No Bok contract for Pat
Will Lambie be left out of Meyer’s World Cup squad?
HE’S been part of virtually every Springbok squad for the last three years, yet Sharks flyhalf Pat Lambie has been overlooked for a national contract. Or, is the 23-year-old is ready to jump ship and join the ever-growing number of South Africans earning their living at an overseas club?
Deemed by many to be South Africa’s premier No10, the 30-time capped Bok player does not feature among a select group of 10 players the South African Rugby Union has tied up to play locally until the 2015 World Cup.
The long-term contracts will ensure Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer doesn’t have to negotiate with overseasbased clubs for certain players in the build-up to the World Cup.
Already Meyer has to call on the likes of JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Fourie du Preez, Francois Louw, Morné Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Ruan Pienaar and others – who’re all based overseas – for Test matches involving the Boks.
Saru have apparently told Meyer he needs to limit the number of overseas-based players he is currently picking for the Boks.
However in awarding two-year contracts until after the World Cup in 2015 to Willem Alberts (loose forward), Jean de Villiers (centre), Bismarck du Plessis (hooker), Jannie du Plessis (prop), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Frans Steyn (utility back), Adriaan Strauss (hooker) and Duane Vermeulen (No8), Meyer’s job will be just a little more plain-sailing.
But one’s got to wonder why Lambie isn’t on the list. He’s generally been regarded as the back-up to Morné Steyn – if not the first choice for many, he’s played 30 Tests, has been South Africa’s Young Player of the Year in 2011 and was a nominee for Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
The only deduction is that Meyer still isn’t convinced Lambie will be part of his squad going into the World Cup. Steyn appears to be the man the Bok boss will bank on for the next two years and he’s also a big fan of young Cheetahs No10 Johan Goosen. Also chasing the Bok team will be Elton Jantjies, Demetri Catrakilis and possibly even young Bulls man Handré Pollard.
Or, is Lambie is considering an offer from abroad, ruling him out of the mix to earn a national salary, over and above what he banks at the Sharks?
The door, though, isn’t completely closed on Lambie, should he remain in South Africa.
Saru CEO Jurie Roux said the awarding of the 10 contracts was the first step in ensuring a core of top players remain in South Africa, and that the process of contracting more players for 2014 and 2015 is already in place and will be completed in agreement with the South African Rugby Players Association (Sarpa).
“This is all part of our long-term planning to ensure we retain key Springboks in South Africa as we prepare for the Rugby World Cup in England,” said Roux.
“The door is by no means shut for any other players to be awarded national contracts for the next two seasons. Obviously we have some limitations. We’re working with the provincial unions, but times are tough financially and in some instances we simply can’t compete with what players are offered to play abroad. We’re also not in a position to contract 40 to 50 top players, although it would be ideal if we could do that.”