Baa Baas match ‘not ideal’
Saru couldn’t withdraw the nine Springboks selected for the Barbarians as they had already made an agreement with the club in April.
Peter de Villiers tried to justify the Boks’ minimal preparation time of two days in French conditions before the Toulouse Test as he wanted to make the tour a ‘two and a half week one instead of four weeks’. De Villiers hasn’t had his wish granted as still more than half of the Boks who started against Ireland will spend a week longer up north for the fixture at Twickenham on Saturday.
Saru acting MD Andy Marinos was initially unwilling to speak about the Boks’ involvement in the exhibition match against the All Blacks as the topic of the Boks’ ‘fatigue’ has been a big talking point in recent weeks.
‘We’ve all heard Jake White’s views, so haven’t you guys spoken enough about this issue? But anyways, in April SA Rugby had a request from the Barbarians to have our players released. We spoke to the provincial unions as last year one party was willing to release and the other not, and this year we both agreed to let our players play,’ Marinos told keo.co.za.
Players such as Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis weren’t available for the Boks’ Test against Italy due to injury, but will line-up for the Baa Baas two weeks later. Fourie du Preez – usually a target for all opposition facing him – was also doubtful for the Ireland match, but Marinos played down these worries as he doesn’t believe the risk of injuries at Twickenham will be as great.
Those who watched Schalk Burger clattering into defenders in last year’s Wembley encounter or seeing two Australian props being stretchered off would disagree.
‘We couldn’t withdraw certain players as the Barbarians had selected their team and based a model around those players, so we couldn’t do that to them,’ said Marinos. ‘Im confident our medical team did all the work at the end of the tour and they would’ve pulled guys who they were worried about.
‘In hindsight, given the year we’ve had, it’s not ideal – the players have to spend another week on tour and run the risk of injury. But we must take the match in context. The week’s build-up is not as tough, and Baa Baas matches aren’t the same intensity as Tests.’
On Monday De Villiers called for more rest as the players were physically and mentally drained after the year, but Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Beast Mtawarira, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Du Preez, Du Plessis and Burger will get one more hit-out.
Looking ahead to 2010, Marinos said the priority shouldn’t be the players’ franchises, but the Boks.
‘Do you rest the players for the Super 14, or for the Boks? The media want them to play Super Rugby, but that’s skewed, the Boks must get the most of them. When the Boks are strong and successful, it benefits all of South African rugby. We’ve done advanced planning for 2010, and told all our stakeholders those plans.
‘We’ve got an invitation to open the new Aviva Stadium [against Ireland] and a fixture against the Baa Baas, but we need those as we look to unearth talent before the World Cup. We know we have to manage the players. They can’t miss huge blocks like the All Blacks did in 2007, but they have to be managed by their Super 14 teams.’
By Grant Ball
December 4th, 2009 at 8:40 am
@justrugby: We got arrogant and were waiting to go to the final, much like WP every year
December 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@Sharksgirl:
LOL……… our stadiums have been full even though we have been playing crappy rugby for years now……now that’s real supporters !!!!!!
I think we hold the record for the best supported franchise in the S14…….Bulls could have that record now though
December 4th, 2009 at 8:51 am
@Sharksgirl: bok season is over, i see everyone is back to their provincial colours!
December 4th, 2009 at 8:52 am
So proud to be a Capetonian today. The eyes of the world on our beautiful City….party of note tonite…..i will be on the streets with the 1000s of soccer fans…..
Goosebumps i tell you!!
December 4th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Shark Lover….you, Ratel Brussow and Rangerman are the most 1 eyed wallys i have ever come across….you make the Bulls look like open minded creatures!!
Bloody hell!!
Puma almost as bad, Sharksgirl shows a bit of brains….and is actually quite a cutey….
But you sardines, hell man!!
