It hurts, I know it does. It hurts like losing your dog to a freak chainsaw accident, like walking in on your girlfriend/wife in bed with Arnold Geerdts or like waking up after a big night only to find you have lost your wallet, car keys and need to somehow release your arm from the clutches of a girl you wouldn’t ordinarily touch with a stranger’s barge pole. The Bok loss on Sunday hurt in so many ways that I’m still a little too devastated to talk about it, but there is something that I can’t help but acknowledge – how bright the future of Springbok rugby is!

That game on Sunday showed us that the Boks have such quality players. Players not only with talent and ability but more heart than you ever thought possible. They may have lost the match on the day, but they have won even more respect from me a die-hard Bok supporter.

 

P Divvy has stepped down as coach, John Smit declares his Bok career on 111 and the likes of the colossal Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Fourie Du Preez will never be seen in a Bok jersey again. The loss of those four players is indeed sad on a sentimental level, but this was always going to be their last throw of the dice in careers that have received the highest honours that the game had to offer. They have made the Springbok emblem proud, and will forever lay down the example of what it means to be a Bok.

Naturally leaving a huge hole with their absence, the next generation is ready and waiting to step up to the plate and carry the baton further. Let’s have a look at who these players are and what the team looks like as we regroup and once again focus on climbing to the top of the world of rugby.

Captain

Having lost both John Smit and Victor Matfield, a new leader is needed and for me there are only two candidates - Schalk Burger and Juan Smith.

Both have a good four years in them, both have a World Cup winners medal, both captain their respective Provinces and both command respect on and off the field. The problem is however that with a fit Heinrich Brussow at 6, they would both be fighting for a start in the no.7 jersey.

Some people are already playing the political card by saying Chiliboy should get the position, but I say to those people that you perhaps deserve your soft bits removed if you think Bismarck Du Plessis has to play behind another hooker for another day in his career!

It’s down to Schalk and Juan, if pushed I would go with Schalk – he will not disappoint and only mature further with the added responsibility.

Forwards

We are in a good place here with just the position of tight0head prop and lock being an area of concern. Jannie Du Plessis has been more than able in the no.3 jersey, but depth needs to be nurtured in this area. We have spoken about Bismarck and Chiliboy who would assume the role of hooker, and then on the loose-head with have Gurthro, Beast and the ever exciting Connie Oosthuizen raring to go.

In the locks we have Andries Bekker to welcome back, and injury dependent, fill the massive boots of Victor Matfield with distinction. His ideal no.4 is still a mystery however and one that the next Super rugby campaign can provide.

In the loose forwards we really do have a selection dilemma for the next four years with quality in all three positions. Burger and Brussow should be the first choice survivors from this World Cup, then add Juan Smith, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermuelen and the likes of Jean Deysel and you have dynamic abilities a plenty at the back of the scrum.

Backs

As much as I love Fourie Du Preez, I simply cannot wait for Francois Hougaard to become the new Bok no.9. The guy is an incredible talent and one destine for amazing things in world rugby. From there things get slightly more difficult to discuss as I feel a regime change is needed in how the Boks go about their play. And this all begins at fly half. We have shown on countless occasions that we have backs that love to run the ball and who are pretty damn good at it. We need a fly half to ignite this, and if we get it right, every other team in the world is in kak.

Morne Steyn is not that guy and a big call needs to be made on that. England’s example in the creation of Jonny Wilkinson needs to be considered here. Not in us finding a kicking machine, but in backing potential and making it work. Jonny came onto the scene early and Clive Woodward backed him. It was a move that paid off and we need to do the same here. There are some seriously talented young fly halfs in the Currie Cup right now – we just need the balls to back them.

In the centres we have Frans Steyn. SARU do whatever you need to do to make sure he is the Bok no.12 for as long as you can, the man is simply golden. Outside of him you have the ever amazing Jaque Fourie and the talents of Juan de Jongh to further nurture. Again with a more dynamic and coached game plan, the area of centre is one that can be taken to the next level by the Boks, and we certainly can with our current players.

At the back I just have to start by saying Pat Lambie is such a little legend. He was faultless in the pressure caldron of World Cup rugby, and like Francois Hougaard is just a special player that needs to be treated as such from here on in. Don’t you dare cock around with him Sharks, he is going to be a bigger legend than Percy in the no.15 jersey, help him make that happen.

On the wing I don’t think Gio Aplon should be left out anymore, the days of Bryan Habana are over and Aplon just offers so much more going forward. With JP Pietersen on the other wing and Lwazi Mvovo breathing down both their necks, we have some potent finishers and a few other more than capable speedsters waiting in the wings.

Coach

Now down to the biggest point of all, the coach, a huge talking point but one that is as obvious as putting Frans Steyn at no.12 actually. John Mitchell needs to get the job.

He has the experience, qualifications and hunger for the game. We need to put all the coaching nightmares behind us now and by picking an international one I think we can do that in the best possible way. Mitchell has shown during his time at the Lions that he is a man you can trust and has even bled for this country! No really, he got stabbed at his house in Sandton. Did he up and leave? Of course not as he is a man for the long haul and should be given the job as a result.

Rassie doesn’t really want it, Heyneke Meyer is out of the loop and Alistair Coetzee quite frankly hasn’t done enough to deserve it. Give if to Mitchell and let’s get back to giving those Aussies the hidings they deserve and the All Blacks a run for their home no matter where we play them.

The future is bright, and even though it still hurts to think about the Boks, you really can’t help but realize this and smile

BOKKE FOREVER!

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