By Gavin Rich.
@GalloImages.
The jubilation with which the Springboks and the boisterous Mbombela Stadium crowd greeted confirmation of a fine win over the All Blacks might have erased the memory of the markedly different scenes in Bloemfontein four weeks ago, but the events were not unrelated to each other.
Two of the key contributors in the 26-10 win over the All Blacks that fell only just marginally short of being a record win against the old foe were among the players who were given a run in the second test against Wales. Although the Boks played well that day, they didn’t have depth on the bench and lost it at the death, prompting criticism of coach Jacques Nienaber’s decision to make 14 changes from the team that sneaked to a narrow win in the first test.
The method in the apparent madness was clear to see, but judging from the reaction it was not clear to everyone. Admittedly it was galling to many South Africans to see their proud unbeaten home record against Wales relinquished, but when Kurt Lee Arendse and Jaden Hendrikse stepped up in Nelspruit it confirmed the view that the effort expended in Bloemfontein might not have been in vain.
Arendse blotted his copy book with his reckless late clatter into an airborne Beauden Barrett and he paid the price. Not only was he red carded and would therefore probably anyway be unavailable for the return clash with the Kiwis at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday, he is also now injured.
Nienaber has to find a replacement for the game, with Jesse Kriel being a good bet given how quickly his name came up when the Bok coach was asked the direct question at the Mbombela post-match press conference.
“We have played Jesse on the wing against the All Blacks before. We did it last year and also in 2018. Warrick Gelant can also play there,” said Nienaber.
But while he will have to revert to a previous plan for now, Nienaber also has no doubt that Arendse has a long international career to look forward to once he gets over the disappointment of the red card that partially spoiled an otherwise superb performance.
“Kurt Lee was very good. He’s going to play a lot of test matches for Boks in the future. He was excellent on the day and did exactly what we wanted him to do,” said the victorious Bok coach.
That was really stating the obvious. Apart from being outstanding in chasing and contesting the kicks, Arendse’s experience of playing fullback also came in handy on a couple of occasions. In that sense, he is almost a 100 percent clone for the man he replaced because of injury, Cheslin Kolbe.
Would Arendse have been as calm and as efficient had he not had the experience of playing in Bloemfontein behind him? We can’t say for certain, but having one cap to his name and having broken through the international barrier should certainly have helped.
It was the same with scrumhalf Hendrikse, who produced a commanding performance that belied his young years and also relative inexperience after replacing Faf de Klerk after just 40 seconds. De Klerk was out cold for a while so it would seem unlikely he will be able to play in Johannesburg, so Hendrikse’s superb display will hold him in good stead for what should be his next challenge as he prepares to put back on the No9 jersey he wore in successive matches against Wales.
“We backed Jaden to start in the deciding test against Wales and wasn’t nervous at all when he came on,” said Nienaber.
With injuries a reality of rugby at this level, who knows what other players who were backed in Bloemfontein in what turned out to be a narrow defeat will be asked to step in during the coming weeks. Whether it is Elrigh Louw, Evan Roos or Gelant, who of course does have a few more test caps behind him, the Boks should feel confident.
“We did a good assessment after the Wales series. I think we have improved; I think we have built on stuff that we thought there wasn’t good growth in the Wales series. I think we are slowly really building our game, but I don’t think it is the finished product yet.”
Salmaan Moerat, a reserve against the All Blacks, is also picking up invaluable experience even though he did not play much of an onfield role at Mbombela, while his Stormers franchise teammate Damian Willemse is probably the biggest success story of the Bok international season so far. Willemse is gaining rapidly in stature as an international fullback, and he is being helped by having veteran Willie le Roux as well as the even more well travelled Frans Steyn there to guide him.
“We have a big squad and to manage 43 is tough, but to manage these 43 is awesome,” said Nienaber. “Willie has played 73 test matches and has played a big role in helping Damian by giving him a little of what he has gained from experience on mindset and how to adjust your game to different situations. He has been invaluable in helping him learn how to cover the back field.
“I am not sure quite how many games he has played, but Damian must have just over 20 caps now and he is growing. It is nice to have a player like Willie to help him and who is willing to do that. Even Frans Steyn, who was a water carrier in this game, is paying a role.”
In summation then the Bok plan, the bleeding in of new players around experience, is working. Last year was a frustrating one for the Boks because they’d lost a season to Covid, but they are quickly making it up and the win in the lowveld was a big statement. It will be an even bigger one if the Boks can complete a 2-0 sweep of the mini-series in Johannesburg.