Ken Borland

With 13 players missing from the 23-man squad that beat the Stormers in their last SuperRugby game back in mid-March, Sharks coach Sean Everitt will be anxious that his team’s level of performance does not plummet into the depths of a virtual Kloof Gorge when they travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls on SuperFan Saturday.

Everitt named his 30-man squad for the trip on Thursday and he will be leaning heavily on established combinations like Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit in the front row, locks Ruben van Heerden and Hyron Andrews, halfbacks Sanele Nohamba and Curwin Bosch, and Jeremy Ward and Lukhanyo Am in midfield.

“Saturday’s match is all about preparation, because we’ve been out for six months we need to reinstall and revise our game-plan. We need to make sure everyone understands it and we’re taking a few youngsters up with us to see where they are too in terms of fitting into our system. I’ll be looking at our tempo, accuracy and conditioning because we don’t know where we are right now with those.

“The players we have brought in suit the way we want to play. A guy like Manie Libbok is multiskilled, really versatile and has dangerous x-factor. He offers something in the same mould as Bosch and Aphelele Fassi when we play him at fullback. Werner Kok is also a workhorse and his work-rate epitomises the energy and enthusiasm we want to play with. He’ll start on the wing and then we’ll play him a bit at centre in the second half,” Everitt said on Thursday.

After such a promising season was washed down the basin by Covid-19, the Sharks are in a rebuilding phase and several new faces have the chance to establish themselves in the senior team. Saturday’s match at Loftus Versfeld is an important step in testing the depth of the squad.

“We were happy where we were, but we had been very fortunate from an injury point of view and were reaping the benefits of a long pre-season in which we did a lot of work on the changes to our game. We were on a roll, but dwelling in the past is not something I do, we are looking forward. It was sad for guys like Louis Schreuder, Tyler Paul and Andre Esterhuizen, who were in their last season with the Sharks.

“But it’s all a clean slate now, it’s a whole different competition because the Bulls have done some really good recruiting and the Lions too. We’re going back to the drawing board to see how we can improve. We’ve had some bad luck with injuries and we are missing some quality players like Fassi, Tambwe and Nkosi, but we started preparing a while ago with two squads,” Everitt said.

Players not considered for this weekend’s squad due to injury were fullback Fassi, loose forwards Henco and James Venter, hooker Kerron van Vuuren and wings Madosh Tambwe and Sbu Nkosi.

Squad: Ox Nche, Mzamo Majola, Dylan Richardson, Dan Jooste, Thomas du Toit, John-Hubert Meyer, Ruben van Heerden, JJ van der Mescht, Hyron Andrews, Emile van Heerden, Evan Roos, Adam Mountfort, Celimpilo Gumede, Tera Mtembu, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Sanele Nohamba, Jaden Hendrikse, Curwin Bosch, Jordan Chait, Muller du Plessis, Caleb Dingaan, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Lukhanyo Am, JP Pietersen, Werner Kok, Manie Libbok, Thaakir Abrahams.

The Bulls will be pleased with their performance but will obviously be bitterly disappointed not to get the result they wanted against the Highlanders last weekend.

To outscore a New Zealand team four tries to two is quite a performance and there were so many good things about their display at Loftus Versfeld. They scored a good try through the driving of their forwards and Handre Pollard’s brilliance at the end to put Jesse Kriel away for a try was an example of exquisite timing. It takes quality players to execute that sort of move and cut through the defensive line.

The key talking point of the game, however, was the offsides penalty against the Bulls right at the end. In that situation, you should never be putting doubt in the referee’s mind. Normally there is a designated player on the outside who makes sure everyone is one metre back from the offsides line and you don’t go as hard at the ball on the floor. The fact that the guilty player was four or five players away from the ruck makes it even more disappointing.

With the Springboks, we experienced many games that were that close; the 2012 Test against England in Port Elizabeth springs to mind. They had possession at the hooter and we were locked at 14-14, but we went 24 phases without conceding a penalty to secure the draw. To do that you want numbers on their feet and staying out of the rucks. You look for the opposition to make a mistake, and obviously you need quality tackling in that period.

And you don’t want to put any doubt in the referee’s mind, especially when you have already conceded too many penalties – the Bulls gifted Lima Sopoaga with five shots at goal.

Also, at the back end of the game, the only really experienced forward the Bulls had on the field – someone with 50+ caps – was Lood de Jager. They needed calmness and assurance, some wise old heads. Those small differences can make or break you on the final log.

There was also bitter disappointment for the Lions in Brisbane, where they just weren’t sharp in the first half against the Reds. You very rarely see the Lions forwards being so dominated, but the three tries they conceded in the first half came from bring drilled at a scrum, a lineout drive and a sloppy intercept given away at scrumhalf.

