Bok Bs lack sting

One of the major considerations when undertaking a tour which comprises of a midweek team component, is that no matter what the motivation or composition of that team, the host province or club is going to treat the match as the real deal.

They want the Springbok scalp and no matter the spin, whether it is dirt trackers or the test team, it is still a Springbok scalp.

The pride of those chosen for the tour is at stake, both individually and as a team, but the sheer intensity of the contest that awaits them each time is immense. That is the beauty of a dirt tracker tour. It presents the second stringers with the opportunity to show their mettle in the face of this challenge.

The Springbok “Second Stringers” took a beating on Friday night and naturally we as supporters are bitterly disappointed. To start off, selections were surprising to say the least and then we had to stay up a little later than we may have liked to witness a capitulation of note. Our supposed second best team versus the second team of last year’s club champions.

The condemnation of Peter de Villiers’s selections for the tour has been deafening, and then as if choreographed, the team delivers a performance such as that.

Firstly let’s look at that selection. South Africa has a widely diverse culture and like it or not, the composition of just about every team, council, board or group is measured by the demographic representation of the different cultural groups. Cry as we may, it is a system which is inherent to our history and therefore culture and will not disappear in our lifetime. At the moment, it is still too sensitive a subject to ignore and perhaps it is a measurement which is not given the opportunity to moderate or dilute as our society masters living with each other and becoming a true Rainbow Nation. After all, how can it? It is every politician or community leader’s ‘cheap shot’, the race card, pulled out of the sleeve like a Joker in a game of Rummy.

The Springbok Rugby selections are more sensitive to representing the demographics of our Nation. It is a wealthy sport, has a very high profile and is burgeoning worldwide with South Africa at the forefront. It is the ideal vehicle to hijack.

As an example of what is being alluded to (the hijacking of the sport by politicians), just look at the ridiculous situation of Beast Mtawarira and his eligibility to play for South Africa. He’s Zimbabwean born, South African naturalised, and black to boot, but his place in the Bok squad two years after debut, was questioned.

So with this type of political interference hanging over the heads of the selectors and coaches, why are we surprised when we see the composition of the travel party to Europe for this end of season tour? It is the ideal opportunity to bleed some promising youngsters who just happen to be non-white. In fact, the lack of comment from the politicians about the team’s composition indicates a success on that front and perhaps the need to make waves in other areas, hence the Beast debacle. Cynical?

But the selection consideration aside, the intensity of the contests against Leicester and Saracens should not be underestimated. Saracens, riding high this year, have a strong South African bias, and it is going to be a tough contest. They will be even more determined than Leicester, like Griquas against Free State, Boland versus Province.

So would it not have been wise to have had a little more experience in the Midweek Mix? We know that Ralepelle and Maku are not first choice hookers at the Bulls, in fact 2 and 3, perhaps even 3 and 4 with Gary Botha’s recent return. How much did Davon Raubenheimer shine against the top teams once the top flight players returned and the business end of the Currie Cup arrived? But they all deserved a chance.

Is it not nice to see Heini Adams get his overdue chance in place of Ricky Two-Step? Juan de Jongh was always a shoe-in. Nokwe, well his class is not apparent to all. Earl Rose, wait while I don this bullet-proof vest, showed some glimpses of the class Coach de Villiers sees in him, and Ndungane is already a Bok. So the credentials of those chosen are worthy of their selection.

Was Friday’s loss not perhaps naive management and of course financial opportunism on behalf of SA Rugby. Was it an aloof underestimation of the strength of English Club rugby? The ‘midweek’ fixtures were a belated addition to the itinerary, and applauded as a concept, but how could any coach be expected to mould a team out of 22 players six days after a number of them were involved in a season finale, and indeed after their participation was officially confirmed? Six days which included travelling.

This is where the Springboks were undone. They were quite simply undercooked. Much has been made of the insipid performance of the pack. Yes, they were awful. Scrums were pathetic and they faced a cohesive unit. One would have expected a better showing in this department even with the limited preparation. The technique on show of all eight was at fault, but had they had more time together, this would have improved.

The pack was outplayed in the loose. Competing for the tackle ball was absent, and their clearing of rucks powder puff at best. What was lacking on Friday was leadership. Not leadership from the captaincy as such, but leadership from individuals. No one in the pack seemed to want to stamp his physical authority on the match. Danie Rossouw did at times, but more than one player out of eight needs to do that.

Experienced props Jannie du Plessis and Gurthrö Steenkamp seemed overwhelmed by their poor scrum performance. Neither were a force in the loose, both failing to stamp a physical presence on the match.

So how could the newcomers be expected to shine if full blown Springboks like du Plessis, Steenkamp and Bekker were missing in action? It seems the physicality of British & Irish players is underestimated by the Southern Hemisphere. It is almost as if they have a perception of the quintessential English Gentleman in top hat and tails donning his togs for a gentle game of rugger. But the reality is that these are very tough men, fit and strong and very physical, with a commitment to contact that is almost surprising when encountering it at a beginning of a match. That is so of all levels of the game in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

So this underprepared, young and perhaps tired bunch of Boks met this work ethic on Friday night. They took an early lead, which perhaps falsely confirmed that it was going to be a waltz.

Respect the situation, from the politics to the travel to the intensity of the desire to beat a national team, especially the Boks or All Blacks. The blame should lay squarely on the shoulders of the administrators. There was not enough time to prepare the team for that fixture and that result was always going to be on the cards.

Friday night is the real deal. France are going to be the litmus test. Are we worthy ‘2009 Champions’? That in itself is an unfair question. South Africa has been dominant throughout the season. Super 14 champions, victory over the British & Irish Lions, Tri-Nations Champions. But if the team stumbles at any of the next three hurdles, they will be vilified by the South African public, and their coach tarred and feathered.

As for the dirt trackers. The time together will allow them to gel and we will see a totally different outfit against Saracens.

By Jon Harris