As the yr attracts to a shut, we replicate on the Springboks’ action-packed Test season and assess whether or not Jacques Nienaber’s workforce ought to receive a pass mark or not.
The Springboks have not loved essentially the most profitable yr. In reality, a 61.5% win share is not in any respect good for a workforce of South Africa’s stature in world rugby.
The Springboks received eight of their 13 Tests this yr, dropping one sport every to the Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and France; however they did beat each Wales and Argentina twice, and the All Blacks, Wallabies, Italy and England as soon as every.
At first look, it’s a set of statistics that makes for grim studying. But that’s simply it: statistics. The phrase “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” springs to thoughts when the Springboks’ outcomes are used as the only yardstick measuring the workforce’s success.
Context is required.
State of the nation:
The Springboks are in a significantly better state at this explicit stage of the four-year World Cup cycle than they have been throughout the identical interval within the earlier cycle.
Despite the blended bag of outcomes, off-field drama that was exterior of the coach’s management and a spade of accidents to key gamers at essential levels, Nienaber made one of the best of the hand he was dealt and all issues thought of he and his workforce did pretty properly below the circumstances.
Throughout this season, the Springboks have performed a few of its finest, most constant rugby of current years; that was as a direct results of the administration workforce’s drawback fixing and talent to adapt rapidly to unexpected conditions.
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The unavailability of flyhalves Elton Jantjies and Handre Pollard, prompted Nienaber to make use of first Frans Steyn then Damian Willemse in that position. Steyn lasted only one sport. While Willemse carried out admirably on the whole play, his goal-kicking left a lot to be desired. But once more Nienaber was assured sufficient handy that accountability to Cheslin Kolbe and Faf de Klerk, with a purpose to take the strain off Willemse.
And when Willemse fell to the wayside on account of an damage, Nienaber known as on the inexperienced Manie Libbok to not solely fill that vacant playmaker position however to try to unravel the Boks’ goal-kicking woes on the end-of-year-tour; which Libbok did. That is only one clear instance of Nienaber’s problem-solving.
The extensively preconceived notions that South Africa play boring rugby and that the Boks’ assault is static additionally want debunking. The Springboks scored 43 tries at a mean of three.3 per Test this yr; and crossed for tries in all however certainly one of their internationals this season, when they drew a clean within the second Test in opposition to Wales in July.
Despite critics’ finest efforts to downplay South Africa’s attacking prowess, it’s an indisputable fact that the Bok offence has are available heaps and bounds this yr, though the execution nonetheless lacks at instances.
With a clear plan on the way in which ahead, a set game-plan [sans execution at times] in place, a number of promising indicators to work with, a few helpful classes discovered and fourth within the World Rugby rankings, the Springboks will head into 2023 — a World Cup yr — in a a lot stronger place than they did 2019 when received the World Cup in opposition to all odds.
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PLAYERS WHO ELEVATED THE SPRINGBOKS’ CAUSE
As a collective, one can’t actually fault the Springbok squad for his or her efforts in 2022. They carried out admirably regardless of many a curveballs all through a disruption season on and off the sphere.
That stated, there are a gamers who underlined their standing as one of the best on the earth of their respective positions.
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According to Opta, South Africa had one of the best performing scrum this season; successful 13% of opposition scrums with Frans Malherbe within the entrance row, a feat no different Tier 1 prop achieved on opposition scrums on this calendar yr.
Eben Etzebeth stole six lineouts in Test rugby in 2022, essentially the most of any Tier 1 participant, whereas he was additionally the highest rating lock for dominant carries (15), defenders crushed (eight) and offloads (seven) this calendar yr.
And then in fact there was the meteoric rise of Kurt-Lee Arendse into the Test fold; a stroke a genius by Nienaber and a pleasure to look at for rugby followers the world over.
In what was an unbelievable debut marketing campaign on the Test stage for Arendse, the speedster scored seven tries in seven Tests, together with a beautiful solo effort in opposition to England which was undoubtedly his finest one but as he turned Marcus Smith inside-out on the way in which to the tryline.
Arendse scored essentially the most tries of any participant within the Autumn Nations Series (5), whereas he additionally topped the charts for carry metres (481) and linebreaks (7, stage with Darcy Graham).
Before damage struck and ended his Test season, Lukhanyo Am made 4 linebreaks in a sport in opposition to New Zealand on this yr’s Rugby Championship, no Tier 1 participant made extra in a sport this yr, whereas it was essentially the most by a Springboks participant in opposition to the All Blacks since Willie Le Roux in 2015 (4).
Skipper Siya Kolisi was additionally at his good finest in 2022, main from the entrance with one industrious show after one other. An instance of his dominance is that he made 11 dominant tackles throughout this yr’ Autumn Nations Series, the joint most of any participant (together with England’s Tom Curry). In reality, 38% of Kolisi’s tackles have been dominant, the very best charge of any participant within the sequence.
The above talked about are simply a few chosen cases of the invaluable contributions Am, Etzebeth, Malherbe, Kolisi and Arendse made to the Springbok trigger this yr. And if they can carry that kind into 2023, the Springboks can be a scary prospect come the World Cup.
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Player-depth and succession planning:
One of the Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus’ core objectives for the yr was to strengthen the Springboks squad depth with a wider participant pool to pick its 33-man 2023 World Cup celebration from.
A whopping 10 gamers have been capped by the Springboks in 2022, with Salmaan Moerat, Elrigh Louw, Grant Williams, Ruan Nortje, Deon Fourie, Ntuthukho Mchunu, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Evan Roos, Canan Moodie and Manie Libbok all making their Test debuts.
Earlier this yr, within the second Test in opposition to Wales in South Africa, Nienaber put the cat among the many pigeons when he made 14 modifications to his workforce, with solely Etzebeth retaining his spot within the beginning lineup. Six uncapped gamers have been within the match-day 23 and all made their Test debuts.
It was a determination that attracted widespread criticism, with many abroad pundits saying Nienaber have been disrespectful in direction of Wales. Closer to dwelling, Nienaber was accused of cheapening the Springbok jersey by simply handing out ‘undeserving’ caps to random gamers.
While the debut raged on on social media platforms, Nienaber quietly and cunningly went about his enterprise. Nienaber perfected the balancing act of blooding in younger gamers to provide them the wanted expertise and successful when it mattered, all of the whereas strengthening his squad in each place as he builds in direction of subsequent yr’s World Cup.
SPRINGBOKS WELL-PLACED FOR GOOD SHOWING AT RWC 2023
The Springboks’ outcomes column for the yr 2022 could not learn how they would have appreciated it to, however Nienaber dotted all of the i’s and crossed the t’s the place wanted this season.
All issues thought of, the Springboks a primed for a large 2023 Test season and well-placed for the looming World Cup in France.
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