Why is it that South Africa is always playing catch-up in world rugby?
We should be the trendsetters.
If not, then at least we shouldn’t be far behind.
Hats off to our senior rugby team, the Springboks, who claimed a series win over England on Saturday, but I want to talk about the next generation - our Junior Springboks.
I believe there is a reason why we saw an all northern hemisphere final between England and France at the World Junior Championship on Sunday
While the Junior Boks and the Junior All Blacks battled for bronze, it was our northern hemisphere opposition that dominated the tournament.
Sidenote: I felt a bit old watching Romain Ntamack in the midfield for France, having been an admirer of his father, Emile, back in the day.
Anyway, back to why I feel the European teams have an edge over their southern rivals.
Tyrone Green, who was one of the standout youngsters for the Junior Boks at this tournament, and his peers played against Georgia before they departed for the tournament in France.
Georgia. To warm up for their biggest tournament in their young lives.
Meanwhile, Ntamack and France and the rest of the European teams except the mighty Georgia already completed a Six Nations tournament.
France won that by beating England in the final.
Now I get that the rugby schedule allows for the northern hemisphere to have these internationals before the World Cup.
But how about giving our youngsters more to play for? How about an U20 Rugby Championship?
This is the perfect way to get the next group of international youngsters to rub shoulders with the senior team.
It’s the perfect way to have them shadow the Boks at training when lining up for a big match against the All Blacks.
Imagine both squads travelling to New Zealand for a Rugby Championship match, with the U20s playing the curtain raiser.
The possibilities are endless and with the Director of Rugby in SA, Rassie Erasmus, also being the Springbok coach I can see this not only making his job easier, but building the necessary depth we need in this country.
I would even take it one step further and suggest that these U20s, the ones that don’t make their franchise squad at Super Rugby level, be involved at the Kings and play Pro14 rugby.
Can you imagine the experienced gained?
One example is Juarno Augustus, who won the Junior World Player of the Year at this tournament in 2017.
Yes, he was injured and because of that didn’t have much chance to play for the Stormers this year.
But would he have played regularly with Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Nizaam Carr ahead of him in the pecking order?
I doubt it.
Now if the South African Rugby Union play their cards right, there can be a number of these youngsters playing together regularly for the Kings in the Pro14 next season.
And who knows, the Eastern Cape franchise might even become a decent competitor in this tournament.