Saracens feeding on SA’s scraps
5 Aug 2008
Saracens have developed a penchant for poaching South Africa’s forgotten men and turning them into English Premiership superstars.
Saracens’ most recent acquisition, Sharks centre Brad Barritt, follows after they sealed the deal to bring Springbok openside flanker Wikus van Heerden to Vicarage Road earlier this year.
Prior to that, Saracens swooped for the Stormers tighthead prop Cobus Visagie, who has dominated opponents throughout his career there, Neil de Kock, who is the current Premiership Player of the Year and Brent Russell, who shone after injury had curtailed his involvement early in the 2008/09 season.
Saracens are building a formidable team with a distinctly South African flavour. The most disconcerting thing from a South African perspective is that these players who are driving their push for domestic and European silverware are in the prime of their careers and should be strengthening our domestic game and challenging for Springbok places.
Barritt, 21, becomes the most prominent and talented of a growing list of young South African players seeking to further their careers abroad. His transfer was engineered by Saracens director of rugby, Eddie Jones, who made his initial approach in the latter stages of the Super 14.
At the time, Barritt was unable to command a place in the starting line-up and was then inexplicably axed for their semi-final against the Blues, with Frans Steyn favoured at inside centre. Barritt, however, insists that that treatment had no bearing on his decision to leave.
“People may think that but I’ve got no sour feelings towards the Sharks for the way I was treated,” he told keo.co.za. “John Plumtree told me I would be the number one 12 [for the Currie Cup and 2009 Super 14]. The coaching staff said that after the Super 14 they’d seen that they may have made a mistake in leaving me out and were very keen to have me stay.
“There’s nothing negative or no resentment in me towards the Sharks or South Africa,” he continued. “This is just an opportunity for a young player like me to learn and improve in different conditions. I haven’t experienced the European style of play and going over there can only refine my game. That’s my thinking. By stepping out of a comfort zone and putting myself into a situation that forces me to adapt can only make me a better player.”
Barritt, whose grandparents are both English and whose parents carry British passports, would be eligible for England selection immediately. The reality is that Barritt could well line up for England at Twickenham against the Springboks on November 22, as well as tour the Republic with the British & Irish Lions in 2009.
The RFU are fully aware of his ability, seen from the fact that they invited him to an England U19 training camp while he was in Bath considering the option of studying and playing for Bath University in 2004.
Barritt, however, refuted the suggestion that he was targeting a future with England.
“That’s being very presumptuous and thinking too far ahead,” he said. “I’m a South African boy and [playing for the Springboks] will be a dream come true if it were to happen. I would jump at the opportunity.
“What’s more, by going there with intentions of playing for England I will fall short. My short-term goal is to establish myself with Saracens. If in future an opportunity arises with England, I’ll cross that bridge then.”
Barritt is acutely aware Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has regularly voiced his preference for locally based players and that the move could jeopardise a Springbok call-up in future.
“Rugby has become a global game. If there’s an opportunity for a guy in Europe that he thinks can better him as a player, I don’t think it should be held against him,” was his response when asked if he knew he was taking a step back in the Springbok pecking order. “In my case it’s not me being disloyal in any way. I determine my own future and it’s a choice I made for the betterment of myself.
“I played under Peter [De Villiers] at U21 level and with the Emerging Springboks last year and I really enjoyed the atmosphere he created and his management style. I’ve got no ill feelings towards Peter for not selecting me. Every coach has his preferences. But if there is a role for me in future then I’d love nothing more than to play for my country.”
Barritt’s loss is a massive one for South African rugby. Ninety-eight cap Springbok Percy Montgomery told this website’s Mark Keohane that Barritt would be the first player he’d select in his backline, such was his ability and organisational skills.
But you can bank on the fact that he won’t be the last prominent player to head to Saracens.