Crazy bunch …
December 4th, 2009 at 8:55 am
@justrugby:
I agree that is good supportership. Unfortunately in KZN we tend to be a bit apathetic, its the draw back of our laid back life style, and we tend to let our team down. But come on any given day you will find many of us wearing our jerseys, most of us have full Sharks gear wardrobes, so they still get money in their pockets as do their sponsors Mr. Price. Nope the Bulls abandon ship when their team is doing badly, anyone forget 2008? and early 2000s when Loftus was empty?
December 4th, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Transformation: I never abandoned my Provincial colours
Black and White all the way for me 
December 4th, 2009 at 9:00 am
@grant10: I am sooooooooo excited about tonight, just cannot keep still! You guys are too lucky would do anything to be there tonight! But tomorrow I am going to a function at the new Moses Mabida stadium so in a small way it makes up for it!!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:03 am
@Transformation: I take it you will also be at the draw Transformation? Can’t wait to see who is playing who and where so I can finally buy my tickets!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:04 am
@Sharksgirl:
Having lived in Durbs for years I know all about the laid back lifestyle. Debatable as to whether it’s more laid back than CT though
As G10 said the vibe in CT today is unbelievable !!!
I remember those empty stands at Loftus well …….huge turnaround since then !!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:04 am
@grant10: Do me a favour, if you see Becks tell him he looks hedious. With that hairstyle of his he looks like a balding hedgehog.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:06 am
@grant10:
Sardines ??….more like “blaasoppies” !!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:08 am
@justrugby: I have never lived in CT and everytime I have come I want to do so much that I spend the whole time running around to try and fit it all in, so I hadn’t noticed it was laid back. Absolutely love your neck of the woods, only place I would consider leaving KZN for. Just the weather would put me off though! Not that we are having any weather to boast about
December 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
@grant10: hey G10…don’t forget that their scrums are the “Turbo Reverse Specialists that go back so fast they have the scrumhalf knocking over fullback!” HA HA HA
December 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
@justrugby: “Blassoppies”
December 4th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Only plave i would leave Cape Town for is Umhlanga….love the N Coast in Durban….
But Sharksgirl….google Clifton….check it out….my backyard…luv it!
Will be hoping Bafana dont get a group from hell….Cape Town is really very special today!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:13 am
place
December 4th, 2009 at 9:13 am
@Transformation: And of course you guys would be experts in this, since your scrums have been in auto reverse for many a year! But before we carryon about scrums, lets see how the Stormer’s scrum holds out in the S14, or even if one of your props gets crocked
December 4th, 2009 at 9:14 am
@Sharksgirl:
Yip, here winter is winter and summer is summer, KZN definetely better all round weather.
But as much as our winters are severe they are also special…….. and the reason for red wine
December 4th, 2009 at 9:15 am
@Transformation: dangerous to be a scrumhalf for sharks or boks….should get danger pay!!
Being knocked over by 8 retreating boks at a snotspoed is not for the faint hearted!
December 4th, 2009 at 9:17 am
@grant10: Yes agreed SA has been seeded my nightmare is we draw Brazil! Since our coach believes they will win WC
That is why we should have a South African coach, you need a coach who is rooting for his own team and not for the oposition.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:18 am
@justrugby: Oh you would bring out the red wine card, you knew that would definitely win me over completely
December 4th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I am watching the Boks play Wales (Boks 14-0 up currently), but was thinking that a guy like nic koster who has been out for so long could be honing/sharpening his skills at 7’s.
Missed opportunity ?
December 4th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Final score SA 28-14 win against Wales
December 4th, 2009 at 10:02 am
@justrugby: Great Bokke!!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
@grant10: 404 – Grant so I am a Wally now
Actually I have to laugh really it was funny.
Wait I will get you back mate. This Wally not going let that one go
December 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
grant, buddy, let it go now.
you nag more than a fishwife.
December 4th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
@rangerman:
December 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
The English don’t want to watch good footy! 80,000 turn up for the Opium Poppies and only 55,000 for the Baa baas. They sold 60,000 tickets for the game. Tossers!!