Getting rid of Rose
rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball says the Stormers’ use of their young scrumhalves should provide insight into the way they utilise Earl Rose in future.
Rose has recently been brought into the Stormers set-up due to injuries to first Peter Grant, Gary van Aswegen, Lionel Cronjé, Sam Lane and, most recently, Kurt Coleman.
There’s no doubt it’s a flyhalf crisis, and even though it’s severe, does anything ever warrant being so desperate as to call on the enigma that is Rose? My short answer would be no.
Rose received literally 10 seconds against the Cheetahs on Saturday – on the wing of all places – showing how much faith Allister Coetzee has in him. The irony is that the Cheetahs (who have little depth), didn’t want anything to do with Rose throughout their campaign, as he’s available to them as a Griquas player. But the Stormers will happily take him.
If the Stormers don’t have the confidence to use him, why was he bought in the first place, and why weren’t other options sought? Granted, UCT’s Varsity Cup-winning No. 10 Demetri Catrakilis has been injured, but even Isma-eel Dollie, who is playing for SK Walmers, is a better option. At least he wouldn’t be as poor a marketing tool as Rose, whose move back to the Cape has alienated many loyal followers and has negatively affected the whole brand by him being associated with the Stormers.
Even youngsters such as William van Wyk and Nick Holton, who play in the local club leagues, would’ve been better options than Rose. At least that would send the correct message to those players coming through, rather than the current one where the Stormers are saying Rose has more of a future in the region than them. Physically Holton would be superior to Rose, and while the former may have made mistakes, Rose isn’t recognised for eradicating errors.
On Saturday the Stormers had to rely on two inexperienced scrumhalves, Louis Schreuder and Nic Groom, who had one Super Rugby cap between them before kick-off. It’s no exaggeration to say they played better than what Ricky Januarie could produce.
Schreuder and Groom weren’t out of this world, but they did the basics, which Januarie and Rose can’t – or refuse – to do. Now the Stormers have two young scrumhalves who have experienced playing at that level.
There lies the lesson for the Stormers. The Sharks also got desperate when they used Andy Goode last year instead of local youngsters, which sends the incorrect message to those coming through. It’s such a negative move (relying on Goode and Rose), rather than a promising player who can re-pay you in future.
Place faith in those youngsters coming through, rather than handing out undeserved lifelines to mercenaries such as Rose.
That Rose has a valid visa was the excuse used for flying him to Australasia. No documentation is required to blood a youngster in home matches, and if the Stormers require a reserve flyhalf to provide cover for Peter Grant against the Crusaders next Saturday, Rose shouldn’t be that person.
Grant Ball also writes for RugbyXV.
