With Willem Alberts called into the Bok squad, there is talk of him replacing Warren Whiteley at No8. As part of Vodacom Rugby’s BIG DEBATE, Tank reckons that would be a big mistake.
Tank Lanning
For me, it’s not complex – Make Warren Whiteley captain and pick him as the Bok No8 for every Test that he is available.
Whiteley is the future of South African rugby. A top player. A top human being. A top team man. A guy who thinks about the game deeply. And well spoken.
As the Boks morph into a team that can play the situation rather than just the playbook (yes it will eventually happen) with multi-skilled and multi-dimensional players from varying backgrounds, Whiteley is the forward thinking man you want running the show between the white lines.
His track record with the Lions speaks for itself.
The Boks also need a more rangy, linking type looseforward as part of their trio.
But, and it is a big BUT, only if he is part of a balanced loose trio that allows him to play his natural game. And that balance may well come as soon as this weekend in the form of Willem Alberts.
Presuming the “Bone collector” is fit – there has been plenty speculation as to the health of his back – then the big bruising ball carrier is a perfect fit at 7. Not only could he add momentum to the Bok forward cause, but also halt the opposition’s via a few monster hits.
Pieter-Steph du Toit is an obvious replacement for the injured Lood de Jager in the second row, a move that to my mind actually strengthens the pack.
Throw in a loose trio of Francois Louw as the fetcher, Alberts and Whiteley, with the power of Jaco Kriel (who must be given a full 30 minutes) and Franco Mostert on the bench, and one has the makings of a great Springbok pack.
To see what Vodacom Rugby’s Zelim Nel has to say in reply, head to their BIG DEBATE feature, published every Wednesday.
Agree 100% with your sentiments Tank, with every poor team performance the need becomes greater for a long-term leader to go through this now. Will this happen?