Investment group SAIL has strong ties with all of the ‘Big Five’ provincial unions, particularly the Bulls, and are a major investor in Saracens. They’ve been known to be at the forefront of transfer negotiations for some top South African players to European clubs. Combine this with Jones’s knowledge of and familiarity with South Africa’s elite players, gained through a stint as a technical adviser to the Springboks in 2006, and Saracens’ future could feature many more Barritt-like coups.
By Ryan Vrede
110 Comments
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5 Aug 2008, 18:21 pm
#48 Malongo: some of them are better than current Bok players. I’d take Russell on the wing over Ndugane, Van Heerden, Visagie can still scrum better than the props and Barritt would be decent backup for 12.
5 Aug 2008, 18:22 pm
Under Jones’ tutorledge he will turn into an extremely good player.
Could still be his fastest route into the Bok team.
Even so I’m never happy to see these transfers.
Won’t be the last.
5 Aug 2008, 18:24 pm
Big Hit – Agreed. But with the way rugby is handled in SA, the English rugby scouts should be going to watch the U19/20/21 Boks and see who they can poach, obviously only the ones with ancestry.
5 Aug 2008, 18:31 pm
I do not think that the Emerging Boks can be regarded as the “next senior side”.
Most players that played recently was about tenth best in SA
No mention is made of age group teams. Thus it looks like Barrit qualifies for old england
5 Aug 2008, 18:32 pm
#49 grunt: Yes would have loved to see Barrit play with Jacobs in a Bok jersey. JDV is still the best there but Barrit is so young still. Should have given him a chance against a team like Arg.
#52 grunt: Yeah agree. Think England will be watching who they can poach from SA lots here with ancestry. Aussies may do the same. Don’t need ancestry just as long as you have not played for your country and you live in the country you want to play for, for 3 years you can play for them. Think we will lose quiet a lot of our great young players.
5 Aug 2008, 18:37 pm
#53 grunt: Yep and teh Aussies to. Phil Kearns said as much in the Wrap from Down Under.
So why deny these guys an opportunity if their country thinks they are not good enough?
5 Aug 2008, 19:00 pm
#32 BlackPanther:
Well if you want to talk averages:
Player Average
J. Kallis 55.87
G.Smith 50.46
KP Pietersen 50.36
Yes looking at that KP will definitely make SA shake in their cricket boots.
5 Aug 2008, 19:01 pm
“Barritt, whose grandparents are both English”
I suppose if he only has two grandparents then his parents are siblings?
5 Aug 2008, 19:05 pm
#57 funkyzoo:
5 Aug 2008, 19:05 pm
#57 soulfusion: If you KP is not good enough to play for SA you are too dumb and too stupid for your own words.
He may an obnoxious yob, brash arrogant but he is a bloody good cricketer.
Look at the one day averages as well.
5 Aug 2008, 19:12 pm
#59 Objective 101: KP is a great cricketer and he should have been playing for SA he would have too if he got picked. Our loss Englands gain. Just don’t know if he is a captain though. Time will tell.
5 Aug 2008, 19:16 pm
#61 Puma: Agree but some are just too stupid to say he is no loss to SA because fo what he says and what he stands for. He is a very good player and better than a lot who play in our team. The act that soem dontl like waht he says is immaterial to his playing abilities.
5 Aug 2008, 19:23 pm
#61 Objective 101: Yes agree and I think that most SA feel the same and they are just so mad that we lost him to England. KP has said he always dreamt of playing for the Proteas but he just never ever got a chance so he left for England and now look he is one of the worlds greatest batsman. He should have been in our team and yes even if we have great batsmen now he would have made us even better. I know he swaggers a bit but think that was a few years back. He is now a lot more mature. I still don’t think he is a captain though but who knows he just may be a great captain. Still proud of him as he is still a SA in most of our hearts. I think he is in his heart too. He phoned his folks here in SA before he took the England captain job. So think a lot of his heart is here. I think he was just left out in the cold and went to England and then they noticed him and the rest is history. So he made all the quota statements which I admire him for as a lot of it was true. Just hope we don’t now go and lose more cricket players and rugby players to England and Oz as have a feeling we just may.
