Rassie gets a pass mark
There have been mixed reactions following coach Rassie Erasmus’ first year in charge of the national team, but the general consensus has been that the Springboks are on their way back – but with one eye sternly on the future. What counts heavily in Erasmu
Rudolph Jacobs 1 Have the Boks improved in the last two years?
There it has to be a definitive yes. After all, there were no embarrassing 57-0 losses like last year to New Zealand in Albany or the 38-3 drubbing by Ireland in Dublin, but then Erasmus was aided with the removal of the 30-Test cap limitation of overseas players.
In fact, the Boks’ biggest losses this year have been the 32-19 defeat to Argentina in Mendoza and the 25-10 defeat to England in the third Test at Newlands when Erasmus was experimenting.
2 Has there been a lack of continuity in team selection and performances?
With the jury still out on his leadership, Bok skipper Siya Kolisi (below) rightly pointed out that consistency has been a problem area. He says it doesn’t serve any purpose to produce two to three good results but then begin losing a few games again. Good point.
3 The lack of creativity in the Bok midfield.
The Boks had potentially two of the best finishers in the business, like wingers Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sbu Nkosi – and don’t forget about Makazole Mapimpi – but the midfield partnership of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel is simply not working.
4 The back row combination
Blindside flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit has probably been the Boks’ biggest success story this season as he has been magnificent, but the mix in the back row has been in question. Former skipper Warren Whiteley was great in Wellington and Duane Vermeulen good in November, but Kolisi has been underperforming.
5 The contentious overseas scenario
Erasmus got a lot of things right with the introduction of some overseas players and wing Cheslin Kolbe (right) for one has been a major success story along with scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux, not to mention the abrasive Vermeulen who has been as solid as a rock.
But what happens now to Gloucester lock Franco Mostert? Or Pat Lambie. Or Frans Steyn. Or Jaco Kriel?