Size, not subtlety, is the name of the game for the Springboks’ first Test on tour
Andy Capostagno in Paris
In the foyer of the Springbok team’s hotel in Paris stands a replica of “The Winged Victory of Samothrace”. This is the Goddess Nike, who through the intervening millennia has been transformed into the trademark “swoosh” worn on sports clothing by, among others, the Springboks.
She serves as a daily reminder that 5 000 years ago the Greeks considered winning important enough to deify and immortalise in stone. If Harry Viljoen did not appreciate the importance of winning when he took over as Springbok coach, a year in the hot seat has enlightened him more than somewhat.
To that end the squad selected for Saturday’s test against France in Paris has an endearingly pragmatic look. Braam van Straaten at flyhalf, Trevor Halstead at inside centre and no less than five forwards on the bench. They may not set the world alight with dazzling back line moves, but if the game should get ugly this is a team that can fight fire with fire.
French coach Bernard Laporte seemed well aware of what to expect from the Springboks when he selected his team. He went for size and power, rather than subtlety and lan.
The mercurial Christophe Dominici, all 1,72m and 83kg of him, is on the
bench. Aurelien Rougerie, 1,94m and 94kg, takes his place. Damien Traille, the same height and 3kg heavier than Rougerie, will mark Andre Snyman in the centre. Thibault Privat, a 2m, 114kg giant, will make life difficult for the Boks in the lineout.
The withdrawal of Xavier Garbajosa on Tuesday limited Laporte’s options still further and the fact of the matter is that the two teams have a very similar look to them; both have stern defence, an expert kicker (Van Straaten and Gerald Merceron) and a big pack.
It will be the third meeting between the sides this year and the record currently stands at 1-1. France won 32-23 in Johannesburg and lost 20-15 a week later in Durban. France went on to lose to the All Blacks a week later, but have not played a Test match since. Accordingly the Springboks will start as narrow favourites.
But if they are to win they will need to nullify the French pack. The front
row in particular will be under huge pressure to perform. Ollie le Roux wins his 44th cap at loosehead prop, but significantly he is only starting a game for the eighth time.
Cobus Visagie turned the Bok scrum around when he returned to the team for the Tri-Nations Tests, but there are now doubts over his fitness. Similar doubts about Mark Andrews and Andre Vos seem to have been allayed on the training ground this week but, particularly in the case of Andrews, match fitness may be a problem.
It is in matches like these, however, that the kind of experience garnered by Andrews during 76 Tests becomes invaluable. He can reach back into the memory bank and recall the game in Paris in 1997 when the Springboks won 52-10. Pieter Rossouw scored four tries that day and it is a good omen that he has been recalled to the team now after a season in the wilderness.
The game in 1997 was the last to be played at the Parc des Princes and the
Boks have never played France at the Stade de France. But in the 1999 World Cup they beat England there in the quarterfinal, on a remarkable day when Jannie de Beer kicked five drop goals.
Remembering the day, Bok captain Bob Skinstad said: “The main difference
between then and now is that in 1999 all the French people in the crowd were shouting for us!”
It was encouraging to see Skinstad in a light-hearted mood, for the importance of this match for the overall success of the tour can hardly be underestimated. Play well against France and win and Viljoen can begin to plan the defeat of England in two weeks time. Play badly and lose and he will be forced, not for the first time this year, to revert to the drawing board.
In the circumstances it would not be surprising to see Viljoen begin the day on Saturday by asking for a little help in the forthcoming battle from a certain winged goddess. One Nike to another, as it were.