By announcing the composition of his team to face the XV of France this Sunday evening in Saint-Denis in the quarter-final of the World Cup, Jacques Nienaber surprised his world… once again. A past expert in the art of diversion, the South African coach is not his first attempt. Against Scotland, for their first group stage match, he gave instructions from the stands using light signals.
A week later, he had four scrum-halves on the scoresheet, against the modest Romanians. A month earlier, he had innovated by offering a bench with seven forwards and a back in a warm-up match against the All Blacks at Twickenham (London). Match that his team won hands down (35 to 7), inflicting the heaviest defeat in their history on the New Zealanders.
With this super-bench, the reigning world champions clearly announced their ambitions: that of a confrontational game in the pure Springbok tradition. The group matches seemed to confirm this strategy, since during the decisive match against the Irish, the selectors opted for the same strategic choice…
However, the XV of clubs was able to thwart the South Africans. And if the Boks had the opportunity to win at the very end of the match, they lost 8 to 13, leaving the Irish first place, and at the same time, the privilege of playing New Zealand in the quarterfinals. final.
Completely backwards for Nienaber, who displays a bench against France with five forwards and three three-quarters. “Whether the bench is 8-0, 7-1, 6-2, 5-3, that is part of our choices to make the selection,” explains the coach. We chose a team which, regardless of the bench, gives us the best chance of victory on Sunday. We choose the best 23 based on the opponent. This does not mean that we deny our identity.”
But even more than his bench, the surprise came from the composition of his hinge, notably by aligning the opener Manie Libbok in place of Handré Pollard. The latter had been recalled to replace… hooker Malcolm Marx (injured against Scotland), after the defeat against Ireland marked by 11 points left on the way by the South African gunners. Starting a week later against Tonga, he had a good match, but above all a 100% in the penalty shootout.
“The thing is that Handré Pollard didn’t play for 19 or 20 weeks before the World Cup,” explained Jacques Nienaber. If he hadn’t been injured, it would have been different. He would surely have been selected from the start, because he is a high quality player. I know Handré came back and kicked 100% in the last game, but so did Manie. Any player can get through it, but when you’re playing the final stages, there aren’t many opportunities. You have to know how to seize them when they present themselves. »
Expected for his frontal play, Nienaber chooses a much more playful opener. Author of a superb kick against Scotland on the first day, Libbok likes to spread the balls. “Manie manages the game really well and he’s in good shape,” confirms Jacques Nienaber. At the opening with us, he scored four tries, compared to one for Handré. We score more points with Manie in 10. He is in good shape and he is good. Another indication is the start alongside him, for his first knockout World Cup match, of Montpellier player, Cobus Reinach, for the 15th time in 31 tests.
It is only the third time that the two men will play side by side at kick-off. The usual number 9, Faf de Klerk, renowned for his countless kicks in the box, is relegated to the sidelines. “Cobus Reinach is in good shape, too, Faf de Klerk too, but given what France is going to do, for us, it is the best option,” explains the coach.
Jacques Nienaber is sure of his squad and sure of his strengths. For his first match in the competition, he announced his team two days in advance, giving his opponent the opportunity to adapt. The defeat against Ireland did not dampen the confidence of the South Africans in their ability to retain their world crown. Against France, all observers expected a fight ahead, he opted for a composition sending a completely different signal.
All his tricks and pranks are a way of channeling attention to himself and freeing his players, a little, from the pressure of pre-matches. They are therefore totally focused on their rugby. “We have complete confidence in Jacques Nienaber,” explained second-row Franco Moster. We still have confidence in their plan. Even with the bench we have this weekend, nothing changes for us. We focus on the plan worked on this week. We have guys who can play four or five, replacements like Kwagga Smith who can play 6, 7 or 8. We won’t change anything.