Skosan, Rhule finally reaping the rewards
WHEN THE Springboks whitewashed France, there was no need for concern that the inexperienced wings scored no tries.
It looks as if patience has paid off as both Raymond Rhule and Courtnall Skosan succeeded on Saturday with pace and width.
Wings can be the most deadly weapon in a rugby team, but it is a weapon that needs an active trigger finger to make them fire. The Boks have always been blessed with some of the greatest try-scoring wings around, such as recent heroes Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
However, a lot of these men made their names in the sport thanks to a plan that suited wide play, as well as teammates who could get the ball to them to create the magic. And sadly, that is what has been lacking from the Boks recently.
The disastrous year that was 2016 which saw the Boks only cross the whitewash on 20 occasions in 12 games, could well have been the death knell for the careers of such greats as Habana and Pietersen. They struggled to make a mark in a team that seemingly could not tie its own laces, never mind construct silky backline play.
In fact, Habana scored three of those tries, and Pietersen one, so the axing of the leading try-scorer can be seen as even harsher. In saying that, the Boks are now a team of fresh faces, with a new captain, young leaders – in the likes of Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi – and exuberant willingness. So it was indeed time to give the back three a makeover.
Rhule and Skosan were the form players of the Super Rugby season, along with Andries Coetzee, so their selection was more than warranted. They went on to have a reasonable series against the French, but they, like many fans, would have been waiting for that monkey of a try to get off their backs. Preparation into the French series paid its dividends, and some extra