The Super 15 isn’t even over and already the games have begun as the Rugby World Cup approaches. This became apparent with the South African Rugby Union’s announcement of 21 players who are “injured” or who have been carrying injuries through the Super 15 competition. All players on the list won’t be considered for the away leg of the Tri Nations. Names is as follows:
Duane Vermeulen (knee), Fourie du Preez (knee), Schalk Burger (thumb), Victor Matfield (calf and neck), Frans Steyn (ankle and back), Jaque Fourie (groin), Jean de Villiers (groin), BJ Botha (knee), Juan Smith (Achilles), Willem Alberts (shoulder), Bismarck du Plessis (shoulder), Andries Bekker (shoulder, groin and ankle), Jannie du Plessis (knee), Francois Louw (clavicle), Gurthrö Steenkamp (forearm), Francois Hougaard (ankle), Butch James (knee), JP Pietersen (back), Tendai Mtawarira (hamstring), Bryan Habana (shoulder), Bakkies Botha (knee).
Of the above, Vermeulen and Alberts are the only ones who can’t be pencilled in as potential first XV material if all players were considered for squad selection. A quick trawl of some the New Zealand and Australian news websites shows the announcement has been dwarfed by the build-up to the Super 15 final, but already the blogosphere is starting to produce murmurs of deception and tomfoolery. As soon as the large news media get in on the act, the next week is going to be dominated by stories of the players being rested with “injury” being used as a cover. The moan-fest will begin in earnest but I don’t think those at Springbok HQ will give a damn.
Whether the players are injured or not, and there is no way us media pundits know that for certain, the 21 named all need time on the sidelines to recover from what has been an arduous Super 15 tournament. Considering that this year there have been more injuries than any other since the founding of the Super Rugby tournament in 1996, Peter de Villiers and the Springbok management have taken the long-view in regards to ensuring that South Africa doesn’t send a team to the World Cup that is tired on its feet. It’s the right call, and with John Smit leading the side, he will get valuable game time at hooker. Even the side going across will be weaker, that doesn’t mean they will be blown over without a whimper. It’s going to be a very interesting beginning to the Test season.
In other news, England No. 8 Nick Easter says that the proximity of the Tri Nations to the World Cup could play into the hands of the northern hemisphere sides with their first taste of international rugby before the tournament being the warm-up games. While Easter is talking up England’s chances, the very opposite could be true since the Tri Nations sides will have a far better idea of who is in form and who isn’t come game day one of the World Cup. Like the injured-versus-resting players scenario, it comes down to which nations will be better prepared for the rigours of the tough tournament that is the World Cup. From that view, surely the Sanzar partners would be happier with their build-up than those in the north?
Looking locally, rumours of the Lions being excluded from the Super 15 as early as 2013 have emerged since the breakdown of their partnership with Robert Gumede’s Guma-TAC group. Gumede himself has said financially that the union is in dire straits, suggesting that the R16-million (approximately AUS$2.1-million) the group spent on the Lions’ behalf is unlikely to be paid back any time soon. While Gumede has a bone to pick with the Lions board after the breakdown of their proposed agreement, the way things are going for the Johannesburg franchise — if they were excluded in favour of the Southern Kings for the 2013 Super 15 — no one in Johannesburg could complain if the Lions were seen as the worst franchise in the country. For Lions fans (including this one), it is further depressing news that a union seems to be stuck in a vicious cycle. Let’s hope they can bring some cheer during the Currie Cup. If the Lions can become a powerhouse in South African rugby circuit, it will be to the benefit of the whole country. Right now, they are a long way from that.
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