SA Rugby, White at loggerheads
I was thinking of Dick Muir when the Springbok side to play the Wallabies on Saturday was announced - and I wondered what he was thinking.
Would he have been furious or thrilled when he saw the team?
I am referring to the inclusion of Johann Muller at lock at the expense of Albert van den Berg. This was the most significant change in the pack from the side that lost to the All Blacks two weeks ago. Both Van den Berg and Muller playing for the Sharks and that is were Muir comes into the picture.
The Natal coach picked both during the Super 14 and in the same pecking order that Bok coach Jake White has done for this Test match - Muller to start with Van den Berg on the bench.
Nothing wrong with that picture.
But take yourselves back a month or so. On more than one occasion then, White was adamant that he was short-changed by the Super 14 coaches.
He was complaining about the fact that the Super 14 coaches were either playing his players out of position (Bryan Habana, Jaco van der Westhuyzen), or was not picking his regular players, referring to Van den Berg and Shimange. According to White, Van den Berg came into the Test match arena against Scotland and France "half cooked" because he was not starting at the Sharks.
It might have been true. Van den Berg might have been a tad short on match fitness, but it was because Muller was playing better rugby and deserved to be in the starting team - something that was acknowledged by White when he picked Muller in his extended group of 45 and later in the match 22.
While the Sharks might have been 'neglecting' Van den Berg, they were developing Muller. And who will have the benefit of Muller's experience and improvement on Saturday?
So to Dick Muir, well done, you have developed a young player and now the national side can benefit. Thanks for that.
Now, do you think you can do the same for Solly Tyibilika?
Yes, Solly. The man who according to White in his most recent letter to SA Rugby, was picked by White under instruction to play for the Boks. Who, because of SA Rugby's transformation policy, he had to pick ahead of someone like Luke Watson. Sorry, if that was the case, why did White pick Andre Snyman and Gaffie du Toit on the wing ahead of the Ndungane's?
The whole sage between the national coach and his administration is becoming a joke. It has been suggested that they are not backing him on various issues, but in reality, they are.
Are the Boks playing in the Currie Cup? No. Will the majority of them be rested in Super 14? Yes. Are SA Rugby pushing White to pick black players? Or are SA Rugby forcing White to admit that selections like Snyman and Du Toit are contradictory to a development programme that has cost SA Rugby millions and has produced the likes of Ralepelle, Mxoli, Tyibilika and the Ndungane's?
On that point, I have to tell you what Gary Botha told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday. Botha, who was shot by (black) robbers four times a couple of years back and has been the best hooker in the country since 2003, but only has three caps to show for it, was reflecting on Chiliboy Ralepelle's inclusion.
Ralepelle is Botha's junior at the Bulls and was included ahead of him for the Tri-Nations series.
"We have to remember," Botha said, "the Springboks are South Africa's team and because of that we have to do what is best for South Africa and not the best for any individual. I understand that. Chiliboy must enjoy the moment and make the best of it."
Why can't White and/or the administration not show the same vision?
Either way, the continuing apparent miscommunication between White and his national body cannot continue. If White really believes that SA Rugby is stabbing him in the back, he must resign. If SA Rugby is really out to get White, they must sign the retrenchment cheque and send him on his way. Our results are bad enough, for our rugby bosses and national coach to create one public relations disaster after the other, is madness. And has to stop.
And yes, before I forget. Just chew on this one.
Come Saturday, Van den Berg will be capped for the 38th time if he makes an appearance. The same amount of times Frik du Preez and Jan Ellis played for the Springboks in Test matches. No disrespect to Van den Berg, but that does not sound right.
Modern rugby gave us seven substitutions and Van den Berg flourished in that role. You can't blame him for that. But to think that he will probably play more Test matches for South Africa than the legendary Frik du Preez? Sorry, but that is a hard one to swallow.
News source: www.news24.co.za
Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
