), JC Janse van Rensburg (Lions), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Dean Greyling (Bulls)
Hooker
Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Deon Fourie (Stormers),
Lock
Andries Bekker (Stormers), Ross skeate (Sharks), Michael Rhodes (Lions), Juandre Kruger (Bulls)
Back row
Jean Deysel (Sharks), Joshua Strauss (Lions), Nick Koster (Stormers), Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs), Schalk Burger (Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Francois Louw (Stormers)
Scrum half
Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Dewaldt Duvenage (Stormers), Ruan Pienaar (UK)
Flyhalf
Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Center
Frans Steyn (Racing), Johann Sadie (Stormers) Juan du Jongh (Stormers), Jaque Fourie (Stormers), Alwyn Hollenbach (Lions), Pierre Spies (Bulls)
Wing
Lwasi Mvovo (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Michael Killian (Lions), Bjorn Basson (Bulls), Gio Aplon (Stormers), Bryan Habana (Stormers)
Fullback
Riaan Viljoen (Cheetahs/Griquas), Jaco Taute (Lions), Morne Steyn (Bulls)
There are some controversial positional choices I would like to see, Pierre Spies at center, apart from Jaque Fourie we don’t have strike runners, and we have more than enough loose forwards, so why not gamble and give it a shot.
If we are to break the mould and go for more expansive rugby Morne Steyn isn’t the pivot, but his boot and general positional play can suit him well at fullback.
Frans Steyn must settle at inside centre, he was enormous during the World Cup and has shown his ability to not only break the gain line, but also get the rest of his back line away.
South Africa must not forsake their strengths, they still need to do the basics right and first control the match, and only then will they have earned the right to attack, but a little more skill and adventurous play will be welcomed.
The future for SA rugby is bright, but only if SARU gets their house in order and appoint a coach on merit only, that, and a willingness to bring back the importance of winning every test. I do not ever want to hear a coach say “Judge me on the World Cup” and I never want to see a coach forsake one test for some greater goal somewhere in the future. A 75% win ratio should be the minimum goal, nothing less will be acceptable.
Oh, and I think Mitchell would nees a full frontal lobotomy if he really ever contemplated taking on a no win job like the Boks.
Half of the country would want his ass because he’s not a SAFFA, and the other half would be lining him up for a knife between the ribs just adjacent to the spinal cord in case he was successful.
91 @ Scrumdown:
I hear your big friend, Manie Reyneke has resigned as Lions CEO, with effect 31 October 2011.
That must inspire a Captain or 2 for you tonight!
92@ grootblousmile:
Pray do tell! Was he pushed or did he jump?
He will be sorely missed for his enthusiasm, open mindedness, impartiality, dress sense, and media friendliness and openness.
92@ grootblousmile:
YeeeeHaaaaa. Just checked it on the web.
Oh vlok. Babalas tomorrow! (But not as big as when we got rid of Ferreira)
Goodnight all (or nobody?)
As our Webmonster has decreed that I must now go and drown my sorrows because Manie Reyneke has sadly resigned as CEO of the Lions, who the hell am I to argue?
@ Scrumdown:
I take it you really, really like and respect the guy?
sjoe-wee, its been a while since I have been on this site.
In any case, I believe, what we should do above and beyond anything else, is to start winnning. Period. NOT just World Cups, or the ocasional SupeRugby trophy or Tri-Nations trohy once every four years. We need to start winning Grand Slams, 3N on the regular etc.
The, to be honest, I would like to see Brendan Venter as head coach. Call me crazy, but that dude did really good work at Sarries.
He is actually a World Cup winner, and with his strong ties with the Cheetahs, we could actually see a strong contingent coming from that neck of the woods. For example:
Head Coach-Venter
Scrum Consultant- Du Randt
Backline Coach – Drotske
Technical Coach – Erasmus.
Not too bad would you say? Note that in this coaching team there would be 3 Boks from the professional era, as well as two World Cup winners.
And then of course you would have to include Jaques Nienaber as defensive consultant.
There are SO many fans of Allister, including Jake White, Eddie Jones, Matfield… pretty big supporters right?
Anyway, as for your list of players, Im gonna extend it a bit, if you don’t mind.
(Only added players)
Props: JC Kritzinger
Hookers: Chilliboy Rallapele (Bulls)
Locks: Franco van der Merwe (Lions) Flip van der Merwe (Bulls) Skeate???
Loosies: Warren Whitely, Derrick Minnie (Lions) Kolisi (Stormers). Sorry, but none of the Bulls trio has impressed on the international stage.
Scrummies: on the FAR horizon – Bondiso (Lions) McCloud (Sharks) Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs)
Fly Half: F*KC we are spoiled for choice –
Lionel Cronje, Gary van Aswegen, Demitri Catrikilis (Stormers) Ebershon (Cheetahs).
Centers: Spies should not be in a Bok squad again. Otherwise, Im SO glad you picked Hollenbach as well. More to work with –
Doppies Le Grange (Lions) Ebersohn (Cheetahs)
Wings: JJ Engelbrecht, Deon van Rensburg.
Fullbacks: Nie vir ‘n MOER Steyn nie. a Fullback is much more about positional play than a big boot. And as a last line of defense? Waar kry jy jou tik bra 🙂
Generally can’t disagree much though.
If I were to pick my top two in each position, thinking a few years ahead, it would be these guys:
15) Viljoen, Taute
14) Aplon, JPP
13) Fourie, de Jongh, Ebersohn
12) F.Steyn, Sadie (Steyn must move to SA 1st)
11) Mvovo, Engelbrecht
10) Lambie, Jantjies, Catrikilis
9) Hougaard, Duvenhage
—This is where is gets lekker—
8) Vermeulen, Strauss
7) Burger, Alerts
6) Brussouw, Deysel
5) Bekker, Franco Van der Merwe
4) Flip van der Merwe, Rynardt Elstad (forgot about him. A little injured for now)
3) Du Plessies, Nel
2) Du Plessies, A Struass
1) Beast, Oosthuizen
87@ grootblousmile:
Some interesting names in your list there Gbs, Graham Henry in particular but do you think it would be something he would even consider after all his years of success at the All Blacks, plus this is a man who failed at the last World Cup and was given another chance to try again, losing against France who were not in the top 3 at the time, so wouldn’t last long if you were to use your strict criteria, but if he were around agree he would be a BIG fish to catch for the Boks. What is Michael Jones doing these days, a few years ago really thought he was going places but don’t seem to have heard much about him lately, now there is an ‘yster’ we should try and get even if initially to coach at provincial level in SA.
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