Changing fortunes place Boks in better space for huge task
WHEN it comes to the Boks, it is amazing the difference a year makes.
Allister Coetzee’s charges literally had to drag themselves to Christchurch to man up to the All Blacks and the end result was a 41-13 hammering. That was just the start as the All Blacks dished out a 57-15 hiding in Durban a few weeks later.
On the back of a six-match winning streak, the Boks have every reason to be confident ahead of tomorrow’s Rugby Championship date against the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium in Albany. There’s the massive weight of expectation and history lingering over the Boks.
They haven’t won in New Zealand in eight years and an All Black side shorn of its first choice front-row and with eight changes from its last encounter is still a formidable entity.
Coetzee wanted to be quietly confident about his team’s chances but there’s a feeling the All Blacks may be saving their best for their ultimate foes. Coetzee also said he’s finally adapted to the challenge of coaching at international level.
“It's great to hear from Steve Hansen and the guys there that they recognise we’re a happy team and the fact they’ve selected their strongest side. That’s all good but it comes down to the 80 minutes on Saturday.
“It’s been bloody challenging coaching at international level, especially in rugby-mad countries with the supporters that we have. I’m happy our players are in good conditioning shape because our big thing was the ability to contest at this level is determined by our Super Rugby conditioning and those who compete in the playoffs.”
All Black coach Hansen has had to deal with criticism even though the All Blacks have only lost one game this season. There’s a growing sense of pessimism about the All Blacks’ veneer of invincibility against their Southern Hemisphere neighbours finally being stripped.
After galloping to a one-sided and rather flattering 54-34 clouting of Australia on August 19 in Sydney, they had to fight tooth-and-nail the following week to keep their 16-year unbeaten streak against Australia at home in a tight 35-29 win in Dunedin.
They also had to rely on their superior composure and conditioning to see off a determined Argentina side 39-22 in New Plymouth last week after the Pumas took a 22-15 lead after 50 minutes.
Hansen said he understood the angst in regards with the team’s stuttering performances while also raising eyebrows with the selection of Chiefs loosehead prop Kane Hames ahead of the experience Crusader Wyatt Crockett. The All Blacks have lost a wealth of front-row experience with the injury enforced absences of Owen Franks and Joe Moody.
“What we got in the drawn British and Irish Lions series was a whole lot of different things this young group has to learn. We’ve got a young skipper even though he’s played 100 Tests. He’s being challenged, the leadership group is being challenged and so are the youngsters. With the injuries we’ve had, we’ve had what I can call an awkward season. We’ve lost one, drawn one but in other games we’ve got out of tight spots and played some good rugby,” said Hansen.
“It tests (us) to lose a lot of experience but I have faith in the systems... The culture of the team is good and strong and everyone is working together to get better and stronger. Someone else’s misfortune is someone else’s opportunity. Through the opportunities that have availed themselves through injuries we’ll be growing some depth.”
The sides are: NZ: Damian McKenzie; Nehe MilnerRyan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.
SA: Andries Coetzee; Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Uzair Cassiem, Jean-luc du Preez, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende.