De Bruin on South Africa's flyhalf conundrum
There have been numerous questions surrounding who would wear the No. 10 jersey during the Springbok Women’s World Cup campaign.
In recent weeks, the Springbok Women’s management has been tinkering with various combinations, with the halfback pairing under the microscope.
During the first test, which saw Bok Women suffer a 20-50 defeat to Canada at Loftus Versfeld, flyhalf Libby Janse van Rensburg started at flyhalf with Sharks Tayla Kinsley at scrumhalf, while Nadine Roos was at fullback.
In the second half, the Boks’ performance coach, Swys de Bruin, switched Roos to scrumhalf and handed the pivot role to Border back Eloise Webb.
In the second Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, De Bruin decided to start with the Roos-Webb combination, placing Byrhandré Dolf at fullback and Janse van Rensburg played at inside centre, while Unam Tose was on the bench as scrumhalf replacement.
For the majority of the 5-33 defeat, the backline failed to fire due to their lack of experience, compounded by the incredibly skilful Canadian side.
#REACION: ‘I felt if we could finish, it would have been a totally different story.’ Swys de Bruin on @WomenBoks defeat to Canda. https://t.co/98zJAcFLUG
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“It was a tough task for Eloise, who played her first game at 10,” De Bruin said after the defeat to Canada in Gqeberha.
“Apart from one or two mistakes, she recovered nicely, and Nadine played well wherever she was positioned.
“I thought all our steppers were good – Dolfie was superb, Jakkie Cilliars and Zintle Mpupha had some good runs.”
“I’m very happy with all the girls.
“Looking at the combinations, they worked well. Unam Tose came off the bench and did well. Up front, I spoke to the forwards coaches – they are happy with the changes.
“We really couldn’t finish.”
The coach said he had a sense of who would be the flyhalf for the World Cup.
He stated that aside from Janse van Rensburg, Roos and Dolf, who all can slot into that position, he revealed that Mary Zulu is another option.
The Sharks flyhalf Zulu has impressed at the recent Rugby Africa Cup held in Madagascar.
Her blend of precision kicking, sharp decision-making, and cool-headed leadership made her a key figure in this team’s fourth African crown.
“We have a couple of flyhalves. Mary Zulu was good down in the Africa Cup, although it’s a much lower-pressure environment.
“We know how good Libby is at 10, and Dolfie can also play at 10.
“It’s such a vital position, and if you look at Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok team as well, they tried Manie [Libbok] there, then [Handre] Pollard, because you have to look at combinations.
“And [on Saturday] was a pure combinations test after the great second half at Loftus from the same halfback pairing.”
The coach concluded: “I thought Eloise did really well to play your first game at flyhalf under a rush defence.
“So in terms of flyhalf, I’ve got a very good direction as to where we’re going with that.”
