Flyhalves aplenty in upturn in Bok fortunes

Just about two years ago, South Africa’s flyhalf stock was in a sombre state. With Handre Pollard out due to a long-term injury and Pat Lambie suffering a serious head injury against Ireland in the very first Test of 2016, Allister Coetzee fell back on the form Super Rugby flyhalf Elton Jantjies for the rest of the series and the start of the Rugby Championship.

But the pressure mounted as the Boks’ form dipped and the embattled Coetzee gave in to the voices of the anti-Jantjies brigade, reverting back to good ol’ Morne Steyn, as genuine contenders were few and far between.

In Steyn’s defence, he did kick the Boks to a boring victory against the Wallabies at Loftus, but the 57-15 defeat to the All Blacks in Durban a week later turned out be his last in the green and gold.

Things went from bad to worse for the Boks on their end-of-theyear tour as the returning Lambie failed to make an impact and Jantjies was again entrusted with the No 10 jersey in the year’s last Test against Wales.

In the midst of another fine Super Rugby season Jantjies started 10-straight Tests last year, yet again failing to convince his critics that he’s the right man for the job.

In the meantime, Pollard returned at the end of last season and has become the incumbent, but much to the delight of the anti-Jantjies brigade, there are many options on the horizon that don’t even include the almost-forgotten Curwin Bosch, whose career has taken a turn after his rapid initial rise, pretty similar to Garth April a year before.

And to think, just over a year ago, many supporters were so desperate to get rid of Jantjies that they called for Bosch’s inclusion into the Bok team.

But the Bok selectors’ initial hesitance to include him was vindicated since as his weakness on defence was exposed at the Sharks to the extent that he was even dropped at one stage and has since been moved to fullback.

Two youngsters, Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok, have now emerged as future stars while others like Robert du Preez and Josh Stander can’t be ignored, either.

Although Willemse has been tipped as a Bok fullback, and even played inside centre for Western Province in the Currie Cup final, his first port of call was always flyhalf, where he played for the national Under-20 team and also excelled for the Stormers in Super Rugby this year.

Libbok proved in the Currie Cup semifinal that his size shouldn’t overshadow his credentials. Still only 21, he showed that the Bulls would be foolish not to find a role for him alongside Pollard in next year’s Super Rugby.

Also still young at 25, Du Preez has already earned his first Bok cap this year and has been part of the last two Currie Cup-winning sides, while the 24-year-old Stander was statistically the best pivot in this year’s Currie Cup.

And, slipping under the radar at Newlands last Saturday, was Golden Lions Under-21 flyhalf Gianni Lombard. He has two seasons with the Junior Boks under the belt already and played a big role in slaying the Blue Bulls in the junior final.

I’d rather be spoiled for choice than have no choice at all.