South Africa - State Of The Nation
- 2113
Brighton debacle
consigned to history
The Springboks are over their shocker against Japan and are on the way to the
quarter-final. While a good performance against the USA would be preferable, it
is not a crucial game in that a few first-choice players need to be rested, a
few of those fortunate to be at the World Cup need to play, and no campaign
momentum is to be gained by a midweek fixture against the USA when the Boks are
already in the play-offs.
Steyn and Paige
Choosing Rudy Paige as third scrumhalf ahead of Cobus Reinach, Faf de Klerk, and
Francois Hougaard was Heyneke Meyer’s most controversial selection. Wednesday
is likely to be Paige’s only game in the green-and-gold, at this World Cup at
least, and there will be much interest in his performance, albeit against the
number 16 team in the world. Why Meyer saw the need for Morné Steyn as a third
flyhalf , when he already had Handré Pollard and Patrick Lambie, remains a
mystery, but Steyn should get the opportunity to end his Bok career as a World
Cup player, and add to his Bok points tally, on Wednesday.
Selection
quandaries ahead
Whom would you select for the quarter-final starting team? Du Plessis or
Strauss as hooker? Pollard or Lambie at flyhalf? Alberts or Burger at
blindside? Matfield or De Jager as Etzebeth’s lock partner?
Currie Cup
defence in tatters
With the entire Springbok squad obviously out of the Currie Cup, and so many
South Africans contracted to overseas clubs, what is left of the Currie Cup is
a much watered-down version of what had for many decades been a magnificent competition.
The Lions have been wonderful; the other teams each in turn disappointing. The
real concern of Currie Cup 2015 is the paltry defence, with a host of tries
being scored each week against disorganised defences. The emphasis on attack is
fine as far as it goes, perhaps providing fun for the few spectators and TV
viewers still interested, but the weak defensive structures are a worry,
especially since many of these players would hope to be playing Super Rugby
next year.
Eastern Province
horror show
How sad a situation is it for South African rugby when the Eastern Province
Kings players feel the need to wear white armbands in a Currie Cup match to
protest against the non-payment of salaries to players
and management? There were salary payment tissues in June and July, again in
August, and now again at the end of September. SARU has prevailed on SANZAR to
allow EP Kings back into Super Rugby 2016, but the current EP chaos bodes ill
for next year.