Resting Rossouw is perplexing
Why does Danie Rossouw get preferential treatment when other players also need a break? rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball asks some questions of Peter de Villiers’s latest Springbok touring squad.
Peter de Villiers’s decision to rest Rossouw is the correct one, but the question that begs asking is why haven’t other over-played Boks been treated similarly?
De Villiers said midway through the Tri-Nations that Victor Matfield, Morné Steyn and Bryan Habana’s performances were being negatively affected by strenuous amounts of game-time, but the trio will still tour.
Rossouw was also on a four-week conditioning course in September and October, but now De Villiers has decided rest Rossouw to have him at his best next year. What about having Matfield, Steyn and Habana at their best next year?
‘I don’t think the players are tired. There are new horizons to explore and we want to bring hope for the nation,’ was De Villiers’s response on Saturday. But why then the decision to rest Rossouw?
Another player who could have done with a break is Schalk Burger. Burger took a heavy chest knock in the final, which kept him flawed for a lengthy period in the first of half. Although he got up and completed the match, Burger doesn’t go down for minor injuries.
While it’s clear that the selection of this quartet, among others, has been done as De Villiers is under pressure to win, he could have done with Rossouw’s bulk and physicality in northern hemisphere conditions. Rossouw’s versatility in covering second and back rows would also have been a boon.
The extent of Burger’s injury hasn’t been revealed, and there is the real possibility Keegan Daniel could start against Ireland on Saturday. Even if Burger is deemed fit, it’s doubtful he’ll be at his abrasive best after an uncompromising Durban final.
While Daniel has been rewarded for a good campaign, it further emphasises De Villiers’ inconsistent selections. Since being in charge, his first-choice loose trio has been Pierre Spies, Burger and Juan Smith. However, when you add other players tried in those positions in Bok colours, it shows how confused De Villiers is. Luke Watson, Ryan Kankowski, Ashley Johnson, Davon Raubenheimer, Heinrich Brüssow, Jean Deysel, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Joe van Niekerk, and now Daniel and Willem Alberts have all been selected.
De Villiers has failed to find the balance of picking on form and consistency over an extended period, compared to picking on emotion and a few good games. All this from a coach who promised not to bow to public sentiment when selecting his side. However, Daniel wasn’t in the 39-man training squad, but is included in a later one ahead of loose forwards Duane Vermeulen and Deon Stegmann, who were in the original group.
In announcing his side, De Villiers stressed how the selectors had made the decisions on who tours and who doesn’t – a poor attempt at absolving himself from any of the blame or consequences. ‘The selectors have given me this squad… I’m grateful to the selectors for giving me back-up players in case of injury who can do the job,’ was the coach’s constant line on Saturday night. But De Villiers was the one who fought for months in contract negotiations at the start of his tenure, insisting he have final say on team selection.
The fact is – with the exception of Rossouw and some injuries that are part of international coaching – over the next five weeks De Villiers again has the best players the country has to offer and the strongest 30-man squad out off all countries that will play in November. The only way he’ll be able to keep his job is three wins out of four – at least.
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