WATCH: Exciting opportunity for young Boks
The Springboks exhibition match against the Barbarians will serve as the perfect platform for upcoming players to prove they’re ready for Test rugby.
There is always an air excitement around a Barbarians Test match. The promise of free-flowing running rugby, the mix of youth and experience as well as the spirit of the game make for an awesome spectacle and past Tests are testament to that fact.
However, there is an air of mystery ahead of this particular clash, considering the team Allister Coetzee named on Thursday. If you take Pat Lambie and Beast Mtawarira out of the equation, the Springboks have close to no Test experience – which leaves one wondering what type of game they will play.
While we’d love to believe the Springboks are going to dazzle with a fearless approach, they will almost certainly play within normal Test match parameters. We can expect Lambie to control things with the boot at Wembley, while the Bok pack will look for physical ascendancy at the set piece and in open play.
If things go well, the Boks will be looking to unleash a backline that features the form centres and wings in the Currie Cup.
The new look midfield combination of Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Francois Venter is really exciting. The pair has played top rugby all year, with Venter’s leadership and form a big factor in the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup success. While they haven’t played a game together, they should complement each other.
Outwide, Sergeal Peterson and Jamba Ulengo have been equally impressive on the domestic scene. Once again Peterson was up there with the best in the Cheetahs team – and has similar game breaking abilities to England’s Jason Robinson.
One can only hope they will use the opportunity to showcase their talent as these players are truly deserving of their spot in the Springbok setup.
It would have been good to see Sharks flank Jean-Luc du Preez get a start in this game but for the sake of experience, having Oupa Mohoje start at blindside flank is a wise move by Coetzee. While we want to see newcomers get a chance, there needs to be nucleus of players in the team that are familiar with the Springbok game plan.
Ruan Combrinck will be looking to make a big statement as he returns from injury off the bench, while Bulls flyhalf Tiaan Schoeman also deserves to be in the Springbok mix. He’s been a solid performer for the Bulls and is a well-rounded pivot.
While the young Boks will be looking to impress Coetzee, a couple of South African’s in the Barbarians team have their chance to show why they should have been in the Springbok mix as well.
Stormers flyhalf Robert du Preez (older brother of Jean-Luc), Lions lock Martin Muller and hooker Akker van der Merwe are in the Baabaas starting XV, while fellow Lion Ruan Ackermann is on the bench.
As we gear for what promises to be an entertaining friendly clash, take a look highlights from the latest outing between the two sides, back in 2010: