ABs reaping benefits of Kiwi system
4 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the All Blacks avoid mass injuries and burnout because the NZRU manages the country’s top players accordingly. Why can’t Saru do the same?
A good question was asked of All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster this week. Why is it that the All Blacks seem to sustain fewer injuries than their Australian and South African counterparts?
Why is it that we are now into month 10 of the 2012 rugby season and the All Blacks aren’t missing key players because of injury and fatigue?
‘We do it differently,’ was Foster’s curt reply. ‘And I’m not going to tell you exactly what that entails.’
Foster doesn’t have to, it’s no big secret. The New Zealand Rugby Union has long looked after its most prized assets, that is its players.
Through a central-contracting system, it ensure that the cream of the crop don’t play too much rugby during the Super Rugby competition. The national team is viewed as the priority, and to compromise the success of that national team wouldn’t make much sense. Right?
Unfortunately, there is a different outlook in South Africa.
Every union and franchise looks after its own interests. Top players are contracted to a union as well as to Saru.
What this means is that a franchise has the option to start a Bok player in every Super Rugby game. Ultimately it is the franchise’s success that matters most to the franchise, not the success of the Boks.
It’s for this reason that we have players who arrive for Bok duty overplayed and fatigued. For example, Andries Bekker has long been considered indispensable to the Stormers’ Super Rugby cause, and has started the majority of the matches over the past three seasons. That workload has taken its toll on his body, and injuries have prevented him from playing more games for his country.
There are other examples across all of the South African franchises, and the point is that if South Africa employed the same system as New Zealand, the Boks may have more fit players available for the most important period of the season, that is the Rugby Championship.
The current system has been a handicap to every Springbok coach in the professional era. The system rewards the franchises when it should be geared towards propelling the Boks to that No 1 ranking. It is something that incumbent coach Heyneke Meyer has also made note of on several occasions.
On Wednesday, Meyer pointed to the example of Richie McCaw, the All Blacks captain and veteran who will enjoy a six-month sabbatical next season. This course of action will prolong McCaw’s career, and possibly allow him to play at the 2015 World Cup.
The NZRU keeps tabs on all of the All Blacks throughout the Super Rugby season, and ensures that nobody is overplayed before they join the national set-up for the June Tests or the Rugby Championship.
It’s been an intense season, the most congested in history, and still the All Blacks were able to produce their best performance of the year in Argentina. They are now in South Africa preparing for a physically taxing clash against the Boks on the Highveld, and still there is a sense that they are favourites. Why?
‘New Zealand manages their players very well,’ Meyer said on Wednesday when probed on the subject. ‘You can see what’s been done with Richie McCaw, and there are overall not as many injuries. Everybody seems to be working towards a common goal.’
Keeping players fresh allows for continuity in selection, and as Meyer suggests the All Blacks were able to win the 2011 World Cup because of that continuity. There aren’t as many injury disruptions because the NZRU is doing everything it can to prevent burnout and fatigue-related injuries.
Every South African franchise is chasing results and trophies, and every team is inclined to believe that the more they play their best players, the better their chances of achieving those lofty objectives.
And in that unfortunately all too real scenario, the national team is the biggest loser.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
425 Comments
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4 Oct 2012, 14:16 pm
@Transformation-192:
Poeps is going to lose his mantle at this rate.
He is looking very tame.
Like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest after they plugged him into the light socked.
4 Oct 2012, 14:18 pm
socked!
vork.
4 Oct 2012, 14:18 pm
@willievz-197: I would take Woodcock over Beast, Retallick/Etzebeth is pretty much a muchness, did they compete against each other in JWCs? dont know thats why I ask… both young and am watching with keen interest how they progress.. Smith imo is miles better at scrummy then Hooha, his pass is a thing of beauty, still has to work on his kicking in general play, but has a running game to compliment his pass.. will only get better with more game time, still think he outdoes Hougie though.
those would be my main areas of contention. perhaps Jane on the wing as well, though both habs and JPP are quality..
4 Oct 2012, 14:21 pm
@Jeraldjay-200: if you have Carter in the team, why do you need frans for his place kicking? for the 50/50 shots from over halfway? no thanks, Id rather have a distributing 2nd 5/8th, guess it heads back to the differing philosphies, ABs would rather score points in increments of 5..
4 Oct 2012, 14:23 pm
@Skeppie-179:
Conrad Smith is too small to be selected.
4 Oct 2012, 14:27 pm
@poppa69-204:
Frans is still young. His had a flyhalf that has been deep in pocket for most of his games at 12.
