The State of the billion rand rugby nation: 0 to 1,369 minutes in one S14 season

Here then, after much sifting and research, are the playing times of South African rugby’s elite Super 14 group of the Cheetahs, Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Stormers and their total playing time for the 2007 Super 14 season, to offer a benchmark of whether South Africa is maximising the playing time of its asset base of players worth R1 billion, or pushing them to burn out.

From a lowly zero to Matfield’s 1,369 minutes, in just four months.

Here comes the worrisome part. Add the 2007 Currie Cup games then the 2007 Rugby World Cup games, a couple of games for overseas clubs post the 2007 RWC and then into the 2008 season, with the Super 14 in 2008 with the equivalent amount of playing time and add a line up of games against Wales, Italy, New Zealand and Australia, without all the intermittent contact training and gym conditioning and you start to get a sense of the pretty intense regimen for the mind and body that South African elite rugby players have.

Not something that the professional athlete can withstand and tolerate for an extended period of time.

Our elite players have to be close to burnout and are not meant to be treated like machines. Prof Tim Noakes has for years called for the proper maintenance and management of rugby players. Of course there is the money angle and players who regard themselves as professional want to rake it in and as much as possible in the shortest space of time and some do this without regard to their playing careers. So take a sneak peek at these stats and wonder:

Player Total time played in Super 14 TOTAL MIN in 2007

CHEETAHS

Du Preez, Wian 574 574
Van der Linde, CJ 200 329
Du Plessis, Jannie 701 701
Du Randt, Jacobus Petrus (Os) 149 202
Le Roux,Andre- Henri (Ollie) 415 415
Strauss,Conrad Richardt 569 569
Strauss, Jan Adriaan 220 220
Van Dyk,Hans Jacob 171 171
Duncan, Rory 479 479
Pieterse,Barend Hermanus 0 0
Senekal,Dewald Meyer 44 44
Van Der Merwe, Phillip (Flippie) 117 117
Nell, Darron Paul 284 284
Van Zyl,Casparus Cornelius (Corniel) 1040 1040
Mokuena, Jonathan 0 0
Vermaak, Benjamin Sebastian 203 203
Floors,Lucas (Kabamba) 546 546
Scholtz,Hendro 367 367
Smith,Juan 877 1079
Van Der Merwe, Ryno Chris 582 582
Vermeulen, Daniel Johannes 422 422
Brussow, Heinrich Wilhelm 229 229
Claassens, Micheal 250 250
Oelschig, Noel Herman 799 799
Carse, Tertius Gerard 9 9
De Waal, Willem 467 467
Bosman,Herman Meyer 951 951
Kruger,Hercules Christiaan 606 606
Benjamin,Ryno Shannon 0 0
Hollenbach, Alwyn 27 27
Joubert, Marius 710 710
Fortuin,Bevin Andre 400 400
Cooke, Ronald John 833 833
Kirchner, Zane 0 0
Fredericks,Edrick Reginald 806 806
Burger,Phillip Boshoff 796 796
Mangweni, Siyabonga (Tiger) 341 341
Passens,Gavin Andrew 236 236

BULLS

Steenkamp, Gurthro Garth 676 843
Roux, Wessel Gerhardus 147 147
Thiart, Danie 609 609
Bands,Richard Edward 22 22
Engels, Jaco 370 370
Gerber, Rayno 464 464
Ralepelle, Mahlatse 6 6
Botha, Gary 1144 1263
Botha, John Philip (Bakkies) 638 806
Rossouw, Danie 719 880
Steenkamp, Jabez Wilhelmus 53 53
Fondse, Adriaan Rudolph 13 13
Matfield, Victor 1129 1369
Van Schouwenburg, Francois Johan 113 113
Spies, Pierre Johan 480 575
Van Heerden, Wikus 1041 1041
Vermeulen, Ruan 129 129
Kuun, Gabriel Willem Frederick 281 281
Lobberts, Hilton 77 77
Leonard, Anton 449 449
Wannenburg, Pedrie Johannes 764 793
Eyre, Nicholas John 12 12
Adams, Heinrich Jaco 153 153
Du Preez, Petrus Fourie 1038 1038
Steyn, Morne 425 425
Potgieter, Jacques-Louis 24 24
Hougaard, Derrick 785 865
Delport, Marius 160 160
Olivier, Wynand 733 893
Welsh, Barend Frederik 165 165
Julies, Wayne 496 552
Nel, Jacobus Paulus 860 860
Habana, Bryan Gary 1022 1170
Mametsa, Sello John 0 0
Ndungane, Akona Zilindlovu 893 973
Demas, Danwel 0 0
Roets, Johan (Blue Bulls) 823 823
Van der Westhuyzen, Jaco 494 494

