IT was a selection forced by the non-availability of two senior players but the gamble by Heyneke Meyer has so far worked, which could however create a problem.
The most exciting discovery to come out of Meyer’s decision on his side’s midfield pairing for this year’s Rugby Championship has been how young utility back Jesse Kriel has proven his worth and has repaid the trust coach Meyer has in him.
Two starts as a full international and already Kriel has scored two tries, both against teams in the top tier of world rugby.
His first was against the Wallabies in Brisbane in the opening game for both teams but it was his second, against the All Blacks last Saturday, that was the more outstanding.
Such was the angle and pace of his run that both Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, currently the world’s most experienced midfield pairing, missed him and collided into each other.
Replays of various parts of that sellout Test in Johannesburg also showed how intense and worked up Kriel was, unlike the other two youngsters – Damian de Allende and Handre Pollard – in the Springboks backline.
Also outstanding with some powerful runs and line-breaks that Saturday was de Allende.
Kriel is only 21 and de Allende two years older but where Kriel played his early rugby with South Africa Schools and the Under-20s, de Allende did not.
Both started the game together due to the absence of veterans John de Villiers and Jacques Fourie and after what they have done over two weekends, herein lies the next problem for Meyer going into the World Cup in about seven weeks from now.
Who will now make up his first choice centre combinations?
By starting three youngsters together against the world champions and the Wallabies the weekend before, Meyer has done what not many coaches of the top tier teams are prepared to risk.
The closest for comparison is England’s Stuart Lancaster, the difference being that Lancaster started doing this last year, also mainly forced on him by injuries to established choices.
Going by the performances since then, it does appear that Lancaster too has taken the right step.
By contrast the All Blacks and the Wallabies seem somewhat reluctant to try out more than a few new faces in crucial positions.
That or an unwillingness to give another option more opportunities to stake a claim for a certain position.
A case in point is the persistence so far in playing Israel Dagg at fullback at the expense of Ben Smith, the more consistent and better allround player.
Smith can play in a few positions but his best is fullback.
He beats two or three players regularly and defends well too but his body language tells us that he is not truly comfortable playing on the wing.
In the three Tests he has played so far this year, Dagg’s weaknesses have been exposed, especially in defence.
In the midfield, an opposing pair with pace could be trouble for Smith and Nonu, who are both 33.
Both are alright on attack but it is in defence that pace could trouble them.
The Rugby Championship resumes two weekends from now, with the Wallabies hosting the All Blacks in Sydney and the Springboks taking on the Pumas in Durban.
While Meyer may be satisfied with what he has on his plate, expect the All Blacks to make more changes as the coaching panel look at more options to make the World Cup squad.
The Sydney match will decide who takes the title but the Boks should win their match comfortably against the Pumas that have so far failed to show any sign that they can do better than their sides of previous years.