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Springboks radically change their tune: 'The nice thing is our old dogs, our big dogs got better offers overseas'

(Photo by Getty Images)

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.  

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RugbyPass is sharing unique stories from iconic British and Irish Lions tours to South Africa in proud partnership with The Famous Grouse, the Spirit of Rugby

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.

“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.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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