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02/05/2008 08:41
JJ Harmse
Why is it that we find ourselves in catch 22 situations so often? Is it a lack of vision among our rugby leaders? Is it bad luck or just bad management? Or is it perhaps because we are trying to please too many people at the same time?
Looking at the current mess surrounding players wanting to go overseas (like Bakkies Botha) and players wanting to come back (like Victor Matfield), it is clear that something is amiss in the world of rugby contracts.
Botha is looking at the Euro, now at almost 12 to the Rand, and Matfield, who signed his deal at R7 to the Euro, has now seen his contract almost double. No wonder it's okay with him to come home now, he has earned at least 50% more than he expected!
Botha's application to the Labour Court has been postponed until May 28, but I am sure he would not mind, as he will also benefit from the current exchange rate between the Euro and the Rand if he goes.
Cutting our throats
Anyway, coming back to the likes of Botha wanting to earn the big bucks abroad, it is all due to the message being send out by SA Rugby.
By allowing overseas-based players to be picked for the Springboks, we are cutting our own throats, I believe.
If the likes of Botha and say Matfield had a clear protocol on what SA Rugby's policy was about playing abroad, they would know what their options were.
In Jake White's time, he had the benefit of three players from overseas and now it has been reported that Peter de Villiers can pick whoever he wants to. He already indicated that John Smit will be back to captain his side and he is involved with the process of bringing Matfield back home.
He did warn in recent interviews that there might be a surprise or two when he names his squad and that foreign-based players would not have the inside lane.
Protocol extended
So despite the offer extended, it seems that De Villiers will not use it, bar the two Rugby World Cup stars.
I think he is on the right track, but would like to see the protocol extended by either the coach himself or SA Rugby to indicate the fate of the overseas players.
If SA Rugby does not want to make the call, then leave it to the coach, but in heavens sake, make the call! Ban the foreign players from the Springbok jersey, I believe.
Anyone who looks at the option overseas should know there is a sacrifice, and that would be that you are giving up an opportunity to play for your country. That is the only way you will be able to keep the pull of the jersey strong.
When you play for the Springboks, you play for your country and not for the money associated with it.
Of course, there should be huge financial rewards that come with the jersey and Springboks should be paid very well. However, you cannot have your cake and eat it. If you want to play for South Africa, you should stay in South Africa.
That is the call SA Rugby needs to make. With all the crazy money currently floating all over clubs in France and England, the core of our game is under attack. We have almost 200 players in Europe now and that is killing our local game.
Those guys should have been playing back home, finished and klaar.
New contracts
The likes of Matfield, Smit and Botha are the top of the crop. I don't blame Wessel Roux or Chris Rossouw for going to Toulon. They had their time at international level and were not ever going to push for a spot again. But the incumbents needed to know that the jersey they have played for all their lives would be gone for good if they move overseas.
Why is it so difficult for us to find a solution to the problem? I know the players association (Sarpa) has now drawn up new contracts that will streamline the process of professionalism even more. And in soccer, we can (and have to) pick the likes of Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar to play for the national side. So why not marry the good of the two codes?
Well, it might be possible. However, until that day comes (and I do not believe it will soon), we need to make a stand. Go, and lose you chance or stay and fight for the beloved jersey.
Come home boys
Gone are the days that we needed the foreign input into our game. The scars of our isolation from the world game have been eradicated. The Super 14, Tri-Nations and tours from and to Europe have been enough stimuli for our game to grow. We do not need our players to go abroad in order to develop any more. The structure's we are playing in provides that.
We need to look at the Ronnie Cooke's and Cliffie Milton's of the world and make sure they want to come back. You will only get that when you make the Springbok jersey special. Come home boys, we have a World Cup to defend!
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
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