South Africa Legends ran in in 11 tries in a 74-7 triumph against Classic Lions to book their place in the World Rugby Classic semi-finals at the National Sports Centre yesterday. The Springboks are expected to face off against France on Wednesday. A place in the Friday final match will be at stake. Earlier in the day, the French defeated the Italians 28-10 as last year’s beaten finalists secured their spot in the final in the last four.
Willem Alberts, the South African vice-captain was delighted to pick up a big win in perfect weather conditions. “It was a very good game and we were lucky to score a lot of points,’’ Alberts told The Royal Gazette. “It was a bit of a sloppy game, I think you could see the travel fatigue and that we last played rugby a long time ago. We have a new team but, luckily, the eagerness, camaraderie and team spirit was there for us to keep on playing. Classic Lions fullback Red Newberry does down after being tackled by Willem Alberts (Photograph by Akil Simmons) “It’s my first time playing in the World Rugby Classic. All the boys that were here last year said there were low scoring games, but apparently the weather wasn’t as great.
“We played in beautiful weather today, so I think that helped us a bit as well. It was still tough, it was a physical game, especially in the close quarters.
Travelling long distance in a plane will leave anyone even professional rugby players giddy with fatigue. The Springboks on the other hand had luck on their side and were able to have themselves tested professionally to the limit. Even if the match was a bit “sloppy” the Springboks were still able play professionally and competitively. Despite the latest batch of South African Rugby players being untested they were still able to score most of the goals necessary to win. This was thanks to the excellent training they were subjected too. Not to mentions the players selected for the Springbok team had the right type of motivation, unity and comrade ship. The Springboks were able to keep it professional and win. For one professional team to verse the other is a gruelling task and not to be taken lightly.
The good French weather none the less helped to lift the team’s spirits and move it forward. The Springboks still had to deal with France’s combatting Rugby team on field. Playing against the French proves to be no easy task.
“Once we got to give the ball a bit of air and get into the open spaces, with a lot of support from the guys, we scored some very good tries. “The French are a very good side, so we have to be at our best on Wednesday when we play them. We’ve got a couple of days to recover and then we’ll take the next game as it comes.” Alan Martin, the Lions coach, whose team is facing Italy in the Plate semi-final on Wednesday, felt that South Africa profited from mistakes made by his players. “The best team won, they were big, strong and powerful,” Martin said.
The Springboks no doubt will have to be weary of competing against their opponents who are just as professional. The season is far from over and they will be going head-to-head with the most well-trained teams. There cannot be room for failure and the Springboks including Vice-Captain Willem Alberts will have to be at the ready. One small slip-up and the whole match could go in the opposite team’s favour. The pressure can be immense depending on the stakes. Taking a break to recover your strength is just as important. In sports recuperation forms part of the preparation for the next game. However, let it not be forgotten that agility is as important as strength, size and power.
Meanwhile South African born Rugby Super Star Duhan Van Der Merwe who is playing for the United Rugby Championship for Edinburgh, Scotland could return to play for his homeland. This was according to a report in Rapport a South African Newspaper. Van Der Merwe is in negotiations to play for Stormers a South African Rugby team.
South African-born Van der Merwe scored another try last night for Scotland in their win over Fiji to take his tally to 29 in Test rugby – the most in the country’s history, underlining just how dangerous he can be with ball in hand. The hulking wing currently plies his trade in the United Rugby Championship for Edinburgh but has been linked with a move away from the club, with some possible suitors in France keeping an eye on his situation. Scotland player ratings: ‘Dancing’ Darcy Graham dazzles after 13-month absence. Well, according to the report, so are the Stormers but the Cape Town side would have to secure third-party funding to get the deal over line. This is mainly because Van der Merwe is not a player of national interest for the Springboks considering his Scottish allegiance. As a result, the Capetonians would have to pay his full salary without the help of SA Rugby.
Van der Merwe may be South African born but his firm loyalty behind Scotland means it would be unwise to consider him for playing for the Springboks or any other regional team. Being highly skilled Van der Merwe would be considered desirable. However, either the Stormers of Cape Town or South African Rugby will have to decide about whether they want Van der Merwe as friend or foe. Professional sports can be ruthless and selecting or dismissing players carries great risk. Competing in sport is heavily restrained by the discipline of the rules, this is true of rugby. All professional players in Rugby have to be tough and firm to compete in the sport.
Athletes like Van der Merwe and Darcy Graham are no different. It will be unclear how South African Rugby will treat the rising star of Van der Merwe. To have him as an opponent for a foreign team would carry risk but to have on a regional team and then at some point at the national level will improve the country’s chances professionally. It all depends on how time allows it to play out.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
