With the Rugby Championship done and dusted, it’s time to sit back and take stock of what we’ve just witnessed.
South Africa finished second to New Zealand, after winning four out of their six matches - the same amount as the All Blacks.
Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe believes France are favourites to win the World Cup next year, and after watching this year’s Rugby Championship, I have to agree with him that the balance of rugby power is shifting somewhat to the north.
Having said that, you’d be silly to bet against the All Blacks and the Boks.
Anyway, here are five takeaways from this season’s southern hemisphere showpiece.
1 SA’S GOT TALENT
If you didn’t know it already, you know it now - SA’s got talent, and heaps of it.
Two of the stars that broke through this campaign is teen sensation Canan Moodie, who made his debut on the right wing and looked more than at home in the No.14 jersey in the last three games for South Africa and No.8 Jasper Wiese.
Consider that South Africa have Cheslin Kolbe, Sbu Nkosi and Kurt-Lee Arendse also in the running in for the right wing position, the 19-year-old Moodie from Paarl is in some serious company. But he’s already proven that he can play at the highest level, and I reckon he will do so for years to come.
The other rookie who really enhanced his reputation is Jasper Wiese. At 26, he is not the youngest in the team, but considering that last season’s United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, Evan Roos, is also pushing for the position owned by Duane Vermeulen, Wiese battled the odds to get his hands on the No.8 jersey.
And following his performances of late, it will be difficult for anyone - even Thor - to take it away from him.
2 This Bok coach will drop you
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was the perfect example of the Springbok management team not giving two cents about reputation.
De Klerk is now in the shadow of Jaden Hendrikse, who perhaps started the year as fourth-choice scrumhalf behind the aforementioned, Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies.
Hendrikse, who can also count as one of section mentioned above about the finds of the season, fits the Bok mould perfectly and at the age of 22, still has a number of years ahead of him in the Green and Gold.
As for De Klerk, he will have to show his mettle at the end of the year, where the Springboks will get to put all their players on display as the squad will include a SA ‘A’ touring party.
The same goes for Cheslin Kolbe on the wing, if he wants to keep hold of his No.14 jersey.
3 Damian Willemse is a 10
The man has starred in every position you have played him in, and after 23 Tests I reckon the 24-year-old is ready to where I think he wants to play - flyhalf.
Forgot the “I will play wherever the team needs me” - brilliant, and you did. But after being played at fullback and centre, Willemse has seen enough of the game from a different perspective to know exactly what is required of him at flyhalf.
And with Handre Pollard not exactly setting the world alight, the time is now for Willemse to wear the Bok No.10 jersey.
4 MARX MUST START
In Bongi Mbonambi, the Springboks have a solid hooker who will do his job well. In Malcolm Marx they have a player who many would argue has no equal in the world.
His ability to disrupt breakdown ball is what makes him an unique machine that SA need right from the start.
Admittedly lineout-throwing has been an issue with him in the past, but there were signs of improvement in the Rugby Championship.
While it’s understandable that they want Mbonambi’s solidity at the start, Marx has proven himself to be a very capable starter. Alongside fellow Bomb Squad member Steven Kitshoff and tighthead Frans Malherbe in the front row, the Boks won the last three games in the tournament.
5 Bench the ou manne
Pieter-steph du Toit, Jesse Kriel, Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Roux are beginning to look lank in die tand in the Green and Gold.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying they should be kicked out of the squad completely - I do believe they still have a role to play in the squad.
But as starters, I can’t see these manne being the best we have on offer anymore.
In the case of Du Toit, 30, it looks like the injuries in recent years have caught up to him and while he could still regain the form that made him the World Player of the Year not too long ago, judging by what was on display in the recent tournament, I reckon it’s time to start moulding a player like Elrigh Louw.
As for Kriel, he still has a number of years ahead of him at 28, and maybe SA don’t have a ready-made replacement for him just yet. But he has not taken his chances this season and it could be time to start looking at the next-in-liners. Besides, at full-strength he is not even in the matchday squad and roping in a young backup now wouldn’t do the first-team squad any harm.
Vermeulen, 36, is a guy you can’t leave out of your matchday squad for a big game, but in Wiese you have an able replacement for him in the No.8 jersey.
Then there’s Willie. At 33, he is not the youngster who excited us with his sidestepping and game-breaking ability back in the day. He is now a solid playmaker, who reads the game well. You need this sort of player on the bench - one who can analyse weakness in the opposition defence and exploit it when he comes on. But as a starter, I reckon his time is verby.
dudley.carstens@inl.co.za