But when Nonu’s isolated in his own half he is a liability.
4 Oct 2012, 14:28 pm
@Transformation-192: unfortunately the Argies imploded the containment unit releasing an army of NZ ghouls onto the blogs. I think it’s about time for Egon De Villiers and Winston Habana to kick the slime back where it belongs this weekend.
4 Oct 2012, 14:30 pm
@Jeraldjay-206: perhaps, I am not a fan of Frans personally… think his reputation far exceeds his worth. I will save judgement until he has played a few more games outside the Goose, but it will take some convincing.
4 Oct 2012, 14:32 pm
I think what Pops is saying is that there will be more Bokke than Kiwis in a combined team
4 Oct 2012, 14:32 pm
@Big Hit-207: oh look, keos own british sycophant is here, how nice
4 Oct 2012, 14:33 pm
@willievz-209: come back to me when your maths has improved.. swapping beast for Woodcock, Retallick for Elisebeth and Smith for Hooha would make that nine kiwis Willie..
4 Oct 2012, 14:33 pm
with Wonderkind Goosen there we are favourites to beat the Cannibals …
4 Oct 2012, 14:35 pm
@poppa69-208:
His reputation does to a certain extend exceed his worth cause the times he has been outstanding at 12 has been against minnows in RWC’s.
4 Oct 2012, 14:36 pm
@poppa69-211: Ok, get you.
I still only pick 4 Kiwis in my starting XV.
This coming weekend will prove why.
4 Oct 2012, 14:37 pm
@Jeraldjay-213: it’s not like he’s ever kicked SA to a win over NZ in NZ is it? or dropped two goals to beat Australia, or rescued SA from a first ever defeat against Argentina
just the minnows
4 Oct 2012, 14:37 pm
Boks out injured :
Bismarck
Juan Smith
Burger
JPP (on his way back)
Get Guthro, J Fourie & Bakkies back and no one will beat us
4 world class players ….. you see how k@k NZ are without McCaw & Carter …
4 Oct 2012, 14:37 pm
@Big Hit-215: I’d pick Frans over Dagg at 15 too…
4 Oct 2012, 14:38 pm
fair enough Willie. I just struggle with your logic. your combined team would contain more players from a team that has won four of its last 8 games, then players from a team that has won 8 from 8.
are you hoping to teach them BMT
4 Oct 2012, 14:41 pm
@Big Hit-207:
that won’t go down well 007.
4 Oct 2012, 14:41 pm
@poppa69-218: That is my whole point.
Our players are, well, better.
If we can improve our coaching, structures and administration, we should be on top of the world.
Consistently so.
4 Oct 2012, 14:44 pm
so now its coaching Willie.
those goalposts are swaying In the breeze. heard it all before, thi our players are so much better. but results is the only true measuring stick, and you guys fall behind in that respect.
until the results change it is just opinion and hot air mate.
4 Oct 2012, 14:44 pm
@Big Hit-215:
He played at fullback in those games. I’m talking about the games he has played at 12.
Jacque Fourie and JDV were the centres in those games.
4 Oct 2012, 14:46 pm
@poppa69-221:
For starters, I’d love for our schoolboys to play size against size rather than age against age.
Your coaching philosophy is spot-on.
4 Oct 2012, 14:54 pm
@willievz-223: but but but, what about the strengths of SA rugby, surely you dont want to digress from those?
4 Oct 2012, 14:54 pm
@Jeraldjay-222: he won a WC at 12 and was going well in the last WC until his injury, strong June series too
4 Oct 2012, 14:56 pm
@Big Hit-225: dont bother bud.
frans is overrated by the likes of you, me and the international market
4 Oct 2012, 14:57 pm
@willievz-223:
Indeed, I remember playing rugby against guys who shaved. This was when I was in primary school.
4 Oct 2012, 14:59 pm
@Jeraldjay-222: frans is not a fullback, never was a fullback and hopefully will not be a fullback again.
he is a 12.
his defense and kicking game make him the perfect midfielder able to take pressure off his flyhalf and his ability to pass both ways and kick with both feet are completely ignored by his detractors.
luckily meyer isnt blind.
4 Oct 2012, 15:00 pm
“Bebefits of Kiwi System”
What system?
Naturalising PIs Rugby players?
4 Oct 2012, 15:02 pm
i actually thought JDV had an ok game vs the aussies.
nothing outstanding mind you given the quality of the ball we were enjoying and a flyhalf that was not sitting in the pocket of the pocket.
