Testing times for Boks

After a poor away leg to Australasia, the defence of the Tri Nations champions tag is out of reach for the all conquering Springboks. A lot of questions have been asked, and players and management have come under immense scrutiny of late because of 3 poor matches.

Head coach Peter de Villiers has chosen to stick with the tried and tested players – who many feel need a break – and it may be of dire consequence if the team does not perform to the high standards expected from a country that is so laden with exceptional talent and such gargantuan potential.

If the Boks do not win all their home games there will be huge unrest amongst the South African rugby public. If not the players, then surely the coach will be scrutinised for it is he who selects the team, formulates the game plan and is ultimately responsible for the results.

Players do not select themselves - the selection panel do, with the final decision lying with the head coach. For this reason I do not entirely blame Ricky January if he is selected to start and does not play up to standard. Let’s take his case as an example. When selected he is obviously playing the best that he knows how, but if it’s not up to standard then the responsibility lies with Peter de Villiers. To clarify what I mean, it’s one thing to back your players and another to accept that you are responsible for their well being. If the writing is on the wall that Ricky is over the hill (and there are many indicating factors), then surely for the player’s well being the coach should allow or at least guide the player so that he can make a dignified exit from the Springbok fold. Ricky isn't the only player that might fall into this category, Wynand Oliver also needs to have a sit down and a think.

With the current day professionalism of the sport, this does not mean that the player is totally relieved of his responsibilities as an ambassador of our beloved country. As a player, as difficult as a decision it might be, there comes a time when stepping down is the right thing to do.

How will you remember Percy Montgomery and Os du Randt in 10 years time? Both these legendary stalwarts could have stayed on to seek a British and Irish Lions winner’s medal, except they realised that Springbok rugby was bigger than any individual and they chose their dignified exit.

Sticking to the subject and current affairs, if all doesn’t go to plan the next few weeks might see some players considering the dignified exit sooner than they would’ve anticipated. My biggest fear is for John Smit and Victor Matfield. Arguably the best Captain and Lock the world has seen have their fate balancing on a knife’s edge after some disappointing form in New Zealand and Australia. A rest would’ve done them and the Springboks a world of good. I do believe that they can still contribute meaningfully to Springbok rugby but they need to be managed like Os du Randt was under Jake White.

Let’s hope that Saturday is the turning point as far as recent results go.

Boks by 3.

Eastern Cape Rugby

For a long time the Eastern Cape was the dominant sporting force in both Cricket and Rugby in South Africa. In the 90’s EP and Border Cricket had some outstanding players who represented the National team, including legends Dave Richardson and Kepler Wessels - who captained the Proteas. From that era, the region seemed to slip in stature and results for a few years but has recently found the glory it always had the potential of fulfilling by lifting a few of South Africa’s most coveted domestic competition trophies.

There has always been a rich rugby talent pool in the Eastern Cape and many Eastern Cape schools produce outstanding players only for them to be picked up by the bigger unions when they showcase their skills at Craven week level.

The most pleasing aspect for the transformation junkie is that the amount of Black rugby players coming through the ranks in the Eastern Cape is far greater than any other part of the country. Not only are there more Black players playing the game in this region but the standard of play by South Africa’s ethnic majority is higher in this region than in other parts of the country.

But rugby isn’t about race and there are also some outstanding White, Coloured and Asian players running around the rugby fields of Grey, Dale, Selbourne, St Andrews and the like. The Eastern Cape is basically a hotbed of Rugby talent and should be supported by the powers that be to set up the correct structures that can take the region back to the heights it once reached.

It is pleasing to know that SARU is initiating some momentum and all signs point to a Springbok v All Black 2011 Tri Nations Test Match.

Port Elizabeth and East London have some of the finest rugby fans in South Africa and have a lot of avid diehard supporters. The new stadium in Port Elizabeth is of world class standard and should be aptly used for world class events.

Like its sporting sister code, let’s hope Rugby in this region can replicate the recent successes of Cricket and bring some pride back to the Eastern Cape rugby fraternity!

A few top players with links to the region:

Mike Catt, Rassie Erasmus, Andre Vos, Deon Kayser, Danie Gerber, Joe van Niekerk, Ricardo Loubscher, Brent Russell, Gavin Cowley, Garth Wright, Luke Watson, Deon Stegman to name a few.