Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has vowed to pick the strongest available lineup to face Italy in Padova on Saturday. All Out Rugby roughnecks Tank and Zelim debate whether that’s the right call.
Tank Lanning – YES
Geologists are still not 100% sure how diamonds formed in the earth about a billion years ago, but they do know that they are made out of carbon, and believe the recipe goes something like this:
1. Bury carbon dioxide 100 miles into Earth.
2. Heat to about 1 200 degrees Celsius.
3. Squeeze under pressure of 330 000 kg per square inch.
4. Quickly rush towards Earth’s surface to cool.
Bok coach Allister Coetzee is trying desperately to make diamonds out of carbon, and is under the same sort of pressure to produce them this weekend.
Costume jewellery has traditionally been more than enough to handle the likes of Italy, but given what has transpired under Coetzee’s tragic regime, he now needs the real deal.
And given that he still believes he has a chance of keeping his job (please Lord, let only Coetzee himself believe this), instead of making like Ireland and Wales last weekend (they went experimental against Fiji and Georgia), he needs to pick his strongest side against Italy, and play for the win.
To the tackle bags for Lukhanyo Am, Warrick Gelant, Ruan Botha, Bongi Mbonambi, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Rudy Paige, Curwin Bosch and Dan du Preez. Instead continuity and a want for the chosen top team to maintain a winning culture.
The bed SA Rugby have made for themselves with this appointment and subsequent management thereof, together with the coach’s lack of planning, foresight and selection nous, in effect forces Coetzee’s hand. He needs to win now, not plan for the future.
The real tragedy? Am, Gelant, Botha and Paige would be in most people’s “Diamond” side, making Coetzee’s “Play to win” match 23 look a little “Costume jewellery” like.
CLICK HERE to see what Zels had to day.