LIONS

Sephaka, Lawrence 10 10
Mujati, Brain Vuyisile 622 622
Smit, Albertus Johannes (Bertus) 398 398
Van Der Merwe, Hendrik Schalk 968 968
Constant,Ashton 0 0
Reynecke, Ethienne 445 445
Wepener, Frederick Willem (Willie) 568 568
Van Der Merwe, Franco 225 225
Gilfillan,Gordon John 113 113
Grobler,Jacobus Andries (Cobus) 769 769
Van Zyl, Anton 789 789
Cronje,Geo 180 180
Alberts,Willem Schalk 607 607
Grobbelaar,Petrus JJ (Cobus) 876 876
Joubert, Ernst 1040 1040
Cronje,Jacques 591 591
Tyibilika, Solomzi (Solly) 0 0
Vermaak,Jano 559 559
Januarie,Enrico 471 666
Pretorius,Andre 537 537
Rose,Earl 588 588
Strydom,Louis Isias 352 352
Van Schalkwyk, Hendrik Jacobus 711 711
La Grange,Gideon (Doppies) 616 616
Fourie,Jacque 1021 1140
Boshoff,Jan Hendrik 290 290
Pretorius,Jaco Christiaan 801 801
Human, Wylie 398 398
Lloyd,Colin Randall 12 12
Ludik,Louis 891 891
Willemse, Ashwin 60 243

SHARKS

Lensing,Kees 96 96
Carstens,Pieter-Deon 1075 1160
Botha,Brendon James 883 1075
Cilliers, Patric Micheal 10 10
Mtawarira,Tendai 301 301
Badenhorst,Rudolf Scheepers 0 0
Du Plessis,Bismarck Wilhelm 356 356
Smit, John William 874 1076
Ackerman,Johannes Nicolaas 522 583
Muller,Johann 1035 1086
Sykes,Steven Robert 214 214
Venter,Albertus Johannes(AJ) 1075 1075
Senekal, Dewald Meyer 0 0
Van den Berg,Philippus Albertus 393 473
Botes,Louis Jacques 1032 1032
Britz,Warren Kenneth 330 330
Daniel,Keegan Rhys 85 85
Kankowski,Ryan 868 868
Skinstad,Bob 399 4
Kockott,Rory Michael 172 172
Mathie,Scott 0 0
Nxumalo,Sandile Mfundo Dennis 0 0
Pienaar,Ruan 1070 1212
Steyn,Francois Philippus Lodewyk 1120 1256
James,Butch 970 1210
Barritt,Bradley Michael 941 941
Jacobs,Adrian 454 454
Rees,Grant 59 59
Burden,Craig Bruce 0 0
Murray,Waylon Michael 1113 1193
Strauss,Andries Jacobus 0 0
Mentz, Hendrik 0 0
Montgomery,Percival Colin 760 1014
Ndungane,Odwa Nzuzo 586 638
Noble,Howard Gerald 0 0
Noble,Dusty Clint 0 0
Bobo,Gcobani 0 0
Mkhize,Cedric 0 0
Pietersen,Jon-Paul Roger 1160 1320

