LET’S rewind to four years ago. The big question on everyone’s lips was: Who would wear the No 10 at the 2007 World Cup? Would it be André Pretorius or Butch James?
And now, less than three months away from the 2011 tournament the question is still, Who will wear the No 10 on their back? This time there are three candidates but Pretorius is no longer part of the discussion. James’ name is still there and so, too, are those of Morné Steyn and Pat Lambie.
All three are almost certain of going to the World Cup in September and October, but no one yet knows who’ll be tasked to run the backline and kick the goals.
James, widely regarded as the best bet and favourite for many to be the Bok No 10 – this despite Steyn being the first choice for the last two years – readily admits he’s in the same boat as in 2007.
“There’s even more competition now for that jersey than there was four years ago. There’s Morné, Pat is up there and even Peter Grant still has a chance ... he’s been playing great rugby. And Elton Jantjies, too, has been in the picture, even though he may still be a bit young,” says James.
“The situation as it stands now is very similar to 2007; the only difference is then there were two guys competing, now there are three,” he says, referring to himself, Steyn and Lambie.
But with James having featured four years ago, and for many observers the Springboks’ player of the tournament in France, surely he has the edge over Steyn and Lambie? He does, after all, have all the experience and he’s regularly featured in coach Peter de Villiers’ squads over the last few years and this in spite of him playing in England for Bath.
“I don’t think I’m in a more favourable position to the other guys ... there are still some games to be played before the World Cup comes along and a lot can happen in that time. There’s still everything to play for but, I’ll be honest, I’m hoping to be the number one, the first choice. It’s always much nicer to run on to the field for a Test than to come on halfway through. The fact I’ve been considered for the squad even though I’ve been based overseas and have only had a handful of games in Super Rugby is very reassuring ... I know I’ve got a good chance, but I also know it’s in my hands.”
James though is also fully aware anything is possible in rugby and nothing is guaranteed ... especially if you’ve suffered as many horrific knee injuries as he has. He knows that at 32, time isn’t on his side and putting himself in a position to challenge for a spot in the 2011 World Cup squad is one of the reasons why he opted to cut short his Bath contract by a year and return to South Africa, where he joined up with the Lions.
“I’ve known for a while my career is nearing its end and I really wanted to play in South Africa again. And with all the injuries I’ve had I know that the next big one will mean the end of my rugby. And because I didn’t want any regrets I decided to come home.
“That was the main reason for wanting to come back. I wanted another year and half at home ... and also, playing in South Africa would allow the selectors to see me play so the fact I’ve played a bit of Super Rugby hopefully gives me a chance of going to the World Cup.”
Unlike Pretorius, who’s never wanted to talk about the multitude of injuries which have dogged his career, James speaks about the knee problems he’s had over the years. “I’m feeling good at the moment, there’s nothing serious that’s bugging me, except for a few niggles here and there, but I’ve come off a long season and rugby players are never 100-percent anyway. Do I think about my knees going at any time? Not really ... I’ve had so many problems and I like to think that if I do get injured again then so be it, then it (going to the World Cup again) wasn’t meant to be, that it’s for a reason. I try not to get upset about it or think about it ... injuries will always be a part of the game and you’ve just got to deal with it.
“The only thing I am a bit worried about is that my knees have always competed against each other and right now it’s three-two ... and I wouldn’t want them to even it out.”
James, who joined the Lions for their last five games in this year’s Super Rugby competition and played well in his few appearances, whether at flyhalf or centre, says he feels more upbeat now about his game than he has at any stage.
“I’m enjoying Joburg, it’s got a vibe all it’s own and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead this year.
“I really wasn’t enjoying myself at Bath before I left; it wasn’t like it was in my first two years there. I was frustrated with myself and wanted to do things on the field, but my skills weren’t up to scratch, I wasn’t as fit as I should have been ... and that snowballed. When you’re not playing well it gets frustrating and isn’t very enjoyable.
“But there’s a new energy in me now ... I’m part of a new (Lions) team and really want to do well. A change of scenery is always good, it lifts you up and brings new energy. I really enjoyed the Sharks game a few weeks ago. I love playing at Ellis Park, it’s one of my favourite grounds. The ball travels so far, there’s never wind and the conditions are always superb.”
James did, indeed, have a good match, with his excellent goal-kicking the standout feature. But, sadly, his performance was overshadowed by a dangerous tackle on Keegan Daniel, something that cost him 10 minutes in the sin-bin and later a four-week suspension.
A few days after the suspension was meted out, former Bok captain and now television analyst Naas Botha said James’ lack of discipline on the field was a cause for concern.
“Butch did not play badly (against the Sharks), but his tackling cost him and the Lions. It’s the kind of incident that can cost your country the World Cup. There is a stigma attached to him as far as his tackling is concerned and the spotlight will definitely be on him in New Zealand.”
Botha though did concede: “It still happens too often that players execute high or spear tackles. It’s still part of the game, so I don’t think Butch is a unique case.”
James’ sometimes “chicken-without-a-head” approach to tackling has got him in trouble in the past, but he says he’s no longer the liability he, perhaps, once was.
“It irritates me that people have got so much to say. I’ve been well behaved for a long time now and while I’m not happy about getting four weeks’ suspension on my record, that’s how things go. I honestly feel it was a reflex action (against Daniel) ... it was not malicious and I didn’t put the shoulder in. Yes, it was high, but there are high tackles in almost every game. I make one and all of a sudden I’m going to cost the Boks the World Cup. That sort of thing gets the hairs on my back up. But I know it comes from my younger days and those things stick with you.”
Bar the odd ill-timed tackle, James feels he now understands his role in the team that much better than he did, say, four years ago. “As you get older and mature as a player and person you realise what the No 10’s job actually is. I started to understand that in 2007, before I went to Bath, and I continued to understand it while playing in Europe. I now realise and know what is expected of a flyhalf, that he must control the entire game and guide the ship. There’s a lot of responsibility that goes with that and I think I know more about that role now than I did in 2007.”
If James does make the final 30 for the World Cup he will be part of a group that includes the majority of the men who did the business in France four years ago. Coach De Villiers is expected to back experience over youth for the Boks’ defence of the title they won in 2007 even though some of the players have failed to hit top form for some time. Some critics in New Zealand are even suggesting the reliance on experience by the Boks will be exposed by a game that now demands more from the players than it did four years ago.
Says James: “If you’ve got an experienced guy and a youngster playing at the same standard a coach will always pick the experienced guy ... but you have to understand that experience alone won’t win you a match. You still have to play well and hopefully the experience gained over the years by the players selected will allow them to realise this. Being an experienced squad doesn’t mean you can simply go through the motions and believe it will pull you through ... it won’t. I do, however, believe that a number of the so-called veterans, the experienced men, are still, by far, the best in their positions in South Africa.”
So where does James see himself in a few months’ time? “I really wanted to be part of the team that beat the British and Irish Lions ... I was ready to call it quits after that. However, I missed out on that series because I’d done my knee. I said to myself then that I’d give it one more go, perhaps push for a place in the squad for 2011. That’s where I want to be ... but if I don’t get picked or miss out through injury and it’s better for the Boks then I’ll accept that and be happy. I’d put my Bok jersey on and shout for the guys from my couch.”