SA system is damaging tired and mentally fatigued players.
October 8, 2012 in currie cup, rugby, sport, springboks
I have written screeds of posts on this topic and it is rearing its ugly head once again.
CENTRAL CONTRACTS are a must in order to maintain the freshness and fitness levels of our International players by not allowing them to be abused by the S15 and CC stake holders. Players’ bodies and mental fitness is brought under close scrutiny when it gets to this time of the year. The Boks look jaded and after a long long season, are due for some mental and physical R&R., but that is not to be, with provinces already requiring their services for the CC final stages. The only teams who could afford to rest their Boks would be Sharks and Lions with the latter probably opting to play them because of their lack of playing time in the green and gold.
I for one can see the need by WP to play all their Springboks this weekend in order to avoid the unthinkable of having to play a promotion relegation match, but I can also see the merit of resting deVilliers and Habanna and maybe even Bekker and Etsebeth. The SA system is flawed and needs to be revised which I think has been mentioned as one of Rassie Erasmus’ main functions. This must happen sooner rather than later.
“While Meyer wants to let the newcomers gain experience and the combinations to grow on the tour, he has no guarantee that those players will be available when the tour departure arrives.
It was understood until last week that the 30 players who served under Meyer during the home leg of the Championship would be ruled out of the remaining phase of the Currie Cup, but there appears to have been an about-turn, with the provinces being allowed to call up their Boks for the domestic competition.
It appears the provinces have enforced their right to field the players that they employ, and it is the fault of the South African system rather than the individual unions that it should be allowed to happen.”
CENTRAL CONTRACTS are a must!
via SA system stands in Bok path – SuperSport – Rugby.
provincefan said on October 8, 2012
I don’t think the financial will is there to move from the current feeder-type contracting system to a top-down contracting system.
It’s not going to be cheap, and the big unions will fight it tooth and nail.But this raises the question:
Even if you could, would you pick the Boks? They’ve played a different gameplan, and normally (as witnessed over the years) take about 3-4 weeks to fully reintegrate themselves.
Certain players are not even worth discussing… There is no reason why JDV should even come close to playing. He’s played to much rugby this year already.
Habana seems to be playing into some brilliant form, and very few players will tell the coach they want to be rested. So off the bench he comes.
Etzebeth and bekker will probably also start of the bench, with Armandt making way to the blindside and Kokkie coming off.
De Jongh starting is a no-brainer. I might even be tempted to start him at 12 and Habana at 13.
But we’ll see. Hopefully we’ll start to see more rotation in Superrugby next year, even if its just about self-preservation for the teams. Stormers just need to get their hands on Taute and Jantjies.
powa said on October 8, 2012
I agree it’s going to be costly but poor to no maintenance can be even more costly. Future or pre-planning and preparation must take precedent or we’ll end up with only damaged and stale players.
If I can use SA infrastructure as an analogy , power, roads, health, water, drainage etc are not coping with increased wear and tear and are deteriorating faster than they can be repaired. Eventually they will have to build new ones at astronomic cost.
provincefan said on October 8, 2012
That kite just isn’t going to fly.
They tried it by saying that Contracted Springboks are not allowed to play Currie Cup.
In 2005/06 that meant contracted players dropped on form couldnt regain form in the CC, and the non-contracted players that replaced them were played into the ground.
It also devalued the financial value of the CC, and I will never forget ABSA’s representative saying that this is why its important for the Boks to play CC.
In South Africa a top level player has an expected careerspan at the top of about 6-7 years if he is a forward, and 8-9 if he’s a back. Then they normally reach the point where the amount of time spent injured doesnt justify their paycheck. In Europe that careerspan is about 12-13 years. The reason for that is simple: Clubs build a trong enough base, and rotate at the correct times. Injured players don’t play, and players aren’t overplayed even if they have National commitments.
GEN DE LA REY said on October 8, 2012
I agree on Habana and JdV he they both have played a lot of rugby this season and may well be better suited to get some rest.
Andries and Etzebeth has not had as much rugby and if injury free I would play them.
Then players like JdJ, Vermeulen, Liebenberg should deff play they are all underplayed. They need game time.
But I can see AC putting Habana on the bench just for insurance.
powa said on October 8, 2012
It’s difficult to equate time played by a forward as opposed to a back for various reasons but JdV needs a rest Habana on the bench probably all the rest can play I hope. Don’t want any playoffs thanks