‘Vindicated’: we will see

Most of us regular blokes out there have often wondered what exactly it means when a coach says a player’s selection has been “vindicated”. According to the influential Cambridge English Dictionary being vindicated means “to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was wrong”.

This is applicable to Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s selection of lock Pieter-Steph du Toit on the blindside flank in the Test against New Zealand at Newlands.

After the very same positional switch badly backfired in the 37-21 loss to England last year at Twickenham, Coetzee had been “vindicated” this time around after Du Toit put in a rousing performance in a closely fought match which the Boks lost 25-24 to the mighty All Blacks.

It is also interesting to note that of Du Toit’s 29 Tests he has played 21 at lock, seven on the flank and one as a No 8.

But that’s not to suggest this gamble will pay off every time, because there is still an imbalance in the loose trio combination that featured in that last New Zealand outing, with a lock (Du Toit) playing at blindside flank, a blindside flank (Siya Kolisi) playing at openside flank and an openside flank (Francois Louw) playing at No 8.

The problem however going into tomorrow’s Irish Test at Dublin, where the Boks have a dismal record, is that there’s a serious lack of X-factor players.

Players who possess that ability like a Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Seabelo Senatla, Ruan Combrinck or a Kwagga Smith have all been left at home due to various reasons ranging from injury to being regarded as either too small or not good enough.

A scary thought is that if a World XV had to be selected today it will probably only be hooker Malcolm Marx that could be seriously considered for such a team with Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth at best a consideration.

It is a fact that the current side lack the quality of a Jaque Fourie, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana or a Fourie du Preez, but in all fairness such class does not come along overnight so it could take some time depending if the correct players gets the proper exposure.

It could therefore boil down to building pressure and the kicking approach in Dublin tomorrow if the Boks want to win.

Maybe then Coetzee could feel “vindicated” again.