Time for old guard to plough back
The standard has been set. Players coming back will have to meet the standard set by Duane Vermeulen
When they leave for Europe and Japan they take a lot of intellectual property. Now they are giving it back
● Last year Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits returned to make telling contributions to the Bulls and then the Springbok cause.
They initiated a wave of experienced players finding their way back to South African shores after playing and earning big in the northern hemisphere.
They weren’t the only experienced hands who made it back. The Sharks last year saw the return of stalwarts wing JP Pietersen and hooker Craig Burden. Pietersen came back following his time at Leicester Tigers and then Toulon, while Burden returned following stints at Toulon, Montpellier and Stade Francais.
The trend continued this year with the Lions luring tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis and, pending the results of a medical, flank Willem Alberts.
Former Lions and Springbok centre Gcobani Bobo is enthused by the return of experienced players but cautions they have reputations to live up to. “The standard has been set. Players coming back will have to meet the standard set by Duane Vermeulen when he came back to the Bulls.
“Anything short of that then people will be asking whether roping them in was worth it. It will only work if they come back here and excel. If they only come back to collect then it is a problem. It can’t be a situation where players simply come back to help smooth their path back into civilian life.
“That is the risk all unions are taking. Those players want to do themselves and their reputations justice,” said Bobo.
Bobo though is encouraged by the developing trend that players are ploughing back.
“When they leave for Europe and Japan they take a lot of intellectual property. Now they are giving it back to young SA players, and that’s great.”
Former Bok and Lions captain Warren Whiteley, isn’t just thrilled to have the calibre of Du Plessis and Alberts in his pack.
“We’ve got senior players who opted not to go overseas, which is phenomenal,” said Whiteley.
The Bulls have former stars Morne Steyn and Juandre Kruger back from France. Flyhalf Steyn has plied his trade in Paris since 2013, while lock Kruger has displayed more journeyman tendencies having played for Western Province, the Bulls, Northampton Saints, Racing 92, Toulon and the Scarlets.
Steyn brings an unerring boot and a cool, calculated head, while Kruger remains a fine lineout exponent. Much will rest on them as experience is a rare commodity in Super Rugby.
SA continues to haemorrhage players to the north and local CEs are trying to find pathways to lure talent back to SA.
“The modern player has a shorter shelf life,” said Lions CE Rudolf Straeuli.
“They earn top dollar a lot quicker. It is great for guys like Jannie and Willem who are experienced players who have been to World Cups.
“It is not all moonshine and roses when you play abroad, look at what has happened to Saracens (who will be demoted from the Premiership).
“We have something here that we can build on that is something special. We have a strong history but we need that mentorship that these guys bring.”