Form should be Bok coach’s main criteria

It is a week today that Allister Coetzee was unveiled as the Springboks’ new coach. In this time the word transformation has come up often.

It is a week today that Allister Coetzee was unveiled as the Springboks’ new coach. In this time the word transformation has come up often, and understandably so considering the country we live in.

Coetzee was asked about transformation last Tuesday at his press conference and he has had to field questions about it ever since, almost on a daily basis. But his standout response has been that he is excited about the “challenges” he faces.

I, too, am excited about what lies ahead for Springbok rugby. For so many years the Springbok team has been dominated by white players, but imagine how strong and powerful the Boks would be if so many more – read black – players came into contention for the national side.

Let’s just consider the following in terms of options available to Coetzee for the June Tests:

At fullback, the standout performers have been Warrick Gelant and Cheslin Kolbe; no argument, right?

On the wings who is better than Jamba Ulengo, Bjorn Basson, Travis Ismaiel, Courtnall Skosan, Sergeal Petersen, Lwazi Mvovo, or even Sevens flier Seabelo Senatla? Okay, Ruan Combrinck has been excellent for two seasons and is deserving of a look-in, but there’s not much between these men.

In the centres is there a better No 13 than Lionel Mapoe right now; it’s doubtful, but many would say Francois Venter of the Cheetahs, but there’s not that much between them either.

At 12 Juan de Jongh has been on top of his game for years and has the experience, while Elton Jantjies is streets ahead of any other flyhalf.Faf de Klerk might be the scrumhalf with the X-factor (and probably best utilised from off the bench), but for his all-round game Rudy Paige probably ticks all the boxes.

Then there are the loose-forwards ... Notshe, Carr and Kolisi (Stormers); Labuschagne and Kirsten (Bulls), Whiteley, Tecklenburg and Kriel (Lions). The Sharks have Marcel Coetzee (who’s injured), and the Cheetahs have Oupa Mohoje (who’s fit again) and the emerging Paul Schoeman.All of these men is good enough to play Test rugby ... period.

At loosehead prop Beast Mtawarira has done the job for years, and very successfully, but Trevor Nyakane is knocking hard for a starting spot, while Lizo Gqoboka is an emerging talent, and at hooker Coetzee could pick any one of Adriaan Strauss, Malcolm Marx (if fit), Scarra Ntubeni, Bongi Mbonambi and Edgar Marutlulle.

Again, all of them are in excellent form and wouldn’t let any side down.The Springboks in June will have a new-look about them; not because Coetzee has to pick a certain number of black players, but because he’ll pick the form men who just happen to be black.

The Star