No playing as individuals - Coetzee
Much has been said about how the Springboks are going to approach the three-Test series against Ireland.
|||Much has been said about how the Springboks are going to approach the three-Test series against Ireland.
New Bok coach Allister Coetzee has stressed the need to expand their game plan and the way they have been training, executing moves at pace and looking for space with good passing and kicking, should be an indication that they are moving towards a more expansive approach.
It’s just about adding a bit of panache to go with the Boks’ traditional strengths – power and set-piece domination.
Coetzee’s predecessor Heyneke Meyer also preached a good game, and the Boks showed glimpses of playing with width at times. But like most other South African coaches, Meyer retreated into his shell under pressure.
During his first team announcement as Bok coach yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s clash against the Irish at Newlands, Coetzee picked a team brimming with exciting players. He even handed scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and centre Lionel Mapoe their first starts in the green and gold.
Interestingly, Coetzee selected Pat Lambie at flyhalf ahead of Elton Jantjies, who passed a late fitness test to take up a place on the bench.
While the logical explanation could be that Jantjies, who has been superb on attack this season, hasn’t taken any contact the last few weeks because of a broken finger, it seems as if Lambie’s superior goalkicking record may have earned him the nod.
Lambie is also an impressive attacking player and has the tools to play a running game. So there is no reason why the Boks can’t play a high-paced game with him at No 10.
“We are fortunate to have top quality flyhalves, thank goodness Elton is ready to play. Patrick has shown really good form in Super Rugby after he came back from his injury. His kicking ability for poles... he was really right up there in the 80s,” Coetzee said.
“If you look at the combination with Faf with the left foot and Pat with the right foot, it’s quite a good combination to have at Test-match level. It’s great to have both players playing well, and when the opportunity is there for Elton to have a run I’m sure he will be just as good.”
De Klerk and Jantjies have plenty of freedom at the Lions, and they run the show on the field. De Klerk’s natural game is to take players on around the rucks or take a quick tap if the opportunity arises.
While Coetzee wants them to play the situation and make good decisions on attack, De Klerk is likely to be reined in tomorrow. “It’s called Test rugby because you will be tested in terms of executing your skills without time. There is also a plan that you have to buy into. You have to know your job and make the team function first,” Coetzee said.
“The other stuff you see in movies, where you just do your own thing. Hopefully the players don’t go there and play as individuals and try and hit sixes, because it won’t be good for the team.”
While there are several rookies in the matchday squad like De Klerk and hooker Bongi Mbonambi, there are also a few experienced campaigners like JP Pietersen, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw and Tendai Mtawarira. But there are still almost 400 less caps for tomorrow’s match than when the Boks last played, against Argentina at last year’s World Cup.
TEAMS FOR NEWLANDS
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Rudy Paige 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Jesse Kriel.
Ireland: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best (captain) 1 Jack McGrath. Bench: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Kieran Marmion 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Craig Gilroy.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) Kickoff: 5pm. TV: SS1 - Cape Times