MIXED SPRINGBOK BAG
TOURING SQUAD: MAY POTENTIALLY BE UNDER-STOCKED AT HOOKER & WING
Bok selectors look to have overloaded their loose forward stock and picked four options at scrumhalf.
Anumber of surprising selections highlighted the Springbok touring squad to Australia and Argentina yesterday, with Bok coach Jacques Nienaber naming a 34-man group to battle it out in their next three Rugby Championship games.
The Boks look to have overloaded their loose forward and scrumhalf stock, while they seem potentially under-stocked at hooker and wing.
Bongi Mbonambi is the big name missing from the traveling squad, after it was confirmed that the knee injury he picked up in training last week has ruled him out for four weeks, while URC star Evan Roos was another surprising pick to miss out.
The Boks have thus gone with just two specialist hookers in Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba, while utility forward Deon Fourie will provide cover for them.
However Fourie has primarily played at flank over a number of years now, which means the Boks have essentially picked eight loose forwards, when you consider Franco Mostert has played mostly at flank in recent times for them.
Duane Vermeuelen and Jasper Wiese will fight it out for the number eight spot, while Elrigh Louw will back them up, along with Kwagga Smith.
Four scrumhalves – Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach – have been selected.
Although Reinach could also feature at wing in a pinch, it is strange, as the Boks have only picked two out-and-out wingers in Makazole Mapimpi and uncapped Canan Moodie.
Lukhanyo Am has been the preferred player to feature on the wing recently when the Boks have picked up injuries, but he is much more suited to the midfield, where he organises the defence.
Warrick Gelant, Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel and Damian Willemse can all also cover on the wing, but all are more suited to other positions.
Andre Esterhuizen has recovered from the broken hand he picked up in the second Test against Wales and will cover Damian de Allende and Am, while Frans Steyn also cracked the nod.
Overall it is a strong squad that has been selected, but leaves the Boks very short at both hooker and wing.
The Boks face Australia Down Under on 27 August and 3 September, before heading to Argentina for their next away match on 17 September.
Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am is backing the Boks to go back to the drawing board and come back stronger when they take on Australia in two Rugby Championship games Down Under, with the first to be played next weekend.
Am believes that the team is on the right track and that they just need to improve on a few things, which would allow them to compete against the Wallabies.
“We have played fairly well this season. We will definitely go back to the drawing board and try to tweak a few things, especially with opportunities that we have missed and stuff that we feel like we need to improve,” explained Am.
“But I think the side that we have is a quality side. We have shown it in the past, we have got the experience and going to Australia will be another exciting leg.
“We know how it has gone for us in Australia the past couple of seasons, so it’s going to be another opportunity for us to get a win over there. It’s another big one for us, so we will definitely re-group and see where we can improve.
Looking back at the past weekend’s loss against the All Blacks, Am was one of the standout players for the team, with the vast majority of players putting in a below-par showing as they were comfortably beaten in the end.
Playing in the unfamiliar role of right wing for the majority of the match due to Jesse Kriel going off early for concussion, Am put in an electrifying performance, proving he is a danger wherever he plays.
“I was really gutted with the result, we were going for the win but unfortunately it didn’t go our way,” said Am.
“With the six-two (forwards to backs on bench) split that we have in the team, as a player you slot in where the team needs you at the time. I am a centre and utility back, so I will slot in wherever needed.”
A big area of concern for the Boks should be their defence, after they missed a number of crucial tackles during their win over the All Blacks in Mbombela and again in their loss at Ellis Park.
“Missed tackles do happen but we really back our defensive system. Sometimes it’s just individual missed tackles and it is bound to happen against a quality side like New Zealand who offload and keep the ball moving. So we will just have to find ways of improving,” admitted Am.