‘Half of the players in my squad still have to work for the [Kobe] company during the day, then come and train afterwards,’ said Fourie. ”

says it all…

I have to say I don’t like to see Japanese rugby claim these elite players in their prime to play semi-pro rugby in a league which isn’t even televised.

De Jongh, Jordaan & Whitehead are xlassy players so they need investing in. Thy can be great, hell they aint doing too badly. If De Jongh or Tautebplay 13 for the boks for the next 2 international season should they really be cast aside for Jaque?

I can see why HM wanted Du Preez thisvyear and Matfield because they were not long out of the system and he thought they would help. However that woulf have stopped the emergence ofbso many youngsters had Meyer kept on picking the old guard.

This season, Oosthuzyen, Cilliers, Coetzee, Etzebeth, Kruger, Taute, Goosen, Jantjes & Vermeulen have been given oppertunities and people should be excited at the Bok team leading up to the next RWC.

Also Bekker, Libenberg, Strauss, Alberts, Pienaar, F Steyn & Mvovo have all.been given chances that they would not have recieved had the former players been picked.

Development is key and the Bok.team should continue to be changed up by the on-form players to avoid complacency.

In a World Cup year for example a player like Bryan Habana who is rarely dropped and rarely rotated, he will end up (if he was picked for all available games) a super rugby season atraight into June tests then a rugby championship, a few Currie Cup games if WP reach play-offs and then a World Cup before some games on an end of year tour. He then gets christmas and then 6 weeks later he plays again.

The season doesnt need shortening but the tournaments do. Therefore players would get plebty of rest before major tournaments and it would also be more interesting to watch. Then maybe the players would play some more for their home teams.

> Jaque is needed now not in two years time. By then any one of Taute, Mapoe, JDJ,Whitehead, will be the go to guys at centre.
> De Jongh, Taute, de Villiers, Mapoe, Whitehead & JJ Engelbrecht & Sadie will all have had substantial game time against the best in the world.

He might be the only one left

How many of them would survive another three brutal S15 seasons?

Look at this year’s injury lists for the Boks and Wallabies?

Nothing’s going to change till we have central management of players like the New Zealanders do

You’ve changed.

You’re a closet Stormer supporter.

I know you are.

Support the hype!

Conrad Smith will be unhappy if Jacque comes back

He is/was an awesome player (also stifled by having a fly-half like Morne in the Boks) and a great servant for SA Rugby @ Lions, WP and Boks.
In 3 years time I HOPE we have some youngsters who can challenge him! Someone like JPP or De Jongh might be the best #13 option by then?
But if Jacque is the best, then play him!

@RL-40: That is really unfair and sounds like a typical ignorant SA rugby “fan”.

Look at some of our best players: Schalk, Juan Smith, Brussow, Bekker. They are constantly injured and if things carry on like this they won’t make the next world cup. Fourie is by far our best center and now only playing 20 games a season, he should be able to be there for us when the time comes. Think Richie McCaw might agree

Turned your back on the Boks when you were needed most – get stuffed.

Ps thanks for all of the memories now piss off forever.

He probably just extended his career by taking a season or two off. One injury in S15 and the season over. No Bok rugby, no pay. Well not to the same level.

The best timme to do it is just after a WC. We could’ve used him definitely. But at the same time, he is not responsible for what’s happening in the 13 Bok jersey… If he wants it back and is still good enough, why not.

I guess it’s also a value/ belief thing anyway.. agreeing with/ to the professional sportsman thing or not….

With the high profile he has he could easily get involved in a multitude of businesses post his rugby retirement. People will stand in long cues to work with him or associate there brand with him. Commentating and coaching is definitely not the only option for ex-players – especially for someone like him.

With all this being said, I would rather want to work with a player who has demonstrated his commitment to the boks.