Mbonambi back, but will Bomb Squad be ready?
WILL the ‘Bomb Squad’ bolster the Springboks in the second half of the first Test against the British & Irish Lions on Saturday?
Well, considering the situation at the moment, it is still unclear whether they will have the necessary fire-power to employ the famous World Cup tactic at Cape Town Stadium (6pm kick-off).
In both South Africa ’A’ games last week – the 17-13 victory over the Lions and the 17-14 defeat to the Bulls – Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus were unable to opt for their usual 6-2 split in favour of the forwards.
The first encounter last Wednesday saw a traditional 4-3 split, with a 5-4 split this past Saturday as an extra prop in Lizo Gqoboka was allowed on to the bench.
But that doesn’t mean the Boks won’t revert to their World Cup strategy in the first Test.
“We went with a 5-4 split today, but it’s not to say we won’t go with the 6-2 split. It was more of the cards we were dealt with today in order to cover certain positions,” Nienaber said after the Bulls game.
“So, 6-2 split is definitely something we will look at, and it will be game by game and player availability.”
The latter term is the big worry for the national team at the moment. There was some good news yesterday as firstchoice hooker Bongi Mbonambi was cleared to join the team in Cape Town after completing his Covid-19 isolation period – along with fellow hooker Scarra Ntubeni and No 8 Dan du Preez.
Mbonambi’s return means that Malcolm Marx can fulfil his Bomb Squad role as a reserve, but what about the rest of the substitutes?
Being able to bring on players who would be equally good as a starter in the second half was one of the points of difference for the Boks at the World Cup, and with the Lions having so many options in their squad, it is crucial that the South Africans can neutralise the tourists’ pack in particular.
However, captain Siya Kolisi, prop Frans Malherbe, locks Lood de Jager and RG Snyman, No 8 Duane Vermeulen, Handre Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi and utility back Frans Steyn have not yet been given the green light for the first Test.
In addition, other squad members still busy with their Covid-19 protocols are Ox Nche and Marvin Orie.
Of that group, Erasmus has already said that Vermeulen is only likely to be ready by the third Test at best.
Kwagga Smith is an ideal substitute loose forward as he can fill in anywhere, even in the backline, but he may have to start at No 6.
The situation is even murkier at loosehead prop, where Nche was the front-runner for the reserve berth. Coenie Oosthuizen, nowadays a tighthead, seems to be the back-up option there after starting on the lefthand side of the scrum against the Bulls, and as a replacement against the Lions.
Bulls No 1 Gqoboka looks to be further down the list, and Thomas du Toit can also be called upon if necessary.
Tighthead prop looks healthier, with Trevor Nyakane able to start for Malherbe and Vincent Koch a topquality reserve.
But the locks are seriously problematic if both De Jager and Snyman can’t play, especially with Orie also still out.
Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert should start, but Jean-Luc du Preez and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg struggled to command the line-outs against the Bulls.
It may mean that an extra loose forward is picked on the bench for the first Test, and then blindside flank Pieter-Steph du Toit moving to lock in the second half if necessary.
Nienaber will be sitting with a real headache if Pollard can’t play. Morné Steyn was solid at flyhalf against the Lions, but Elton Jantjies has been the next-in-line for the last few years.
Damian Willemse has caught the eye at inside centre to be considered as a Frans Steyn bench replacement, while Aphelele Fassi has also shown his class since joining the Bok squad.