Stalwarts back on duty as Meyer resists overhaul
PADOVA: Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is unlikely to totally overhaul his team today for Saturday’s Test against Italy.
After the Boks’ 31-28 victory over England last week, one may have thought the Italy game represented the ideal chance for Meyer to rest stalwarts like captain Jean de Villiers, vice-captain Victor Matfield and No 8 Duane Vermeulen.
But that won’t happen as the Boks were stung by the defeat to Ireland in the opening tour match and regard the Italians as a much tougher proposition on home soil than they would be in South Africa.
So Meyer is set to field all his big guns against Italy at the Stadio Euganeo this weekend, although he will be missing tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis Burger.
Du Plessis was officially ruled out on Monday night with a hamstring strain, while Burger has left the squad as Meyer wanted to grant game time to the other loose forwards against Italy.
The two real options for Meyer at tighthead prop are Cheetahs front-rower Coenie Oosthuizen and Lions No 3
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Schalk Julian Redelinghuys, while his provincial teammate Ruan Dreyer also joined the squad in Padova yesterday.
Oosthuizen has the inside lane as he was the back-up for Du Plessis and came off the bench against Ireland and England. But he is still learning the ropes of tighthead play as he is actually a loosehead, with the uncapped Redelinghuys a specialist tighthead.
Meyer will probably go with Oosthuizen due to his greater experience of 19 Tests.
With Burger out, Teboho Mohoje is the clear favourite to wear the No 7 jersey. But Western Province No 8 Nizaam Carr could be the biggest beneficiary of Burger’s absence.
Carr is competing with Lions duo Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel for the loose forward bench spot, and while Whiteley has two Test caps to his name, Carr is the most versatile of the three.
The 23-year-old is able to play all three loose forward roles, and while he is a classy No 8, he was outstanding as an openside flank for the Stormers in Super Rugby.
He is a dynamic ball carrier, and his flexibility may see him in line for a Test debut on Saturday
A player who stood out in both Tests is openside flank Marcell Coetzee.
Regarded as a workhorse and ball-carrier, he has adapted his game to make a greater contribution on defence and to contest the ball on the ground.
He still has some way to go to match Francois Louw as a ballstealer, but he is getting there.
“I think back to Marcell Coetzee last year, a real raw talent,”said Bok breakdown specialist coach Richie Gray. “When you look at his form through Super Rugby, and what he’s done this year, I think he’s done a fantastic job.”
While Italy are likely to be outgunned by the more efficient Bok forward pack, they do boast a formidable loose trio who will make life tough for Coetzee, Mohoje and Vermeulen at the breakdowns.
However, the Boks won’t be caught napping.
“I think Italy have really developed as a nation, and I think (coach) Jacques Brunel has done a great job with them,” Gray said.
“It’s going to intense match.”
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