Former Springbok winger James Small recently suggested that South Africa should follow the example of New Zealand and only pick local players for the Springbok team. This is something I wholeheartedly agree with.
The rationale behind James Small’s reasoning is about loyalty.
“It feels like the guys playing overseas who earn the big bucks aren’t always as loyal as they should be,” he said.
“The All Blacks are well organised and do the right things at all levels. Just look at how their teams play in Super Rugby – they all play the same pattern.
“Here in South Africa every team does its own thing and the playing styles are nowhere near the same.”
In light of his comments I would like to take a look at how players should be judged for selection.
Loyalty
Although it is very difficult to prove or disprove whether a player has any loyalty towards the Springboks, the mere fact that they have taken contracts abroad for bigger pay checks suggests their priorities lie with their financial future.
The reality is if you want loyalty, get a dog, and even then when you stop feeding him, he will go to the neighbour.
Game plan
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has spent the last two years visiting the Super Rugby franchises and provinces to advocate a synergy in game plan.
This will take some time as prior to Meyer there was little cooperation between national and provincial levels.
The importance of having all professional teams sing from the same hymn book will only improve the collective and will ease players into the national setup painlessly.
Availability
Although there is an international Test window, clubs are getting smarter when looking after the welfare of players that earn upwards of one million dollars.
It is natural that these clubs would look after their own interests and design contracts to their own benefit and downplay any availability of their top players for international duty.
We have already seen the ongoing negotiations between SARU and Santori with regards to Fourie du Preez. Surely not being able to rely on the availability of a player does not benefit a coach who is attempting to have continuity in selection.
Last year Fourie du Preez was only available for the home Test matches during the Rugby Championship.
Form
Is it possible for a player to be relied upon to join the Springbok squad in form when there is no control in regards to the amount of game time a player would have?
What about players who have been poorly managed and suffer from fatigue by the end of the European season? How does one monitor the physical fitness or conditioning of a player you have no control over?
Clubs are not going to play a player in a specific position because the national coach in another country wants to experiment beforehand.
Motivation
The outflow of South African players over the past few years has been alarming. The weakening of the Rand has made it attractive for players to earn money in a stronger foreign currency to bring back home.
The problem is by selecting so many overseas players it motivates youngsters to leave as they think they are still eligible for the Springboks and might receive a call up once they have left.
It also has the adverse effect where youngsters decide to leave due to the fact that they don’t see a way into the Springbok squad with so many senior players being continually selected.
Phasing out
It is logical that SARU will not be able to immediately overturn the decision of selecting overseas players. Meyer is too far gone down the path of building his squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
However, a phasing out target must be put in place to ensure that Meyer adheres to a limited number of overseas players by the time the World Cup comes around.
The players Meyer definitely needs are du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Louw, Bryan Habana and Morne Steyn.
With the imminent return of Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Flip van der Merwe, Bakkies Botha is not a vital cog. Jaque Fourie can also be replaced by a good number of youngsters.
Perhaps suggesting to Heyneke Meyer that six is the maximum number of overseas players he may select for the Rugby World Cup would be a good starting point.
By 2016 the number should be reduced by another two players until by 2018 the national coach may only select local players.
Opportunities lost
Meyer has now had 25 Test matches at the helm and the fact that he is adamant that he needs overseas players has meant local potential stars, such as Cobus Reinach, have missed out.
In fact Meyer has made it clear that Fourie du Preez and Ruan Pienaar will be his halfbacks for the 2015 World Cup. What happens in 2016?
Francois Hougaard is the only other halfback in South Africa with any experience, and regardless of his injury woes in the past two seasons, he is definitely not the best option behind the two incumbents.
It isn’t that Meyer has not given young players the opportunity to earn their caps, but certain positions are becoming a concern. And it might just leave a big empty hole once the 2015 World Cup comes to an end.
