Let’s first get this out of the way – Springbok fans and critics alike may be jumping up and down in calling for Allister Coetzee to be fired, but it’s not going to happen.
As much as some of the administrators in South African rugby are problematic, even they realise that it is too risky to get rid of a head coach after just one season in charge.
But the fact remains that Coetzee cannot continue to drag the Boks through a “traditional” style of play and expect different results.
Clearly the 57-15 annihilation from the All Blacks didn’t have the desired effect, as Coetzee crept even further into his conservative shell for the England Test by picking three locks and an old-style big blindside flank at openside, and instructing his forwards to “beat them up”, as Ben Youngs described the Boks’ usual physicality.
Then Rudy Paige, Pat Lambie and Willie le Roux had to kick the leather off the ball, and hope for goalable penalties in the opposition half. Such tactics gave the Boks nine points, and by the 50-minute mark, the game was over when England went up 30-9.
That plan hasn’t worked well in 10 Tests …
Yes, the defence is a problem, but that is what happens when you have three different defence coaches in five months, and pick players out of position and others who have come up short before.
Willie le Roux was dropped following a poor series against Ireland, yet he is suddenly back at No 15. It is believed that Jesse Kriel was going to get a chance at fullback before he got injured against the Barbarians, which made it difficult for Coetzee. But even Johan Goosen would’ve been a better bet, and Ruan Combrinck could also be an exciting option there.
Le Roux made all his usual errors and still presents a generally negative body language. Where’s the old Willie who used to create magic?
Damian de Allende’s energy of 2015 is still missing. He stands so deep that by the time he builds up a head of steam, he hasn’t reached the advantage line.
Francois Venter’s solid if unspectacular attacking game is not enough to compensate for a questionable defence, and he was caught out following the ball in England’s first try by closing in next to De Allende instead of keeping his defensive shape.
Lambie has hardly played this year due to injury, and his rustiness is affecting the Bok rhythm, even within a conservative strategy, while the less said about the unbalanced loose trio, the better. Why did they not bother to contest the England lineout?
But the overall issue is the Boks’ fear of wanting to take a risk, or try something when they have the ball. And the notion that you can’t attack in wet conditions has been rubbished for years by the All Blacks and Wallabies, and Eddie Jones’ England on Saturday – just look at that opening try by Jonny May, which came directly from a set-piece, something that is normally difficult to achieve.
Even if South Africa scrape wins over Italy and Wales, it will just paper over the cracks. Coetzee has said one thing off the field, but his team’s performances on it have indicated something else. He has spoken about wanting the players to hold on to the ball more, but it was handled almost like a hand grenade at Twickenham, considering the amount of kicking that was done. Again, it doesn’t mean there isn’t place for a classy, rolling tactical kick that sets up a lineout inside the opposition 22 – like the one from Le Roux on Saturday.
But it’s all about positive intent, and that is missing from the Boks under Coetzee. So much so that he blamed the defence problems on “maybe it’s because we became obsessed with ball-in-hand rugby and being expansive”. He was at it again at Twickenham, stating that “I think Test-match rugby is not about how well you attack”.
Of course, Test rugby is not only about how well you attack, but surely Coetzee understands that it plays a major part in the modern game.
Coetzee could freshen up the team for the Italy Test by pairing the fit-again Bryan Habana with Jamba Ulengo at wing, and reinstating the likes of Lionel Mapoe and Elton Jantjies to play alongside another Lions star in Janse van Rensburg.Nizaam Carr simply has to start at openside flank, and Pieter-Steph du Toit must move back to No 5 lock.
A 40 percent win ratio is totally unacceptable already. But the bigger picture is next year, and the build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
If Coetzee doesn’t introduce more agile players and modern style of play, the Boks may just be left behind permanently by the All Blacks, England and Wallabies. Coetzee would be in real danger of being told “Don’t come Monday” by SA Rugby. And that message should be sent by fax, because that’s how antiquated Bok rugby is at the moment.