WALES will be able to choose from an almost full compliment of players for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium, thanks to a deal between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and French clubs.
The decorated British and Irish Lions trio of centre Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), fullback Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) and scrumhalf Mike Phillips (Racing Metro) are all available for Saturday’s encounter despite being contracted to French clubs.
Lock Luke Charteris, who is also at Racing Metro, is also free to play.
The WRU has a special deal with the French clubs freeing their players outside of the prescribed World Rugby (the old International Rugby Board) Test window.
It’s in stark contrast to the situation with the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and French clubs, who recalled all their Bok players this week.
Bryan Habana (Toulon), Gurthro Steenkamp, Jano Vermaak (Toulouse), Morné Steyn (Stade Francais) and Johan Goosen (Racing Metro) have all returned to France.
There is unhappiness in the Bok camp over the double standard but it is out of the team’s control. Halfpenny plays for Toulon, the same as Habana, but the club is happy to let the Welshman play but not the South African.
It is a situation that rankles, especially as in September Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal told Habana, Bakkies Botha and Pumas captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe to return to the club from the Rugby Championship, or risk their wages not being paid.
Boudjellal has even threatened to take World Rugby to court.
“There is something that is quite simple – they defend the colours of their country and are paid rather comfortably by Toulon,” he said at the time.
“The IRB decided the rules. That’s fine but I’m not here to fund South African and Argentine rugby and I will not.
“These players will return as we need them. If they do not and we receive no fee, they will not be paid by us because they will not be present in Toulon.”
Wales will be without English-based stars prop Paul James and hooker Richard Hibbard while they are also sweating over the fitness of powerful wing-centre George North.
North is eligible for Saturday Test because he has a specific release clause in his contract with English club Northampton. But it was only inserted recently and last year Northampton was fined over R1-million by Premiership Rugby for allowing North to represent Wales outside of the prescribed Test window for a match against Australia.
North will undergo concussion tests this week after a clash of heads with teammate Alun-Wyn Jones playing against the All Blacks last weekend.
The Springboks, meanwhile, arrived in Cardiff in reasonably good physical shape after a bruising 22-6 win over Italy in Padova at the weekend.
Doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that prop Jannie du Plessis had not responded as well as hoped to treatment for a hamstring injury and would not be fit to face Wales.
No replacement will be called up with Coenie Oosthuizen and Julian Redelinghuys both fit and available to face the Dragons. With lock Botha’s retirement and ineligibility the Boks only have three fit locks in the group.
It’s enough to see them through the Wales Test but the management is considering flying over a replacement in case one of the locks breaks down in training.
Boks in a tight corner
The decorated British and Irish Lions trio of centre Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), fullback Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) and scrumhalf Mike Phillips (Racing Metro) are all available for Saturday’s encounter despite being contracted to French clubs.
Lock Luke Charteris, who is also at Racing Metro, is also free to play.
The WRU has a special deal with the French clubs freeing their players outside of the prescribed World Rugby (the old International Rugby Board) Test window.
It’s in stark contrast to the situation with the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and French clubs, who recalled all their Bok players this week.
Bryan Habana (Toulon), Gurthro Steenkamp, Jano Vermaak (Toulouse), Morné Steyn (Stade Francais) and Johan Goosen (Racing Metro) have all returned to France.
There is unhappiness in the Bok camp over the double standard but it is out of the team’s control. Halfpenny plays for Toulon, the same as Habana, but the club is happy to let the Welshman play but not the South African.
It is a situation that rankles, especially as in September Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal told Habana, Bakkies Botha and Pumas captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe to return to the club from the Rugby Championship, or risk their wages not being paid.
Boudjellal has even threatened to take World Rugby to court.
“There is something that is quite simple – they defend the colours of their country and are paid rather comfortably by Toulon,” he said at the time.
“The IRB decided the rules. That’s fine but I’m not here to fund South African and Argentine rugby and I will not.
“These players will return as we need them. If they do not and we receive no fee, they will not be paid by us because they will not be present in Toulon.”
Wales will be without English-based stars prop Paul James and hooker Richard Hibbard while they are also sweating over the fitness of powerful wing-centre George North.
North is eligible for Saturday Test because he has a specific release clause in his contract with English club Northampton. But it was only inserted recently and last year Northampton was fined over R1-million by Premiership Rugby for allowing North to represent Wales outside of the prescribed Test window for a match against Australia.
North will undergo concussion tests this week after a clash of heads with teammate Alun-Wyn Jones playing against the All Blacks last weekend.
The Springboks, meanwhile, arrived in Cardiff in reasonably good physical shape after a bruising 22-6 win over Italy in Padova at the weekend.
Doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that prop Jannie du Plessis had not responded as well as hoped to treatment for a hamstring injury and would not be fit to face Wales.
No replacement will be called up with Coenie Oosthuizen and Julian Redelinghuys both fit and available to face the Dragons. With lock Botha’s retirement and ineligibility the Boks only have three fit locks in the group.
It’s enough to see them through the Wales Test but the management is considering flying over a replacement in case one of the locks breaks down in training.
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