It is difficult to cast an opinion on most of the Springboks performances based on what staggered into a shoddy second half display against an average Italian outfit. However a spotlight was on Butch James with his fans praying for a sublime performance and his critics perhaps hoping to say ‘I told you so.’ Neither seemed to get their wish.
The truth is that Butch finds himself in a difficult position wanting to desperately still keep playing for the ‘Boks he is now being viewed as a utility back and will invariably find himself with a variety of double digits on his jersey throughout the season should he still be in PDV’s favour.
A utility back is a great luxury for PDV to have especially considering that we are talking about a World Cup winner but for Butch he is competing against at least five players just to get a look in. “There are so many players I’m competing with in both positions. Morne and Ruan can play flyhalf, while Jean, Wynand and Juan all play inside centre,” said James explaining the struggle he has to get into the starting lineup.
Yet you would have expected a player with his experience to have taken the match against Italy by the scruff of its neck and show why no Springbok team would be complete without him. Sadly for Butch it was a lukewarm performance with every moment of inspiration doused with flashes of mediocrity.
It didn’t help that the ref made a massive clanger by sending James off with a yellow card for a high tackle either. Fueled by the ongoing frustration of the match James had little option when it came to executing the tackle and it was an extremely harsh call at the end of the day.
Still his supporters would have liked to have seen more of the silky handling skills, the deft kicking and halting tackling that has been so much part of Butch’s success and most would be left wondering if he still has anything to offer the Springboks.
Another opportunity against the Italian this weekend might well provide the answers that fans and selectors have been waiting for. Butch didn’t do enough not to be considered but did he do enough to stay in the Springbok plans for the long term? I say give him another chance!
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