There was some talk after last week’s first test against Italy about how much Siya Kolisi was missed by the Springboks, but the retention of Vodacom Bulls flank Marco van Staden in the starting back row can be seen as an indication that there wasn’t any blame placed on him.
The 29-year-old Van Staden, nicknamed Eskom by his teammates, is a very different player to Kolisi even though they effectively play the same openside flank position and wear the same No6 jersey.
While Kolisi is prized for his clean-outs at the breakdown, his counter-rucking, and that was definitely missed in the 42-24 win at Loftus, Van Staden is more of a ball scavenger, a traditional fetcher.
And while the breakdowns were a mess last week, with Italy flooding the breakdowns to prevent the Boks getting the quick ball they needed to attack with, it wasn’t Van Staden who let the team down as he still did well in his primary role.
Knowing what to expect is however being fore-armed, and that will be the case when the two sides clash again in the second test here at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
“One thing is for sure, we know where we need to improve, and we’ve been working on that during this week,” said Van Staden.
AIM TO BOSS THE BREAKDOWNS
And there should be no prizes for guessing after what happened last week what the Boks will be aiming to do - boss the breakdown.
In that sense, it is significant that the loose trio is the one area where the Boks have increased their experience from last week, with Pieter-Steph du Toit joining regular first choice No8 and Van Staden, who is the established back-up for Kolisi at No6, in the combination.
“They placed a big emphasis on the breakdowns last week and did well to disrupt us in that department. So we have to get it right this week to deliver a good performance. The intensity of our training sessions this week has been good, and I believe it will prepared us well for the weekend.”
One of the people who would have been working hard with Van Staden on preparing for this game will be the man who’s place he is playing in - Kolisi.
“Siya having a few niggles has given me a chance, but he is helping from the sideline,” he said.
“Siya has a lot of advice to give and he really helps me a lot. To pull the Bok jersey over your head is a privilege and honour, so you have to use every chance you get. No test match is easy. Italy will come with big intensity. Last week they came back at us in the second half so that will have grown their self-belief. They will come at us with everything they have.”
WILLIE AND COBUS LANDMARKS PROVIDE EXTRA MOTIVATION
Van Staden has extra motivation this week in the sense that he recognises a good win is necessary to help make the occasion more memorable for two players he knows quite well - his Bulls teammates Willie le Roux, who is playing is milestone 100th game, and on the other end of the spectrum fellow forward Cobus Wiese, who is making his international debut in Gqeberha.
“Last season at the Bulls Cobus showed himself to be a very physical player, he really likes the physical part of the game,” said Van Staden.
“He fully deserves his opportunity and there could be no better time for him than to play his first game alongside his brother (Jasper).
“I would like to help make it special for them and for Willie. Willie has been a great player and he had a good season at the Bulls and it is a great record for him (to play his 100th game),” he added.
Van Staden was primed to help out at hooker at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and he says he still occasionally trains there.
“You never know what might happen in a game so I still occasionally take part in the scrum sessions.”