Crafty Boks try to get the best of both worlds

SOUTH Africa are in danger of becoming the invisible world champions, but they have a plan. Or, more accurately, Jurie Roux, the SA Rugby chief executive, has a plan – which is to straddle both hemispheres by having a foot in each.

- NICK CAIN

So far, it has been under wraps, because while Rugby Union has restarted in New Zealand, Australia and Europe, the game in the land of the Springbok has been dormant during the pandemic, and has yet to resurface.

While New Zealand has had Super Rugby Aotearoa, and Australia Super Rugby AU, the pro game in South Africa has been in stasis, without any domestic competition due to sporting events being suspended by the South African government.

It has led to consternation in South Africa that the Springboks could be at such a massive disadvantage in the Rugby Championship – which is due to be played in November and December in Australia – that they could suffer humiliating defeats which tarnish their reputation as world champions.

Although this could be partially addressed with a condensed version of the Currie Cup being floated in October as rushed preparation for the Championship, many South African rugby luminaries are unconvinced that it is adequate preparation.

This week it prompted the former Springbok No.8 Wynand Claassen, who captained South Africa on their controversial 1981 tour of New Zealand, which saw the country plunged into civil unrest, to call on SA Rugby to pull out of the tournament.

Claassen said: “I believe they should not play in the Championship. It simply doesn’t make any sense to me. If one thinks that New Zealand and Australia have been playing their domestic rugby for the last two months, and our rugby hasn’t even restarted yet, we would definitely be underprepared.”