Ebenezer and other Crocked Boks

Looks like Plummers is not happy that Etzebeth came back crocked after a gruelling international campaign of 13 test matches. He ranks as one of the most active players. It questions why Rassie felt he needed to field him against Wales. It was at 30 min that the 33 year old body and time finally caught up with him. He had to bear the brunt of the workload for the boks this season. This is after several of the locks were injured and the boks for the first time in a long time had a limited cupboard of locks. No RG, no Mostert, No Lood etc. Klein was crocket and we even saw PSDT play at lock. 

Now, like so many clubs before the Saarks, Eben put his shift in and it is back to the clubs to recover him. 

The problem with the SA season is that there isn't a proper off season. The Northern hemisphere teams shut shop end of July without any test matches. Player only start at the end of September with 4 games under their belt before they play 3 test matches. It doesn't help that the rugby championship is still played during August September. 

International players need a minimum of 3 months of no contact, but with the boks, the only window they get is around the 6 nations when they are withdrawn from the local derby matches. It doesn't help when they play in Europe as they have to play all the way through. 

The only boks that benefit are those based in Japan. Their season starts in December and they are done by April. It gives them May and June to recover before the report for international duty. They have some breaks in between and have time to recover before Nov internationals. 

That is why I keep saying that SA needs to find a way to end our season in April so that our international players can a break. Right now they only get 6 weeks in Feb and Mar. 

I also think this is why Rassie had to use 50 players, making sure that's players are fresh. 

The new normal...rugby in December...befok!!!...it's been a pro sport for nearly 3 decades, about time they start acting like it...glad to see SA leading the way...no wonder we're No.1.

If you pay that kind of salary, you want to have the best lock on the planet on the pitch every game...all of the others are good locks, but none comes close as a substitute. 

Agree, if you look how he changed the Saarks fortunes last year when he had back to back games. It lifted them team to have a player like him being a menace all over the field. Such a weapon in his defence, pressure and carries. 

I'm curious based on minutes played + salary what each player cost their club per minute. I think based on Eben and some players club games, they are probably the most expensive per minute. You really want these players on the field against your strongest opposition and you want to make sure you win those games. No point just being 20 min on the fields. 

That is why Kolisi Club owner was so upset. He need this player to play the entire game at 100% or close to that. With the boks it is a different story because we have so many quality players that are similar and equal quality. So it is easy to pull them off after 30 min

Yep Rassie realised long ago that the Boks needed a lot of depth to be successful in such a demanding long season.

U fortunately some here thought playing the best team till they dropped was the way to go.