‘We saw where we need to work hard': Not picture perfect for Boks
Without the injured Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff the Boks don't have the depth that made them such a compelling force a year or so ago. Ox Nché and Wilco Louw are rampaging scrummagers but the Bok supply line doesn't carry the same reputational weight.
Ever seeking improvement the coach thrust a brand new front row into battle against Georgia. Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche emerged from their debut with credentials intact, but again not all the images were flattering.
'He made a few errors here and there,' said Erasmus of hooker Van der Merwe. 'Marnus is a future Springbok. He wasn't outstanding but he showed one only really settles after three, four matches before feeling comfortable in the environment.
'Boan did well. He really did well.'
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Daily Maverick
22 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
Springboks face dilemma at No 8 as Jasper Wiese's suspension complicates Rugby Championship strategy
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It's a massive blow for the Boks, who are already without Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom — two outstanding No 8s who have been sidelined with serious leg injuries in recent months. The two matches against the Wallabies on 16 and 23 August should provide the Boks with an opportunity to settle on a back-row combination and rectify the breakdown issues that compromised their attacking momentum in recent fixtures. Ultimately, coach Rassie Erasmus will want some answers regarding his best loose trio and No 8 option before the team departs for New Zealand. Weighing up the options Although the squad is devoid of specialists, several loose forwards have played No 8 before, for club and country. Kwagga Smith and Jean-Luc du Preez have started there in the past and have played there for their respective clubs, the Shizuoka Blue Revs and the Sale Sharks. Cobus Wiese — Jasper's younger brother — has proved a valuable utility player over the years, alternating between lock and blindside flank for the Stormers, Sale and, more recently, the Bulls. Erasmus raised a few eyebrows after he backed the younger Wiese to start at No 8 against Georgia in Mbombela. The Bok coach may persist with that experiment at some point over the next three Tests, even though Wiese has two caps to his name. Stormers No 8 Evan Roos has been in and out of the Bok squad since making his debut in 2022. There has been plenty of debate around his aptitude for the position at Test level, and whether he is better suited to the openside flank position. The Boks have enough options at No 6 at present, given that World Cup winners such as Siya Kolisi, Smith and Marco van Staden are all fit and available. Smith started at No 8 against the British & Irish Lions in the first Test of the 2021 series and was routinely exposed under the high ball. When Jasper Wiese was ruled out of the big series against Ireland last year, Smith stepped into the breach and delivered a mixed showing across the two matches. Perhaps those performances showed why Smith is less suited to a starting role, as opposed to being less suited to a role at No 8. Over the past eight years, the quintessential utility player has been deployed at flank as well as No 8 in the closing stages of big Tests, as part of the Boks' Bomb Squad strategy. Removing him from the bench may take away an essential ingredient from what is a potent and evidently successful formula. Like Smith, Du Preez and Cobus Wiese cover multiple positions and are ideal Bomb Squad candidates. However, if they are to fill the void as the starting No 8, they will need to take on more specific roles at the kick-off, and on attack and defence. Both have been retained for the Rugby Championship, which suggests that Erasmus has seen something he likes in their recent performances. Back-row balance Because of injuries and suspensions, the Boks haven't been able to field their strongest back-row combination of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese over the past four matches. Kolisi missed the first three matches because of minor neck and Achilles ailments, and Du Toit featured in the second Test against Italy and the one-off against Georgia, after returning from a lengthy injury layoff. Both players are short of a gallop at this level and may need an extended run over the next two Tests, before the intensity ramps up for the clash with the All Blacks. These back-row selections will influence the call at No 8 — and it's worth noting that Cobus Wiese played alongside Kolisi and Du Toit in the most recent battle against Georgia. If fit, Kolisi and Du Toit are likely to start in Auckland. Although Kolisi has been used at No 8 by the Sharks in recent months, Erasmus has given the impression that the Bok captain will focus on the openside position while he is with the national side. Du Toit and Van Staden have also played No 8 at club level, but it would come as a surprise to see either of them starting there at Test level. There are many reasons to be optimistic about the Boks' title chances before the upcoming Rugby Championship, and in most departments Erasmus is spoiled for choice. How the Bok coaches solve the latest back-row puzzle, of course, may determine whether they realise all of their goals in the coming months, or fall agonisingly short. DM Jon Cardinelli is a freelance writer.
Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Bok Women's World Cup preparations boosted by Vainah Ubisi comeback for Black Ferns clash
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IOL News
4 hours ago
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Vainah Ubisi on her journey back to the Springboks: 'Stellenbosch was a nightmare'
Springbok Women's lock forward Vainah Ubisi will be making her comeback against the Black Ferns XV on Saturday at Athlone Stadium. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media Springbok lock forward Vainah Ubisi has revealed that her immense desire to be part of next month's Rugby World Cup in England was the fuel that fired her towards a comeback against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. Ubisi, who has not featured for the Bok Women since last year's WXV 2 clash at the same venue after rupturing her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), was included in Performance Coach Swys de Bruin's starting team yesterday for the historic clash. The Bulls Daisies star has spent the intermittent months down in Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) where she underwent an intensive individual rehabilitation programme. 'When I got injured last year, that's what was in my mind. If I'm going to make it to the World Cup squad, if I'm going to be back in time,' Ubisi told the media. 'It was not easy being alone, doing rehab alone. It was tough. Stellenbosch was a nightmare for me! 'But as time went on, there was nothing else on my mind than the World Cup. So everything that I was doing, it was just for... I want to be in the World Cup squad.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The 22-year-old also feels that being close to the rest of the Bok Women's team also helped her recovery. 'I actually did my rehab in I was there, the team was coming in and me being around the team, I think that actually eased me a little bit,' she said. 'I'm just grateful that I'm back and I was able to be back in time. I wouldn't have done it without... I should just thank the Lord. It wasn't going to be easy without a prayer.' There will be no easing back into the action for Ubisi as she will re-enter the fray against one of the most formidable teams in Women's rugby. The Black Ferns may not have the majority of their world champion team in South Africa, but still boast a host of experienced players aiming to stake one final claim to be part of the WRWC squad set for England. Ubisi's direct competitor Maama Vaipulu certainly fits that category with the abrasive Auckland lock expected to come out firing at Athlone Stadium. 'It is not going to be an easy game. We know that it's not their first team, but we just shouldn't take that as an advantage,' Ubisi said. 'We should give our best. Because they're also not going to relax and say we're just training in South Africa. I think we're both going to come hard at it. 'I think it's just going to be a dog's fight at Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.' Anathi Qolo, who also returns to the team she captained at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar last month, will partner Ubisi in the second row after De Bruin made a raft of changes to the side that face Canada in the last Test against Canada in Gqeberha. Captain Babalwa Latsha is one of only four starters in the pack that will wear the same jersey again following their Canadian tussle match, while there are also numerous changes to his backline. The most significant has De Bruin opting to revert Nadine Roos and Eloise Webb to their regular fullback and outside centre positions with Tayla Kinsey and Libbie Janse van Rensburg combining as the halfback pairing instead. 'We've seen now Eloise at 10, she came through nicely. She prefers 13, so we will still play her there,' De Bruin said. 'But apart from that, you know, the spine, the number is not so important for me if you're 9, 10 or 15, because they're decision makers. 'And so, for example, for Libby to move from 10 to 15 is nothing. In any case, if she plays 10, she defends at the 15 position. S, it doesn't really matter.' Springbok Women's team 15 Nadine Roos, 14 Jakkie Cilliers, 13 Eloise Webb (vice-captain), 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Maceala Samboya, 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 8 Aseza Hele, 7 Lerato Makua, 6 Faith Tshauke, 5 Anathi Qolo, 4 Vainah Ubisi, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 2 Micke Gunter, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie. Bench: 16 Roseline Botes, 17 Yonela Ngxingolo, 18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki, 19 Sinazo Mcatshulwa, 20 Catha Jacobs, 21 Mary Zulu, 22 Aphiwe Ngwevu, 23 Zintle Mpupha.
