It must be concerning for the ARU and NZRU to see that the Springboks have picked six European based players for their one off Test against Wales in June.
One of the profound strengths of southern hemisphere rugby has been that only players playing in the Super competition will be selected in the national sides. It is designed in a way that the mighty euro and pound will not draw away the best southern hemisphere talent, and weaken the competition here like European football has done to, well, pretty much every non-European competition.
However, in recent years the Springboks seem to have thrown out this policy.
Touring parties being hit by injuries seemed to be the excuse, in that it was easier for players just around the corner to front up and play rather than dragging someone on a plane from South Africa.
However, the Wales Test seems to indicate the SARU has made a decision to select European players even without this excuse.
Francois Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Butch James, Joe van Niekerk, BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde all play in Europe and have been selected.
Concerningly, South Africa have left out some of their best players, including Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana and centre Jaque Fourie.
The Super 14 final being so soon before the Test on June 4th can’t be the reason, as six of the 22 players are playing for the Bulls or Stormers in the final.
So what has caused this change in policy?
I am not one who regularly reads the South African rugby press, but I can’t recall seeing anything about South Africa changing their policy. Or perhaps it’s only an Australian and New Zealand policy?
The SARU may say that they will pick the best players available whether in South Africa or Europe, but there are two issues with that. Fistly, as indicated above, they haven’t picked the best players available, given those who have missed out. Unless of course there is also a motive for resting players with the Tri Nations in mind.
Secondly, this sends a message to other South African players – you can nick off to Europe for the coin and you might still get picked.
Apart from the European limits on the number of players, about the only thing that has kept the southern hemisphere rugby so strong is the threat that if you play in Europe you won’t get picked for the Test team. Many players have chosen to forego the money, at least for part of their short careers, to earn representative honours.
And until now it appears to have mostly worked.
This move suggests that era is about to end, at least for South Africa. And in a few years the local fans may despair when their best players can no longer be seen playing on their shores (or perhaps even in the beloved Springbok jersey, given England’s habit of pinching uncapped South African players in just about any sport).
It must also be causing concern for Australia and New Zealand. While South Africa seems to churn out an endless supply of players, surely those players now in Europe could help make the Lions and Cheetahs more competitive than they have been, and ensure a more even and attractive Super competition with the extra revenue that follows.
While South Africa has always tended to go its own way, I would be interested to be a fly on the wall at the next SANZAR conference when this apparent breaking of solidarity by South Africa comes up.
Lee
Guest
Of the 3, Botha is the only one that I would want back really. I think we have loosehead props, fly-half we need to go with youngsters who will be there in the future - not for one WC season.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Botha would be a coup as we need a tight head of his calibre and experience
Lee
Guest
And that sounds like what was happening - hopefully this face-to-face meeting that PDV and Steyn are having on Friday will sort things out...one way or another. At the moment, no date has been attached to Pienaar - maybe it is after the WC?
Lee
Guest
That has already worked for CJ, rumour has it that BJ Botha is trying to get a S15 contract, and that Butch James approached the Sharks but they couldn't afford him - so maybe now that pienaar is going, they will be able to?
Rusty
Roar Guru
My feeling on the Welsh test is thus - get the guys playing in the national colours again. Get them hungry for more and dangle the world cup carrot. Then PdV will drop the "but you will need to play in SA..." line to see who he can reel in..
Rusty
Roar Guru
Im guessing its a lot to do with the agent flexing his muscle. I mean seriously why would you as a coach want to be delivering messages to a guy who may or may not pass the message on in the context given dependent as he is on the player making the most profitable decision?
Lee
Guest
Maybe him getting picked at fly half for the Wales game, with Januarie at 9 when Ruan has been arguably the form 9(behind FDP) in SA, was the straw that broke the camels back? I mean, he hasn't played much at 10 all season. Very interesting that this is happening before the WC...I wonder what his agent had to do with it? PDV has accussed the agent of not allowing him to speak directly to Frans Steyn, and forcing PDV to contact the agent who will then contact Steyn, and not tell Steyn the whole truth. I believe PDV's quote was along the lines of, "I can speak directly to John Smit and Victor Matfield, so why not Frans? I coach players not their agents." Also, Ruan could be looking at the situation with overseas players representing the Boks this year and thinking, that he can go overseas and still get selected for the Boks whilst earning big money.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Just saw that myself - massive massive blow... wonder what position they have contracted him for? scrumhalf or flyhalf? Surprised either way that he has undertaken this contract with the world cup around the corner.... To think we were worrying about the exodus after the event not before it!!! On a side note this should then open the door for Grant who for my money has been the number 2 flyhalf in SA this season.
Lee
Guest
Ruan Pienaar has now signed with Ulster.... And Frans Steyn has pulled out of the Bok team - apparently his manager was demanding huge sums of money and him and PDV didn't get on.... I don't care who you are(or think you are) international rugby is not where you argue over money...clubs yes...international rugby should be about honour. Incidentally, both Pienaar and Steyn have the same agent...