STORMERS

Andrews,Eddie 351 351
Harris,Juan (Brok) 711 711
Ferreira,Schalk Jakobus Petrus 293 293
Moller,Jan Daniel 724 724
Brits,Schalk 665 665
Edmonds,Huia 34 34
Liebenberg,Christiaan (Tiaan) 344 344
Bekker, Andries 696 696
Boome,Selborne 80 80
Britz,Gerrie 835 835
Skeate,Ross Carson 407 407
Van Der Merwe, Francois Carl 71 71
Burger Jnr,Schalk 1030 1270
Melck,Justin Ryk 513 513
Van Niekerk, Johann 353 353
Diack,Robert James Ellis 189 189
Louw,Pieter Johannes 0 0
Watson,Luke Asher 1016 1067
Conradie,Johannes 683 683
Joubert,Jean-Pierre 357 357
Grant,Peter John 854 854
Olivier, Ignatius Petrus (Naas) 205 205
Russel, Robert Brent 577 577
Barry, De Wet 825 825
Des Fountain, Dylan 283 283
Uys,Cornelis Janse 540 540
De Villiers, Jean 868 1091
Booi,Chumani 0 0
Pietersen,Johan Christiaan 0 0
Seconds,Egon Ryan 40 40
Aplon,Gio Giaan 483 483
Chavanga,Tonderai 0 0
Paulse,Breyton 996 996
Jantjes,Conrad 560 560

Determining how anyone of the players above feels physically, at a given point in time over the course of a long, gruelling rugby season, which is 11 months, is far from an exact science. In fact, it qualifies much more as an art, requiring our rugby coaches in each of the 14 Unions and then the Super 14 franchises to develop an intuitive feel for players’ physical capabilities and recovery needs.

So the State of Our Rugby Nation and its professional players lies in the hands of some 20 coaches, starting with the national coach.

Emerging Springboks Chester Williams (by last reckoning)
U20 Eric Sauls
Sevens Paul Treu
Womens David Dobela

Are our Super 14 coaches and the 14 provincial union coaches and all the assistant coaches, able to make these calls?

Bulls — Frans Ludeke Provincial Union: Bulls & Falcons
Lions — Eugene Eloff Provincial Union: Lions, Pumas & Leopards
Sharks — Dick Muir Provincial Union: Sharks
Stormers — Rassie Erasmus Provincial Union: Western Province & Boland
Cheetahs — Naka Drotske Provincial Union: FS Cheetahs, Griquas & Griffons

What is missing here? Provincial Union: Border, Eastern Province & SWD

And to make matters more complicated, each and every player above is distinctly unique when it comes to recovery requirements; some recover quickly from even the most intense physical demands, while others need substantial rest periods to be ready to go at 100% capacity after hard exertion.

I will not venture near the “ebony and ivory” debate yet, in which, in my opinion, South African black rugby players need a minimum of six months of intense dedicated conditioning, muscle development and skills development before trotting out onto the field. It will be a matter of time before the Ndungane Twins, Nokwe & Chavanga self destruct and blow up and therein lies the problem, as this can be and must be prevented.

However, most players are somewhere inbetween this broad continuum. Prof Tim Noakes has been beating this drum for the past six years and cautioning SA Rugby to be mindful that elite players need rest and recovery.

Last year Noakes said the decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union to withdraw their most valuable players from the first half of the Super 14 was based on scientific measurements and data they had collected over the past few years and he stressed that similar measurement systems should have been implemented in SA.

They haven’t been implemented and so South Africa will continue to witness the attrition of players to fatigue and injuries in South Africa, plus the player exodus to the northern hemisphere and soon Australia for the Super 14.

Each of these South African elite players are valued at an average of R1m per player given the salaries paid to them over the seasons or contract period, plus the enormous investment in their “conditioning and coaching” and to move them from stadium to stadium to play games. It is a breathtaking and scary consideration of the enormous amount of capital investment that goes into the players and games

So with 450 elite players in South Africa and 500 South African players overseas, is this how we manage a player asset base of R1 billion?

How then to optimise each rugby team for every weekend?

Once our coaches become familiar with their players’ physical tolerance levels, with the assistance of their assistant coaches, physios, chiropractors, biokineticists, conditioning coaches, defence coaches, attacking coaches, backline coaches, forward coaches and doctors, they must then proceed to act accordingly.

BUT, what it is to act accordingly isn’t always so clear-cut.

For instance, one way to ease an overly tired and worn down player is to cut his playing time. But what if an important Currie Cup game is in the balance and that player is your leading try scorer or playmaker?

Bench time for the player may help avoid long-term fatigue down the road, but will it help win the game this weekend? A strategy that the Bulls have put in place for this weekend by “resting” Spies and Matfield for these 80 minutes. So is this really rest when it is for one game?

This scenario illustrates just how complicated dealing with long-term player fatigue is.

