76 strong Boks in the big charade

Given the modern tendency to view rugby in segments of four years – the periods between World Cup tournaments – South Africa’s performance in what is the build-up to Sydney 2003 is abysmal.

The previous “quarter” ended in 1999 when the Springboks lost in extra time to eventual champions Australia before going on to defeat New Zealand in the play-off for third place.

Although there was disappointment and anger – thanks to Nick Mallett’s axing of Gary Teichmann – at the Boks failing to reach the final, especially as they were frustrated by the only dropped goal of any importance ever kicked by Stephen Larkham, it was a satisfactory performance by a team decimated by poor selections and a crucial injury to Henry Honiball.

On reflection, in fact, most came around to the view that the Springboks, coached by Mallett and captained by Joost van der Westhuizen, had done pretty well.

The next quadrisection of international participation thus started in the year 2000 – a period in which South Africa would have three coaches in Mallett, Harry Viljoen and Rudolf Straeuli and in which, with the England test to come, they would play 33 tests.

And it is when one isolates these 33 internationals that a shocking downward spiral is revealed.

Since 2000 the Boks have won just 50% of their tests (with one game drawn) with only five of their 16 victories coming against the “Big Four” of Australia, New Zealand, England and France.

Their other wins were thus against the like of Wales, Argentina, Italy, Canada, Ireland, the USA and Samoa while they lost five times to the All Blacks, four times to the Wallabies, three times to England, three times to France and once to Scotland.

Thus if the Springboks were to suffer defeat against England at Twickenham on Saturday, their win ratio would slip below the 50% mark and provide stark proof of just how far they have slipped in standard and status.

Another alarming marker is that in the 33 post ’99 World Cup internationals the three coaches used 76 players (that’s right 76 in three years!) including those who made appearances as reserves.

A withering condemnation of the system, the effect of injuries and possible indicator of why the results have been so awful is that 13 of the 76 players played in only one test – although Pedrie Wannenburg will get another chance against England.

Twenty-four of the 76 played in three or less tests – illustrating the dire consequences of changing coaches and an overlong season.

You make what you will of these statistics.

Tests since 1/1/2000:

Played – 33
Won – 16
Lost – 16
Drawn – 1

The Springboks’ 16 wins were against:

Wales 3
Argentina 2
Australia 2
Italy 2
New Zealand 1
France 1
Ireland 1
Canada 1
England 1
USA 1
Western Samoa 1

The Springboks’ 16 defeats were against:

New Zealand 5
Australia 4
England 3
France 3
Scotland 1

*The draw was against Australia.

The 76 Springboks capped in these 33 tests, including appearances as a reserve, with the number of matches they played are:

Adrian Jacobs 9
AJ Venter 14
Albert Van den berg 15
Andre Pretorius 9
Andre Snyman 4
Andre Venter 22
Andre Vos 23
Bakkies Botha 1
Bobby Skinstad 18
Braam van Straaten 17
Brent Russell 7
Breyton Paulse 30
Butch James 8
Charl Marais 10
Chester Williams 10
CJ van der Linde 1
Cobus Visagie 15
Conrad Jantjes 8
Corne Krige 27
Craig Davidson 2
Daan Human 4
Dan Van Zyl 1
Danie Coetzee 1
De Wet Barry 16
Dean Hall 13
Delarey du Preez 2
Deon Carstens 1
Deon de Kock 2
Deon Kayser 4
Ettiene Fynn 2
Faan Rautenbach 8
Friedrich Lombard 1
Grant Esterhuizen 7
Hendro Scholtz 3
Hottie Louw 3
Jaco van der Westhuyzen 2
James Dalton 8
Jannes Labuschagne 10
Japie Mulder 5
Jean de Villiers 1
Johan Ackerman 4
Johan Erasmus 8
Johann van Niekerk 16
Johannes Conradie 9
John Smit 21
Joost Van Der Westhuizen 21
Krynauw Otto 4
Lawrence Sephaka 7
Louis Koen 4
Lukas van Biljon 11
Marco Wentzel 2
Marius Joubert 10
Mark Andrews 16
Neil de Kock 6
Ollie Le Roux 28
Pedrie Wannenburg 1
Percy Montgomery 16
Pierre Uys 1
Pieter Rossouw 9
Quinton Davids 3
Ricardo Loubscher 1
Robbie Fleck 19
Robbie Kempson 17
Selborne Boome 3
Shaun Sowerby 1
Stefan Terblanche 8
Thinus Delport 12
Toks Van Der Linde 1
Trevor Halstead 4
Victor Matfield 13
Warren Britz 1
Warren Brosnihan 5
Werner Greeff 8
Werner Swanepoel 5
Wessel Roux 2
Willie Meyer 22

Thirteen (13) of these players played in only one test, as follows:

Bakkies Botha
CJ van der Linde
Dan Van Zyl
Danie Coetzee
Deon Carstens
Friedrich Lombard
Jean de Villiers
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pierre Uys
Ricardo Loubscher
Shaun Sowerby
Toks Van Der Linde
Warren Britz

Of these 13, five have been reserves who made only one appearance:

CJ van der Linde
Dan Van Zyl
Pedrie Wannenburg
Shaun Sowerby
Toks Van Der Linde

Twenty-four (24) of the 76 played in three or less tests:

Bakkies Botha
CJ van der Linde
Craig Davidson
Dan Van Zyl
Danie Coetzee
Delarey du Preez
Deon Carstens
Deon de Kock
Ettiene Fynn
Friedrich Lombard
Hendro Scholtz
Hottie Louw
Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Jean de Villiers
Marco Wentzel
Pedrie Wannenburg
Pierre Uys
Quinton Davids
Ricardo Loubscher
Selborne Boome
Shaun Sowerby
Toks Van Der Linde
Warren Britz
Wessel Roux