Maybe there was a bit of complacency, the Lions just didn’t have that sharp edge and they woke up too late. You have to give them credit for getting the bonus point though, which could prove very crucial on the final log. It all depends on how they go in New Zealand, but the South African Conference could still be wide open.

The worry for the South African teams – and our national side – is how well the Jaguares are doing. Three away wins on the trot is unheard of and they have all been quality performances by the Argentinians, who are clearly starting to peak at the right time for the Rugby Championship.

Coach Mario Ledesma is starting to bring through some younger players with real talent and belief, which is what we want to see in the Sanzaar competitions, and they will certainly be a handful at home. It would really throw a spanner in the works if one of the SuperRugby conference winners is based in Argentina!

This is also the time of the year when speculation over the Springbok captain heightens. It is a really prestigious job that all the players aspire to and it’s not just about the on-the-field duties but also the ceremonial role off the field. The captain also has to manage the relationship between the coaches and players, which is a real skill in itself.

It’s also the start of a new era in Springbok rugby, so the appointment requires a lot of consideration. There are a few players available who have done the job before, but Rassie Erasmus may have different ideas about what he wants. The two incumbents – Warren Whiteley and Eben Etzebeth – are both injured at the moment and they both bring different strengths to the role.

Eben is more of a follow-me type leader who brings great physicality. Maybe some of that was lacking last year at the end of a long season and maybe he was carrying an injury or two. But there are four really good options at lock for Rassie to choose from, it’s one of the most competitive positions in South African rugby, and Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco Mostert are all world-class.

Warren Whiteley ticks all the boxes: He has good empathy with his team, he always turns up and has a very high work-rate, while also being a good speaker and person. Taking the Lions to two SuperRugby finals must count for something.

Of the SuperRugby franchise captains, Ruan Botha and Burger Odendaal are probably not going to be picked in the national squad, which leaves Siya Kolisi as the other option. He has done a good job for the Stormers and was in the form of his life last year for the Springboks. He would obviously tick a lot of boxes too in terms of the demographics of our country and what most people want to see.

He hasn’t been as influential this year though and I feel he is a bit out of form. He’s been playing a bit like a hybrid six or seven and is not really fulfilling the role of an openside or being an influential carrier.

All indications are though that Duane Vermuelen will make his return to the Springboks this year and he is also an option going forward, depending on where he decides to play his rugby. His body will be a bit tired after the end of the French season and he will need to be managed. The Springboks always do well against the European sides in June and that is why they have been so successful – they hardly ever lose in June in South Africa because the northern hemisphere guys are tired while the Springboks are excited and fresh to play.

So a lot of thought will be needed going into the series against England: Does Rassie choose a captain just for the series or for the whole season, or even nail his colours to the mast and pick someone for the next World Cup? But as the career of Jean de Villiers showed, many things can change in World Cup year …

Interestingly, New Zealand are also under the cosh a bit in terms of the All Blacks captain with Kieran Read being injured and England will be without their captain, Dylan Hartley, when they arrive in South Africa. But our position needs clarity too, which I’m sure will come as the injury situation eases.

John McFarland, the assistant coach of the Kubota Spears in Japan, was the Springbok defence coach from 2012 through to the 2015 World Cup, where they conceded the least line-breaks in the tournament and an average of just one try per game. Before that, McFarland won three SuperRugby titles (2007, 09, 10) with the Bulls and five Currie Cup crowns with the Blue Bulls. In all, he won 28 trophies during his 12 years at Loftus Versfeld.

“When you come in as a new coach, you can’t ask for much better,” Proteas mentor Ottis Gibson said on Monday when asked how he rated South Africa’s performance in their triple-series sweep over Bangladesh that was completed over the weekend.

“When you consider the way we played, I’d like to give the team more than 10/10. It’s gone really well. I know there’s been a lot of talk about the opposition, but we were able to play dominating, front-foot cricket, while also unearthing some new talent like Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder.

“We played the way we wanted to play, we were able to go out and do that, and there’s been a very positive and relaxed vibe in the changeroom. I’ve built up a really nice relationship with Faf du Plessis, he’s honest and very passionate about representing and leading his country. We speak with the same voice and he’s been a very good sounding board,” Gibson said.

The former West Indies fast bowler confirmed that he will be looking after the specialist pace bowling coaching from now on, and he can rest easy that the batsmen are back on the right track given how well they have started the summer with runs aplenty.

“The batting was a huge positive, because there were a lot of questions asked about it in England, they had a tough time in tough conditions that they weren’t accustomed to. I would hope that their confidence is back now because we have scored 10 hundreds across the different formats. It says a lot for the ability and talent of the batsmen that they’ve been able to go out and dominate.”

Gibson said he would still be employing four other back-up coaches – an assistant, and specialist batting, field and spin-bowling consultants.

