All roads lead to Durban
rugby365 columnists Steve Farrell takes a look at the Currie Cup Final and the Springbok team to be announced on Saturday. He tells us why he disagrees with Robbie Kempson.
The build up to the Absa Currie Cup final is well and truly under way after a week’s break, which gave rugby365.com a chance to launch their spanking new UK version of South Africa’s leading rugby website!
The new site is up and running as of Monday, and as I’m sure you are aware of by now, focuses on northern hemisphere rugby. With some cracking Round Two Heineken Cup clashes a thing of the past, catch all the news and latest updates on rugby365.com’s UK site at https://rugby365.com/north/.
The focus this week will shift to the South Africa as the Sharks and the Bulls clash in a Currie Cup Final many are tipping to be a classic. And who’d want to argue with them with the calibre of players from both sides on show?
I mentioned last week that the Sharks would be slight favourites, but in a Final, that favourites tag means diddly squat. It will all come down to who can handle the pressure and take advantage of their opportunities. There will be plenty of chit chat from both camps during the week, but what will matter most will be those 80 minutes between the four lines on Saturday at the Absa Stadium in Durban.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will announce his Bok squad for the end of year tour after the Currie Cup Final.
As is custom every South African has his opinion on who should play and who should stay, and I’m no different! The debate that normally comes up at this time of year is whether to rest some of the ‘top’ Boks and blood some youngsters or whether to take a full strength squad.
De Villiers has no option, he simply has to take with him his strongest available squad if he wants to remain coach of the Springboks for the foreseeable future. Wales, Scotland and England stand in the Springboks’ way, but the South African public will not settle for anything less than three wins. With the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa drawing ever closer, a win for either of the Springboks’ opponents will give the Lions the belief that they can beat the Boks for a second successive series victory.
So who does he pick? I have read with interest Robbie Kempson’s choices for the starting line-up – some bold selections indeed – but who’d want to argue with a former Bok prop? Certainly not me! However I do have some different views to that of Kempson, starting at fullback!
I like his choice of Stefan Terblanche at fullback – he has been a rock at the back for the Sharks – and if selected would deserve his place in the squad. But I can’t see him replacing Conrad Jantjes in the No.15 jersey. Jantjes has done nothing to deserve being dropped, in fact, he enhanced his reputation in the latter stages of the Tri-Nations. He is more of a threat on attack than Terblanche, who tends to kick more out of hand, and for that reason I think De Villiers will stick with Jantjes.
My back-up fullback would be Frans Steyn. The youngster must be tired of hearing were he must play, but I genuinely believe that fullback is his best position (sorry Fleckie), despite him shining for the Sharks at No.12 – his second best position. Steyn has arguably the biggest boot in world rugby, which will come in handy on the damp fields in the northern hemisphere. He has the pace and power to join to the line at pace and has the potential to land some audacious drop-goals from anywhere within 60 metres of the posts. My only worry is as the last line of defence, he might do something silly, but he’ll learn to read the play better as he matures as a rugby player. I’d play him off the bench as cover for Jantjes and Jean de Villiers at No.12.
The former Bok powerhouse picks Jongi Nokwe on the right wing. Nokwe has had a fabulous season and is one of the deadliest finishers around. But I really like the work ethic of Odwa Ndungane. He lacks the out-and-out pace of a Nokwe or Habana, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up with his workrate and his defence. Another factor worth considering is that there will be more kicking on the end of year tour. Nokwe still hasn’t convinced me under the high ball, whilst Ndungane is solid in the air. The Sharks wing gets my pick.
Jaque Fourie or Adi Jacobs? A no brainer one would think. It has to be Fourie…or does it? De Villiers needs to be given credit for picking the so-called supersub Jacobs to partner Jean de Villiers in the midfield. He had a solid Tri-Nations and was a constant menace on attack. his defence came under intense scrutiny, but he didn’t let himself or his team-mates down in that department. But Fourie is a proven world class No.13 and has the experience. He’s back from injury and has a good understanding with De Villiers. His running lines are lethal and his defence is top-notch. It’s harsh on Jacobs, but I agree with Kempson on this one.
I don’t however agree with Kempson’s pick at flyhalf. Ruan Pienaar is a quality performer, we all know that, but he hasn’t convinced me that he is the Boks answer at No.10. He has stated that he’d like to be considered as a scrumhalf and nothing else – clearly this is a good enough reason to play the lad at No.9? Besides Butch James is playing for Bath in England and his knowledge of the conditions, as well as of some of the Boks opponents, will prove invaluable for the Boks next month. It’s got to be Butch I’m afraid. I’d like to see Peter Grant get a chance on tour. He’s cut from the same cloth as James in that he likes taking on the opposition and tends to draw defenders to him, which would free the likes of De Villiers and Fourie outside him.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Kempson with regards to Ryan Kankowski. He’s got to be in the starting line-up ahead of Pierre Spies. Watch these two go head-to-head in the Currie Cup Final on the weekend.
The rest of Kempson’s team seems pretty good to me. I’m not qualified to comment on the technical know-how on front row play, so I’ll stick with Kempson’s pick of the Beast, (who has been outstanding this year), Smit, and Du Plessis.
There are always one or two surprises in a Bok squad, so we will have to wait and see who the bolters are in the squad. But before that, there is the small matter of a Currie Cup Final to be played. It’s going to be a bumper Saturday…enjoy the ride!
Do you agree/disagree with Steve? Email us.
