VIDEO: Bok roulette without a gun
Jacques Nienaber did his best tap dance to avoid calling it a World Cup trial, but admitted it is a last chance to ‘perform’ before the announcement of the World Cup squad.
Argentina host South Africa in Buenos Aires on Saturday, a World Cup warm-up match of significant importance for both teams.
For most ‘pundits’ it is a game in which numerous players will be desperate to impress Nienaber.
The Bok coach will reveal his selections on Tuesday in Johannesburg, so the match at the 50,000-seat Estadio Jose Amalfitani offers a final chance to shine.
However, Nienaber suggested that while it is an ‘opportunity’ to play in a high-pressure international in front of a hostile crowd, in the last game before the squad is announced, it is unlikely to impact of his decisions..
“They are fortunate that they get the opportunity to play this week,” he said of the matchday 23 at Estadio José Amalfitani.
The Bok coach reiterated the well-documented statement that there are not two separate squad – or ‘A-Team’ and ‘B-Team’ – just a squad of 40-odd players.
“We have given 48 players opportunities in the course of the last four games,” he said of the three Rugby Championship outings and Saturday’s warm-up fixture.
“Our focus was, firstly, to win the Rugby Championship,” Nienaber said, adding: “We let ourselves down in 20 minutes [the first quarter against New Zealand].
“The lesson from that is that – going into the World Cup – if you are not on song from minute one, you’re out of the competition.”
He said on the flipside there was a need to ‘spread’ the game minutes among all the players.
(WATCH as Jacques Nienaber explains to @king365ed why the warm-up match against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires will not impact his World Cup team selection…)
“We didn’t want to go into the World Cup with players that are cold and not game ready,” the coach said.
“For us it was a balancing act between performing in the Rugby Championship and also creating squad depth – ensuring the squad is game ready.
“We didn’t want any not having played for three months.”
He made it clear it is not a ‘do or die’ situation at Estadio José Amalfitani on Saturday.
“There are no guns against any heads – not last week, when it was their [those players’] last opportunity, and not this week, when it is this team’s last opportunity.
“We wanted to manage the load and get everybody rugby ready,” Nienaber said, adding: “Some guys had an opportunity last week and some are getting an opportunity this week.
“Obviously the selection will happen after the Test.”
Backline starters needing to sparkle include wing Canan Moodie, inside centre Andre Esterhuizen and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach.
Among the forward starters, there is a lot at stake for props Trevor Nyakane and Thomas du Toit, locks Jean Kleyn and Marvin Orie and flanks Franco Mostert and Deon Fourie.
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