Finally, the Springboks are top priority in a World Cup year.
Men like the Du Plessis brothers, Bismarck and Jannie, locks Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield, loose forward Willem Alberts and flyhalfs Handré Pollard and Pat Lambie among others are set to be rested at key times during the Super Rugby competition, which kicks off this weekend. The franchises have at last heeded Bok boss Heyneke Meyer’s call to have the key Boks managed correctly up to the World Cup.
Furthermore, the Boks have been further boosted by the announcement that Prof Pieter Kruger, who holds a PhD in Clinical and Performance Psychology from the North West University, will join the Bok team management as Performance Psychologist for the duration of the 2015 season in a consultancy capacity and in cooperation with the North West University and MyPlayers.
Meyer, has lamented the over-playing of the Boks in the past and it now appears the Super Rugby franchises will work together with the national coach to ensure his chosen men are in prime condition come September this year. Certain players game time will be handled on an individual basis depending on their work load last year as well as injuries.
“It’s wonderful to know we have the support and cooperation of the franchises as the Springboks prepare for the Rugby World Cup and we’d like to wish them all the best for the forthcoming months of Super Rugby,” said Saru CEO Jurie Roux.
“It’s a massive year for rugby and we’re confident that our franchises can set the tone for the 2015 season by being competitive from the word go as the players aim to impress the national selectors to make it to the Rugby World Cup.”
The managing of the key players game time will exclude any matches in the Super Rugby Finals series (play-offs, semi-finals and final), as well as the bye weeks, while it was also agreed that no player will play more than five consecutive weeks. This will also apply to players returning from injury.
The regular Super Rugby season comprises 16 games per team, but with the new agreement in place key Boks may end up playing only 10 to 12 games.
Meanwhile, Kruger has worked with, among others, the Leopards Rugby Union, NWU-Pukke, ACT Brumbies, Harlequins Rugby Club in the UK, as well as the Chelsea and Arsenal Football Clubs. Most recently he has been a part of Lions management during their 2014 Super Rugby and Absa Currie Cup campaigns.
“It’s great to have Pieter on board and I know he will make a huge difference for the Springboks,” said Meyer.
“Pieter will be attending to both team and individual aspects with a key focus on performance processes. He will work closely with the coaches to optimise team and individual performance under pressure and will use the latest intervention strategies in the field of cognitive behavioural psychology to achieve this.”
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the Springboks will get their season underway against a World XV in Cape Town on July 11, a week after the Super Rugby final. The match was initially scheduled for late August. - The Star