Bongi not-so-happy hooker
Coetzee backs skipper Strauss as Boks’ No 1 No 2
WHY drop Bongi Mbonambi when he’s played only seven minutes from off the bench in South Africa’s six Tests before today’s match with the All Blacks?
That was one of the major talking points after coach Allister Coetzee named his side late on Wednesday for the Rugby Championship match here at AMI Stadium today (9.35am).
Mbonambi made his debut and got one minute’s game time in the Boks’ third Test win against Ireland in June and then played the final six minutes against Australia in Brisbane a week ago. In the Boks’ other four Tests this season, he has sat on the bench, without discarding his tracksuit.
This week, though, he was told he won’t face the All Blacks today and that Malcolm Marx – the 22-year-old Lions rookie – would take his place on the bench. Why, many asked?
Coetzee explained this week he preferred that Adriaan Strauss, who is the first-choice hooker, stay on the field for as long as possible because he is the team captain. And that there is also no preferred secondchoice hooker. Mbonambi and Marx are in the same boat, but the Stormers man was preferred up to now because he has more experience.
“I’m happy with the impact Bongi has made, especially last weekend against Australia,” said Coetzee this week. “I know Bongi can survive at this level, and I know he can play Test rugby. I know him (from the Stormers),” said Coetzee explaining why he opted to rest him this week.
“I know what Malcolm did for the Lions in Super Rugby this year, but I must also see what he can do in Test rugby. It’s a difficult situation because both Bongi and Malcolm are this team’s future hookers and they need to get opportunities, but they’re also playing behind the captain. That doesn’t help.
“But the fact is, at the end of the year Adriaan is not going to be around so I’m going to have to mix it up between Bongi and Malcolm so they’re ready to take over next season. That’s the positive thing … they’re both very promising hookers and they’ll be fighting it out over the remaining few Tests to be No 1 in 2017.”
Coetzee also revealed he has no intention of starting Mbonambi or Marx this season, in spite of Strauss opting to call it quits at the end of the year.
“Everyone in the squad fully understands Adriaan is the captain till the end of the year,” stressed Coetzee. “Adriaan has done nothing wrong playing-wise to be dropped, and the team have responded well to him as the leader.
“Having Adriaan there is essential for the development of this squad and for the other leaders in the group who must learn as much as they can from him until the end of the year.
“Also, our set-piece has functioned really well all season. In fact our line-out is the best of all the Rugby Championship teams. Bongi and Malcolm must battle it out to be the first choice next year but I know we’ll have two great hookers in the squad in 2017.”
The Bok boss is also yet to decide who’ll take over the captaincy from Strauss next year. Warren Whiteley looks to be the favourite to be the captain, but he’ll have to secure a starting place in the team first, while Duane Vermeulen is a contender, but the fact that he plays for French club Toulon may count against him.