THE oddity about Saturday’s Test against Argentina at King’s Park are battles within the squad as players jockey for position in the 31-man Rugby World Cup squad.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has not given every one in the 40-man squad a run‚ but with nothing riding on next week’s friendly in Buenos Aires‚ Meyer will know who is he taking with to the United Kingdom.
He is still faced with tough choices foisted on him by injuries.
Of the 23 that will be doing duty‚ there are five who have a point to prove.
Vincent Koch: Trevor Nyakane’s versatility and Frans Malherbe’s excellence puts Koch in serious doubt despite his breakthrough season and not-so-shabby Bok performances. While Meyer tends to be selective with his experience‚ from a cap perspective‚ he is the greenhorn prop. With Marcel van der Merwe on the bench‚ there will be added pressure on him. Having recovered from a rib problem‚ Koch will now want to prove himself.
Siya Kolisi: This is the hardest position one can try to break into and Kolisi is playing his first Test in nearly two years‚ meaning he will have a hard task proving to Meyer that he deserves to be on the plane to the United Kingdom. Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen still have to return‚ which will make his battle that much harder.
Lood de Jager: In Victor Matfield’s absence‚ the baby-faced De Jager has taken to lineout calling like a duck to water — and with the physicality that Matfield cannot provide. However‚ it leaves the Boks light on leadership and experience‚ and Pieter-Steph du Toit’s return will not make it easier for him considering the Western Province-bound man is a natural No5. De Jager has been retreaded into the position with a degree of current success‚ but has it been enough to guarantee him a trip?
Jean de Villiers: He was always going to be guaranteed a starting place but the Damian de Allende-Jesse Kriel axis has introduced a wanted but unexpected midfield question that needs urgent answering. There is no doubt about De Villiers’s vast experience and class‚ but current form with no international rugby in a long time poses questions. One of them being: Can his body hold up? On the other hand‚ can the Boks afford not to have his leadership on the park after their recent late-game meltdowns?
Lwazi Mvovo: With Kriel being a stock fullback that is being retreated at centre and wing‚ Mvovo’s wing and fullback versatility has now been thrown into serious doubt. He has not had much of a look-in under Meyer’s reign and “squad member” is becoming an unwanted tag. Meyer has been reluctant to give backline players of colour long on-field stints‚ shown by Lionel Mapoe’s farcical two minute debut against New Zealand two weeks ago. Mvovo’s talent is not in doubt‚ but does Meyer have sufficient faith in him? – The Times
Source: RDM News Wire.
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