Lack of game time costs Ruan

Rudolph Jacobs

– Wing Ruan Combrinck’s (below) lack of game time has probably cost him a spot in the current Springbok squad.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee explained the situation yesterday as the team resumed preparations for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies.

“What I’ve looked for since the start of the year was players showing good form, which is what Sbu Nkosi has shown,” he said.

“And so far Ruan hasn’t played any rugby since the Lions. He has been in Japan for three games but hasn’t started in any of them.”

While wing Raymond Rhule has been under fire after his poor performance against the All Blacks, Coetzee didn’t want to send out the wrong message.

“Ruan is still very much part of our plans, but we forget how good Raymond was against Australia. We can’t just chuck a player away after one performance,” he said.

Coetzee said the addition of flank Francois Louw who joined up with the squad yesterday will solve a few burning issues.

“He is ready to play Test match rugby and with Jaco Kriel not there, I’ve no doubt he is the kind of player who will add value to our turnaround strategy.

“He brings what we lack in Jaco, playing towards the ball and making sure we contest on the ground,” he said.

Coetzee also shed some light on why scrumhalf Francois Hougaard had been dropped and replaced by Louis Schreuder.

“Hougies didn’t have the continuity playing regularly at nine. It hasn’t helped the technical ability which is needed at Test match level and it hasn’t gone well,” said Coetzee.

Team doctor Konrad von Hagen confirmed that No 8 Warren Whiteley will only return for the November tour, while prop Coenie Oosthuizen is out for another six weeks, but scrumhalf Ross Cronje has fully recovered from his stomach virus.

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