Energised anew by victories over the French, the Boks are tackling the future with the vigour of youth on their side. What do they need to do to make the new spirit last?
ICYMI – @jantjies_elton was the leading points’ scorer in @CastleLagerSA Incoming Series, scoring 52 points. @MTNza @ASICS_ZA #BokCountry pic.twitter.com/FLjw8A4MYa
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) June 28, 2017
Rugby spirits in South Africa were thankfully lifted when the Springboks whitewashed the French in a three-match series. After the disaster that was 2016, this run of success has restored some confidence in the future of SA rugby.
Concerns over experienced players continuing to head overseas remain, but having heard enough negativity over the last 18 months, I would rather look at the current makeup of SA rugby with some positivity, and hope for the best from the youth.
Yes, the youth, as that is pretty much what makes up SA rugby now. Going through the recent Bok squad, the ‘freshness’ of players really stands out. So much so that Francois Steyn (30) is the second oldest player there. Only Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira is older, and he is all of 31. Other ‘silver backs’ who have recently reached the milestone age of 30 along with Steyn and Mtawarira are Duane Vermeulen and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
It’s not just national squad either. Looking at The Stormers’ 2017 SuperRugby squad, there are even less players of 30+. The Cape-based franchise has just three players that are born before 1987.
The youth isn’t just the future as it is always referred to, but it is the now of SA rugby too. Obviously it would be great to retain experience across all levels of the game here, but this isn’t a reality. The focus now has to go towards how the youth players are being developed. Now more than ever, they need to be groomed for leadership along with being the best in their positions.
It isn’t discussed too often. People go on about what has been lost leadership wise, but there isn’t a lot of lip service towards raising leadership. The Bulls could be seen as a prime example of this.
When the Pretoria franchise was at its best, there was plenty of experience in the ranks. Both in caps and age, it was a team of seasoned campaigners who played with purpose and composure. Looking at this same team this SuperRugby season though, with its widely inexperienced chargers, it’s a very different story. As are the results, sadly.
Much was made of recruiting young talent to the union, but what of forming and developing leadership units that perform as such on the field? Without leadership and definite direction, a team can quickly unravel under pressure, no matter the talent on offer.
It can’t be easy for these young players, breaking onto the franchise rugby level. In the past the emerging talents would arrive into settled units, get to learn from the veterans, and become a part of a solid foundation, adding fresh energy and enthusiasm.
Nowadays though, some of those key elements are missing. Not only do they have to familiarise themselves to a setup, they must produce the goods and become pillars of the teams quickly. Talk about pressure!
But this doesn’t have to be unsurmountable. It must just be acknowledged by coaching setups, and their effort to empower young players must be encouraged. This means that each individual is given complete ownership of their tasks, ensuring that the group will work harder. This will build unity and define a common purpose.
The Lions have picked up on this, and the Crusaders this year. On paper at the start of the season, they didn’t look like a team that would have 14 wins from 14 matches going into the international break, but that’s what they achieved.
This is a massive challenge for coaches. In losing causes you often hear those in charge talking about players ‘failing to execute’. This is understandable with inexperienced campaigners, but with the right plan in place, and active empowerment with all involved, SA’s young talent can take our rugby to a new and exciting level.
One that we saw glimpses of in the recent French series.
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