Scrum coach Daan Human says the Springboks have a good balance between youth and experience up front. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
In Cape Town on Monday, Human spoke highly of versatile Stormers youngster Zach Porthen, who made his Test debut last November and has been earmarked as a potential swing prop.
“He’s played both loosehead and tighthead for us,” Human said. “It’s about how you build it around him and give him the right opportunity. He’s done well so far, which I’m very grateful for. He just needs to get on the field consistently.”
On experienced tighthead Frans Malherbe, who has been sidelined by a back injury since April last year, Human was emphatic about his ongoing value.
“He’s got a lot to offer, I can promise you that,” he said. “He’s been resting and dealing with injury, but last year other guys like Thomas [du Toit] and Wilco [Louw] got opportunities and took them. That’s how you grow depth.
“You can never have enough enough props. If a player is 20 or 35 and he’s good enough, he’ll play.”
Human also said Trevor Nyakane was still very much in the Bok mix after a long injury layoff.
“He’s not older today. He’s actually younger because the last two years he hasn’t been playing much, so we are definitely not counting him out.”
Human believes age remains an advantage in the front row, but not a guarantee.
“Props can get better with age because of experience,” he said. “But the main thing is how he’s playing now. If a 21-year-old shows in training that he can handle it physically and technically, then there’s no problem.
“Nowadays, there are a lot of games in a year and it’s vital to grow your player group and the more guys you can get ready and fit in with the way we’re doing things, the better for us.
“But I think experience-wise, going into a World Cup, experience does lead us in making decisions, but still the main thing must be how he is playing in the moment.”
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Human said intense training sessions are often the best barometer.
“We make sure in practice that we can see who can hang in there and who can stand up. That tells you a lot.”
Props who have been invited to this week’s Springbok alignment camp include Ox Nché, Kai Pratt, Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (a hooker who can cover loosehead prop), Neethling Fouché, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen and Asenathi Ntlabakanye.
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Photo: Paul Harding/Gallo Images
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