Lions in SA
Bok fullback race narrows
2009-05-20 09:18
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Stefan Terblanche (Gallo)
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Gavin RichThe omission of Stefan Terblanche from the national training squad that gathers next week has narrowed the race for the Springbok No.15 jersey for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
Terblanche, with the exception of his much spoken about blemish against the Waratahs, was consistently good for the Sharks in the Vodacom Super 14, and his calm fielding of the high ball under intense pressure in the Test match like atmosphere of last week’s Durban derby against the Bulls suggested he was the man for the job.
His age – he is 34 – might count against Terblanche when it comes to the long-term Springbok planning towards the World Cup, but it is a fact that several top Boks are probably not going to be available beyond this year as they prepare to move overseas. In that sense, the Lions series, which comes around only once every 10 years, is one that simply has to be won, regardless of where the players might be headed in the aftermath.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, speaking to reporters after the announcement of the 23-man squad which will commence training next Monday in preparation for the warm-up match against a Namibian XV in Windhoek, has not shed any further light himself on who might take up the last line of defence.
He said that he would make his decision on who would play fullback once he has assessed which players in the squad are capable of playing that position. We should be able to answer that question for him: The players in the squad with fullback experience are Earl Rose and JP Pietersen.
Two further names have to be added here because Jaques Fourie, who was in line to play fullback at a stage of the Super 14, is getting married the day after the Namibian game. Zane Kirchner is one of the Bulls unavailable because his team is involved in the Super 14 semi-final on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, when Conrad Jantjes, the incumbent, was injured playing for the Stormers, the name of Pietersen was mentioned as a possible replacement. It is understood that De Villiers is giving serious consideration to this option.
Pietersen did start his career at fullback when current Bok assistant coach Dick Muir selected him for the Sharks straight out of the Jaguars club as a 19-year-old. He had a promising first Currie Cup season wearing the No15, and it was there that he made his debut for the Springboks against Australia at the then Ellis Park in 2006.
However, although it has improved just recently, it was felt that Pietersen did not have a great kicking game for the position, and that will be something that will be crucial against the Lions given that Stephen Jones and Ronan O’Gara, both good field kickers, will be the touring flyhalves.
Switching Pietersen to fullback would mean accommodating Jonghi Nokwe on the wing, and this would leave the Boks with a lack of kicking firepower among their back-three. How are they going to get out of the corners that O’Gara/Jones try to kick them into.
It has been no secret for a while now that De Villiers is a big supporter of Rose, and he did take him on the last end of year tour. Rose does have the added benefit of being a potential back-up goalkicker, something that might be important if Ruan Pienaar recovers from his injury in time for the first Test – and De Villiers includes him.
At this stage the three flyhalf options are Pienaar (not included in the squad because of injury), Rose and Peter Grant, who has played the second half of the Super 14 at inside centre for the Stormers. Rose looks likely to start against Namibia.
The good news though is that De Villiers’ assertion that Morne Steyn of the Bulls is under strong consideration is apparently more than just talk.
If Steyn starts at flyhalf, the need for a goalkicking fullback would be diminished, and Kirchner/Pietersen might find themselves in favour to play there. Kirchner can of course do himself a lot of favour by excelling in the semi-final and possible final.
There are some other curious aspects of this first squad of the year, including the fact that John Smit is the only tighthead, with both Jannie du Plessis and Brian Mujati, the men who did duty against England last time out, omitted. Hopefully that is a sign that De Villiers has decided to heed the calls for the inclusion of CJ van der Linde, currently involved in club rugby in the northern hemisphere.
National training squad: Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis, Wian du Preez, Peter Grant, Adrian Jacobs, Ricky Januarie, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtwarira, Johann Muller, Odwa Ndungane, Morgan Newman, Jonghi Nokwe, JP Pietersen, Earl Rose, John Smit, Juan Smith, Adriaan Strauss, Steven Sykes, Jano Vermaak.