Springboks must lay down a marker in Mbombela, keep innovating, stay out of the naughty corner

The Springboks wrap up their four-match home schedule with what should be a tough but routine defeat of the feisty Georgians in Mbombela on Saturday evening. Independent Media looks at five things we would like to see in this game before the Boks go into a month’s break ahead of the Rugby Championship.

More entertainment

Come on Rassie, don’t stop now. The suits at World Rugby are getting their ties in a knot after last week’s innovations in Gqeberha. What rabbits are jumping out of the hat in Mbombela? Nothing polarises the rugby world like the pathfinding Springboks. As Rassie said this week to his critics, “I don’t want to sound arrogant but rugby belongs to nobody.” Keep up the good work.

No cards of any colour

At the risk of making Jasper Wiese feel worse than he already does, the red card at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium put his teammates under pressure for 60 minutes of the game. Fortunately, the opposition was outgunned Italy, but the teams in the Rugby Championship won’t be as forgiving. Yes, rugby is not a game for sissies, but in these days of hyperactive TMOs, a hint of leading with the head will mean red.

Make a big statement

The Boks’ four-match block has been a preparatory phase for the Rugby Championship, where the Springbok season climaxes at Eden Park against the All Blacks, and a week later against the same team in Wellington. The Boks battled the weather against the Barbarians in Cape Town, there was frustration against Italy in Pretoria, and a 14-man team was much improved in Gqeberha. Rassie wants to finish the block on a high and I fear that means trouble for Georgia. The Boks usually thrive in the festive atmosphere of the Mbombela Stadium, and this must be the case once more.

Put the TMOs in their boxes

Okay, this is not the Boks’ problem but what the heck, I’m going to get this one off my chest. This June and July, we have seen matches reduced to tedium in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia as the curse of the TMOs worsens. These infernal officials were introduced to the game some years ago to support the on-field referee in making better decisions. That might have happened but the cost is lengthy interruptions every couple of minutes to guarantee stop-start games. Rather let the referee blow the game, and the teams must accept that it is swings and roundabouts with the decisions.

Clean bill of health for Kolisi, Du Toit

Captain Siya and Pieter-Steph are national treasures and South Africa needs then for the Rugby Championship. Kolisi will be playing his first Bok game of the year after struggling with an Achilles tendon problem and a stiff neck. He is vital to the Springboks game, especially with his physicality at the breakdowns. Du Toit made his comeback last week after barely playing this year. He looked like he has never been away. The Boks need this pair to come through the Georgian maelstrom unscathed.