Just a Fan
Guest
"Concerningly, South Africa have left out some of their best players, including Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana and centre Jaque Fourie." ..ummm yeah they would have played in the S14 final the week before...these guys aren't machines, they are human! SA does actually have it's sights on retaining the World Cup so why would run our stars into the ground! BTW...due to JDV injury Jacque Fourie will be playing in the Welsh test. Having players go to Europe may expose ARU and NZRU lack of depth, but it only benefits SA...it just means that there is more space for more players to be trained up. Player depth isn't the problem in SA - Coaching depth, or rather Coaches egos, is
Derm
Roar Guru
How do you mean the confirmed detail? Only France and England have the consistent depth to play 3 test series...." At home or away?
sheek
Guest
Pothale, I had heard whispers of a return to traditional tours. That will be great when it happens, if it happens..... However, I believe only England & france have the consistent depth to play 3 test series. While it would be great to see a return of traditional tours, let's not get carried away with this more tests is better stuff. Apart from what I see as the 'big 6' - New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, France & perhaps Argentina - two test series against everyone else is fine. Anyway, I will await the confirmed detail.
Derm
Roar Guru
Sheek Do you not see the high-profile announcement by the IRB of a return to 'real tours' as a good sign, then? A restoration of tours to their former glory? The SANZAR countries have all announced part or all of the planned incoming (or should that be income) 3 test tours between 2012 and 2018. NZRU are the latest to announce details with 3 test tours against Ireland, France, and England to be held between 2012 and 2014. And on the topic of yawn-inducing end of year grand slam tours by SH nations, they may also be for the dustheap except the very rare occasion in the next decade or more.. I read today an article in the Irish Independent, written by former Irish International, Tony Ward, of a different interpretation of that IRB announcement - that the same principle will be applied to incoming tours to the 6 Nations unions in November. Ward wrote that: "In times past, although playing the provinces, major touring sides were limited to just a single Test as part of a Grand Slam Tour of the so-called four Home Nations. Now with Ireland set for three tests in New Zealand in June 2012, it is safe to assume that there will be two if not three Tests against the same opposition here on the next tour by the All Blacks to these shores." "A Test series - preferably of three games to allow for a likely overall - would engender far greater interest than the once-off 'in and out' money-making November matches of late. It would also allow casual rugby fans become more familiar with the overseas opposition, adding to the excitement of the Tests. It would also mean each major southern hemisphere nation touring each of the Six Nations less often, thereby adding to the mystique once taken for granted. A single nation tour opens up the possibility of a major southern hemisphere super-power being seen by so many more Irish people - young and old - in the flesh, whether at Lansdowne, the Sportsground, Ravenhill or wherever. Here, surely, is something about which we can all agree - a win/win initiative all round."
Sylvester
Guest
I doubt there will be a major shift in thinking from SARU about overseas players. This particular situation is a means to an end. South Africa would quickly realise the challenges of picking a squad from two hemisheres I'm sure.
sheek
Guest
Timmypig, Even the average test match is now just a money spinner, not the respected 'clash of heads' from say 15 or more years ago. Tours in & out used to be something meaningful, but not any more. The so called end of year grand slam tours are a sham of their former glory. For me, the annual 3N, & soon to be 4N, & Europe's annual 6N, plus the 4-yearly world cup & 4-yearly Lions tours, are the only remaining meaningful internationals. All the rest is regrettably "padding"..... And a clarification on the 3N - I only count one home & one away match each. The extra matches played, especially for the Bledisloe Cup, are just money fodder enterprises. When the concept of a 'test' was coined over 100 years ago, it was meant to represent something both "ultimate" in human endeavour & "rare" in frequency. But when you play 12-14 tests per year, you devalue the quality of the product. You might as well simply call the test season just another home & away league.....
Timmypig
Guest
Here's a couple of things to stir the pot with (or perhaps "things with which to stir the pot") ... Rugby is openly professional - form drops, injured, get on the coach's bad side - you're out. So at the elite level these blokes go hunting for the best return (mix of money and lifestyle and family) on what may be a short career.Europe or Japan beckons. Representative duties are still marketed as being the pinnacle of a career; the 'haka', national anthems, tour functions, end of tour baa baa games, Lions tours, meet the Queen, etc. Is it truly the pinnacle? A great honour? If so, why aren't the best players picked NO MATTER WHAT? See the contradiction? The way I read it, test matches have become just another cynical money making exercise. A marketing bloodbath. It's still sold to the punters as something special but it hasn't been, not really, for several years. Just another part of the money making circus.
Lee
Guest
Also just read that CJ had re-signed for the Cheetahs for next years S15, so he is no longer an overseas based player. I would almost expect an announcement from JDV and BJ Botha soon. Rumours abound as well that Butch tried to re-sign with the Sharks but was too expensive for them so maybe another side will find the cash....
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Thanks for the South African perspective Lee, I knew one of the SAF Roarers would have some more info.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Actually, there is an official policy regarding overseas based players. The SARFU simply change it back and forth as is their wont. This is something Nick Mallett was always outspoken about. From memory the policy has changed three times in recent memory most recently when Smit and Matfield took up contracts overseas. The first time it was allowed was in 2004 when White was able to select Leicester's Jaco van der Westhuyzen and Newport's Percy Montgomery.
sheek
Guest
Bay, The future is bleak in this regard. Look where all the best footballers are playing - Europe! In years to come the only time we might see the best Wallabies on show is annually in the 4 Nations & every 4 years with the World Cup. Plus the odd home series or tour here & there. I would like to see the sanctions enforced, but the mighty dollar (or euro) usually wins out, doesn't it, that's the way the world spins - on money. People simply lack the will to stand up for principle where money(lots of it) is concerned. Kerry Packer once said along the lines - "we're all whores & we all have our price". Cynical but sadly true..... Of more immediate concern to me is the desperate need by the ARU to expand its player participation base. Australian rugby needs more kids playing its game, desperately.