Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers could use 2010 as a ‘trial’ for the legion of South African currently plying their trade abroad.
MONITORING DEVICES SEWN INTO JERSEYS
Jan de Koning, rugby365
With a record 15 internationals awaiting the Boks, player management a year out from the World Cup – in New Zealand in 2011 – has become a heated topic for debate.
And with the addition of a June 5 Test against Wales in Cardiff there was an outcry, with critics questioning the wisdom of the South African Rugby Union – who accepted the lucrative trip to the Millennium Stadium on top of 13 other Tests and a game against the Barbarians.
However, rugby365.com can now reveal that in a break from the stated intention this year will see a host of overseas-based players being used by Bok coach Peter de Villiers and his coaching staff – to help avoid burnout of those players expected to go to the World Cup.
And in an additional spin-off it will be an ideal opportunity for De Villiers to have a look at the those based in Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
It has been revealed that when the Boks kick off their international campaign against Wales in Cardiff the bulk of the team will consist of overseas-based players who have already played for South Africa.
Although key players like captain John Smit and veteran lock Victor Matfield will come into the selection frame, the team will consist mostly of players from abroad.
Players like BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde, who were called up in an emergency measure for the 2009 year-end tour, could join up with the likes of Jean de Villiers, Francois Steyn, Gcobani Bobo, Butch James, Derick Hougaard, Michael Claassens, Neil de Kock, Wikus van Heerden, Marco Wentzel, Daan Human, Faan Rautenbach, Danie Coetzee and Peter Dixon.
And De Villiers will only consider players who already have Springbok colours, meaning the Bok jersey won’t be cheapened.
Not only Welsh Test
This will apply not just for the Welsh Test, but also other internationals – such as the Boks’ year-end tour in which they will attempt a grand slam against the four Home Union – England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland – and finish off with the international against the Barbarians in December.
Piet Heymans, the Chief Executive of the South African Rugby Players Association, confirmed that they are “aware” of the planning for the Wales Test and the management of the national team players for the remainder of the year.
“We have been in contact with [Bok coach] Peter de Villiers and his management team since January,” Heymans told rugby365.com Thursday.
“There won’t be a blanket recovery system, as in the past, for the Bok players,” Heymans said, adding: “It will be based on the data obtained on individual players and how much each has played and trained.”
Super 14 play-offs
Another aspect that will be factored into the selection equation for the Welsh Test is which – if any – South African teams make it into the Super 14 play-offs.
If, for argument’s sake, John Smit’s Sharks fail to reach the semifinals, Smit will captain the Boks in Cardiff.
If the Bulls do make it into the play-offs, it will rule Matfield and several other Boks out of the equation.
New technology
Heymans also revealed that new technology being used in the Super 14 will allow De Villiers and his medical staff to monitor exactly how much time the Boks are spending on the field.
Devices sewn into the jerseys of the players will provide information on distances covered during a game, running speeds, heart rates, intensity of player impacts and energy expended during matches.





March 4th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Interesting.
Just this morning Snor
had differing ideas.
Quote:
“Ek het nooit ’n vaste besluit geneem oor die kies van oorsese spelers nie.
“Ek is ’n Suid-Afrikaner en moet ’n bydrae maak tot die uitbou van hierdie land.
“As enige ou ’n besluit neem om die land te verlaat, vat hy homself uit die openbare oog,” het De Villiers bygevoeg.
“Ek wil graag rolmodelle in ons land hê.
As jy Super14 speel en jy weet al 15 spelers gaan van oorsee af terugkeer en vir die Bokke speel, watter droom is daar vir jou om nog in hierdie land rug-by te speel?
“As daar ’n speler in hierdie land is wat volgens my mening goed genoeg is om ons te verteenwoordig, sal ek eerste na hom kyk,” het De Villiers gesê.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:17 pm:
What I read into that is that Snor will only go for the overseas guy if there is noone better in SA. So? That is what everyone would do!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
And I would def look at the overseas props!
CJ, BJ, Faan en Daan
Only other worth a look is Francois Steyn!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:24 pm:
Did you read the thread?
It has been revealed that when the Boks kick off their international campaign against Wales in Cardiff the bulk of the team will consist of overseas-based players who have already played for South Africa.
To me this is not the same as what
Snor is saying.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:27 pm:
Well why don’t you give us the whole piece of what Snor said?? So we can read the CONTEXT (down Dawie down!) of what was said compared to what is written above
March 4th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:27 pm:
Indeed, it doesn’t seem to be.
Not that I am disappointed to see PDV’s change of plans, but I would like to hear his comments on the reason for the change in heart. Even though the reason seems pretty obvious.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Methinks this will see many more top contenders simply move OS to ply their trade…
Old Snor is a yoyo!
