A five-point plan for Coetzee’s woes

Rugby writer highlights five factors coach Allister Coetzee must consider before naming his next squad when the planning is done for those Test matches on September 30 and October 7

BOKS BACK FOR CURRIE CUP

HANDRÉ Pollard (flyhalf) and Damian de Allende (centre) are among seven Springbok players released to play in the Currie Cup this coming weekend, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Springbok duo will join Dillyn Leyds (utility back), Wilco Louw (prop, both Western Province), Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker), Dan du Preez (loose forward, both Sharks) and Rudy Paige (scrumhalf, Blue Bulls) in Currie Cup action for their respective provinces this weekend.

Pollard came on as a second-half replacement for the Springboks against the All Blacks on Saturday in Albany, his first Test appearance since the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He has struggled with an ankle injury for the most part of the season, which limited his playing time.

De Allende has been a member of the national squad this year but he, too, has seen limited action behind the Springboks’ preferred centre pairing of Jan Serfontein and Jesse Kriel.

The Bok squad will reassemble on Sunday in Bloemfontein for their next home match, against the Wallabies, at Toyota Stadium on September 30.

The Boks will complete their Rugby Championship campaign on October 7 with a rematch against the All Blacks at Newlands in Cape Town. – Rugby Reporter of Bismarck du Plessis, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Morne Steyn, Francois Louw, Willie le Roux, Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen (admittedly some of whom have announced their international retirements) well and truly over? For many years the rivalry between the Boks and All Blacks was up there with the best in sport. Now questions are being asked whether that rivalry is even relevant ... that’s how far back the Boks have slipped. So what are they going to do to get back up there? What type of rugby do the Boks need to play to revitalise the battle between South Africa and New Zealand on the rugby field. Do they believe they can match and beat the All Blacks with a fast-paced, attacking game out wide, or would they prefer to be more direct, hammering them in the forwards; the thing that brought them success for 20 minutes last Saturday? And, if Coetzee’s going to want his backs to play the kicking game, then he mustn’t pick players whose first instinct is to run the ball up. Coetzee will have plenty to ponder following the good start to the season, his team registering wins against France and Argentina and drawing with Australia, but things went horribly wrong in Albany last weekend, in the only examination that really matters. The coach has said his team came up against “the perfect storm” in a heavily criticised All Blacks team and that it was a once-off aberration. If that is the case then he has nothing to worry about. Also, he will feel that his selections are the right ones and he will give the same group a chance to set the record straight in Bloemfontein and Cape Town. But the reality is the Boks’ good work up to last Saturday is now under threat ... and you can be sure there is pressure aplenty on Coetzee, his support staff and the players. How he and his squad react in the next few weeks could make or break