Boks given full backing to play in 8 Nations
THE Six Nations have joined forces in a united attempt to bring South Africa into the European fold with almost immediate effect.
Sources in England and Wales have told The Rugby
Paper of unanimous support for the Springboks to replace Japan in the Eight Nations tournament due to start at Twickenham in November. The move could prove to be of historic significance as a step towards South Africa’s entry into the Six Nations.
French president Bernard Laporte’s attempt to broker a deal on behalf of the Six promises manna from heaven for the World Cup holders at a time when they may have nowhere else to go despite being contracted to appear in The Rugby Championship.
“South Africa want to play here this autumn,’’ a leading power-broker said yesterday. “They see it as the chance of a lifetime to get into the Six Nations, a no-brainer.
“Laporte is therefore pushing against an open door. It’s being driven behind the scenes by England. They and Wales see that it makes commercial sense. The RFU are very confident that by November the Government will have eased restrictions on crowds to allow 30,000 at Twickenham.’’
By replacing Japan, the Springboks would play Scotland, Italy and France with the winners playing the top team in the other pool – England, Wales, Ireland and Fiji. The possibility of a repeat of the World Cup final in the first week of December would enhance the value of television rights.
The Rugby Championship, rescheduled to start in New Zealand on the same
weekend as the Eight Nations, may have to be abandoned because of travel restrictions affecting South Africa and Argentina.
Its prospects of taking place suffered another blow yesterday with the Pumas reporting six of their training squad had tested positive for Covid-19.
All the noises from South Africa strengthen the conviction that they see their future north of the Equator. They claim that current restrictions caused by the pandemic make it impossible for their squad to travel to New Zealand, even if they are allowed to.
No professional rugby has been played in South Africa since mid-March.
“Unless we can play six (rounds of) domestic matches, I do not think we will go to New Zealand,” said Boks coach Jacques Nienaber.
The same problem is nowhere near as acute when applied to the UK, Ireland or France.
Eleven of the Boks’ World Cup squad are employed there including six of the final starting XV – Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth.
Laporte, World Rugby vice-chairman seen by many as the most influential figure in the game and a wheeler-dealer par excellence, says negotiations with SARFU have reached ‘advanced discussions’.
The dismantling of Super Rugby has left the four South African franchises – the Stormers (Cape Town), Sharks (Durban), Bulls (Pretoria), Lions (Johannesburg) – looking towards new pastures as part a reinforced PRO16.
SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux describes the overall position as ‘fluid’. New Zealand’s plan to restrict Super Rugby to a transTasman competition has encouraged South Africa to ‘look at new options.’
“It would be irresponsible if we didn’t have a Plan B or C to consider,’’ says Roux.
Both those plans now revolve round the Eight Nations although major problems remain, not least the match-fitness of the home-based Springboks including the back row of captain Siya Kolisi, PieterSteph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen.