Currie Cup or rest for Boks?
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:18
No break: Bok captain Victor Matfield to play for the Bulls
Player management will be high on the agenda when Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and manager of national teams Andy Marinos sit down with the provincial unions this week to discuss the availability of the Springboks for their provinces in the Currie Cup competition.
Some players have played every Test, 10 internationals, as well as the majority of this year's Super 14 matches.
De Villiers has already indicated that he is considering leaving some of his star players behind when they travel to the United Kingdom for the year-end tour.
And the decision as to which Springbok players will play in the Currie Cup will be taken in line with that.
"The end-of-year tour will call for new challenges," De Villiers said after his team's record 53-8 hammering of Australia in the Boks' final Tri-Nations match at the weekend.
"We'll follow the Currie Cup, but we have a lot of sore and tired bodies," he said of his players, adding: "Maybe we should leave some of our stars at home if we want to manage them correctly for the Lions tour next year.
"We must keep in mind there is a Super 14 competition also next year. Yes, we have some tough decisions to make before the year-end tour."
Obviously the unions would like to have their star players available from the outset, especially a team like Western Province that is desperate to get back into play-off contention.
They are playing the defending Currie Cup champions, the Free State Cheetahs, in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Both teams have already indicated they will use their Springboks if available, although some of them may start off the bench.
There is also a top-of-the-table clash between the Blue Bulls and the Sharks in Durban on Saturday and these teams are also anxious to get as many of their players cleared for the match.
"We've had a look at the all the players in the squad," said convener of selectors Peter Jooste, adding: "and most of them will be cleared. There are a few, however, who need a rest."
He gave the assurance that the talks with the unions would be completed in time for them to select available players for this week's matches.
The Blue Bulls will be hoping that Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield and Danie Rossouw will be available for the crunch game against the Sharks, who in turn will hope that Ruan Pienaar, Odwa Ndungane, Adi Jacobs, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis will be released.
Bok captain Victor Matfield said he doesn't see the situation as a bad one.
"Some players will be need to be rested over the next few weeks, but personally I can't wait to get a run with the Bulls," said Matfield.
Western Province are hoping to have Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Conrad Jantjes, Brian Mujati, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Andries Bekker and Percy Montgomery available for this trip to Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs will in turn hope players like Juan Smith and Adriaan Strauss available, while the ankle injury he suffered in scoring his fourth try is likely to keep wing Jongi Nokwe sidelined.
