Can Rassie stop the rot?

Iread a tongue-in-cheek gag somewhere that the current battling Springbok tour in Europe could be dubbed embattled national coach Allister Coetzee’s “Outgoing Tour”. But it may not be all that hilarious as the Bok June Tests are called the “Incoming Tour”, while the November trip to Europe is called the “Outgoing Tour”.

Of course the reference is being made to Coetzee not surviving the cut after this trip, after getting a second chance following last year’s disastrous eight losses in 12 starts.

This year has been slightly better with six wins and two draws in 11 Tests, but of the three lost, two were record losses against New Zealand and Ireland and apparently Coetzee won’t meet the agreed target of 65% reportedly set by his Saru bosses even if the Boks win the last two against Italy and Wales.

What is baffling is all the fighting talk from the Bok camp this week about what a powerhouse Italy are; one could easily make the mistake of thinking they are facing New Zealand.

It certainly is no disrespect towards Italy, but this are a struggling team who have won a paltry one Test against Fiji in 11 Tests since shocking the Boks 20-18 in Florence at the end of last year.

The fact is that of the six Bok wins this year they have only beaten France and Argentina, teams who sit eighth and ninth in the world rankings, and haven’t managed to beat a team in the top three and now lie fifth in the rankings.

There has been a great deal of consistency in team selections but in other areas there has been a persistence to keep picking certain players who have failed to make it an international level.

Fullback Andries Coetzee, wings Dillyn Leyds and Courtnall Skosan and flyhalf Elton Jantjies are great Super Rugby players, but they have failed to make that required step-up to Test rugby, almost like centre Wynand Olivier of yesteryear.

And then there has been a persistence with centre Jesse Kriel whose flaws in midfield have been there to see in every single game. It’s about time that the brainstrust realised he is a fullback – or at best a wing – but he is not a centre.

SA Rugby should, however, be given high-fives for luring Rassie Erasmus back and he will orchestrate changes next year.

We are certainly fed-up with this plodding along.