Despite the challenges, long-term player fatigue can be dealt with effectively and often avoided all together by employing a series of proven strategies, but only if they are implemented. Week in and week out, we bear witness to the major warning signs of long-term player fatigue.

Warning signs of long-term player fatigue
Missed tackles
Dropped passes
Consistently lost line-outs (Missed throw ins and missed catches).
Late game performance meltdowns in each half
Substantially slower response to the breakdown and tap penalties
Missed defensive assignments due to lack of concentration — forwards in the backs especially towards the end of the halves
Slow to the rucks and mauls
Lack of enthusiasm for practices and conditioning workouts
Accumulation of minor injuries
Complaints of excess soreness in muscles and joints
Noticeable loss in weight room strength
Insomnia

Early warning

The first and most crucial step in preventing long-term fatigue among players is early warning. Once long-term fatigue sets in, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to shake without extensive rest, which is a luxury not afforded to players during the busy season. This does not mean the Spies/Matfield rest for 80 minutes, it means at least two weeks off the field entirely and this can be so easily rotated. Otherwise, it has a domino effect on the entire team. As such, it is imperative for all the coaches to be hyper-vigilant in watching for signs of long-term fatigue in players. A gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure.

Regulating playing time: a key to avoiding body breakdown

In the uncertain world of competitive professional rugby, it is that players don’t want to be taken out of a game. Regardless of circumstances, be it yellow cards, fatigue, poor play or match-up problems. Dedicated professional rugby players want to be on the field and in the action at all times.

Notwithstanding a player’s desire to play, coaches must aspire to limit game time minutes conscientiously, especially those of the starting line up, throughout the season. This strategy will pay great dividends late in the season and during the post season in terms of keeping our rugby players fresh and strong for all the tournaments throughout the year.
We will see what happens to the Springboks at the end of year tour against Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland after this Currie Cup season.

Some ways to limit playing time for high game time players like Matfield, Burger, Botha & Fourie include:

Play new recruits and substitutes often early in the season. Playing substitutes substantial minutes early in the year when games tend to be less important serves many positive purposes, not the least of which is saving the starting line up from the accumulative effects of long-term fatigue.

Early rest = post-season success.
When games are almost a given, give the starting line up a break and bring on the new signings.

It is amazing how many South African coaches persist on keeping their top players in games long after the outcomes have been decided. These useless minutes of game time can greatly contribute toward long-term fatigue as the season moves forward — not to mention leaving players susceptible to injury due to sloppy play.

So, unless this extra game time serves some tangible purpose (improving team continuity, helping a player breakout of a prolonged slump, etc.), resting the starting line up when a game is out of reach one way or the other, is the only way to go. Plus it also telegraphs to the player base that there is genuine empathy and concern by the Union they are contracted to, to preserve the players playing life and career. Not to mention protecting the unions’ investment in the player.

Winning is the only statistic that counts in the end.

That goes from the team to the coach. The team fails and the coaches by default “fail”.

Players must be encouraged to communicate when they’re dragging or misfiring during a game. Three crucial errors in a game should be the limit and criteria across all South African rugby, after which the player is pulled off the field. This establishes a pattern of preservation and highlights that winning takes planning, by preserving the player. Fourie du Preez of the Bulls was a classic example of player fatigue in the Currie Cup till now. Every game he played, the Bulls lost. Players should be encouraged to let the coach know when they’re burned out or not firing on the field. Having players signal to be taken out of a game is a great way to save them from unnecessary (and unproductive) game time. Not to mention the melt down of their confidence levels.

Player to coach communication

Contemporary coaches are forever initiating communication with their players. However, it is far less common for our players to return the favour and initiate conversation with their coaches. (In fact, most of our players do all they can to avoid dialog with coaches!)

It is absolutely imperative that the lines of communication from player to coach are open at all times concerning the player’s physical status. Some symptoms of long-term fatigue such as muscle and joint soreness, insomnia and loss of enthusiasm for practice and conditioning workouts, coaches just won’t be aware of unless the player speaks up.

Our coaches have to create an atmosphere that encourages just that. Let players know from day one and at every practice that their physical concerns are important and worth communicating about openly and honestly.

Now that is off my chest, I am going to write up the inconsistencies of player remuneration across South Africa’s franchises and compare this to the remuneration offered to players in the UK and in NZ and Australia.