Prepare for the Springboks' wheels to fall off
Just what is going on with the Sharks? It’s a question that continues to confound sharper rugby minds than the one expressed in this column. Stone last in the URC with eight defeats from nine matches after home losses to the Lions and Connacht, as well as an embarrassing reverse away to Zebre, even the most loyal supporters must be wondering if things will ever get better down on the east coast.
Compounding matters is the number of Springboks in their ranks. Eight members of coach John Plumtree’s squad were part of South Africa’s World Cup winning group. Ten more have Test experience. And though some, like the injured Bongi Mbonambi, haven’t featured this season, that glut of rugby know-how would surely have rubbed off by now. Right? Wrong! In fact, there is a strong case to be made that the Sharks’ poor performances are a direct consequence of the ineptitude offered by their Springboks.
Sharks supporters can take solace that their club is not the only one going through this particular challenge. With seven and six players respectively, Saracens and Leicester contributed more men to England’s World Cup squad than any of the other clubs in their league. The two most recent winners of the Premiership are stuck in the bottom half of the table and are facing the possibility of missing out on a semi-final spot.
In France, both Toulouse, in fourth, and La Rochelle, in eighth, have been off the pace in the Top 14. This despite providing over 50% of Le Bleus’ World Cup cohort. They’ve been eclipsed by Racing 92 who, like La Rochelle, have lost both of their games in the Champions Cup. Toulouse at least have managed two wins in Europe, but even their star-studded side is finding it difficult to fight on multiple fronts.
There is no way to draw a direct correlation between a domestic team’s struggles and the number of World Cup veterans they have. This hasn’t proven to be a problem for Leinster who continue to set the pace in the URC and Champions Cup. But they are perhaps the exception that might give credence to a theory that forces us to change the way we engage with the sport.
For now, let’s focus on the South African perspective. These are unprecedented times. Gone are the days of demarcated seasons. Now players are expected to remain fit and motivated all year round. The former might be possible for those blessed with genetic advantages and with privileged access to state of the art resources that help maintain their strength and conditioning, but the latter is virtually impossible.
How can Eben Etzebeth, the Sharks’ most high profile Springbok, be as committed to the cause wearing the club’s black jersey as he did wearing the green and gold of his country? If selected, he’ll play against Oyannax this weekend in the Challenge Cup in what is expected to be at best a half-full Kings Park Stadium. It’s not exactly the New Zealand All Blacks for the Webb Ellis Cup under lights in Paris, is it?
That may seem obvious but there is a danger that the demanding schedule is leading to mental exhaustion and a state of ennui. Watching the Sharks it is clear that a spark has been missing from some of their big names.
If this is indeed an expected by-product of the demanding fixture list then South African rugby fans need to recalibrate their expectations. Or rather, they need to create a hierarchy of needs. Ask yourselves, South African rugby fans: what do you want from 2024 and beyond?
Do you want your domestic club to clinch a URC title? Would you like the Bulls or Stormers to compete for the Champions Cup in London later in the year? The Cheetahs, Lions and Sharks currently occupy the top two places in their Challenge Cup groups. Would you like to see one of them progress to the final in May?
Or would you prefer to see the Springboks continue to ride that winning wave and claim their first Rugby Championship in a non-World Cup year? Many expert commentators have predicted a lean spell for South Africa as Rassie Erasmus begins a rebuilding project after the double World Cup triumph. Though many stalwarts will remain on board throughout the next cycle, a large chunk will not. The success of South African rugby will be determined by the patience of those who support it.
Whether or not Erasmus and his team get it is another matter. The X account that goes by Oom Rugby suggested the Springboks ship will be forced to navigate “challenging seas ahead.” When asked if the fans will accept such a bleak future, one that could potentially culminate in an early exit from the 2027 World Cup, Oom Rugby said that “the knives will come out quickly” if the team strings together a series of poor results. But if this is to be expected, is there any way to mitigate the impending shipwreck?
The most obvious solution would be to sacrifice domestic glory, or at least pursue domestic glory by resting Springboks players as much as possible. They could then be wheeled out to maintain their match sharpness or have a tilt in play-off matches. But, if this is indeed the solution, the regular grind ought to be carried out by players on the periphery of Erasmus’ plans.
Or they could follow the likes of Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe and five other World Cup winning Boks to Japan. With respect to a league that continues to attract elite talent from around the world, it is a comparatively easier ride. Perhaps it was no coincidence that 40% of the players who contested the World Cup final played their club rugby in Japan.
Erasmus has earned the right to play this how he wants. And of course the franchise coaches have an obligation to win everything they can and that means selecting the best team, filled with their best players, as often as they can. Whether or not these two ambitions can coexist at the same time remains to be seen.
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
41 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
41 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
41 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments