Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber is under siege following the disappointing 27-17 loss to the Wallabies on Saturday.
Supporters were quick to react following Saturday’s defeat, with many calling for Nienaber to drop some big-name stars.
The World Champions have just suffered back-to-back losses against New Zealand and Australia. The Boks were expected to win both matches. Going into Saturday’s game, the Springboks were looking to end a 10-year winless run Down Under.
The win for the Wallabies means they’ve now won three consecutive matches against South Africa.
Here we take a look at some of the changes that Nienaber could make to turn things around in the remaining three Rugby Championship Tests.
When Jean de Villiers literally went sliding in for a try in the last Springboks victory in Australia back in 2013 😂 pic.twitter.com/WjNwZjgHtv
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 24, 2022
Jaden Hendrikse in for Faf de Klerk
Jaden Hendrikse has enjoyed a breakthrough year for the Boks this season. Yes, he is young and his kicking out of hand isn’t always the best. This is something that will improve with more minutes under his belt. Just look at the performance he put in against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship opener. Faf de Klerk, meanwhile, looks a shadow of his former self. For all of Nick White’s gamesmanship on Saturday, de Klerk still gave the referee a decision to make. It’s brain fades like this that can cost the team in the pressure-cooker environment of World Cup rugby.
🗣️ "It's a disgrace to the game of rugby that a player can behave like that."
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 27, 2022
🗣️ "It's stupid enough to have a swinging arm, he opened himself up to it."
Butch James and Nick Mallett on that Faf de Klerk and Nic White incident.. pic.twitter.com/HPUgNnznaG
Malcolm Marx in for Joseph Dweba
Honestly, Malcolm Marx should be playing as many minutes as he possibly can for the Boks. Joseph Dweba is an excellent player, but I feel his game is more suited to the latter parts of games. His explosive pace and powerful ball-carrying are the sorts of weapons that can exploit tired defensive lines. Marx, however, is a different beast. When he’s on the pitch, he’s often the Boks’ only out-and-out fetcher. His ability at the breakdown was evident in South Africa’s Rugby Championship opener against the ABs. He’s the best hooker in the world and it’s criminal that he’s not starting more games for the Boks.
Crazy strength from Malcolm Marx 💪😳 pic.twitter.com/oRgJdpP3lo
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 27, 2022
Jasper Wiese in for Duane Vermeulen
Wiese has enjoyed a breakout two years for the Boks. He’s a vicious ball carrier and a monster on defence. He seems to have largely eliminated the disciplinary issues that plagued him earlier in his career. He was man of the match in the Premiership final earlier this year as Leicester ended their nine-year title drought against Saracens. Duane is still a class player, but at the age of 36 it’s perhaps time to start giving more minutes to Wiese and the URC’s breakout start Evan Roos.
Man of the Match, Jasper Wiese v Wales 🔥
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 4, 2022
80 Minutes ⏰
10/10 Tackles made 👊
1 Pass 🖐
17 Carries 💪
1 Offload 👌
6 Defenders beaten 🕺
57 Running metres 💨
pic.twitter.com/MeJbOG1JGX
Damian Willemse in for Handre Pollard
Perhaps one of the more controversial picks. Handre Pollard has struggled of late in the Green and Gold. Willemse, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength at full-back, but perhaps it’s time to unleash the Stormers man at pivot? His kick out of hand has been sublime and he is certainly an underrated goalkicker. Bringing Willemse into the fly-half position would allow Willie le Roux – who is experiencing a bit of a renaissance – to slot back into the fullback role.
While there have also been some calls to bring Elton Jantjies back into a starting role, let’s not forget the stinker he had against Wales earlier this year. In fairness, he hasn’t exactly played much rugby this year. Nienaber will likely reintroduce him slowly from the bench over the course of the Rugby Championship as he gets up to full match fitness.
With Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard in cruise control, and little to no credible competition for the No 10 jersey, who would you start in an emergency at the 2023 Rugby World Cup? https://t.co/GFyDe72xJt
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 23, 2022
