It has been a few days since the defeat to Ireland and the emotion of the loss has died down and one can dissect the performance under the cold, harsh light of day. The Boks had the opportunities to win the match and in order to be the best team at the RWC they couldn’t afford to let those opportunities slip. As the tournament progresses the margin for error becomes less and less with little room to manoeuvre. So let’s take a look at what we know and what we don’t:
What we know: The Bomb Squad is for real
This set of players is the real deal and has the power and skill to turn a game on its head with the brute power of Ox Nche or the outrageous skill of man mountain RG Snyman. The tempo and momentum changes almost the moment the bench players are inserted into the game and whether it is a 6/2 or a 7/1 split is a moot point as it requires the same thing. Huge impact from the forwards and versatility of the backline players to play in multiple positions and provide no drop off. The Boks will go as far as the bomb squad allows and I still think they are powerful enough to help the Boks raise the Webb William Ellis cup.
What we don’t know: Tactics
The evolution of the Boks has been well documented with the attacking minded players given free reign to test the opposition on multiple fronts. The forwards have had a wide array of attacking moves off the line out but every game seems different. I am all for the horses for courses approach depending on the team they are playing but you still need to hang your hat on one point of attack – in the case of the Boks the maul which has been used sparingly. It is hard to know how they want to attack off the maul which I am hoping is the Boks working out which moves work the best because they seem incoherent at best. They have little time to get this figured out as the quarter final is only a match away where they will almost certainly play the back ups against a weak Tonga team.
What we know : Scrum is not the weapon it was
The last RWC was a feast for the Bok front row with opposition falling at their feet and penalties aplenty. The Bok scrum is still a strength but the penalties and field position it gives is no longer guaranteed. A combination of how the scrum is referred to and also teams catching up on the technical aspects have led to the Boks not using it as a weapon. Thi scrum is by no means weak and will win some penalties but it wont give the opportunities it once did. I think the management know this and realise that especially in the first 50 minutes before the bomb squad comes on the kicking game needs to be on point to get the Boks into the right positions on the field.
What we don’t know – Will Handre Pollard play and where
Handre Pollard has been parachuted into the squad with the understanding that he offers a reliable boot and a steady hand on attack and defence. The question remains where do you pick him? At 10 and drop Manie Libbok who has been the key ingredient to the Boks attacking form in the backline. The alternative is at 12 but then De Allende falls away after being one of the Boks more consistent performers and a real matchup nightmare on attack. It is a very tough decision as it affects the makeup of the backline massively and without a long runway for Pollard to prove he is ready. This a massive risk picking him mainly on his reputation as a cool headed campaigner but that is why Jacques and Rassie are paid the big bucks to make the hard calls. My feeling is kicking outweighs the attacking abilities of Libbok but it is still a very risky move.
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