Tough choices for Bok coach
EXPERIMENT OR PLAY IT SAFE AGAINST ITALY
Struggling national coach Allister Coetzee is faced with a precarious situation before naming the Springbok side today for their penultimate tour game against Italy in Padova this weekend.
Almost stuck in a no-win situation, he will be put under the magnifying glass regardless whether he remains conservative in selection or experiment with the non-playing members.
While the ugly win against France treated the wound but not the cause, a total of nine players of the 34-man squad have yet to taste game time on tour, and no player will be content to hold tackle bags for a month or longer which could well lead to friction in the squad.
These include fullback Warrick Gelant, centre Lukhanyo Am, wing Raymond Rhule, flyhalf Curwin Bosch, scrumhalf Louis Schreuder, hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, prop Ruan Dreyer, lock Ruan Botha and flank Oupa Mohoje.
But Ralepelle could be named on the bench if ace hooker Malcolm Marx is rested as expected as a precaution for his shoulder injury with Bongi Mbonambi getting his first start.
The only other change could be the naming of Pieter-Steph du Toit at blindside flank in the place of the absent Siya Kolisi.
While there were still concerns this week over lock Eben Etzebeth’s lower leg injury as he was being managed in training, he should captain the side.
Bok forward coach Matt Proudfoot said the underfoot training conditions at their base wasn’t exactly ideal for scrumming which prompted them to go to Plan B.
“The scrum machine and field surface were perhaps not the best, which prompted us to go for some live scrums,” said Proudfoot.
“We will have to work hard against a determined Italian pack.”
The Boks can ill-afford another disaster like last year when they were shocked 20-18 by the Azzurri, who lost 31-15 to Argentina last weekend.