Coetzee explains Hougaard omission
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has revealed that he dropped scrum-half Francois Hougaard because he didn’t do the basics well.
With regular first-choice number nine Ross Cronje ruled out with a viral infection a few days prior to the All Blacks test, Hougaard was drafted in as a replacement.
But Hougaard, who plays his club rugby for Worcester in the Premiership, was widely criticised for his performance as the Boks were humiliated 57-0 by the world champions.
And coach Coetzee cannot hide his relief that the dependable Cronje is back in the mix. The Lions scrum-half has been a constant feature in Coetzee’s starting lineups in 2017 after rising above former first-choice Faf De Klerk in the Lions’ pecking order.
“It’s important that our number nines function well and one of the reasons for Ross’s selection this year was his combination with Elton (Jantjies, the flyhalf) … it helps a lot,” said the coach.
“There is synergy between them and they understand each other well. Ross really does the basics well and that’s very important.”
It has been quite a fall from grace for 29-year-old Hougaard who was the only player axed from the tour for the Boks’ remaining Rugby Championship matches against Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday and New Zealand in Cape Town on October 7.
Sharks scrum-half Louis Schreuder has been called up in place of Hougaard with Rudy Paige the other number nine above Hougaard in the pecking order.
“Things haven’t gone well for Francois, as good a player as he is,” added Coetzee.
“Technically, he’s struggled, and that’s maybe because he hasn’t played consistently at nine.
“But Rudy and Louis do the basics well and one’s got to look at that, especially with the way we want to play, with our ball-in-hand approach. If we’re going to get Elton into space and give him time on the ball the 9s must do the basics well, first.
“Louis has come in because he’s shown good form recently. He’s been instrumental in the Sharks performing well and upwards curve they’ve made and at 27 he’s a mature player, but he also has time on his side. Jano Vermaak has been part of our plans and went to Argentina, but we need to consider the long-term, too.”