One doesn’t tamper with a winning team, the old adage goes. Springbok coach Peter de Villiers today took it one step further by making only one unforced change to a losing side for Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash against Australia in Durban.
Aussie coach says flyhalf could win or lose series
Perhaps it was to meant to show that the Boks sincerely believe they were not really outplayed by the All Blacks in last weekend’s drubbing at Newlands, but the only unforced change from the starting line-up is a rather sad one.
Percy Montgomery has been relegated to the bench after a poor performance on his big day at Newlands when he became the first South African to play 100 Tests.
The other change to the side that was outplayed by the All Blacks at Newlands is the result of the injury to Bryan Habana that sees Jongi Nokwe recalled on the wing for his second Test.
There is also a switch on the bench where Joe van Niekerk comes in for Danie Rossouw who underwent a scan for back spasms yesterday, while a positional switch sees Jean de Villiers revert to inside centre and Adi Jacobs to the outside.
"We felt Danie needed extra time to recover from his injury so that he is ready to play for us at Ellis Park if he is needed," said De Villiers.
No action has however been taken in rectifying the lack of a fetcher. Luke Watson has not convinced, and Schalk Burger is becoming more and more of a carrier and defender than a fetcher.
In this context Pierre Spies is perhaps somewhat lucky to retain his place. Brilliant though he is with the ball in hand it is unfathomable why Joe van Niekerk, after two big Tri-Nations Tests, was first relegated to the onlookers and will now start on the bench.
Although not a fetcher by any means, Van Niekerk is probably the best the Springboks currently have at the breakdown. He is also one of one of a handful of forwards who are prepared to get involved in this facet with the rest of the forwards fanning out more than working where it matters.
But this is unlikely to change. De Villiers has indicated that he will stick to his original gameplan where the players would be given the freedom of the field.
This approach would have meant that there was no obvious benefit to any more changes.
A gameplan with structure and discipline is needed now, and it can only be hoped that the Boks will take this route on Saturday.
The Springbok team: Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongi Nokwe, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (capt.), Andries Bekker, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson, Enrico Januarie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery.