Boks must meet own world champion standards and reject ‘the first Test of the season’ excuses in Italy rematch

Last Saturday the Boks served up a tepid second half, while Italy played some inspired rugby. Will the Boks show a more ruthless and clinical streak for 80 minutes this week, and will Italy deliver another passionate performance to rattle the world champions?

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes from the team that won 42-24 at Loftus, but “lost” the second half 21-14 after leading 28-3 at the break.

The changes were always expected… Internally Erasmus named the teams for the first and second Italian Tests well in advance of last week’s Loftus set-to.

But some of the performances, by Bomb Squad members in particular, forced a rethink this week. Erasmus admitted that some players who were originally set to play in Gqeberha were omitted because of events in Pretoria.

He didn’t name names, but looking at the bench from last week and who is missing for the second Test, we can all draw our own conclusions.

There has been comment from fans that the criticism the Boks received is unwarranted and that everyone should just “relax” because it was the first Test of the year and “the Boks won by 18 points”.

Fortunately, the Boks don’t share the same lackadaisical approach. It’s not about the final score for them. It’s about standards that were not met, about attitudes that were not right and about failing to live up to their own principles.

If the Boks had played brilliantly, with the right mentality and skill and won by fewer points, that would have been acceptable. Sometimes the opponent is too good.

Italy were good, but it’s clear from Erasmus’ comments and demeanour, especially after the final whistle at Loftus, that the Boks allowed Italy to gain a foothold in the match through their own shortcomings. The Azzurri said “thank you” and made life uncomfortable for the home team.

Changes

The most obvious change for the Boks this week doesn’t come in the starting XV but on the bench where experience has been jettisoned in favour of youth and hopefully, energy.

Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is set for a Test debut where his exceptional mobility for a big man, soft handling skills and hunger will provide much-needed electricity in the second half.

Ditto lock reserve Cobus Wiese, whose strong ball-carrying and no-nonsense desire to make opponents know he’s there will be a totem for his more experienced teammates.

The third debutant, centre Ethan Hooker, is a combination of power and skill, and he could produce a memorable cameo if the starting crew lay a strong foundation, just as they did last week.

Canan Moodie gets a chance again, starting at outside centre alongside André Esterhuizen, in a new midfield combination.

It has the makings of an elite power couple, given that both are intimidating physical presences with underrated soft skills.

Edwill van der Merwe’s return to the wing is long overdue after he made a wonderful debut against Wales at Twickenham last June before injury derailed his season.

Van der Merwe brings pace, flair and intelligence to the position – ergo, he is an able replacement for the magnificent Kurt-Lee Arendse, who takes a week off. The ageless Makazole Mapimpi returns to left wing in another of the 11 changes.

Manie Libbok will have a point to prove at flyhalf outside the snappy Grant Williams, who is back from injury.

Libbok landed every kick at goal during the Boks’ 54-7 win over the Barbarians last month, suggesting that his new routine is paying off.

But it’s Libbok’s general play where he excels. For all Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s genius, and Handré Pollard’s ice-cool temperament, no Bok flyhalf is as selfless as Libbok.

He always brings others into the game. Manie makes teammates look better and is always alert for an opportunity to create space for a runner like no other player in the squad.

The Bok pack should provide some front-foot ball that will give Libbok the platform to unlock the Italian defence.

The return of flank Pieter-Steph du Toit will certainly ensure that on-field standards are maintained, because if there is one player in the world who lets his actions do the talking, it’s the great Bok No 7.

Locks Salmaan Moerat, who captains this week, and Ruan Nortje have a chance to push for selection for the red-letter matches later this year against the likes of New Zealand, France and Ireland.

Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman and Franco Mostert failed to impress last weekend, which leaves the door slightly ajar for another second rower to lay down a marker.

Bath prop Thomas du Toit, who was outstanding during the club’s magnificent campaign which saw them win the English Premiership for the first time this century, has a great opportunity to nail down a permanent place.

Du Toit has always been a selfless team man, often being overlooked for others. But his growth in England and his ability to play both sides of scrum means his value to the team is immense.

Ox Nché and Malcolm Marx complete a front row of immense power and experience.

For the Boks, it won’t be about reinventing the wheel. They played well in the first half last week, forcing Italy to make 120 tackles by starving them of possession and looking after the ball.

Italy showed nous, especially after the break, by making the breakdowns as scrappy as possible. Coupled with the Boks’ own apparent complacency, it created a downward spiral for the home team that shook them.

Erasmus expressed frustration with what Italy got away with at the breakdown, and the Boks have addressed the officials, seeking clarity. The reality though is that the Boks will have to problem solve in real time if the same happens again – they can’t rely on the officials doing it for them.

Italian coach Gonzalo Quesada made five changes to his side as rotation and growth was always part of their planning for the tour.

Experienced flank Sebastian Negri returns for his 65th Test cap with Ross Vintcent replacing Lorenzo Cannone, who was stretchered off last week.

The back three have also been reshuffled.

Quesada, who was proud of his team’s fight in the first Test, expected a more open game this weekend.

“It’s an amazing rotation. With the clarity Rassie and his staff provide the players, I’m sure this group knew two weeks ago that they would play in the second Test and vice versa for the team from last week,” Quesada said of the Boks

“I’m sure in training they’ve been working as a unit for a couple of weeks in preparation for the second Test.

“The combination of Grant Williams and Manie Libbok that played together against England [last year] is an indication that the Boks will try and move the ball a bit more.”

Centurion

The final word should go to Willie le Roux. The 35-year-old warhorse will earn his 100th Test cap, joining an elite group of players to reach the milestone for the Boks.

It’s not a bad return for a player who told this writer in an interview in 2013, during a strong Super Rugby campaign for the Cheetahs, that he didn’t expect to be selected for the Boks.

Heyneke Meyer was Bok coach at the time, and he was viewed as a conservative, risk-averse selector. “I don’t think I play like the Bok management wants,” Le Roux told me. But it was Meyer who gave Le Roux his first opportunity at Test level.

It’s fair to say that Le Roux, who played wing and flyhalf earlier in his career, has always repaid the coaches with strong performances. “I just want to ‘jol’,” he told me back in 2013.

And boy has he ‘jolled’. DM 

Teams

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Reserves: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.

 Italy: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giacomo De Re, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Manual Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolo Cannone (captain), 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Reserves: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 David Odiase, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Giulio Bertaccini.

Date: Saturday, 12 July
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 5.10pm, SuperSport

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)