5 Aug 2008, 19:29 pm
#63 Puma: We will most certainly loose more players and for the wrong reasons.
The paradox of it all is that Basil D’Oliveira ws not allowed to play cricket for SA because he was not white. KP was not allowed to play cricket for SA because he is white.
Just shows how stupid people can be in both instances. The more things change the more they stay the same.
5 Aug 2008, 19:31 pm
Saracans not feeding on Sa’s scraps. They getting the best of SA!
5 Aug 2008, 19:32 pm
#65 RugbyGal: Yep and Rpuert has a good rugby brains trust behind him.
5 Aug 2008, 19:36 pm
I have to be honest. Brent was my fav player or all time. BUt look at their list.
Brent.Neil.Wikus.Bradley.
Soon that will be an all Bok squad. But then again you cant blame Eddie. He worked with 1/2 of them and know what we leaving behind!
5 Aug 2008, 19:36 pm
#63 Objective 101: Yes its now just the same but with another colour. Why!! thought we had changed for the better in this country. It does break my heart really to see such a huge, huge talent like KP playing for England and now being their Captain and he should have been ours. I have many English friends in England and they really get to me about this. It drives me mad. I just keep telling them his South African. They always ask then how did we lose him. Well its always a huge talking point when I visit over there. We will lose more as you say in both rugby and cricket and its SAD. People here can say he is a nothing player we don’t need him but in their hearts they feel like we do. We lost a great South African to England.
5 Aug 2008, 19:39 pm
Puma? Why did KP leave? He was in to much of a hurry! If he stayed he would have been in the squad! But he did not wanna wait! Don’t tell me our squad is all AA!
And the Poms should always remember they have a Saffer as captain. Just like Strauss!
5 Aug 2008, 19:46 pm
I am talking here from a white girls perspective! My hubby is white, i am white, my kids are white! But are we gonna leave the first time we were not treated fairly? Nope we stay here! Patience! That the word!
5 Aug 2008, 19:47 pm
Just like Rathbone! He was so impatient. That why I dont like both of them. Saying bad things bout our country! Yes SA is not perfect! But as far as I go i will always advertise this country! Cause in the end ITS THE BEST!
5 Aug 2008, 19:48 pm
#69 RugbyGal: KP was told he had no future in SA plainly and bluntly. What was he supposed to do?
There will be many more white and black alike. Once more black people will start leaving the shores for the same reasons as the whiteys then maybe the penny will drop. Until then it wit mense gevaar.
5 Aug 2008, 19:55 pm
Objective101 – did they realy say that. In good old afrikaans?
But that is not reason to down talk our country! Yes we all get fed up beleive me! My husband used to work for the semi-state institutions till last year! But I will never lose faith!
5 Aug 2008, 19:58 pm
#70 RugbyGal: Agree I love South Africa for me its the best. We do have plenty faults here though but we all know that but just let a outsider tell us and we all stick up for each other like its war. I love that about South Africans. I know that KP spoke about not being picked because people of colour was being picked before he was. I would have felt just the way he felt if I knew I had more talent and someone else was getting picked before me if they were not as good as me. He just had the guts to speak about that. He never run his country down in any other way just about that. It also made me mad at the time but thinking about it he was right. He a very gifted batsman that should still be playing here but we lost him because we never picked him. Thats the only reason he left. You can only have just so much patience when you are young as sport is very short for one and the years go by quick so you have to look somewhere else if your country does not pick you. I don’t think he is a captain though and feel it will not be good for his batting but time will tell. We have a good cricket team again and thats great. Look here how many people picked on Smith the Captain. Now I hope he gets some respect as he loves his Country and is a real Proud South African. So hope most here change their view of him too.
5 Aug 2008, 20:07 pm
Puma – I am so not a GS fan. Beleive me! He picks his nose/his pimples and chews endlesly on natianol TV for all to see! But Saturday me was his biggest hero!
