We’ve made huge progress since losing in Cardiff, says coach Coetzee
THEY were dubbed the worst South African side ever seen on these shores after the Springboks crashed to a woeful defeat in Cardiff 12 months ago.
The 27-13 loss, the eighth of the calendar year, was enough to prompt a statement from the South African rugby president Mark Alexander, outlining plans for an overhaul of the country’s rugby administration.
As for head coach Allister Coetzee, the end appeared inevitable.
“He will be lucky to even make the journey home without finding a P45 stuffed in his menu on the plane”, read one match report on the Cardiff debacle.
The report went on to describe the 2016 class as a “pathetic impression of everything the Springboks represent”.
Yet, a year on, Coetzee is back in Cardiff, preparing his side to face Wales once again. Here, we look at the state of a South African rugby side still desperately trying to rediscover former glories... HOW HAS 2017 BEEN FOR THE SPRINGBOKS? Better than the previous year that’s for sure, but certain results suggest all is not a bed of roses in the South African camp.
The campaign started with promise as France were whitewashed 3-0 over the summer.
The Boks followed that up with encouraging home and away victories over Argentina in the The Rugby Championship; there was a 23-23 draw with the Wallabies in Perth before the wheels came hurtling off in spectacular fashion against the All Blacks.
A 57-0 defeat in Albany ranked as one of the darkest days in the proud history of South African rugby.
“My heart bleeds for the Springbok jersey, for every player who ever played in the jersey!” was the reaction of former second row Kobus Wiese on
The Boks recovered to draw again with the Aussies in Bloemfontein and push the world champions all the way in a Cape Town thriller.
But Coetzee’s future was back in the spotlight when a new-look Ireland put South Africa to the sword 38-3 in Dublin at the start of this northern hemisphere tour.
The Boks have saved some face with wins over France (18-17) and Italy (35-6) in recent weeks, but reports from the Rainbow Nation suggest Coetzee’s tenure will be brought to an abrupt end next month with new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus — the former Munster head coach — ready to make changes at the top.
South Africa go into tomorrow’s game ranked fifth in the world, but Scotland are closing in. HOW STRONG IS THE SIDE TO FACE WALES ON SATURDAY? Last year, the Springboks fielded an unrecognisable starting line-up, particularly behind the scrum, where just 40 caps were shared between the entire back division.
This time around there still aren’t many Boks players who will be viewed as household names for the 66,000 or so Welsh fans who will in the Principality Stadium, but enough to suggest they will be a far sterner prospect.
Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira, for so long the cornerstone of the visitors’ scrum, is out injured so the flamehaired Steven Kitshoff, who has been playing with Bordeaux in France, steps up.
Lood de Jager and skipper Eben Etzebeth have established themselves as one of the most fearsome secondrow pairings in the world game, however, plenty of experience has been ripped from the pack with Bath’s Francois Louw recalled for club duty (unlike Taulupe Faletau), while No. 8 Duane Vermeulen is back on the Cote d’Azur with Toulon.
Keep an eye on dynamic Stormers back-rower Siya Kolisi; hooker Malcolm Marx produced one of the individual displays of the year against the All Blacks in Cape Town, while there is plenty of excitement surround a first Test start for flying wing Warrick Gelant.
However, there remains question marks over the defensive qualities of the Boks’ back line, an area Wales will surely try to exploit.
In all there are just three survivors from last year’s defeat – de Jager, centre Francois Venter and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit. South Africa (v Wales): Andries Coetzee; Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Francois Venter, Warrick Gelant; Handre Pollard, Ross Cronje; Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw; Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager; Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dan du Preez. Reps: Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Dreyer, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem, Louis Schreuder, Elton Jantjies, Lukhanyo Am.