Bok captain must ‘pick himself’ in the starting XV
NOW that he’s had a few days to drink in his appointment, Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is on the market for a captain who will take SA rugby to what many hope is a bold future.
The new Bok leader has to embody Coetzee’s leadership values: an ability to unite, selflessness and calm demeanour under pressure.
But most importantly he must, to borrow from former Eastern Province (EP) scrumhalf Chad Alcock, “pick himself” in the starting XV.
Nothing takes South African rugby fans through all five stages of grief like a captain who isn’t a sure bet in his position. Just ask predecessors Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer, whose lieutenants John Smit and Jean de Villiers faced heavy pressure for their places at the last couple of World Cups.
This week Duane Vermeulen’s name popped up as frequently as beggars at the traffic light.
“Vermeulen would be the right guy,” said former Springbok captain Corne Krige.
“Allister has worked with him before and they get one very well. And Duane, at his best, is the best No 8 in South Africa. I don’t think there are too many other guys that the coach might look at before making his mind up.
“He could look at Schalk Burger but I’m not always sure that he really wants the captaincy.”
Andre Vos, who captained the Springboks 16 times, reckoned 29-year-old Vermeulen would have the legs to take South Africa to the 2019 Japan World Cup.
Vermeulen has been the standout eighthman in South Africa for a number of years despite injuries restricting him to 35 test caps.
The Toulon-based Vermeulen and Coetzee know each other intimately from their Stormers days and, without the luxury of time, Coetzee’s hand might be forced into choosing a man with whom a bond has already formed. The Boks face Ireland in a three-match incoming tour in June.
“The captain-coach relationship in South African rugby is massively important, probably more so than in any other country because of the many outside influences,” said Krige, who captained the Boks through its toughest period between 2002 and 2003 under Rudolf Straeuli.
“The coach and captain must work well together and filter pressure away from the team, so that the rest of the guys can function in a calm environment.”
Among the leading candidates sit the hugely experienced Stormers back-rower Burger, who led the Boks in last year’s close Rugby Championship defeats to Australia and New Zealand.
At just 23, Cheetahs skipper Lood de Jager looks a high-risk, high-reward 10-year investment for the Bok role.
However, Alcock, the EP Elephants captain during Coetzee’s time there in 2000, was impressed by Juan de Jongh’s leadership and performances this year. He said De Jongh would command a regular place in the Bok midfield despite stiff competition from Lionel Mapoe, Francois Venter and Jesse Kriel at No 13 and Jan Serfontein and Damian de Allende at No 12.
“If you’re going for an attacking game plan, De Jongh chooses himself,” said Alcock. “He was fantastic for the SA Sevens and he brought that skill back into Super Rugby.”