Positive step to fix Boks
Thank goodness common sense eventually prevailed at SA Rugby headquarters
Thank goodness common sense eventually prevailed at SA Rugby headquarters as they bid to fix the miss-firing Springboks.
They say some can’t see the wood for the trees, and that has been the case in rugby circles regarding South Africa’s muddled selection policies. Some at SA Rugby House in Cape Town are so immersed in the smaller details that they forgot to put a winning team on the field.
They have learnt a painful lesson for their lack of focus, because the once proud Boks are now languishing in sixth place on the world rankings.
There is bound to be widespread relief over the decision to allow Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus to select whoever he wants after SA Rugby scrapped their overseas-based player policy.
The policy had been instituted in an effort to keep players with international aspirations at home. But it was a flawed policy from the outset, because the lure of lucrative deals with European and Japanese clubs proved to be too strong.
Under previous coach Allister Coetzee, only those overseas-based players who had 30 or more test caps were available for Springbok selection.
It was a move that contributed to turning the Boks into a mediocre unit.
While playing for your country used to be the pinnacle for any sportsmen, some have decided that cash in the bank is worth more than a fancy embroidered Bok cap. Some are even turning their backs on their country.
Take fullback Clayton Blommetjies, who believes he was treated unfairly by Coetzee.
Blommetjies, who has left the Cheetahs to join Welsh club Scarlets, says he has given up his dream of playing for the Springboks.
Instead, the 27-year-old has now set his sights on playing test rugby for Wales.
Blommmetjies will arrive in Wales before World Rugby raises its residency qualification period for international players from three to five years in 2020.
The decision by the Cheetahs underlines how national lines have become blurred.
How different things were in another age when players put a high premium on playing for their country.Cricket superstar Mike Procter was once asked why he had not opted to become an English-registered player after South Africa were banned from international stage in the 1970s.
Before the ban Procter had starred for the Springboks in seven tests against Australia.
At the time Procter was a household name in England thanks to his stirring deeds with bat and ball for Gloucestershire. He would have walked into the England team. Asked why he had not made the move, he replied: “I would rather play seven tests for the Springboks, than 100 tests for England”. How times have changed. The lifting of the rule should make life easier for the Boks at scrumhalf, where Erasmus is expected to pick 11-test Springbok Faf de Klerk, currently based at the Sale Sharks.
SA Rugby was set to lift the ban next year ahead of the World Cup. However, Erasmus has been handed a boost ahead of next month’s four-test programme.
Just how Erasmus sees his Springbok team evolving before the World Cup will become clearer when England arrive in South Africa next month for a three-test series.
Because South Africa’s opening test against Wales falls outside World Rugby’s international window, Ersmus will not be able to call on his overseas-based contingent for the trip to Washington.
Springbok great Bryan Habana says that Erasmus is likely to field as many as five overseas-based players.
Habana, who won 124 international caps and scored 67 tries, expects the Springboks to tap into the wealth of talent playing in Europe.
“Rassie is always big on winning and making sure success is achieved, and he will probably look to select as close as possible to his best XV or 23 leading up to the series,” he said.
He says South Africa could recall the likes of De Klerk and the Montpellier pair Bismark du Plessis (79 caps) and Frans Steyn (56 caps).
“We say South Africa has a massive talent base, but we have also had an immense drain of players leaving South Africa,” he added.
“Rassie will definitely try to get as many players back, not only for this year, but for the World Cup in Japan next year.”
Now that Erasmus has been given selection freedom, the pressure to succeed has just lifted a notch.
The Bok squad for the once-off match against Wales in Washington on June 2 and the home series against England will be announced tonight.
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