I TAKE back what I said a year or two ago that the overseas-based Springboks should be overlooked for the national squad.
I recall saying if they opted for pay cheques most people could only dream of at the expense of patriotism, they should pay the high price of being excluded from the national squad.
Given the sometimes unreasonable demands by the English and French clubs — they often refuse to release players for national duty — it seemed like a good idea.
But after watching tighthead props BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde — in the little game time he received against Saracens before suffering a hamstring injury — add power and stability to the struggling Springbok scrum, it is a no-brainer that the overseas-based players would add great value to the squad.
Botha and Van der Linde aside, centre Jean de Villiers and fullback Frans Steyn should also be in the touring squad.
The Bok coach has been loyal to Adrian Jacobs. He was selected at outside centre the whole of last year despite Jaque Fourie having recovered fully from injury, and now at inside centre as a replacement for Jean de Villiers.
But Jacobs was average on attack in the Tests against Italy and France and his defensive flaws were once again exposed.
If De Villiers is that adamant about excluding overseas-based players from the squad, Wynand Olivier should get the nod at No12 in place of Jacobs.
His solid efforts for the Bulls this season aside, his form in the clash against Leicester and as a replacement against Italy proved that he could add more value on attack and defence than Jacobs.
Jean de Villiers has been playing for Munster for the p ast few months and is familiar with the Irish conditions and some of the players — factors that would boost the Boks’ performance on Saturday at Croke Park.
Steyn, on the other hand, deserves the fullback berth despite playing for French club Racing Metro.
The guy kicked three long- distance penalties in the final Tri-Nations Test in Hamilton, which was vital in the team’s series victory earlier this year, yet he is being omitted.
Zane Kirchner is standing his ground at international level, but Steyn or even Ruan Pienaar could offer more.
Their experience aside, Steyn’s long-range kicks and play-making abilities are invaluable, while Pienaar has the X-factor most coaches look out for, yet he can’t secure a place in the starting XV.
After occupying more time on the bench than in the starting line-up since making his Test debut in 2006, Pienaar will not object to playing fullback.
He is solid under the high ball, kicks well out of hand and provides another goal-kicking option in the unlikely event of flyhalf Morné Steyn having a bad day with the boot — such as in the first half against Italy last weekend.
These are seasoned international players with World Cup experience and are young enough to be key players in the Bok set-up when the likes of Victor Matfield and John Smit hang up their boots after the 2011 World Cup.
Peter de Villiers’ selections in his two years at helm have been good, with Heinrich Brüssow becoming a key member of the squad. But the difference between a good coach and a great coach is that the latter is brave enough to acknowledge his mistakes and correct them.
Selecting Botha and Van der Linde were the first steps in that process and, in case De Villiers hadn’t noticed, it earned him more praise that criticism.
One can only hope the coach has learnt from this tour and will include these guys in the squad in the lead-up to the World Cup.
isaacsz@bdfm.co.za