No rest for 'tired' Boks
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:34
Are Bryan Habana and Pierre Spies in need of a break? (c) Gallo
It is unlikely that Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will make major or indeed any changes to the Springbok side, as they start building towards their final Tri-Nations Test of the year.
The Boks tackle Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The Springboks defeated Australia 44-31 in Pretoria after a poor first half performance and a gutsy show after the break.
The Wallabies squandered numerous opportunities.
Despite De Villiers' admittance that there are a number of players who have far exceeded the ideal of 1 600 playing minutes per year - captain John Smit, wing Bryan Habana and the country's third centurion, Victor Matfield - the same players will most probably feature in Bloemfontein.
"Yes, they are a bit overplayed," De Villiers said.
"All those minutes playing and training get to the legs, so we need to manage them."
De Villiers made it clear that rest "won't be forced" on the players - and despite more than 6 300 training minutes in the Super 14 and 1 000 in preparation for Test matches, they will probably run on the field again.
Habana in particular is as far as he could be from the player who became the darling of South African rugby with his speed and try-scoring ability, and on Saturday presented the Wallabies with two tries in addition to other blunders. His work rate, probably his greatest asset, is down and it would be to his advantage if one of the younger wings such as Lwazi Mvovo, Gerhard van den Heever or Bjorn Basson got a run in his place.
Gio Aplon, of course, after Friday's good showing for Western Province, despite their loss, should be the front-runner for the spot after some solid performances in the Bok jersey to date.
Aplon and Blue Bulls loose forward Dewald Potgieter have, according to media reports, been called up to train with the squad in Bloemfontein this week.
However, there was no confirmation forthcoming from the Bok management.
John Smit is also not nearly the player he should be, and it would be a courageous and wise move from De Villiers to let Chiliboy Ralepelle start in his place.
He was, after all, quite impressive when he replaced Smit at the weekend.
Whether De Villiers and his management team should be led by what the players want, and not what they probably need, is a moot point.
Matfield, for example, on Friday said he just "wanted to play rugby. I'll play another 10 Tests if needed this year," he said.
But will that be to the team's long term advantage?
These three senior players, as well as others like Morné Steyn, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Pierre Spies and Schalk Burger might get their rest when the Boks tour the UK on a Grand Slam tour - including a match against the Barbarians at the end of the year.
Smit, on the South African Rugby Union's fan forum BOKzine, admitted there is a possibility that he and some of the other senior players would be rested for the tour, but added that it was still to be decided.
SAPA