Gary Gold
After 5 games in a row for the Cell C Sharks’ Springboks, questions are being asked about the SARU player rest initiative and when the Durban-based team will buy in.
Gary Gold however has said the Sharks are in a different position to other teams in South Africa and as such have an alternative to it .
The Sharks have a core group of Springboks that play an integral part to both the union and the national team.
Players such as Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Cobus Reinach, Marcell Coetzee and Pat Lambie to name a few.
However, with Super Rugby now reaching Round 6, and a large percentage of those Springboks being named to play their 6 game in a row against the Chiefs this Saturday, questions are being asked of the Sharks management.
Coach Gold explained his selection, and subsequent breaking of the SARU initiative, by stating the Sharks are facing a challenging schedule with regards to BYE-weeks.
“We have agreed to the plan, but for us it is slightly different, we have a different challenge to other unions,” Gold said ahead of the game against the Chiefs.
“We have got the largest contingent of Springboks and our 1st BYE-week is only in Round 11.
“Other teams have already had a BYE and get a break from that 5-week deadline.”
Gold wanted to make it clear that although he was breaking the agreement with SARU by playing his core Springboks this weekend, he was in no way against SA Rugby and its initiative on resting players.
“I want to make it known now that our view here at the Sharks is that we are 100% behind the Springboks and resting players, I think it is the right thing to do, ” Gold added.
“From my point of view, being able to meet the commitments of resting players will be possible for us.
“For example, if Bismarck needs 4 or 5 weeks rest over the season, we can accommodate that.
“The only time it starts becoming a juggling act is when I may not be able to meet the 5-week deadline because we have not been given the benefit of a BYE week.
“3 Of the other South African franchises already have had one [a BYE-week] and that breaks up their 5-week commitment.”
Gold then said that 2 of his big-name Boks in Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira, had already been rested.
“We are the only franchise that has rested players at this early stage, and you can argue that it hurt us,” Gold said.
“Not having Jannie [who was given a week off for the birth of his 2nd child] at Newlands [against the Stormers] was a big loss.
“Jannie and Bismarck have played 70 Tests together, so breaking that combination was not ideal.”
For the Sharks captain, Bismarck du Plessis, the issue of the enforced rest was not much of a consideration for his Springbok, or Sharks, commitments.
His focus has been on trying to right the wrongs of the Sharks’ poor start to the season.
“If I look at how our season started, the last thing on my mind was resting,” the Springbok hooker said.
“The major thing for us was getting the ship back in the right direction after a really bad start.”
rugby365
I mentioned last year that the Sharks place their franchise before their country. If you agree to a rule then abide by it. If my franchise broke that rule I would be vocal as well. HM take note…
Why are they breaking it – because they’re a bunch of C***S, that’s why!
I truly hope this does not come back to haunt the Boks come World Cup time.
Die wie zijn brood jy eet, zijn woord jy spreekt…
That is what is true about the Sharks players, of course Bissie won’t speak out against his franchise or against Gold!
To be honest though, the Sharks are in a bit of a difficult position, only having a BYE in Round 11.
That said, they should then have been more astute and rested 1 Bok per Round since Round 3, just to indicate that they are complying, and one would have understood if say only 2 or so frontline Bokke then overplayed the 5-week barrier.
But that is exactly the problem, the frontline Bokke have been shown no mercy…
Rugby – a professional game run by amateurs.
How does one alleviate or circumvent this type of scenario where the Franchises do as THEY please?
Simple, one creates a Central Contracting System… like New Zealand… then SARU and the Bokke dictates when whomever is rested!
@ grootblousmile: @ 5. Yip – something that should’ve been done ages ago already.
I think it is really easy to judge the sharks,
Bulls have 4 games bye 7 games bye and then 5 games.
So Ludeke will have to manage the guys really well in those 7 games between the 2 byes
Stormers have 5 games bye 7 games bye 4 games.
Cheetahs have 1 game bye 10 games bye 5 games.
Sharks have 10 games bye 5 games bye 1 game.
Lions have 9 games bye 7 games bye.
IF the Bulls and Stormers were in the same situation as Gary glitter then would AC have rested Duane? would the Bulls have rested Strauss?
Hopefullly Gary wont be chasing his tail all season long and tell the press, “we need to win the next game to turn our season around”
I am curious though, had beast not been injured and jannie not gone on compassionate leave and PSDT not hurt his knee, they would probably all have been on 5 games by now? Or was there any plan at all?
“Not having Jannie [who was given a week off for the birth of his 2nd child] at Newlands [against the Stormers] was a big loss.”
It appears there was no plan.
“We are the only franchise that has rested players at this early stage, and you can argue that it hurt us,” Gold said.”
Rest forced by injuries, excellent plan.
Then again Alistair Coetzee has done EXACTLY the same when he “rested” Eben after only one game.
#making it up as they go along
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