Had there been a ‘real’ A team being played in the mid-weekers… over the past two years… under the same Bok structures, game-plans etc… there’d be a strong 30 plus squad and the above would not be an issue…
Dilettantes!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:30 pm:
I gave you the full CONTEXT.
The rest of the article is
about him moaning that he
is yet to see a Bok 15 play
in this year’s S14.
http://www.beeld.com/Content/Sport/Rugby/1915/a3860542c62c49b29e0fee4f26631f75/04-03-2010-12-46/Heelagter_nog_soek_vir_Bok-span,_s%C3%AA_De_Villiers
March 4th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:43 pm:
Jake White is to blame – he made the structure TOP heavy just like Woodward did with the Poms!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:43 pm:
Ja, I don’t think there
is any real forward planning.
Crisis management, as this
thread also suggests.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:45 pm:
Just read that and the context is regarding Full back – nothing to do with the wales test.
Now on the wales test – IMO it is the PERFECT opportunity to see what is available OS and if he makes it clear it is a one off chance for the guys to present them selves to Snor then fine. if they impress him he can tell them “make a plan to get home” and you will be considered for the WC.
That is how I would do it!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:48 pm:
Who created the crisis with such a heavy fixture list the year before a RWC?
March 4th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 3:52 pm:
This is no crisis! Only an opportunity to broaden the base! See problems as opportunities and you will live a longer life
March 4th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:51 pm:
Just read that and the context is regarding Full back – nothing to do with the wales test.
=============
But a hell of a lot to do
with the selection of OS
players – or are you
missing that part?
March 4th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:45 pm:
Well Goose-step is still injured eh :wink:… but what about Kirchner, he’s played and won every week… Snor is smoking his socks again…
March 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:54 pm:
The last time they “broadened
the base” the “base” got
fooked by two under-strength
provincial outfits –
remember?
March 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:57 pm:
one of those was a Bok B team
March 4th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:56 pm:
Naah Bryce – Kirchner is still
very average, apart from his
joining the line once when
Hougaard scored.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:58 pm:
Agree – he has not convinced. No FB has, not even Joe Petersen.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Reading the article again, I get the impression that the OS (if the rumour is true in the article) will only be used for the EOYT, they still will not be in the reckoning for the RWC squad unless there is nobody better playing in SA.
Reply to JT @ 3:54 pm:
Just expanding on Boertjies comments.
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:43 pm:
March 4th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:57 pm:
That was not a ‘real’ Bok B team…
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:58 pm:
He is streets ahead of Jantjes… but still has his flaws… but he is a capped 15 playing in the S14…
All the ‘real’ OS contenders would have come back to stake a claim next year… now they don’t need to…
In fact no contender will seemingly ‘need to’ play in RSA any more…
March 4th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 4:03 pm:
bok B team – I was refering to Saracens
March 4th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Reply to JT @ 4:04 pm:
ROTFLMAO… got ya…
March 4th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 4:06 pm:
that “other” team was a SA developement side! Fir for games v Romania etc.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 4:01 pm:
Not just EOYT:
“It has been revealed that when the Boks kick off their international campaign against Wales in Cardiff the bulk of the team will consist of overseas-based players who have already played for South Africa.”
Who created the crisis with such a heavy fixture list the year before a RWC?
======
The Money Moguls. Suppose they’re
looking for extra dollars to buy
the Lions out of the S14 and to
make room for the Kings.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:07 pm:
And quoting Piet Heymans
to me is more than a
“rumour”.
Unless he gets contradicted,
of course.
March 4th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:07 pm:
I include the one off against Wales as part of the EOYT, agin, if the rumours are true
March 4th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:10 pm:
It probably isn’t a rumour, but nor is it fact until the squad is announced.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Would like to know more about those ‘devices’ to be sewn into the jerseys.
Klink na baie werk.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I assume these devides will be the scanning type.
Will they always be ‘on’.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
‘intensity of player impacts and energy expended during matches’.
Hoe gaan hulle dit meet?
March 4th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
What happens when you swap jerseys with your opponent? Or if you change your jersey during the match?
March 4th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Ek soek een van daai. Wil dit wegsteek in my kar.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 5:49 pm:
Wat doen jy dan in jou kar
wat jou asemhaling so opjaag?
March 4th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:56 pm:
Niks.
March 4th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Ry in deesdae se Jhb verkeer
March 5th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Devices sewn into the jerseys of the players…..
I think this is prohibited by the laws.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:30 am
Law 4.4 (l)
March 5th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Reply to fyndraai @ 2:15 am:
Yep it’s enough with the steel bands sewn into some of the Bulls player’s arm bands eh