Gerber: stick to the tried and tested
GERBER: HAS FAITH IN DE ALLENDE-AM CENTRE COMBINATION
When it comes to selection of the Springbok midfield for the Rugby Championship, that is if the Boks take part, national coach Jacques Nienaber should probably not “fix something that ain’t broken”, says former midfield maestro Danie Gerber.
Although the name of Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been mentioned after strong performances for the Sale Sharks in the English Premiership, Gerber believes that Nienanber should still stick with Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.
De Allende now plies his trade with Munster in Ireland, while Am has recently renewed his contract with the Sharks and has been mentioned as a possible Bok captain if Nienaber is to send an under-strength side to the Championship as has been speculated in media reports.
“I think Damian and Lukhanyo did very well for the Boks at the World Cup in Japan last year and I don’t see any reason why that partnership should be broken up,” said Gerber.
“Like with any partnership it takes time to grow and it has been exactly the case with Damian and Lukhanyo, who have become stronger as a combination every time they played together,” said Gerber.
Gerber, who scored 19 tries in 24 Test matches, said, however, the pressure remained on the duo to retain the form they displayed under National Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.
The name of Janse van Rensburg has been prominently mentioned after he was named as one of seven Sale Sharks to take part in a Bok camp, with the venue and date still to be confirmed.
“Rohan has displayed some good form and the coach will probably look at growing squad depth and experiment a bit, so the pressure will be on Damian and Lukhanyo to show that they still have the form that made them so great at the World Cup,” said Gerber.
Gerber also said he fully understood why SA Rugby is delaying it’s decision whether or not to take part in the Championship.
“I spoke to somebody the other day high up at Saru who said SA Rugby are very concerned about the lack of preparation time for the Championship with local rugby still not having started yet.”