The call-up of Willem Alberts to the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship is a confusing one. Or at least to me, that is. At this stage, I am still not sure what Allister Coetzee is trying to do in terms of the Boks’ game plan, so I will just comment on the things I am certain of.
Willem Alberts is a player of the past. So I just don’t understand it. And if it was clear that Coetzee wanted to develop the Boks’ game into a more modern one, the decision to call on Alberts would make even less sense.
Let’s put the game plan aside. Let’s look at the other options.
What about FORM Sharks loosie Jean-Luc du Preez? What about the Bulls’ Jannes Kirsten and RG Snyman? And there’s also Uzair Cassiem from the Cheetahs. These men aren’t the only ones out there, but they surely deserve to at least be looked at. They are ball-carriers, they are dynamic and they will still be around in four years’ time.
So their inclusion would be sensible... instead of flying in a 32-year-old from Stade Français to cover loose forward (primarily, apparently).
Besides, the fact that these men perform locally but aren’t even close to being on the Springbok radar must have a very discouraging effect ...
Cape Argus