4 Oct 2012, 15:02 pm
@WP-Forever-227: \
you always were a late developer.
4 Oct 2012, 15:04 pm
@Big Hit-225:
Don’t get me wrong I rate Frans. He will always be my 1st choice inside centre ’cause his the best we have available in that position.
But in all honesty I have only started rating him “highly” at inside centre after RWC 2011 after great performances against minnows.
As yet, he has not had an outstanding performance at INSIDE CENTRE against the big boys
4 Oct 2012, 15:05 pm
@Hondo-229: like Mealamu who was born in Torkoroa NZ? that sort of “naturalising” ?
4 Oct 2012, 15:06 pm
@rangerman-230: jdv had an outstanding game in our quarterfinal exit game including the linebreak he made to put lambie through which was judged to be forward…
4 Oct 2012, 15:12 pm
@willievz, so if we are playing fantasy football, I’ll see your bakkies, fdp and guthro and raise you with my sbw, kaino, hayman, thorn and evans. BOOM!
Honestly, anyone would think the boks are the only team in the world to suffer injuries and to loses players overseas.
4 Oct 2012, 15:14 pm
@corporal punishment-235: We are also the only team in the world who have to deal with cheating refs, a corrupt SANZAR and huge amounts of travel. It’s true – ask Bakkies. I am learning from the master
4 Oct 2012, 15:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-236: yes, I wonder what the travel afficionado’s will have to say should the ABs get up and win this weekend.. will that finally bury the myth?
4 Oct 2012, 15:18 pm
@Transformation-234: ja he was good.
had an argument the other day about forward passes vs momentum and its actually interesting to realise how many people have no clue of basic physics.
the pass was judged forward simply because the tackler stopped JDV dead in his tracks.
if he hadnt been stopped dead, the try would have been given and we would have won the wc (obviously).
i demand a 500 page inquisition immediately!
4 Oct 2012, 15:18 pm
29.viewer:
3 Oct 2012, 13:43 pm
Tacitus = deluded bigot
60.STBUR:
3 Oct 2012, 14:22 pm
@viewer-29:
viewer = goffel racist
4 Oct 2012, 15:19 pm
@The sharks 236: silly of me to forget! The AB’s used to have the excuse of the bumbling NZRU to fall back on, but since the clear out post losing the 2003 hosting rights, the have actually been quite good. By rugby administration standards!!
4 Oct 2012, 15:20 pm
@poppa69-237: no it wont.
not until the abs play in perth, mendoza and then south africa on consecutive weekends.
but we all know that wont happen because there might be too much squealing from the kiwi “hardmen”
4 Oct 2012, 15:21 pm
@Hondo-229: Naturalizing PI-born players? Sheesh, that’s another X-files level.
Tell us how many PI-born and naturalized are in the current Blacks squad of 28 players. 5? 10? 15? 20?
ZERO.
Seriously, better stick to bleating about the refs.
4 Oct 2012, 15:21 pm
@Jeraldjay-239: ah, south africa.
what a place!
4 Oct 2012, 15:23 pm
@poppa 239: it will be a huge achievement if the ABs get up and win this weekend. Winning on the road in SA is blardy hard; the bok team is pretty good and highly motivated; and we already have the series sewn up.
Man I will be happy if we do it tho – 6 out of 6 in the inaugural RC will be quite a record – could be a decade before that was repeated.
Fingers and toes crossed.
4 Oct 2012, 15:24 pm
@Nils-242: wow nils, you sound like a maori activist.
latvia eh?
4 Oct 2012, 15:25 pm
@rangerman-243:
Ranger that post was a clue as to why I think that Tac’s is STBUR.
4 Oct 2012, 15:27 pm
@Jeraldjay-246: nah thats not Tac bud.
Tac and STBUR are two different people imo.
could be wrong.
out for now bud.
4 Oct 2012, 15:27 pm
@Jeraldjay-239:
Maybe he meant to type knoffel.
4 Oct 2012, 15:28 pm
@rangerman-238: man, we could equate that sdame argument to many of the AB passes are always forward brigade… strange how its relevant only when it suits your argument..
and face it, travelling from a first world country to a third world country is invariably harder then the reverse , one gets used to having the basic amenities like running water and stuff…. I know its a luxury for your mob when they get to our country
4 Oct 2012, 15:30 pm
@rangerman-245: No, mate, just slightly pissed off. We all can complain about many things or be heavily biased or have a dissenting opionion, it’s fine, no problems really. Just keep it at least somhow related to reality.
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