2. HOOKER – CODIE TAYLOR VS BONGI MBONAMBI
South Africa’s front row has now become a principle focus of their pre-match discussion, since Rassie Erasmus introduced the world to his ‘bomb squad’ at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The tried-and-trademarked system sees the Springboks pick a match day 23, with an equally strong front row starting from kick off and, coming off the bench.
However, the Springboks have had their ranks thinned out at hooker, following the injury to Malcolm Marx. Considered amongst the best front rowers in the world, Marx sustained an untimely knee injury in training, and has not featured for the Springboks since their Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland. Marx’s injury presented Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber with the opportunity to bring in a back-up hooker, however, the Springboks bosses instead re-called Pollard to the squad. A head injury to wing Makazole Mapimpi again opened the door for a back-up, yet it was centre Lukhanyo Am who got the call-up, ahead of any hooker reinforcements.
These selections have piled the pressure on South Africa’s sole specialist hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, who ran out for 74 minutes against France, and a full 80 in the semi-final win over England. Mbonambi must been feeling the effects of double-duty, with the only replacement hooker being 37-year-old Dean Fourie. Regularly a back-row forward, Fourie has been flung into the front row for the first time since March 2018, when he spent a year in his make-shift position for Lyon.
It is rare to see South Africa at a disadvantage in the front row, yet there is a case for this at hooker, who could well be mentally and physically exhausted coming into the Stade de France Final. However, these circumstances certainly don’t reflect the All Blacks, who have plentiful depth in the number two jersey ahead of the Rugby World Cup Final.
Ian Foster has a tough choice, as to who his starting and substitute hookers will be, which is a scenario that Springboks fans only dreamt they had. The All Blacks have recently gone with Codie Taylor to start at hooker, with Samisoni Taukei’aho coiled on the touchline, ready to spring into action when called upon. Taukei’aho has been bearing down on Taylor with impressive run-outs, to regain his starting place having led out the All Blacks in the latest Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks also have veteran head Dane Coles waiting in the wings, should Foster need to make a late alteration to the game plan. Coles supported Kevin Mealamu in New Zealand’s 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph, with Taylor as his understudy gaining valuable experience.
The very real possibility remains, that injuries to the overworked Mbonambi and Fourie would see the Rugby World Cup Final feature uncontested scrums. The All Blacks certainly have the depth advantage at hooker, however only one man needs to occupy the spot, and a top-tier Mbonambi performance can rattle even the most reinforced of structures.