VIDEO: Springboks' scrummie gamble
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: “The most important player in a rugby team is the scrumhalf” according to Springbok great Stephen Fry.
The legend, who skippered the Boks against the British & Irish Lions in the early 1950s further explained “you should pick your best player and make him the scrumhalf,”
And it appears that current Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus fathoms the importance of the No.9.
Francois de Klerk, who has been vital in the Boks’ 2-1 series win over England in June, will without a doubt be the first choice to don the No.9 jersey during the Rugby Championship campaign.
However, De Klerk’s premiership contract with Sale Sharks
could make it difficult for the scrumhalf to feature in all the matches.
Similar to Willie Le Roux’s deal with Wasps, Sale Sharks could potentially call back the 26-year-old to play for the European club side during the Rugby Championship tournament.
Prior to June, this would have meant that last year’s first choice scrumhalf Ross Cronje would step in as a replacement, but it seems like the Lions’ No.9 have dropped down in pecking order with Erasmus looking at the younger players like Bulls duo Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl.
Erasmus has always emphasised his objective to develop the young talent with an eye on World Cup 2019.
“We know where we’re going with Embrose [Papier],” the coach told reporters when asked about the scrumhalf selection in the team.
“Embrose is a guy who learns something every minute from Faf.
“Ivan is that in-between one. He is a solid player to start a game, he understands the game and is a very good communicator, so I think the three levels of nines we have in the mix is great,”
The coach also explained that although Cronje might not be part of the ‘three levels of nines’ he finds it extremely hard to ignore the Lions man.
“You can’t keep ignoring a No.9 [Cronjé] who takes a team to a Super Rugby final.
“I’ve never coached or worked with Ross, but just like in the beginning when we didn’t pick Ivan – who kept on performing at the start – it’s just fair to have a look at him [Cronjé], and maybe he even starts or he comes into the mix, or maybe we release him after a few weeks.
“But its worth to have a look at him,”
@rugby365com
