CJ eyes permanent return
12 Nov 2009
Recalled tighthead CJ van der Linde is considering a move back to South Africa in order to extend his involvement with the Springboks.
Van der Linde moved to Irish club Leinster after the 2008 Tri-Nations and has not been picked for the Boks since. It seemed Peter de Villiers was going against the foreign-player policy when he phoned Van der Linde last Saturday. De Villiers asked Van der Linde to fill in for the injured Jannie du Plessis, and now there’s a chance the big man could be on his way back to South Africa.
‘It was a great surprise to receive that phone call, especially given the Boks’ stance on overseas-based players,’ Van der Linde told keo.co.za. ‘It’s a great honour, but now I’ve got to make sure I use this opportunity.’
Van der Linde is available for the duration of South Africa’s European tour, and will rejoin Leinster thereafter. Injury has kept his involvement with the European Cup champs to a minimum, and although he has learned much since signing a three-year deal last year, a South African return is on the cards.
‘I have two years left on my contract, but I have a clause that could allow me to leave the club in May. I’ll have to talk to Leinster about it. They have supported me through these injuries and they have been good to me, but they will understand when I say I’d like to play in South Africa again.
‘We’ll have to see what happens. I’ll start thinking about my future in the next few months. If I return, I’m not sure if I will be able to go back to the Cheetahs because they already have some good props down there.
‘Cape Town does sound nice though,’ he chirped diplomatically when probed on a possible move to the Stormers and Western Province.
Despite a lack of game time, Van der Linde believes his northern sojourn has improved him as player. All these tricks will certainly come in handy when he comes off the bench to play France in Toulouse.
‘There are quite a few things I’ve added to my armoury. The rugby is different up here because the weather is hardly ever very good. There are more rucks and scrums, so you get more opportunities to scrum than you would in the northern hemisphere.
‘It’s a different kind of scrumming to back home. I was surprised that the guys did so badly against Leicester, it was a night where everything went wrong. I think it was more a mental lapse than anything else.’
Van der Linde lauded the progress of Bok captain John Smit, who converted to tighthead at the same time Van der Linde departed for Ireland in 2008. He does feel, however, that France will be difficult to beat in this area.
‘They play a very physical game and certainly fancy themselves at scrum time. You can see how much emphasis is placed on it at provincial and club level, so we know we’re going to have to be at our best.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Toulouse
175 Comments
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12 Nov 2009, 20:37 pm
#142 grant10:
Tell her she’s just a politician and knows F all about rugby and why did Tony move from leader to ambassador.
12 Nov 2009, 20:38 pm
#149 Winston: Yes…would be great to get some top players back…i have no doubt that Muir…and others…are scouting in Europe!!
12 Nov 2009, 20:42 pm
#151 David: LOL…She says he retired and only took up the Ambassadorship a year later….
No more of that now…..
PS…she says its not fair to make the captain move…wants to know how we will feel if he gets hurt…..
Yes…her rugby knowledge is a little limited…her favorites are habana…kanko and Beat!
12 Nov 2009, 20:43 pm
#152 grant10:
I reckon we have enough top players here if time was spent on development. The Lions should follow WPs example and recruit a few experienced guys and play them alongside the youngsters.
12 Nov 2009, 20:43 pm
beast
12 Nov 2009, 20:45 pm
#154 David: Yes…a few older experienced hands to guide the young uns….
Smit at 2 at Lions i say….build team around him…i know it wont happen…but dreams are good mates…
12 Nov 2009, 20:46 pm
#156 grant10:
I wonder what Dale Stanton is doing?
12 Nov 2009, 20:48 pm
#157 David: whatever it is he is probably in the sin bin!!
Actually a cool guy….used to jog on tread mill with him and Mallet at the Constantia VIRgin active….Mallets favorite son!
12 Nov 2009, 20:56 pm
#158 grant10:
How many has he got. Is that why he left the country?
12 Nov 2009, 21:04 pm
Oh dear, it’s not only SARU but the Sharks as well who’re on the sharp end.
