World champions South Africa are “desperate” to play in the Rugby Championship this year but there remain a number of hurdles before they will commit to the competition, according to director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
The southern hemisphere competition will be staged in Australia from 7 November to 12 December, but the defending champion Springboks face being woefully under-prepared, which Erasmus believes could make participation dangerous for the players.
“We desperately want to play, it will be terrible to go a year without the Springboks playing,” Erasmus said in a virtual news conference on Monday.
“But we have had one of the toughest lockdowns in the world and our players were indoors for months.
“In other countries players could train or at least go to the park to exercise, we did not have that.
“So if you look at the science, we have to get five or six matches into the players for their own welfare and to make it safe for them, and we are working out how to do that.
“Players probably need 500 minutes (of game-time) to be safe.”
South Africa’s domestic competition will only start on 10 October with players having been largely inactive since March.
Erasmus revealed the Boks are also facing resistance from English clubs over the release of players in time for the start of the Rugby Championship.
“We would want to arrive in Australia at the same time, as you have to quarantine for two weeks, which is why you need to take a massive squad because if you get injuries, you can’t just bring someone new in,” he said.
Erasmus confirmed that from a team management point of view, they would want to confirm participation by 10 October at the latest.
“We want to go, we know we have to go (from a financial point of view), we are just working out how we make it possible to go,” he said.
Cedric Petersen
Guest
Jacko, you sound like a guy who when he wakes up in the morning, puts a stone in his shoe to ensure he remains grumpy all day. Simply, sit back, and smell the Rugby.
Ex force fan
Guest
He is the absolute perfect example as he hasn't played for 2 months then plays a full game and is MOM Jacko, a swallow doesn't makes a summer. I can show you many examples that returned from an extended break (for far longer than 2 months) and that were not up to scratch or pick up an injury. Lolesio is one of the latter. Sufficient contact time is required for player to be safe and sharp. How much is enough? To play tests rugby scientist states at least 400-500 minutes. the South African based players will struggle to get to 400 minutes by the time they arrive in Australia. I am sure the Boks will be prepared to spend Christmas in quarantine if they can get another two weeks of Currie Cup rugby before the tests matches starts.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
If it were up to the Springboks themselves, I'm sure they would have said something. You're really being daft here mate. SARU can't make a decision on behalf of government as much as the NZRU can force Jacinda to allow them a Christmas present.
But imagine the look on the AB’s faces if they lose when playing a Springbok team with one hand tied behind their backs. Or just imagine NZ putting 50 on the Boks....Oh hang on dont need to imagine that do we.....Its been done already!!! Go ahead and withdraw but dont claim dignity as you do it because this pot stirring is a load of BS by Rassie...
Apparently its the "Rassie" policy...Introduced this week.....its a bit like the 500 mins policy...Never heard of till Rassie sprouted it out loud...People must be angry he let all this info out...
You dont know why I used a guy who CLEARLY doesnt have 500mins of rugby under him as an example? He is the absolute perfect example as he hasnt played for 2 months then plays a full game and is MOM.....Maybe this Rassie 500 mins is a crok of BS and maybe its a rule of Rassie's thumb.
Why are they all injured? It seems as tho some may be pretending as its an extremely high number according to some on here! You cant be injured if you havnt played tho can you!
NZ proposed 2 options instead of the 6 in 5. Aus wanted it too until they became hosts.....SAANZAR did not vote. They dictated...
I think if SA dont come then the tournament is probably off. There would be 2 Bledisloe's instead.
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Thanks for link. Interesting. Nothing particularly exotic in those modalities in normal times. I wonder what the issue is in this unusual circumstance. Access to cold/hot tubs or massage? Maybe the sleep, given the travel, quarantine, etc.
Shauno
Guest
You clearly don't understand how things work in SA. SARU worked tirelessly to get back to training, let alone playing again. They had a proposal in to the government months before it was approved and even then they were only allowed groups of 3-5 non contact for weeks. The ruling ANC care far more about securing a comfortable retirement package for their cadres than they do about actually running a country and working for the people. The most successful sporting code in the country gets no favours... in fact, given it's historically white apartheid status and resistance to proper transformation for many years there are still many in government that like to stick it to the code. People in Australia complain about the labour government in QLD spending $60k in 6 months on alcohol.... ministers in SA spending that in 1 night on a party :laughing: :laughing: COVID has royally screwed 2020 for everyone, some more so than others.
Old Bugger
Guest
I suggest, Government ineptitude is not the sole preserve of Sth Africa and we've all seen and still see, that continuing to happen, around the world. However, all SANZAAR partners have been aware that whispers of an RC competition were getting louder and louder, since late June. I can't recall any comment that SARU has been in or even having discussions with SA's Govt not unlike, both RA and NZR - this is/was the prudent approach, I was referring to. Instead, all we are hearing are mounting reasons, concerns, complaints call it what you like, that may eventually culminate with SA's withdrawal, from this competition. There is no reason to continuously regurgitate these options before and after the schedule announcement - just raise your hand and declare that an SB side, will not be participating. It sounds better than hanging non-participation, on Government ineptitude.
Old Bugger
Guest
I'm confused CV... If the SB's are struggling to get euro players released then why the need, to have the 2nd protocol - I would've thought that would be an automatic "go to" preference to choose locals, over the euro's?? Is the talent depth back home, not as deep, as first thought??
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, that really sucked. But they were beaten by a better team on the day and that’s life and Rugby. That’s also why winning the cup is so hard; you have the be the best team in every game you play, or least the ones that count.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
That seems to be a RWC curse doesn’t it? Almost every winner gets their team gutted after a win, I guess that’s why almost no one wins it back to back. The experience and depth you need to win means half the team is ready to move on once they get the win. Of course individual circumstances are always different, but how many times have we seen the World Champs decline the year after a RWC?
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
there's an amount of responsibility to the govt when you send out 40-plus people from a country with some 700k infections and 16.5k deaths from covid19..
AndyS
Guest
Had to smile at "Rugby players used a strategy for rehydration the most. The frequency of using an active cool-down and rehydration was not affected by level of participation.". That, in conjunction with the concern over 'allowable recovery modalities', maybe sounds a bit euphemistic for "The lads want to get out on the suds, regardless of whether they are first team or dirt trackers, and aren't happy that might not be possible with isolation"...? ;)
You can go read up all about it. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230582966_The_use_of_recovery_modalities_by_elite_South_african_team_athletes
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
The superpower of youth
Tree Son
Roar Rookie
Recovery modalities?? Do they have some sort of magic IV or ice bath that is not legal in other countries? I’d be interested in hearing about what modalities they are doing in SA