KP how long did he give it? 1 year? Yes he a good talent. Rathbone he a good (injured) talent. It just pisses me off when they go on and on bout our country! Look at Vickerman and Straus they not going on and on and on bout us! You leave (like a lot of my friends did) but they dont down grade my country!
5 Aug 2008, 20:11 pm
#72 RugbyGal: KP also hardly got picked for Natal either wherer he was playing. So how was he ever going to get picked for the SA team? He had no choice but to leave. Pity we lost out big time. Hope it never happens again but it will.
5 Aug 2008, 20:17 pm
#74 RugbyGal: I think he only really spoke about not getting picked because of all the quota system and thats mostly what he spoke about over there. Don’t think he has run this country down as a country just about him not getting a chance when he was a much better player than the ones that were getting picked before him. He did have a swagger about him after the ashes when he helped England beat Oz but I think he has matured now. Just feel proud that South Africa has now two Captains in world cricket. Here with our Proteas and as England Captain. As most see him as a South African going to Captain England.
Never look what GS is doing. with his nose or his pimples just as long as he makes those runs and bats like a Giant for his country thats all that matters. He make us really proud to be South African on Saturday. I think those Aussies are waiting for us now and its going to be a great game there end of year. Hope that GS is not injured he has quiet a few now and we need him.
5 Aug 2008, 20:40 pm
The most valuable opportunity facing SA Rugby is harnessing the British Pound and the Euro. We can do this by exiting SANZAR and entering the English Premiership and Six Nations (to become the Eight Nations with Argentina). The travel problem would simultaneously be resolved.
Tours with NZ and Australia could then be scheduled periodically.
5 Aug 2008, 20:45 pm
#77 sglazer: Wont be the same though playing those in the NH Just not the same facing the AB’s and Oz each year. NH is not playing the same standard as us in the SH right now. I know the time zones is great for our Boks and the travel is just a 11 hour flight but playing them there in the wet and cold in their season is just not that good. Would they come over here and play us in our verh hot summer months as thats when they play 6 nations? For now its best to make the 3N – 4N with Arg only if their best players come and play. They could have a home ground here in Cape Town. As that would cut down the travel. I heard that could be done thats why I mention it.
5 Aug 2008, 20:53 pm
#77 sglazer: Yes I suppose the money could be a big factor there especially the Pound and the Euro being so much stronger than our Rand. Still would rather we just played the Strong SH teams down here. Otherwise our rugby could end up like the NH. Not sure but it could.
5 Aug 2008, 20:57 pm
I think the seasons could be worked out – perhaps straddling them whereby some of the matches get played in their winter and some in ours (approximately). I think the currency differences are real opportunities, costs if we don’t act. Joining SANZAR has been a big negative to our power-base in my opinion. We gave away our power to NZ mostly.
5 Aug 2008, 20:59 pm
Tours between SA, NZ and Australia could be arranged periodically.
5 Aug 2008, 21:09 pm
#80 sglazer: There should really only be one season for rugby world wide really as thats why we always get all the 2nd sides coming here just before we play 3N if it was a world rugby season that would not be the case. Yes I think with the currency difference and opporunities with it it could be great for us here and our players but would our rugby suffer playing not the best teams in the world which are us 3 SH teams most of the time. Yes we could play NZ and Oz every 2nd year but then our rugby may slip. Its up there because we play each other so much each year. Thats why the NH I think just cant match us most of the times.
5 Aug 2008, 21:21 pm
Cheers all chat again tomorrow.
5 Aug 2008, 21:30 pm
#82 Puma: You could still play NZ twice a year and Aus once, we sometimes play SA twice a year.
5 Aug 2008, 21:34 pm
#84 Big Hit: Yes we could. Never only want to play the AB’s every 2nd year like someone mentioned as think we could slip behind. We measure ourself against them. Not so much the Oz side but playing them once would be just fine. Yes sometimes we play England twice a year too. Different seasons though and we are all not as fit as we are during our 3N games and like the NH is at the end of the year when they are right into their games. Just a thought. Cheers Big Hit. Chat again tomorrow.
