10 burning questions for the Boks

JOHANNESBURG: Injuries to key players continue to hamper the Springboks’ World Cup preparations, but with the All Blacks standing in front of them today, there is no better test to determine their readiness for the showpiece starting in two months’ time. After tomorrow’s match at Ellis Park, the Boks will have just two outings left before boarding the plane to Heathrow, both against Argentina. Here are the 10 burning questions South African fans want answered.

1 CAN THE BOKS WIN WITHOUT VICTOR MATFIELD?

Heyneke Meyer convinced the veteran lock to come out of retirement for one reason only – to bolster the second row at the World Cup. Matfield’s been his usual self since returning to the game, dominating the lineouts and kick-offs, and he’s a certainty for the No 5 jersey in England. But injury has robbed him from playing against the best lineout in the game this weekend and while Lood de Jager did well last weekend after replacing Matfield, tomorrow’s Test will be a major examination of the Bok set-piece.

2 HOW WILL THE ABSENCE OF A BIG BALL-CARRIER IMPACT THE BOKS’ GAME?

Meyer’s teams have always relied on a basher – a man who’s able to take the ball at pace and get his team over the gain line, giving them momentum and ensuring quick phase ball. But Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen are missing through injury and there’s no Bakkies Botha anymore either. Marcell Coetzee, who’s done the job to a degree, is also out. Will new captain Schalk Burger fulfil this role tomorrow, or will Meyer’s men rely solely on the twin fetchers, Francois Louw and Heinrich Brüssow? Either way, the make-up of the back row will have an impact on how the Boks play.

3 WILL HEINRICH BRÜSSOW BE ABLE TO CONVINCE HIS COACH HE MUST GO TO THE WORLD CUP?

Just getting into the Bok squad would have felt like a victory for Brüssow. This after years of being overlooked and battling injury, but finally the menace of the British and Irish Lions of 2009 has got a shot at showing the big boss what he can do. But with so many quality looseforwards around, vying for five World Cup spots, it’s going to require something truly special from the 29-year-old if he’s going to crack the nod. Brüssow’s a class act, but it’s doubtful he’s match-fit, having last had an outing weeks ago. This is his moment of truth.

4 ARE RUAN PIENAAR AND HANDRÉ POLLARD TITLEWINNING QUALITY?

We’ve seen so little of Fourie du Preez in the last two years it’s understandable he gets forgotten when talk turns to the scrumhalf position. He’s still, however, Meyer’s first choice man for the No 9 jersey, but what if he isn’t fit come September? Pienaar is next in line, and while he’s a steady operator, he doesn’t ask many questions of the opposition and seems to have lost the X-factor that made him such a force in his younger days. Pollard has had flashes of brilliance – none more so than against the All Blacks in this same fixture a year ago – but he still makes crucial errors and his kicking is not as sound as it should be at Test level.

5 WILL JESSE KRIEL’S HOT FORM LEAVE HEYNEKE MEYER IN A

QUANDARY?

The Bulls youngster has enjoyed a dream start to his senior international career, but facing Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith will be his ultimate test. It appears as if he has few weaknesses and plays with plenty of confidence and has ticked every box asked of him by Meyer. If he comes through strongly again against the formidable All Blacks duo it could force the Bok coach into some tough decisions when Jean de Villiers returns to the side. Kriel’s combination with Damian de Allende has been the highlight of the Boks so far.

6 WILL WE SEE MORE AIMLESS KICKING?

There were numerous occasions when the Boks kicked simply for the sake of kicking against Australia last weekend, with Meyer stating this week his team had regressed in this area of the game. “Our kicking game isn’t good enough ... we don’t contest well enough,” he said. “It’s a big challenge.” Indeed it is. Meyer also said his team had only been together for two or three weeks (so hadn’t had enough time to work on it), but the fact of the matter is Meyer’s been in charge of the Boks for three years now. The All Blacks kick smartly and wisely. It’s really time we saw the same of the Boks. If not, then it’s best to not kick at all.

7 CAN THE BOKS GO THE DISTANCE?

There have also been plenty of moans and groans over the years about how behind the other teams the Boks are when it comes to fitness and conditioning and one’s got to ask why? Injuries to some players and predetermined substitutions played a part in the Boks going down at the death to Australia last week, but it also appeared as if Meyer’s men ran out of steam – mentally and physically – in the last half hour. Meyer’s put fresh men on his bench this week, in an effort to go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks for as long as it takes; let’s hope the Boks can keep up with the pace this week.

8 HAS WILLIE LE ROUX SEWN UP THE FULLBACK POSITION?

There have been no real challengers to the fullback spot since Le Roux got a chance in 2013 and still it appears as if the jersey’s his for the World Cup. Pat Lambie’s been discussed as an option, but hasn’t had a proper run, while Zane Kirchner is in the squad simply as cover should anything happen

9 WHAT WILL MEYER LEARN BY STARTING MTAWARIRA AND THE DU PLESSIS BROTHERS AGAIN?

There can be no doubt Meyer isn’t thinking about the World Cup or trialling certain players this weekend; he’s made his picks to beat the All Blacks. If he did have the World Cup in mind, he’d surely not have pushed Jannie du Plessis and brother Bismarck and Beast Mtawarira into the fray again; for the third week in a row. Meyer knows they’re his first choice front row, but does he know who their back-up is, and whether they’re genuinely world class? Would Meyer be comfortable picking a front row from Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Coenie Oosthuizen, Trevor Nyakane and Heinke van der Merwe?

10 WHAT WOULD A WIN/DEFEAT DO FOR THE BOKS?

More than anything else, a victory would boost the Boks’ confidence ahead of the World Cup. But, as Meyer said this week, it’s not the be all and end all. More importantly, what Meyer will be after is a solid, clinical performance. He’ll want to tick the boxes and not be in a position where he’s still scratching his head afterwards. A bad defeat would be worrying because, injuries aside, it’s a strong Bok team. Meyer though would point to the men who’re missing as a reason and he may have a point in that regard. It’s a one-off against the All Blacks this year – and perhaps that is all we should read into whatever happens; it will have no bearing on how the two teams will go at the World Cup.