Recent Super Rugby performances have highlighted the shortcomings in the South African game and why the Springboks will head into the Tests against England in June as underdogs, writes JON CARDINELLI.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus sent his assistant Pieter de Villiers on tour with the Stormers recently. Erasmus’ right-hand man, Jacques Nienaber, is currently Down Under with the Sharks.
It would be interesting to see what De Villiers and Nienaber had to say in their reports, and what the incoming Bok coaches think of their Super Rugby counterparts as well as the state of the South African game as a whole. The results as well as the quality of the performances this year have certainly been a cause for concern.
The South African collective has combined for eight losses in eight games played in Australasia. The Stormers and more recently the Bulls have returned from tour with only a solitary log point to show for their efforts.
The Sharks have lost two games in Australia. At this point, they are favourites to lose their next two matches and extend South African rugby’s losing streak in New Zealand. Since April 2016, the local Super Rugby sides have combined for 14 consecutive defeats in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
South Africa’s best side, the Lions, conceded 49 points in its most recent defeat to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires. That result took the 2018 South African tour tally to nine defeats in as many matches.
REVIEW: Stormers surge, Bulls hit bottom
The Sharks have been an all-round disappointment. The Lions, Stormers and Bulls have played good attacking rugby at times, but have been let down by some poor defence and aerial displays – shortcomings that have hampered the Boks for more than two seasons.
Meanwhile, up north, there is talk of an England implosion ahead of the tour to South Africa in June. England have lost their last three games and, if the British press is to be believed, could lose three more to a ‘resurgent Bok side’.
Like many, I can understand why Erasmus has been appointed. His technical strengths will be a boost to the side. The recruitment of men like Nienaber – who turned the Stormers into the most feared defensive side in club rugby – will help the national team catch up to the likes of New Zealand, Ireland and England in the departments of defence and aerial skills.
However, to go as far as stating that the Boks are ‘resurgent’ is ridiculous. They haven’t had so much as a training session together since December last year.
The England players and coaches have been together for the past three seasons. Unlike the Boks, they have enjoyed some success in recent times, and have reasons to feel that a series win in South Africa is within their reach.
We need a good-news story in South African rugby. A win against Wales in Washington DC – as well as a series victory against England thereafter – would serve as a boost ahead of the Rugby Championship.
The latter result would get South African people thinking and talking about the 2019 World Cup, as well as the subsequent series against the British & Irish Lions in 2021, in a positive way. There’d certainly be good reason to use the word ‘resurgent’ to describe the Boks after three or four wins in June.
All that said, the new regime needs to be brutally honest about where South African rugby is at present. The results Down Under and in Argentina, and indeed a few at home if one recalls the Lions’ loss to the Blues and the narrow victory over the lowly Sunwolves, have served as a reality check. They have highlighted the enormity of Erasmus’ task.
With all this in mind, is it really that surprising to hear that the Bok coach may recall a host of players based at overseas clubs? Erasmus has spoken about selecting players who can add value in certain areas – read defence, tactical kicking and aerial skills – and can mentor the less experienced players included in the wider squad.
One would hope that the Super Rugby coaches have heeded the tactical advice of Erasmus and his lieutenants. De Villiers and Nienaber have travelled with the local teams for the dual purpose of gathering information and sharing tactical ideas. One would hope that new strategies are implemented and that we see an improvement in performances and results sooner rather than later.
The Stormers have turned a tactical corner since returning from tour. The Sharks, however, are in dire need of direction ahead of the most difficult fortnight of their season – a two-game stint in New Zealand. The Lions have to make a change before they face the Crusaders this coming Sunday, and indeed before they embark on their own Australasian tour next month.
The Super Rugby sides have a key role to play in terms of player development, especially at a time when the Bok coaches’ access to the elite players is very limited.
Blind optimism isn’t going to earn the Boks results this June. It’s high time that the local teams started producing results and gave the South African rugby community – and perhaps Erasmus himself – a concrete reason to feel hopeful about a big series win against England.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
