PLAYING Maturity secret behind success
COETZEE: THESE PLAYERS ARE NOT CHILDREN ANYMORE
Cronje and Du Toit set to start against Wallabies in Perth, with Pollard likely to grab a seat on the bench.
Ross Cronje back at No 9, a rare start at lock for Pieter-Steph du Toit and flyhalf Handre Pollard to make a return on the bench. These are the changes Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is likely to come up with when he announces his team this morning for the Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday.
Cronje should be replacing Francois Hougaard after missing the Salta trip with an ankle injury, Du Toit could be rotated with Franco Mostert, while Pollard could finally be back after two years.
And while the Bok back division is lacking experience with the back three of Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule collectively only boasting 15 Tests, Coetzee believes they have matured.
Compared to them Aussie fullback Israel Folau has played 43 Tests and centre Kurtley Beale 62, to name two examples.
“We might lack in the number of Test matches but if you look at the ages, Ross Cronje is not 21 anymore, Boeboes (Coetzee) at the back is not 22 anymore, so it’s mature players, 26, 27, 28,” said Coetzee.
“But that’s why they are in control of their emotions; a guy Jaco Kriel has played in playoffs, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolsi are 26, so they are not kids anymore.”
Coetzee said that’s why you see this mature behaviour, and the calmness.
“I think we have a culture where humility is key as well as integrity, you have to know your job and do your job, and you have to ensure you set your team-mate up to succeed,” he said.
Coetzee said they had to be selfless, the leaders must lead, and “support Eben”, who will manage the referee.
“We have our leadership meetings, sort of a battle talk, a core, and once it’s called, they must react to it because they have to re- spect it.
“It’s like the DNA and it carries us through, always be in control and it helps. It helps Eben to lead and make decisions and the others all chip in,” he said.