VIDEO - 'Box clever': De Bruin on Bok Women spine
The Springbok Women’s management faces some tough calls ahead of the second Test against Canada on Saturday.
The Springbok Women suffered a 20-50 defeat to Canada at the weekend.
They came up short in most areas against the No. 2-ranked side in the world.
After the match, performance coach Swys de Bruin stated that the scoreline was not his team’s focus. Instead, their priority was working on combinations.
For De Bruin and his team, the backline spine is what they need to sort out.
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At the weekend, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Tayla Kinsey started as the halfback pairing, with Nadine Roos at fullback.
At the break, De Bruin moved Roos to scrumhalf, Border back Eloise Webb to flyhalf, and Byrhandré Dolf came in at fullback.
The switch proved to be effective, with Roos adding much-needed pace to the game. Dolf also scored a try when she came onto the field.
The halfback positions are probably the most challenging selection.
The Sharks scrumhalf Kinsey seems to be the preferred choice at No. 9, with utility back Roos as the other option.
Janse van Rensburg is likely to be the flyhalf. However, Roos has been playing at 10 since last year, while it seems like De Bruin’s plan is to convert Webb as another option..
There is also the debate of moving Janse van Rensburg to fullback, while Roos covers 10 and Kinsey 9.
When speaking after the match, De Bruin said he has to “box clever” when it comes to the 9, 10, and 15 spots.
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“Moving Nadine to 9, which I think was fantastic.
“She is one of those players – if you could pick her at 9, 10, and 15, I would – but there is only one of her, so what must you do?”
“Dolf slotting into 15 was really good, and Eloise played 10 for the first time ever.
“So that is the type of thing I have to work out and box clever.”
When asked which position she preferred, Roos said she loves being close to the action.
“With my style of play, I’m a bit of a quicker player – like a little Jack Russell, if I had to compare it to something. They’re always full of energy, chasing something and biting something in the garden.
“So I’m quick, I have the skill and ability to play there [scrumhalf]. I think with the coaches choosing me there, it surely says something.
“Training there this week, it was easy to slot in because I’m already a spine player.
“There were moments in training where they said I have to calm down a bit and give the forwards a breather.
“But it was easy to slot in there, and being one of the spine players, it’s my job to know the game plan.”
