Nothing is bigger than the big 100 of Willie le Roux this Saturday. Applaud it. Celebrate it — and just say thank you to a player who has broken the mould among South African backs.
The Springboks’ second Test this week is filled with content.
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 17 changes to the match-day squad of 23 who scored 42 points against Italy in Pretoria, crossed for six tries, but conceded 24 points.
There were 19 World Cup winners in the match 23 and just one new cap.
Erasmus was visibly annoyed an hour after the first Test when asked to assess the contribution of players, individually and as a collective.
I scored the Boks a C-minus. Rassie probably scored it a D-plus.
True to his word, there were 14 changes among his 23 for this weekend, announced before the first Test kickoff. He was not swayed by the indifference of the last 35 minutes and continued with his plan.
Le Roux would sizzle for the Boks in so many Tests. He would claim two World Cup gold medals, more than 90 percent of those to ever play the game since 1987.
Erasmus, as irritated as he was, did concede his team scored six converted tries and were never going to lose the Test.
The big changes came this weekend, but there is context to the changes.
The Bok coach has created a 23 that can only succeed, but he added the romanticism of Le Roux to it all.
Why?
For the new cap and for the newbie there was a story to be lived all week and concluded on Saturday night — and it was Willie le Roux.
This was a guy who in 2013 made his Bok debut. It was against Italy. The Boks won 44-10. Bryan Habana, the greatest try-scorer in the history of the Springboks, handed Le Roux his first Bok cap.
Le Roux would sizzle for the Boks in so many Tests. He would claim two World Cup gold medals, more than 90 percent of those to ever play the game since 1987.
Still so many questioned the why in Willie le Roux?
Not so Springbok rugby’s first Test Centurion Percy Montgomery, who still today has scored the most points in Test rugby for the Springboks, besides not being the first-choice kicker in 30 percent of his 102 Test matches.
“Willie as the fullback to beat my record and Handré Pollard as a points scorer, to beat my record. If that happens we are No 1 in the world,” Monty told me.
And appropriately, he added. “From a SACS boytjie, who had to make that trek to Stellenbosch [Paul Roos] and to Paarl [Paarl Gimnasium] and the likes of Pollard every alternative year, it is only right that boys from those two schools do the business for the Bokke.”
Le Roux, like Montgomery, has divided opinion, throughout their careers.
But between the two of them, they have three World Cup gold medals as a response.
Damn.
How bloody big is that!
Not a question but a statement.
All I want for Willie on his 100th is a win — and the most celebrated pizza and pasta.
No Springboks Test player in the modern era has ever resonated more with Italy than Willie le Roux.
He made his Test debut against Italy and on Saturday he will get to celebrate his 100th Test against Italy. In between he was also there when the Boks lost for the first time to Italy.
Italy loves him, but we love him more.
And if you need context about his longevity: when Willie le Roux made his Test debut in 2013, this was the match 23.
The scorers
For South Africa:
- Tries: Strauss, Engelbrecht, Habana, De Villiers, Basson
- Cons: Steyn 5
- Pens: Steyn 3
For Italy:
- Try: Sgarbi
- Con: Di Bernardo
- Pen: Di Bernardo
- Yellow cards: Bortelami (12th minute, repeated infringements) Basson (43 mins, high tackle)
Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Alberto di Bernardo, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Antonio Pavanello, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Martín Castrogiovanni, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Joshua Furno, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Tommaso Iannone.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Hennessy (Wales), Blake Beattie (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
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