South Africans abroad | Premiership vs Japan vs Top 14 XVs
The victorious Lions series and Rugby World Cup heroics in Japan two years previously have made the Springboks the poster boys for utilising overseas talent.
While Rugby Australia ponder whether to scrap the Giteau Law, most Tier 1 unions still operate some version of a ‘overseas’ selection policy – whether soft or hard – that disincentivizes or straight up prohibits the use by the national team of players pursuing professional rugby careers on foreign shores.
Yet South Africa have gone the other way and it seems to be working for them. The weakness of the South African Rand means SA franchises simply can’t compete with foreign leagues – or at least all but the most modestly financed ones.
Of South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber’s initial 46-man Springboks squad for the British & Irish Lions series, 23 of their number play their rugby overseas.
Eight of that squad currently ply their trade in the Gallagher Premiership, with another eight in Top 14, five in the Japanese Top League and two in the PRO14.
This compares to the 23 that play their rugby in South Africa, a significant proportion of which have returned to their native lands in the last 12 months.
Of the starting Springboks fifteen for the first and second Tests against the Lions, eight played their rugby outside of South Africa. That rose to nine in the third.
Of course, this is just a fraction of the South Africans that play professional and semi-professional rugby around the globe. Roughly nine percent of the Gallagher Premiership player senior player base is now South African.
There are still significant numbers in France too, though strict JIFF protocols, which limit the number of non-French players that can be fielded by an LNR team, adding to a migration push meaning more South African rugby players will be looking to the UK, Ireland and Japan for a new home.
The scale of the player drain from South Africa is easily illustrated.
Here we pick three ‘South African abroad’ XVs, from the Gallagher Premiership, Japanese professional rugby and the Top 14. What’s remarkable is that in the case of the Prem and Top 14, you can fill either nearly entirely with capped Springboks.
SPRINGBOKS IN ENGLAND XV:
15: Tyrone Green – Harlequins
14: Kobus Van Wyk – Leicester Tigers
13: Rohan Janse Van Rensburg – Sale Sharks
12: Andre Esterhuizen – Harlequins
11: Francois Hougaard – Wasps*
10: Robert Du Preez – Sale Sharks
9: Faf De Klerk – Sale Sharks
8: Jasper Wiese – Leicester Tigers
7: Marco Van Staden – Leicester Tigers
6: Dan du Preez – Sale Sharks
5: Jean-luc Du Preez – Sale Sharks
4: Lood Du Jager – Sale Sharks
3: Vincent Koch – Saracens
2: Akker Van Der Merwe – Sale Sharks
1: Coenie Oosthuizen – Sale Sharks
*Normally a scrumhalf but has started games on the wing for the Springboks and Worcester Warriors
SPRINGBOKS IN THE TOP 14
15. Elton Jantjies – Pau
14. Cheslin Kolbe – Toulon
13. Raymond Rhule – La Rochelle
12. Jan Serfontein – Montpellier
11. Dillyn Leyds – La Rochelle
10. Handre Pollard – Montpellier
9. Cobus Reinach – Montpellier
8. Wiaan Liebenberg – La Rochelle
7. Retief Marais – Brive
6. Rynhardt Elstadt – Toulouse
5. Eben Etzebeth – Toulon
4. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg – Montpellier
3. Cody Thomas – Brive
2. Joseph Dweba – Bordeaux
1. Nemo Roelofse – Stade Francais
JAPANESE CLUB RUGBY
15: Willie Le Roux – Toyota Verblitz
14: Sylvian Mahuza – Shining Arcs
13: Jessie Kriel – Canon Eagles
12: Johnny Kotze – Shimizu Blue Sharks
11: Gerhard van den Heever – Kubota Spears
10: Shane Gates – Shining Arcs
9: Ryan Louwrens – Kinetsu Liners
8: Kwagga Smith – Yamaha Júbilo
7: Kobus van Dyk- Canon Eagles
6: Franco Mostert – Honda Heat
5: Lourens Erasmus – Red Dolphins
4: Ruan Botha – Kubota Spears
3: Dayan van der Westhuizen – Red Dolphins
2: Malcolm Marx – Kubota Spears
1: Matthys Basson – Honda Heat
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments