Bok coach unlikely to buck selection trend

● As much as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber continues to talk up Wales, he is well aware of the imperative to develop his squad for more pressing engagements further down the line.

While a Bok starting XV, and indeed match 23, would almost select itself given the criteria laid down by the coaching group over the last few years, there are a few areas in the spine of the team that need reinforcing.

No 8, scrumhalf, flyhalf, inside centre and fullback have experienced incumbents and even immediate backup but the Bok brains trust would want to develop selection contingencies the closer they get to the Rugby World Cup (RWC) kickoff next September.

They are loath to hand out caps willy-nilly but in the interest of building squad depth players who have not established themselves will need more game time.

The way Nienaber talked up Wales suggests the Springboks will want to put their best foot forward in next weekend’s first Test at Loftus. That means going full throttle, establishing a lead in the three-Test series before wider selection consideration is moved up the agenda.

In the short term, the injuries to No 8 Duane Vermeulen, utility back Frans Steyn and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach may help that objective.

Nienaber, wearing his physio’s hat momentarily, said Vermeulen could be out for between six to 12 weeks but added there is also a more optimistic prognosis.

Steyn’s return is less pressing. If ever the oft-used coaching phrase “we know what we have in...” was applicable, it would be with Steyn.

In Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies and Reinach, the Boks are ordinarily well covered at scrumhalf but if two are injured at the same time, they may have cause for concern.

Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams have been part of the Bok set-up since last year but they need game time if the team is going to boast real depth in a key area.

Nienaber, however, also wants to build continuity in the run-up to the RWC and the series against Wales — who are yet to beat the Springboks in SA — may provide him with a momentary diversion.

Wales arrived here on Friday morning keen to paddle their way out of the sea of negativity that has dogged them for much of the year. They were on the receiving end of a Six Nations denouement very few saw coming.

However, beating the World Cup holders in their backyard in their next Test will bring instant redemption.

At least that is the broad, if generous, view Nienaber has put out for public consumption. “Their average Test caps per player is 36. Their club sides did not reach the knockout stages in the URC, and they had a nice month to prepare.

“I’m not sure they will restart the way they did in Six Nations,” said Nienaber in reference to Ireland catching Wales cold in a 29-7 victory in Dublin.

He went on to compare Wales with the Bok team of four years ago. “When we started in 2018, we were desperate and what do desperate people do? They do desperate things. We changed the way we defend and the way we kick in a week. They are desperate.”

So Nienaber is cautious, for now, but he is likely to tone down the platitudes should the Boks win well in Pretoria, not to mention Bloemfontein a week later.

He will want to operate with a very settled group in the Rugby Championship, while by the time they fly out on their endof-year tour, the world champions are expected to be in full RWC dress rehearsal mode.

There are a few areas in the spine of the team that need reinforcing Jacques Nienaber

Springbok coach