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Springboks may withdraw from The Rugby Championship
By AAP
Speculation continues to swirl that world champions South Africa may pull out of the Rugby Championship in a massive blow to the four-nation tournament.
South African Rugby are set to announce whether or not they will participate in the seven-week tournament in Australia, starting later this month with a Test between the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Many of the Argentine players have already arrived in Australia but there are ongoing concerns about the Springboks' lack of preparation, with their players only just resuming Super Rugby after a six month delay due to COVID-19.
The Springboks haven't played together since winning the World Cup final against England in Japan last November.
SA Rugby issued a statement over the weekend, saying there were still "hurdles" to clear before they could confirm they will play.
"The Springboks ability to participate in the Rugby Championship would be finalised early next week," the statement said.
"The team is due to defend its title in Australia between 7 November and 12 December, but several hurdles needed to be cleared if it's to be confirmed."
There is speculation that Rassie Erasmus, who coached the Springboks to the World Cup last year and is now director of rugby, will cite "player welfare" as the reason for their late withdrawal.
Former World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White, currently coaching the Bulls in the South African domestic competition, said he didn't think the team would be ready for the Rugby Championship.
"I understand fully that it's not the ideal preparation and, probably, if I was a coach I'd be asking SA Rugby to try and find ways in which we don't participate because the situation is a bit unfair," White said after the Bulls game in Pretoria.
"There are locally based players who've only played two competitive games and now have to go into Rugby Championship. It's not ideal."
White conceded that the financial implications of not playing could force the hand of administrators.
"I also fully understand that there are other things that come into play," White said.
"We are the current holders of the title and there is the matter of television rights being place.
"If you're sitting in the boardroom and you're doing the sums you have a perception of what should happen and if you're a coach you have another.
"It's a difficult decision to make."
- Melissa Woods
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Latest Comments
I so wish we could use BIG words here to say what an absolute %^$# this guy is, but we can't so I won't.
Go to commentsGet world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
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