Saru find no fault with process
14 May 2007
Saru says they are satisfied with the Springbok selection procedure in spite of the disagreement amongst certain members of the panel .
The controversy stems from the late inclusion of Stormers captain Luke Watson, who snuck in at the eleventh hour courtesy of Saru president Regan Hoskins. The training camp in Bloemfontein will now feature 46 players, and not 45 as initially expected.
“We are satisfied with the process that was followed in selecting the squad,” the statement read. “The selection panel compiles a list of suitable players and reaches consensus on the composition of the national team.
“Once finalised, the convener of selectors then forwards the team for final sign-off to the Saru presidency and the chairperson of the Board of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd. The Saru presidency consists of its president, deputy president and vice-president.
“Once duly signed off, the team is then ready for public announcement.”
Some reports indicated convenor of selectors Peter Jooste and national coach Jake White were unhappy with Watson’s inclusion. The statement from Saru acknowledged the fact that the decision did not sit well with certain selectors.
“We have noted media statements attributed to members of the selection panel. As is the case with any team selection, it is extremely difficult to find absolute consensus on who should be in the team.
“We accept that not all role-players in the selection process were in agreement on some of the players selected. Having said that, we are convinced that SA Rugby has named the best available 46 players for the training camp.”
16 Comments
14 May 2007, 15:23 pm
if i was luke, i wouldve told them to stuff it. especially after hearing that i wasnt wanted by either the coach or selection panel. but then, knowing the sa public, we then wouldve said that luke is a coward and that he shouldve stuck it out because he wouldve been given a chance to prove himself.
not a very easy position to be in.
14 May 2007, 15:29 pm
Oregan Hoskins is a lawyer, not a rugby selector. He should stick to law, not meddling in things he has little understanding of. Luke Watson, a good rugby player, good captain and an honourable man, must be cringeing in embarrassment. Good luck to him at the “trials” – he is unfortunately a victim of the very thing he and his family oppose, discrimination.
14 May 2007, 15:51 pm
how about this scenario to limit the damage already done:
Jake White addresses the media and states that as the Springbok rugby coach and a Springbok selector, he and his co-selectors feel that they have been undermined. That being so, the fact is that there are now 46 players to choose from and they will accept that, albeit hesitantly. He then says that this is a unique scenario and unprescedented. He then admits that his selection panel are not necessarily always 100% correct in their choices and being in the employ of SARFU he will accept his employers differing view with regard to a certain player and he guarentees that all 46 players will get an equal opportunity to prove themself with no bias whatsoever.
Subsequent to this, Jake should approach Luke Watson at the training camp and have a one on one with him. Talk all their problems (or supposed problems) out and agree to start their relationship on a fresh footing. Luke is afforded the chance to prove himself, Jake lets him know what he expects of him and truce Bob EVERYONE WINS! Thats what I would propose happen to resolve this fixable mess.
14 May 2007, 15:57 pm
Doesn’t SA rugby do very well in times of crisis?
14 May 2007, 16:18 pm
Nice one, Pommie. But if White’s previous behaviour is anything to go by, he is curled up in the fetal position, alternating between sucking his thumb and wailing
14 May 2007, 17:37 pm
and pig’s will fly
14 May 2007, 18:08 pm
Pommie you are the man.
14 May 2007, 20:13 pm
Its time to fire white.
14 May 2007, 20:54 pm
Has Jake ever said he has a personal problem with Luke? As far as I know he hs always said that he does not rate him (rightly or wrongly but as the Coach that’s his call) so where does all this stuff about personal problems and agendas arise from?
If there is an article to this nature please advise – or is it media hype to spice up the story. There are plenty other players who also deserve a call up – does Jake now have a problem with Barritt????
What the supposed leadership of rugby did was wrong, no matter who the palyer is . I think they just want to say HEY , we the BOSSESS so listen to us or else. I mean who else whould listen to the idiot Stofile otherwise?????
14 May 2007, 21:23 pm
#2, So people are one trick ponies? They can be a lawyer and a rugby administrator at the same time? Wow!
Trust the media to blow the whole thing out of proportion. SA Rugby presidents have always signed off on teams AND changed team. No one can expect consensus all the time.
