Wearied by nine months of hard rugby the Springboks need to gather themselves for one final effort on Sunday to end tyhe marathon season on high note
RUGBY: Barney Spender
ANOTHER weekend, another Test. Welcome to the bright new world of professional rugby. Actually it’s not just one Test this weekend but three, for while South Africa play Wales on Sunday, England host Argentina on Saturday and Italy pop in to Murrayfield to take on Scotland.
Northern Hemisphere players are already starting to feel the pace of the all-singing, all-dancing new era of rugby where huge wage bills equal more rugby. Not necessarily better, just more.
It will understandably raise a smile from the Springboks whose season, which ends on Sunday, began back in February. Nine months of intense rugby, Super 12, Currie Cup, Tri- Nations, a Test series against the All Blacks and a season-end tour of Argentina, France and Wales. For some of them it adds up to about 40 games of rugby, perhaps more.
So, while many British journalists raised their eyebrows in disbelief when coach Andre Markgraaff revealed this week’s training plans (”none”), it makes perfect sense. How much fitter and more honed can these players get? Golf will give them the chance to relax and refresh the batteries.
The only danger is that the minds will not be refocused in time, although judging by the way in which Markgraaff and his two lieutenants Hugh Reece-Edwards and Nick Mallet have operated this far on tour, there is every likelihood that the Springboks will be as well prepared as they were in France.
Given the physical fatigue of a long season, a 2-0 series win was a triumph for all concerned, but especially Markgraaff.
A big, affable man with hands like buckets and a moustache straight from the Alamo, Markgraaff was the butt of a torrent of abuse after dropping Francois Pienaar. Criticism was in order, but hardly the hate mail and vitriolic messages which clogged up his fax machine.
As it transpired, the absence of Pienaar has barely been noticed on the field where Ruben Kruger, Andre Venter and Gary Teichmann now form a formidable back row. Off the field Teichmann has also coped excellently with the high PR standards set by his predecessor.
Whether Markgraaff will ever receive praise for his decision remains to be seen. But he showed he could make the upopular decisions when necessary.
The quality of the Springboks’ rugby has also come in for criticism. Northern Hemisphere commentators apparently delight in knocking South African rugby for its failure to thrill crowds with explosive running rugby.
To be fair, however, they do have a point. The Boks have been cagey, working the ball through the forwards, punching holes, sucking in defences and then exploiting the gaps. Sure, sometimes its not pretty but on this tour winning was important.
Markgraaff has stuck to his guns. He wants to see South Africa play in the Natal style and claims this tour is as much about preparation for the British Lions next year.
”Make no mistake, this side is getting better and better and if we are lucky with injuries I think they’ll hammer the Lions.”
So said Markgraaff in Paris. And given a bit of tinkering such as the return perhaps of Os du Randt and Chester Williams, then there is no doubt this is the side he would like to see lining up against the Lions.
Even so, victory on Sunday is important. The Welsh might fancy their chances although the absence of Scott Quinnell, still arguing about money, will set them back.
There are two new faces in lock Mark Rowley, who replaces Derwyn Jones and flanker Dale McIntosh. Like a lucky charm, the Welsh appear to have adopted token Kiwis. McIntosh, middle name Manawa, is from King County in New Zealand and finally gets the nod after flirting with Scotland for whom he played in the ”A” side.
McIntosh has been in fine form for Pontypridd but his elevation comes at the expense of injured countryman, in both senses, Hemi TakaTawa Taylor.
At this rate it seems a sure bet that Kevin Barry Putt, formerly of Waikato, will also win his first cap on Sunday for the Springboks.