Fresh faces needed in Springbok team

IT'S time for the Boks to start producing on their promise shown. We have made huge strides in the new attacking style that has been deployed by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, but after that dreadful performance in Salta there were many question marks raised.

Meyer's selections have been widely criticised by the public and even New Zealand experts.

Everyone's focus now turns to a extremely vital game this weekend against the Wallabies in Perth. This Aussie side can really hurt the Boks with the right combinations in place.

We also will have to travel to Wellington, a place that is not a very happy hunting ground for the Boks. So we definitely cannot afford to slip up and select a team that can't compete up-front in the scrum for our backline to get quick ball from our forwards dominating at ruck time.

The biggest mistake Meyer needs to stop making is the selection of Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf. Pienaar has had every opportunity in the Meyer era thus far and has never really produced at scrumhalf.

His inconsistency in the position has resulted in some close wins and he is really holding Springbok rugby back. We need a scrumhalf who can really get the Springbok backline going, featuring the likes of sevens star Cornal Hendricks, Willie le Roux and even Lwazi Mvovo, who Meyer refuses to select or give at least 20 minutes off the bench.

The Springboks must also get the balance right in the loose trio because Juan Smith does not suit the pace of international rugby that the Boks need to play at to beat the All Blacks. Meyer must stop selecting players who have had their time in the Bok jersey because he needs to look at the long term view.

Another area where Meyer also is blindfolded at the moment is the front row. Jannie du Plessis cannot produce the goods anymore. He gives away numerous penalties and is extremely poor at tackling.

He cannot keep up with modern rugby, neither can Guthro Steenkamp who has had his day in the Bok jersey.

We need to get the new generation of Bok players in now before the World Cup, players like Trevor Nyakane, and maybe some Lions players for the scrum like Jacques van Rooyen, a proven tighthead for the Lions throughout the season.

Matthew McKechnie, Grade 10 pupil at Pearson High School, Port Elizabeth