“It’s quite likely that there will be new faces, I will do the fast bowling myself and I’ve spoken to Charl Langeveldt about that. I’ve given Cricket South Africa my wish-list, guys who I believe can add value, and they now have to make that happen.

“I want to make more use of guys who are working in South Africa, I want to use the franchise system so that those guys can continue with the work if I leave. So there will be four guys plus myself, some key positions that I hope can make a real difference to the country. But I also want to set up a lead bowling and batting coach for the country as a whole, a person who can tell me who the next best fast bowler is, for instance,” Gibson said.

It’s self-evident that the Springboks really played well to beat France 37-15 in the second Test in Durban, but I would say it was the best performance of Allister Coetzee’s tenure as national coach by a long way.

It has been so pleasing to see the Springboks put together two quality wins, in which they have scored eight tries, and it is obvious they have found the right balance between attack and defence.

I must say that I am a little concerned by the silence from the Saru executive because after two excellent performances with Allister Coetzee under pressure, he clearly deserves the mandate going forward.

Nobody did to France in the Six Nations or the home series last year what the Springboks have done to them over the last fortnight and real credit must go to Allister for the team culture he has instilled and the way it is working – that was a sensational victory at Kings Park.

The defence has been the biggest thing that has changed and the Springboks all work incredibly hard off the ball; they sprint on the kick-chase and they get off the floor so quickly. These are the trademarks of a Brendan Venter-coached team – work-rate and physicality.

Siya Kolisi was obviously the standout player with his intercept try and his ability to win ball off the floor, but the whole team excelled.

When they were on their own line for 25 phases and kept repelling the French side, that showed the culture and relationships between the players; attitude and how players feel about the environment always come out in how a team defends, and that was the best defensive performance by a South African side this season.

In terms of attack, it was pleasing to see some very clever plays, guys running short lines off scrumhalf or off the inside backs. When Raymond Rhule broke through off a lineout, the Springboks were clearly targeting the inside defence. We kept finding props with our wingers or hard-running backs.

It is also clear that a tremendous amount of work has been done on the passing and timing of the runs from first receiver; to be able to do this in the face of a rush defence, for example when Pieter-Steph du Toit passed to Coenie Oosthuizen for a sublime try, shows that the attacking play has definitely gone a level up. So hats off to everybody for a great performance.

The SA A team was a bit of a concern though and their defence was not so good against a scratch French Barbarians side, and they allowed Freddie Michalak to roll back the years at flyhalf.

What’s worrying about the  SA A side is that they have so many players over the age of 30 in key positions. There should be a clear national pathway from the U20s to the A side and then on to the Springboks, but the current selection shows no real growth or development for the future. The SA A side must use guys who have come through from the U20 level, so we can see how they cope outside of their natural SuperRugby environment.

Guys who have impressed at SA U20 level should be chosen because we know what Lwazi Mvovo, Lionel Cronje, who is also going to Japan now, and Jano Vermaaak can do. They need guys like Ivan van Zyl, Curwin Bosch, Burger Odendaal and Louis Schreuder to play – 22 and 23 year-olds with big futures. The SA A team should be about future Springboks and not Springboks of old. They must give young players a go, guys who have big futures and they must be in their 20s. They’ve basically selected this team as a Springboks B side and they must show more foresight.

The SA A side should also give coaches experience and it was pleasing to see JP Ferreira involved with their defence.

The SA U20s finished well, but to lose to an England side shorn of six players and others with the senior side in the semi-final was unacceptable. Then New Zealand klapped England by a long way in the semi-final, which showed South African rugby still has a long way to go to make up the gap.

The SA U20s need more tours against national schoolboy sides, to experience different environments. They will probably have played all the Northern Hemisphere sides in South Africa, where the hosts should win. The boys need to experience different conditions and a crowd that is not behind you. They need to step up and improve and a tour somewhere in November/December would be good.

Finally, it was a great privilege for Kubota to be able to play in the Mauritius 10s last weekend. The Bulls and Cheetahs sent their full SuperRugby sides and it was brilliant for a Japanese side to be involved in that.

The Beachcomber World Club Tens as a format was an eye-opener and I really enjoyed seeing everyone again. I hope the excellent organisation of the tournament can now be brought to South Africa, in either pre or post season, that would be fantastic. Mauritius was really enjoyable for everyone who was involved

Well done to the Blue Bulls for winning the tournament, although it’s fair to say they do need a few cups.

John McFarland is the assistant coach of the Kubota Spears in Japan and was the Springbok defence coach from 2012 through to the 2015 World Cup, where they conceded the least line-breaks in the tournament and an average of just one try per game. Before that, McFarland won three SuperRugby titles (2007, 09, 10) with the Bulls and five Currie Cup crowns with the Blue Bulls. In all, he won 28 trophies during his 12 years at Loftus Versfeld.