South Africa - profile

Winning the 1995 World Cup is just a distant memory for South Africa andthere is no sign of another pot of gold in 2003 for the rainbow nation. Infact, many critics are suggesting coach Harry Viljoen, desperate forvictories, has gone backwards with his selection for the Autumn tour whichtakes in a real grudge match in France, then on to Italy, Twickenham and aflag-flying trip to the US.The All Blacks, Wallabies and even England had pushed them down the peckingorder in world rugby by last season and when Viljoen replaced English-bornNick Mallett last year, he spelt out a mission to change Springbokmentality from their Neanderthal forward-orientated game to the 15-manapproach.Easier said than done, especially without a clutch of world class ballhandling forwards, playmaker or full back. Perversely, he can call on aworld class kicker, vital for Test matches, but Braam Van Straaten -remember his five World Cup drop kicks in Paris England fans? - does notpossess the guile or pace to spark such exceptional runners as Robbie Fleckand Breyton Paulse.Viljoen tried and failed with the maddeningly inconsistent Percy Montgomerywhile young Butch James has never brought his Natal form to the Test arenaand disgraced himself with a bad tackle on David Bory in the bad-temperedsummer victory over France, which has left so much bad blood between theteams.

The Boks coach does not have a thick hide when it comes to criticism andhis nerve cracked after Montgomery and James's kicking cost them theopening Tri-Nations match at Newlands against New Zealand. Van Straaten,who thought he had been consigned to history and had agreed to play forLeeds in December, was recalled at inside centre and his goalkicking wonthe home game against eventual champions Australia.The South Africans, who will not pick players plying their trade abroad,tried and failed to talk the highly principled Van Straaten out of his moveto Leeds but now have not only picked him to tour at fly half, but namedLouis Koen as back up. He's no bright spark either.Viljoen is definitely between a rock and a hard place. The brave coursewould have been to try and groom say Chris Roussow or Gaffie Du Toit to dowhat Larkham does for the Wallabies and Wilkinson for England. Butplaymakers are so thin on the ground that the Springboks may have to waitfor their highly promising Schools fly half, Derick Hougaardt.

So, Viljoen's horses-for-courses plan will be to put out a big, strong packsupported by a powerful half back combination of Deon De Kock and VanStraaten. Don't expect too much entertainment then, although there are someplusses with Bobby Skinstad returning to Europe as skipper. He is stillone of the most exciting loose forwards in the world despite his seriousknee injury. Viljoen may well have found his attacking full back too inConrad Jantjes and with flanker Danie Roussow ruled out by injury two daysbefore the party left, there is a chance for flanker Corn Krige to proveViljoen wrong. He could not get in the original party despite leadingWestern Province to their Currie Cup triumph.

England play South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, November 24, 2001.

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