ALL eyes are on Springboks coach Allister Coetzee again following yet another embarrassing record 38-3 defeat, this time to Ireland last weekend.
Their tour is not expected to be any easier, having to play France in Paris this Saturday (Sunday 3.35am Malaysian time) and then Wales in Cardiff on December 2. The game against Italy is in between and it was there about a year ago when the Boks went down to their first defeat against the Italians.
Coetzee’s time as coach of the national side has been like the swing of the pendulum, with his first season in charge, in 2016, being the worst in Springboks history results wise.
The team lost to Ireland at home for the first time in Coetzee’s first game in charge. The Boks then conceded their most points against the All Blacks. Then that defeat to the Italians.
This prompted the South African Rugby Union to call for a review earlier this year but it later decided to stick with Coetzee.
Beginning with the June Tests, this season has given a glimmer of hope, although the record before last weekend was inconsistent. Three wins from three at home against France were seen as a sign of a revival.
In the Rugby Championship they won both games against Argentina and drew both against the Wallabies. But there was also the record 57-0 hammering by the All Blacks.
All was forgiven and forgotten when they came close to upsetting the world champions before losing their grip in the last 10 minutes at Newlands to lose 25-24.
And now this in Dublin.
The Boks gave away many penalties, which led to Coetzee to strangely say he didn’t expect the penalties to be so damaging to this team. Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton converted four of those but Coetzee failed to mention that Ireland also scored four tries.
The bet is that Coetzee’s tenure will not last much longer, most likely to end after this tour is over, unless the pendulum swings again in his favour against France and Wales.
The other highlight this weekend should be the England-Australia game after both sides scored victories last weekend.
England beat Argentina 21-8 but was not too convincing while the Wallabies beat Wales 29-21 in Cardiff to continue their winning run against the Welsh to 13 while also exposing the limitations of the Welsh who aspire to win the next World Cup.
The Test against England is expected to be the toughest for the Aussies on this tour and coach Michael Cheika must be aware that Australia lost both their matches against England on the last two November tours.
They were beaten 26-17 in 2014 but had it worse last year in losing 37-21.
England had its hiccups but was hardly troubled by the Argentinians. Coach Eddie Jones rested pivot Owen Farrelll and forward Maro Itoje last weekend but both are expected to start against Australia.
Australia showed good physicality last weekend and you need that if you want to get the better of England but the Wallabies didn’t quite have the smooth running game against Wales.
In Lyon a young and very inexperienced All Blacks held on to win 28-23 against a French XV comprising several capped internationals Tuesday evening in their first mid-week fixture in 9 years. The 60,000 spectators were treated to seven tries.
The All Blacks had six players on debut and included 14 who played the tour opener against the Barbarians two weekends ago.
A few amongst the visiting team should make the 2019 World Cup squad but essentially this was the All Blacks side post RWC 2019 on show.
The team travels to Edinburgh to play Scotland, the only home union side not to have beaten the All Blacks in 30 matches since 1905. Their best was to draw thrice.
Scotland captain John Barclay has reminded his boys to not be in awe of their opponents if they are to have any hope of matching up.