Lucky on the ball: Lucky Sithole takes a close look at the latest Springboks side and sees how, slowly but surely, young talent is replacing the old guard.
There was a special moment in the Stormers vs Ulster match on Saturday during a loose scrum that went largely unnoticed.
Evan Roos, carrying the ball, charged straight at Duane Vermeulen. Vermeulen went down to do the tackle but Roos pushed Vermeulen out the way, leaving the Ulster eighthman sprawled on the ground.
There is no shame in that. There are many mini-battles in the cauldron of the scrum and somebody wins and somebody loses.
But it now seems symbolic.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has announced his 43-man squad for the three tests against Wales in July. Evan Roos is included in the group and the great legend, Duane Vermeulen, one of the great servants of South African rugby, has been left out.
In truth, Vermeulen hasn’t done that much to prove that he should be in the group. But make no mistake, what he brings to a team in confidence and calmness will be missed. And if Vermeulen is left out, how does it happen that Willie le Roux is still in the group?
Another omission that is not surprising, but could come back to bite the Springboks, is that Morné Steyn is not in the squad.
Of the three kickers, Johan Goosen is probably the most reliable. But he will not be a first or second-choice for match day. While Handré Pollard can be unreliable, Elton Jantjies, let’s face it, is not the guy you want to take the pressure kicks. One wonders when Chris Smith will get his chance, as he surely will.
The first match is against Wales on 2 July and already Nienaber has said they will not underestimate the Dragons.
The truth is, there is no evidence to suggest that Wales can come away with too many victories. It is the right time for the Springbok management to test some combinations – provided they really don’t underestimate the opposition.
But in August, South Africa faces the All Blacks, Australia and Argentina, and those teams can’t be underestimated.
Springbok squad:
Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu*, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat*, Ruan Nortje*, Marvin Orie, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw*, Evan Roos*, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie*, Franco Mostert
Backs: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Grant Williams*, Johan Goosen, Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Aphelele Fassi, Warrick Gelant, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse*, Damian Willemse.
* uncapped.
Image source: @NewFrame