5 Aug 2008, 21:39 pm
#85 Puma: cheers puma, g’nite
5 Aug 2008, 22:54 pm
Cheers Puma.
5 Aug 2008, 23:29 pm
Ideally Pdv needs to have a main bok squad and a second squad that is AS GOOD – not dirt trackers. I feel that Barritt is as good as JdV, and should have been part of the Bok plans.
What other positions have AS good players?
1) Guthro/BJ
2) Smit/Bismarck
3) Beast/CJ/ ???/Heinke?/Cobus visagie?
4) Bakkies/ Barend Pieterse? /Skeate?
5) Matfield/ Bekker/
6) Schalk/ Wikus/Cobus Grobbelaar/Brussow/Luke
7) Smith/ ??/Spies? /Botes?/Duane Vermeulen?
8) Joe/ Spies/Kanko/
9) Januarie/FdP/Ruaan Pienaar
10) Butch/Frans Steyn/Grant/Morne Steyn
11) Habana/ Chavangha
12) Jean dV/Barritt/Adi?/Meisiekind
13) Fourie/ Adi/
14) Ndungane bros/ Nokwe/Phillip Burger
15) Monty/Jantjes/ Frans Steyn?
I wonder if Spies should not be retreaded as a 7 to rotate with Smith?
Things are looking a bit thin at 7.
I also think Adi does not have the top end speed for 13, but has the acceleration for 12.
Whatever, Pdv decides, he must do it quickly, and then play these guys consistently at those positions. Let them specialise.
5 Aug 2008, 23:30 pm
I did not put these playes there claiming that they were as good – it is just to make people think about where we truly have good depth.
6 Aug 2008, 04:26 am
Kevin Pietersen is a great cricketer…..but getting that “3 Lions” tattoo,i mean come on Kevin,you still a SAFFA at heart.I have lived and worked 16 years in Nordic countries and still reside in Norway,could have got Icelandic citizenship or Norwegian years ago.I still remain a SAFFA and no way do i want a Viking tattoo or something Scandinavian.
6 Aug 2008, 04:28 am
“88 Sjambok …Shaun Sowerby is also a good number 8 !
6 Aug 2008, 06:55 am
I wonder how these players feel – feeding on SA scraps. Makes you think they are scrappy players!
6 Aug 2008, 07:57 am
#19 Pretoria_Blue_Jay: Why?
6 Aug 2008, 07:59 am
#88 SjamBok: Spies is too much of a show pony, he won’t get his hands dirty.
6 Aug 2008, 08:11 am
#48 Malongo: What chip do you have on your shoulder? You’ve been making a lot similar comments over the last few days.
6 Aug 2008, 08:12 am
It is very sad hearing about players like Brad and Wikus and others leaving South Africa to play their rugby in England. Whilst it is sad it is also completely understandable and I don’t begrudge Brad his decision one bit. Which one of us in his situation would turn down the offer to play in England and earn pounds for doing so.
So good luck with Saracens Brad, show them what a high callibre player and person you are and maybe we will see you back in a Sharks jersey in a few years time. Us Sharkies are definitely going to miss your skills on the field.
6 Aug 2008, 08:14 am
#94 Alibaba: Spies is very overated and I can’t believe he is still in the mix. Agree with everything you said.
6 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
I like what I’ve seen from Riaan Swanepoel so far at inside center. He’s a very able replacement for Barrit.
6 Aug 2008, 08:27 am
#97 Sniper: It really irks me that people criticize Looook for standing at the side of the scrum/ruck and not compete for the ball, but if Spies does the same, all of a sudden it’s not his job to compete. Look at Joe, he competes for the ball and plays the loose game. Luke never comes on as openside flanker replacement, so one can argument that it is not his job to compete either, but then I agree that Piet Helium does not utilise him correctly.
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