The Sports ministry has released a second statement, this time on Thursday evening. Here it is:
Thursday, 12 November 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
To: News Editors & Sport Editors
For Immediate Release
Subject: Mr. Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira
The problems encountered by Mr Mtawarira with his Zimbabwe passport, have exposed a dangerous situation. A situation where sport administrators clearly do not know South African Laws or simply do not respect our Laws.
We must state up front our admiration for the gifted Zimbabwean prop forward. He is a live wire on the Rugby field. But just like he must obey the rules of Rugby on the field, he must comply with the Laws of South Africa in life here on our land, like all of us.
According to the President as well as the CEO of the SARU, “The Beast” IS NOT A CITIZEN of South Africa. He does not even have a permit for permanent residence in South Africa. The CEO of The Sharks corroborates these facts and makes the interesting remarks: “There has never been any issue about his nationality.”
The issue here is NOT HIS Nationality. It is his citizenship. He has never applied for a South African citizenship or passport. Of course he would not get a passport if he was not our citizen. This is the law that all citizens in all countries respect. What is wrong with some of our Compatriots? No sport can be bigger than South Africa!
The officials of the SARU even inform us that Mr. Mtawarira “is currently on an exceptional skills visa (work permit).” If such a work permit was issued on the basis of his skills as a prop forward, the concept “scarce skills” was vulgarised. The Sharks or any Provincial Unit or Professional Club may motivate for the issuing of a work permit for a limited number of foreign players or administrators. Such application must be accompanied by a COMPELLING motivation.
Most important still, sports leaders should be the first to understand why NATIONAL TEAMS cannot play foreigners, no matter how outstanding they may be. Morné Steyn cannot represent New Zealand, Dan Carter cannot represent Wales, Wayne Rooney cannot play for Bafana Bafana. The list goes on.
Federations, Provinces and Clubs are more than welcome to approach us for advice on these issues. To simply rely on slipping through the legal framework (as the CEO of the Sharks seems to be doing) is very dangerous and negligent. Let us take our country more seriously. Only citizens of a country may represent that country.
Issued by Ministry: Sport & Recreation S.A
12 Nov 2009, 21:05 pm
#159 David: Mallet my favorite coach by far….Bumped into him often at Gym….but his demeanour was such that we never struck up a conversation…..
Francois Pienaar also…but great chats with him….ultra friendly….
Also chattefdc long and hard to Luke there in 2007….not that he heeded my advice of doing his talking on the field though!!
12 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm
#160 David: They seem to have a point!
12 Nov 2009, 21:13 pm
#161 grant10:
Mallet was too big and intelligent for the rugby structures in SA.
12 Nov 2009, 21:13 pm
#160 David: So beast out then??
12 Nov 2009, 21:14 pm
#163 David: exactly….wonderful player as well in his day….
12 Nov 2009, 21:22 pm
#164 grant10:
I’ve got no idea.
I think Mallet had the same reaction as Morne dup to the amateur governance of the Presidents Council.
12 Nov 2009, 21:25 pm
#164 grant10:
beast in
12 Nov 2009, 21:26 pm
#166 David: He couldnt handle the small mindedness…enjoying Italy by all accounts…i fear we have lost him fore good.
Hope he does well the weekend….a victory over the kiwis would be something he would cherish…..
And the kiwis have gambled big ….and italians got that monster at 3, and 83000 fans!
12 Nov 2009, 21:26 pm
#167 gunther: how do you know??
12 Nov 2009, 21:28 pm
#169 grant10:
I have the skinny….
12 Nov 2009, 21:30 pm
#170 gunther: Seriously??
Seems the Sports Ministry on the warpath!!
12 Nov 2009, 21:31 pm
#171 grant10:
empty vessels make the most noise…
12 Nov 2009, 21:34 pm
#172 gunther: LOL…till later
13 Nov 2009, 00:21 am
#116 Big Hit:
He is at the right age but he needs to show he can last the season’s distance first.
It’s a risk, there are few good Test front rowers in SA who struggle to get a Test game time (Deon Carstens, Strauss, Gary Botha) while in Europe they are used whenever they are available
13 Nov 2009, 08:07 am
well it will surely help the stormers
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