Pommie you are probable spot on on what should happen, I just cannot believe it will happen. But hey, we have been surprised/embarressed by Jake and his actions so often in the past, he may well surprise us again and do the mature and true leader thing as suggested by you.
14 May 2007, 23:05 pm
Oregon Pine “Plank” Hoskins is so out of his depth he even manages to make sad old Brian van Ruin look quite useful…
15 May 2007, 00:22 am
Pommie well said – that is probably the only way for White to save face and come out of this the bigger man. He will also gain respect amongst his players for giving an equal opportunity to someone who is actually a good player (and was players player oif the year too remember) and really does deserved to be considered.
I suspect that if they do sit down face to face, they will fiond out that most of the perceieved or assumed preconceptions they are supposed to have about each other are completely off track, and that most of it was bullshit and made up by the media.
Jeez I hope JW reads this – for the sake of the team spirit in camp.
15 May 2007, 03:48 am
Bok rugby in fresh crisis
14/05/2007 21:47 – (SA)
John Bishop
Pietermaritzburg – Oregan Hoskins, the former Pietermaritzburg lawyer who has brought sanity and composure to the taxing business of running South Africa rugby, has now suddenly plunged Springbok rugby into fresh crisis.
The SA Rugby president, along with deputy president Mike Stofile and vice-president Koos Basson, became Bok selectors at the weekend when they insisted that the names of Sharks wing Odwa Ndungane and Luke Watson be included in Jake White’s Bok training squad.
While the selectors accepted the addition of Ndungane, they were unanimous in opposing the inclusion of Watson.
Hoskins, who then summarily added Watson’s name to the list, on Monday defended his decision.
“We put him in the squad. He deserves a chance, he was after all the Super 14 player of the year in 2006,” said Hoskins.
The national selectors, facing this public vote of no confidence, are understandably angry.
Worked around a core group of players
“I’m not happy about the situation because they’ve undermined us,” convener Peter Jooste said. “We’ve been working towards the World Cup for three years now and have always worked around a core group of players. “We’ve never been biased or discriminated against any player … we have grappled with how to fit certain players into our plans, which players work for us and which don’t. Luke wasn’t part of those plans,” said Jooste.
Hoskins said it was not the job of the executive to take such steps.
“But the selectors left us no option. This was an exception, not a rule.”
15 May 2007, 08:04 am
Pommie, excellent thinking. If only White read this blog but I fear, amongst other things, pigs flying. White is Mr Stubborn personified and all that will happen now is that Luke is on a hiding to nothing. I assume the rest of the players on the camp will welcome him for the talent that they surely must know he is, and I suspect White will put him in one corner, tell him to hold tackle bags and fetch traffic cones and conveniently forget about him on for the next 2 weeks. Luke will come out of it having tried his best but being largely ignored.
Unless of course….. the new selectors have rubber-stamped their insistence that he becomes part of the final 30 as well….then the sparks could start flying!
But all in all this whole saga could very easily have been downplayed by White doing exactly what Pommie has suggested.
15 May 2007, 09:53 am
“…we are convinced that SA Rugby has named the best available 46 players for the training camp.â€
Are Wayne Jules and Eddie Andrews the best in their positions?
13 Jun 2007, 17:52 pm
Luke Watson made his debut against Samoa last week and didn’t perform up to scratch. He was obviously only kept on the field to suite his mate the President of SA rugby. I rate there’s allot more talk then bite in that debate. And for Luke and SARU to think he is going to be able to take over the Bok’s captaincy is a joke! How does a player with 1 single cap captain a team. This isn’t Stormer’s provincial rugby, this is international rugby! Who cares if he was captain of the U19’s and 21’s, so was Clyde Rathbone and look where his now. I’m just glad that this circus act is all only taking place after the World Cup, and not before otherwise we can already kiss our chances at a World Cup goodbye. Let the politicians and their advisors change the face of SA rugby and then you will see how many of them will come play in Europe. Then we can’t blame them. Jake White has been the most successfully Springbok coach and is the only man who can take us all the way. All the other clowns trying to hop on the band wagon now can pick a number and go coach some other club/county or province. Proud Springbok Supporter, embarrassed for the SARU and there inability to divide between sports and politics.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.