Resting players for big games isn't on

IT WAS just a couple of weeks ago that certain people were up in arms because the South African clubs had fielded weaker teams rather than their full strength sides in away games during the Champions Cup.

- JEFF PROBYN

There were even calls for them to be ejected from the United Rugby Championship by some who felt they had let down the competitions by seemingly not taking them seriously. This has led to an open debate that is still taking place whether just on the social media forums or behind the closed doors of its fellow URC members, which could eventually lead to South Africa teams no longer playing in Europe.

There are two schools of thought when this scenario is being discussed: the first is that it helps the South Africans improve their international team by allowing its players the experience of facing the best European players in club competitions before playing them at international level.

Others will argue that the opportunity to play against them also helps the European teams as the game that is played in South Africa is very different to the game played here in Europe.

Then there are those who say travelling and playing there is difficult for players, as the turnaround time is short and doesn’t allow players enough time to recover from the journey and adjust to playing at altitude before playing the games.

While I agree playing at altitude does take some getting used to and you do need time to adjust to the fitness differences that altitude creates on the pitch, a flight is a flight and has the same impact on whichever team is making the journey.