White wants more control
17 Jul 2006
Jake White’s latest gripe is with the lack of control he has over Vodacom Super 14 franchises in this country, and how it effects the Springboks.
The fact that he has no say of who plays where in terms of both position and franchise is, as he says, to the detriment of the national game.
“Things can’t work if the Springbok flyhalf plays fullback for his franchise, the openside flank plays on the blindside, the inside centre at outside centre and the props are played out of position too,” White told the media in Wellington.
White used the systems in place in New Zealand as a example to illustrate his point. The Kiwis have had a stronghold on Super Rugby since it’s inception in 1996, and have also dominated the international game for over a decade.
“So we must be crazy not to see the benefits in their system, from which they are getting a lot more return than us,” said White.
“New Zealand contract all their top players. So when players like Mils Muiliaina and Byron Kelleher are told to move to another franchise, they become better players and New Zealand get more competitive teams.
“Every decision is based on the good of the All Blacks team.”
White may have raised an inherently valid point. But what do these statements suggest for the Boks chances at the World Cup next year? Even if he is given the power to control the placement and positioning of players next year, that only leaves a few months to mould a side at the conclusion of the Sanzar tournament.
More pertinently, what do these statements suggest for the Tri-Nations this year?
“Against New Zealand and Australia, when we get it wrong it will really go wrong unless we get the systems in place.
“I don’t want to make it sound like all doom and gloom, but the Super 14 is the basis on which I pick from and the five franchises have not performed well.”
Say what he wants, it doesn’t get much gloomier than that. The Bok coach has just given us the reason for failing, not just against Australia, but in the Tri-Nations before the Boks have even played their second match.
109 Comments
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18 Jul 2006, 09:50 am
100% control
18 Jul 2006, 09:55 am
pompies,
bietjie v vorm af?
18 Jul 2006, 09:57 am
Mistral
I agree about the spesialised positions
Number 3 Jake plays Eddie a number 1
Number 6 Jake plays Joe , he says his son is a fetcher
Number 10 Jake takes any one but a number 10, at one stage he even considered JdeV
He has no feeling for a combination of a loose trio, the last decent combination we had was
Rassie 6 fetcher
Andre Venter 7 runner
Teichman 8 bit of both
My trio for now
Luke 6
Juan 7
P3 8
18 Jul 2006, 09:58 am
hardcore, bluecap, viper, steel shark,
That was my first thought when I read the article: If Jake has his way, Luke will be captaining his club team.
There are clear benefits to the AB system. Recent history has demonstrated that in spades. But there are major, major differences between us and them. They have Henry. We have White. Can anyone recall Graham Henry ever saying that he wouldn’t pick a certain player? Or inviting a player to pack his bags? Or saying he won’t consider a player because he already has plenty in that position?
I’m all in favour of a coordinated national effort that includes the S14 in the national planning. But Jakegate has shown that one must be extremely careful in whose hands you place that responsibility and power.
18 Jul 2006, 10:10 am
I agree many mistakes have been made, particularly with no 6 for the Boks. Dont know what problem Jake has with Luke, as he is the obvious choice. If he doesnt want him though he could do OK with Hendro, who is already a Bok, and a good fetcher.
Big mistake.
My loosies would be, 6 Luke/Hendro, 7 Juan, 8 Joe/P3
5 Loosies. Everything covered. Throw in AJ and Locks covered too.
We’ll see what changes are made when the Boks come back from tour. At the moment we can just hope that the guys that are their step up and stop disgracing the Jersey.
18 Jul 2006, 10:19 am
FFS he has let all the control he has get out of control, now he wants more because he lost his?
18 Jul 2006, 10:22 am
Nought Okes
It is all footballs fault.
The boks have been watching those girls play in the soccer world cup.
18 Jul 2006, 10:49 am
Spot on Tiger,
When Jake told them they are preparing for the WC he didn’t say 2007 so they thought it must be for 2010.
18 Jul 2006, 11:52 am
**** Jake, to obtain more power is easy. Crack the whip if your son’s are not fast enough with the beers.
Wonder who is fetching the beers while you are on tour. Looking at the k*k he talks, it must be the convenor of selectors.
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