Straeuli aiming to build
For the usually taciturn fellow he is, Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli has made two telling statements this week to go with his announcement of the 46 names for the national trials to be held at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
Making it clear that above all players must possess a deep desire to play for their country, he repeated his vow when he accepted the coaching job that "no one is going to hold a gun at my head" (over Springbok contracts).
And, in looking largely to youth to lead the way into a new Springbok era, he coined the very apt: "If you're good enough, you're old enough."
I have a hunch that, in the manner he left the back door open to veterans like Mark Andrews, Andre Venter and perhaps even Rassie Erasmus, he meant the reverse to apply as well - "If you're good enough, you can't be too old."
It's sad to lose a player like Percy Montgomery at a time when he appears once more to be approaching his best form. But apart from the colour furore - with several versions surfacing, it seems muddled anyway - it's a problem with which South African rugby is going to have to live, the rand-sterling exchange rate being what it is.
The policy of not considering players with overseas contracts could change, of course.
It is done all the time in soccer and works well enough. But there are important plus factors in the system in force. They are that a) in players who are prepared to fight for their places in a Springbok team, you have the sort of commitment that makes teams great; and b) there's no doubt that a coach benefits from having his players near at hand so as to be able accurately to monitor their form.
To the older players struggling to shrug off injuries and regain form, Straeuli is saying there are no laurels to rest on. If you can produce you will be rewarded. If not, it's time to say goodbye.
The most important aim of the young team Straeuli is intent on building, starting with Sunday's trials for the Springbok team for the first Test against Wales in Bloemfontein on June 8, is that it should be founded on masonry that will take the country's rugby not only into next year's World Cup in Australia, but the one after that as well.
There are going to be a back three, two centres, a halfback pairing, and at least five of the pack to take the South African team to new frontiers. There would be no need for concern about a roll call consisting of names such as Ricardo Loubscher, Breyton Paulse, Stefan Terblanche, De Wet Barry, Marius Joubert, Werner Greeff, Andre Pretorius, Bolla Conradie and Craig Davidson as major contenders among the backs.
The same goes for a list for the pack including contenders like Warren Britz, AJ Venter, Bobby Skinstad, Victor Matfield, Hottie Louw.
Add the experience of captain-elect Corne Krige, Ollie le Roux, Willie Meyer, perhaps James Dalton; also Mark Andrews, John Smit and others if they are able to regain true fitness and form, and the cupboard can hardly be described as bare.
Trials have the habit of throwing up a surprise or two. This usually tells the coach who of the players have that magical element known as big match temperament, and who have not. It's like performing on stage.
If your nerve fails you at the crucial moment the spotlight is on you, you might as well become a ladies shoes rep or a secondhand car salesman.