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Sharks Rugby
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Just how the various Super 14 sides from the three participating nations will cope in the absence of a number of experienced stars is an interesting dilemma to ponder.
This year's Super 14 will derive much interest not from who is there, but who isn't. All three nations involved in the tournament have lost a number of players to lucrative contracts in the UK, France and elsewhere in Europe in what has been called in all three countries, an "exodus" of players.
There have also been a few retirements as well as changes in coaching staff, but to turn a negative into a positive, the loss of one player always opens the door for someone else.
South Africa have lost influential, experienced and top class players like John Smit, Victor Matfield, Butch James, Percy Montgomery, Ashwin Willemse and Gary Botha, all Rugby World Cup Springboks, while Australia and New Zealand have lost a number of their own stars to Northern Hemisphere rugby.
There is no doubt that the loss of senior players hurts, and as the saying goes, there is no substitute for experience, but the Sharks for instance certainly have the depth - their Currie Cup squad had to do without as many as 15 players or more through Springbok call-ups and injuries.
They may be losing important players, but those who will do duty this year have gained valuable experience in the past few months. And Dick Muir will be able to name a virtual International test team in Sharks colours, such is the wealth of talent at his fingertips.
He may have lost John Smit, Butch James, Percy Montgomery and Bobby Skinstad, but he has gained four internationals in Jannie du Plessis, Frédéric Michalak, Stefan Terblanche and Epi Taione. Gcobani Bobo and the Noble brothers Howard and Dusty have also moved on but Muir can bank on a settled squad and coaching team and the Sharks will be fancied amongst the favourites this year.
Free State are probably the hardest hit in terms of player losses, but are always competitive despite this player movement in the professional era. Grey College consistently churns out great talent, but they will feel the pinch with five of their players from the Currie Cup final and a host of others having left.
With Marius Joubert, Alwyn Hollenbach, Willem de Waal, Jannie du Plessis, Corniel van Zyl, Michael Claassens, Bian Vermaak, Ryno van der Merwe, Phillip Burger, Barry Goodes and Ollie le Roux all gone and veteran Os du Randt having retired, Free State's depth and experience will be severely tested. They have however gained the services of Hennie Daniller, Jongi Nokwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and props Phillip Lemmer and Ronnie Uys for the season.
The Lions have also lost a few players, but will continue to build on what coach Eugene Eloff has started and should be one of the teams to watch in 2008. Brian Mujati and Ricky Januarie have gone South to the Stormers, Lawrence Sephaka, Ashwin Willemse and Jacques Cronje have all gone North, but Joe van Niekerk has returned to the province.
Like the Bulls with Frans Ludeke and the Cheetahs with Naka Drotske, the Stormers have a new coach in Rassie Erasmus, and given their poor 2007 season in which they performed well below their own standards, he will have his work cut out for him. He has been hot on the transfer trail, but has also lost a few players.
Tony Brown, Ricky Januarie, Brian Mujati and Adriaan Fondse have arrived and De Wet Barry, Gerrie Britz and Naas Olivier have left.
The Bulls face interesting times. The reigning champions have lost a number of senior players, Gary Botha, Johan Roets and Victor Matfield the stalwarts who will not be around in 2008, and with a new coach, their aspirations of retaining the Super 14 trophy will be tested.
They have signed up Tiger Mangweni, Jacques Burger and Zane Kirchner but lost SA Sevens star Stefan Basson, Adriaan Fondse, Victor Matfield, Cliff Milton, Francois van Schouwenburg, Johan Wasserman, Frikkie Welsh, Danie Thiart, Wessel Roux, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuizen and Gary Botha, and Johan Roets to retirement. At this stage, there is still uncertainty over whether Pierre Spies will be able to play.
End of Part I (part II to be posted tomorrow).