Rugby
Player drain – a reality check
2008-12-12 11:41
Email | Print
CJ van der Linde (Gallo Images)
|
With All Black star flyhalf, Dan Carter, set to make his highly-anticipated debut for Perpignan against Leicester in the Heineken Cup, this weekend, and former Springbok squad member, Isma-eel Dollie, looking set to follow in the footsteps of Clyde Rathbone and join the Brumbies, we thought it an appropriate time to publish a few observations made by Rugby365 editorial chief, Howard Kahn.
In 2007 alone, 138 South African-born players appeared for leading overseas clubs – in Europe and Australasia – at one time or another.
Amongst that list was none other than World Cup-winning skipper John Smit, who has since returned home to Durban, whilst fellow RWC hero, lock Victor Matfield, also returned to his native Bulls after spending a few months of this year at French club, Toulon.
You see, it is not the drain of the top echelon of South African players that is a worry at present. Unlike New Zealand, who lost big names like Doug Howlett, Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Chris Jack and Carl Hayman after the ’07 World Cup, SA still have most of their top players at home.
In fact, of the 17 players that took to the field for South Africa in last year’s World Cup Final triumph over England in Paris; just three are currently playing abroad, with a fourth, Percy Montgomery, having retired from Test rugby.
However, more worrying for the powers that be in South African rugby is the constant loss of the next tier of players in SA – it’s the next generation of Springboks that are slipping away.
Just this year, props CJ van der Linde and BJ Botha signed contracts in Ireland, whilst World Cup-winning flank Wikus van Heerden has traded Pretoria for London and a new life at Saracens.
But joining Van Heerden in North London is uncapped inside centre Brad Barritt. This powerfully built, yet intelligent inside centre is just 22, but after signing a three-year deal with Saracens – and with English ancestry to boot, don’t be surprised to see Barritt in the England mix sooner rather than later.
Another player in Barritt’s boat is little-known Bristol winger Mathew Turner, who also has English ancestry and can therefore play for his ‘adopted’ country. Turner battled for opportunities in SA, but has already impressed many with his speed and finishing abilities in England.
The cases of Barritt and Turner are vastly different to that of Van Heerden, who played nine years of first-class rugby in SA. Now, at the age of 29, the Bok flanker will be able to wind down his career in a different environment – much like former Quins back rower André Vos did after retiring from Test rugby. Barritt and Turner, however, will be hoping to play their best rugby whilst in England – a scenario that could only benefit new England boss Martin Johnson.
Barritt and Turner are not the only players that will or have left South Africa in their early 20’s. English World Cup winner Stuart Abbott hails from South Africa, as does current England prop Matt Stevens, who attended the same school as Barritt in Natal.
With the current issues surrounding the Springbok emblem, and with regular outbursts from various politicians not even closely associated to the game in SA, many talented youngsters – who are hoping to make careers out of rugby – find themselves thinking about perhaps playing for other countries before their own in order to ensure that they remain in control of their own destinies.
Adding to the obvious lure of the Pound and the Euro in the United Kingdom and Europe, respectively, Australia – who now have a special ‘foreigners’ clause in place at their four Super 14 franchises – is also emerging as a new threat to the South African game.
Just recently, new Australian Rugby Union High Performance General Manager David Nucifora came hunting for new talent in SA, with the former Brumbies coach apparently leaving these shores with a briefcase full of CVs of up-and-coming players.
Australia have a small pool of players, especially when compared to SA and NZ, which probably explains why they don’t lose as many players to Europe when compared to their fellow Tri-Nations teams. However, losing frontline stars like Rocky Elsom and Chris Latham does hit them a bit harder than most, so they tend to lock in their younger players with long-term deals.
Five NEW South African players to watch in Europe in 2008/09:
CJ van der Linde (Springboks, Leinster) – prop:
At just 28 years of age – which is young for any front row forward, nevermind a World Cup winner – Van der Linde’s best rugby still lies ahead. Unfortunately for South Africa, Van der Linde will be spending the next three years in the colours of Irish Province Leinster, having joined them after the 2008 Tri-Nations. Comfortable on either side of the scrum, he has the skills of a back row forward.
Juandré Kruger (Northampton) – lock:
The former Western Province and Blue Bulls second row is an athletic line-out forward, who can also slot into the back row if need be. He would have learnt plenty from playing behind the likes of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield at the Bulls, but ultimately, that is why he has decided to further his career at Northampton.
Wikus van Heerden (Springboks, Saracens) – flank:
The hard-working Bulls flanker was probably the most underrated player in South Africa last year; yet, he still has a Super 14 and a World Cup winners’ medal to show for his efforts in 2007. Capable of playing on either side of the scrum, Saracens fans will quickly see why this unassuming grafter has been signed as a replacement for the retired Richard Hill.
Bradley Barritt (Saracens) – inside centre:
The nuggety inside back made a name for himself at Super 14 level at the age of 19, but he has found his path to the Springbok team blocked by Jean de Villiers and Wynand Olivier and now, more recently, his Sharks teammate Frans Steyn. Record-breaking Springbok star Percy Montgomery rates Barritt as the finest organisational centre he has ever played with.
Mathew Turner (Bristol) – wing:
Bristol’s new try-scoring machine has not even played at senior provincial level in his native South Africa. However, thanks to Bristol boss Richard Hill and a little thing called English ancestry, the little flyer could find himself playing for the England Sevens team this season.
A southern hemisphere XV (made up former internationals currently playing in Europe):
15 Chris Latham (Aus), 14 Doug Howlett (NZ), 13 Marius Joubert (SA), 12 Aaron Mauger (NZ), 11 Rico Gear (NZ), 10 Luke McAlister (NZ), 9 Byron Kelleher (NZ), 8 Shaun Sowerby (SA), 7 Wikus van Heerden (SA), 6 Rocky Elsom (Aus), 5 Chris Jack (NZ), 4 Marco Wentzel (SA), 3 Carl Hayman (NZ), 2 Tom Willis (NZ), 1 CJ van der Linde (SA).
Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee (SA), 17 BJ Botha (SA), 18 Joe van Niekerk (SA), 19 Marty Holah (NZ), 20 Neil de Kock (SA), 21 Butch James (SA), 22 Regan King (NZ).
SA Players playing overseas:
Bath - Peter Dixon, Butch James, Michael Claassens
Biarritz - Trevor Hall, Eduard Coetzee
Bristol – Mathew Turner
Brive – Antonie Claassen, Gerhard Vosloo, Ronnie Cooke
Clermont – Brent Russell, Marius Joubert, Grant Esterhuizen
Harlequins - Gary Botha, De Wet Barry
Leicester Tigers - Heyneke Meyer (coach), Derick Hougaard, Marco Wentzel
Leinster - CJ van der Linde, Stephen Knoop
Munster - Justin Melck, Shaun Payne (manager)
Northampton - Juandre Kruger, Regardt Dreyer, Brett Sharman
Perpignan – Philip Burger, Gerrie Britz
Saracens - Cobus Visagie, Wikus van Heerden, Neil de Kock, Brad Barritt
Stade Francais - Falie Oelschig
Trieviso – Franco Smith (coach), Hottie Louw
Toulon – Tiaan Liebenberg, Norman Jordaan, Ross Skeate, Joe van Niekerk
Toulouse - Daan Human, Shaun Sowerby
Ulster - BJ Botha, Robbie Diack
Wasps - Pat Barnard (qualifies for England)
Howard Kahn is also the head of editorial at Primedia Online - publishers of www.rugby365.com.