New players to bolster Boks?

So the performance of the “more physical” Springboks left much to be desired. The pumas out played the Boks in every aspect of the game. Our supposedly more physical pack was nowhere to be seen as they dominated us at the breakdowns and at scrum time. The Boks who would have wanted a bonus point win from their trip to South America were shown how to play rugby. Our single minded game plan to kick the ball and use our forwards did not work and to add insult to injury Argentina using the same tactic were able to dominate us. We came home with our tales firmly between our legs and a lot o think about before we head to Australia. Things aren’t going to get any easier especially facing the number 2 ranked team in the world followed by the world champs. A lot needs to be done in order to perform against the Wallabies, new personnel and a new game plan.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has seen the light and has included Duane Vermeulen and Johan Goosen as well as Francois Louw and Juan de Jongh, players who all add excitement to the team. Vermeulen and Goosen have been injured but now they get their chance to show what they can do. There are many players who are out due to injury but we have a wealth of talent to fill or even better there positions. Other possible players I think should be called up: the Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorious, he adds spark and excitement to any team he plays for and the partnership of him and Goosen would be a bonus. Heyneke Meyer is always stressing the fact of tested partnerships. The Sharks centre Paul Jordaan, he is well versed at playing centre or wing and has explosive pace to break any line. The Lions flank/eighth man Josh Strauss who captained the Lions to a Currie Cup Championship last year and offers a lot in terms of speed, power and tons of heart.

The coach is on the right track with the players he has included and hopefully can improve on the performance against Argentina. South Africa has 2 big centers in De Villiers and Steyn and Blitz wings in Habana and Mvovo. Yet we don’t use them, we persist with the up and unders instead of holding the ball and using our 100 plus kilogram centers to break the line. We need to use our backs in order to compete with Australia and New Zealand.