5 Talking points from the Boks’ Salta victory
NO DOUBT coach Allister Coetzee’s first win away from home in his 16-match tenure with the Springboks dished up plenty of lessons for this young, and relatively inexperienced side. The fiery atmosphere of the Salta Test on Saturday also provided a number of interesting flashpoints to mull.
Pumas love their cards It should not come as a surprise that discipline was the Pumas’ biggest problem, in front of their ravenous crowd.
They, in the guise of the Jaguares or Los Pumas, have always found themselves on the wrong side of the referee, and it has often led to their downfall. However, Tomas Lavanini really sunk his team’s boat with a reckless tackle, and then a foolish knock-down-penalty try combination – not to mention scuffling with Pieter-Steph du Toit moments before getting that red card. That, and Augustin Creevy’s poor attitude to the ref also saw Juan Manuel Leguizamón take one for the team in the bin.
SA’s own temperament More concerning perhaps was the Springboks’ need to rise to the bait in a niggly and tense atmosphere. It seems that, in Coetzee’s words, his young and inexperienced team have been focusing too much on getting their rugby right, as well as their internal culture.
The hostile environment that met them was something new. Many of the Boks on the field in Salta would have never experienced the furore of a Test match cauldron quite like it, and it showed in a few moments of madness. Andries Coetzee let his frustrations bubble over after his error saw the Pumas score. He jumped unnecessarily on to try-scorer Martín Landajo and got yellow.
King Kolisi It is fantastic to see a player like Siya Kolisi emerging as a stand out for this new-age Bok team week in and week out.
A player with an amazing personal back story thriving in a Bok environment that celebrates his sacrifice and commitment, Kolisi was already a role model to thousands of young black rugby players across the country, but now his form on the field is winning him fans across the nation. Kolisi has gone from making his Bok debut under Heyneke Meyer, and getting shunted around the loose trio, to finally being offered a path of growth and taking it as a premier, modern day, openside flank.
Counter intuitive The Springbok brand of rugby has never been too associated with audacious counter attacking and running from their own line, but more and more of it is popping up in a celebration of a skilful side. Kolisi’s second try, that originated from the Pumas knocking on over the Bok line – when the visitors were leading by only four and at a crucial time after the break – showed a side of the Springboks that should be exciting fans, and putting fear into their opponents. Players like Andries Coetzee and Courtnall Skosan, along with Elton Jantjies and Raymond Rhule, have all graduated from the Super Rugby school of free-flowing rugby and it’s good to see it at the national level.
Worrying lack of depth for the No 9 jumper
Ross Cronje’s absence was felt – again – by a Bok side that struggled to settle over the first 40 minutes. Francois Hougaard looks like a man going against the grain for a Bok team that is finally starting to all push in the right direction. His indecision, and difficulty in finding his targets, saw him become easy prey for the rushing Pumas defence. Hougaard was intent on taking a few lateral steps before swinging the pass, leaving Jantjies and his willingness to play flat under huge pressure. The Boks need to find another scrumhalf in the mould of Cronje and perhaps cut the final foreign Bok in the current squad.