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Springboks radically change their tune: 'The nice thing is our old dogs, our big dogs got better offers overseas'
It has been a common refrain for years, South African rugby officials bemoaning the loss of numerous Springboks to the lure of clubs overseas where the remuneration is considerably more than the rand, but the irony heading into this year’s Lions tour is that World Cup-winning director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has admitted he is suddenly feeling very fortunate so many of his leading players are not based at home.
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With the pandemic having restricted the South African franchises to a never-ending series of repeat local matches, it has become quite an advantage that a considerable list containing star names such as Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth and Handre Pollard play their club rugby elsewhere.
Kolbe, for instance, was crowned a Heineken Champions Cup winners last weekend with Toulouse, Pollard became a Challenge Cup champion for Montpellier while de Klerk is in the thick of Sale’s battle to clinch a Gallagher Premiership title, levels of intense competition currently not replicated in South Africa where the local players are making do with another series of derbies in the much-maligned Rainbow Cup.
Given his reputation as a meticulous planner, Erasmus was asked by RugbyPass on Friday if not having any in-person contact with so many of his Springboks due to the world’s pandemic restrictions had put him at a disadvantage in trying to concoct a winning formula for South Africa against the Lions.
His response was that it hadn’t and that for once in the history of Springboks rugby it was ironically to their advantage having so many play with overseas clubs and being away from the local scene. “I’ll tell you luckily, luckily me and Jacques (Nienaber, head coach) have been working together since 1992, so that helped a lot,” explained Erasmus ahead of the Springboks squad announcement on June 5.
Erasmus and Nienaber have fronted media 22 days after Gatland named his squad of 37 https://t.co/e1nG1nRy5P
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 28, 2021
“We didn’t have the advantage of playing Rugby Championship and those kinds of things and seeing our players in top-class competitions. But I must say the advantage we do have for the first time probably as a result of our currency being weak is our players playing all over the world. We are lucky there are a lot of guys playing at Sale in the Premiership, we are lucky there are a lot of guys playing in Japan and in the Top League, a lot of guys were involved in the Top 14. Damian (de Allende) is doing really well at Munster in PRO14, so the nice thing is our old dogs, our big dogs, our guys that mostly were involved in the World Cup got better offers overseas.
“They are playing consistently and they are playing against the Lions players, not the guys in France but they do play against each other in the European Cup. The nice thing is those guys are in form and on top of their game, and we have got our local boys here playing trials every weekend for a year-and-a-half now. so we know what exactly is going on here in South Africa.
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“So in terms of the planning with that, having Felix (Jones) in Dublin and having Andy (Edwards) in London with the overseas-based players has helped. We never saw them face to face but Andy did and Felix went to visit all those guys. Here it’s easy with our local guys, the planning has been normal. And as you (media) guys know the virtual has become the thing. But you are 100 per cent right, not being able to see the reaction when you make a plan or when you make a suggestion, that is definitely missing. You miss that to see, ‘Okay, there is boys buying into what we are saying’.
“It did happen here in South Africa, and Felix and Andy got it for us on that side, but it is definitely a little bit of a drawback (not having face-to-face contact). But I guess Warren (Gatland) has more or less the same complications with him being signed in New Zealand for three years and then moving over and only recently mixing with the (Lions) guys on that side… it hasn’t been that easy to overcome.”
Gatland sticking by what he knows besthttps://t.co/nHLNlucNYo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 27, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments