Bryanie and Clyde

Hidden in the amazing and unjustified opprobrium that has attached itself to Clyde Rathbone lies an instructive case study for Jake White and South African rugby.

White, and especially those looking over his shoulder at SA Rugby, would do well to take a lesson from the process that turned Rathbone into the impressive rugby player he has now become.

Rathbone, following his experience with the Brumbies and the Wallabies, is looking bigger, stronger and faster (and one should add, more skilful) than we remember him and therein lies the example for White, who does not need to be converted, and especially SA Rugby to follow.

Rathbone, as a successful SA under 21 captain, was already an outstanding rugby player when he left South Africa but there was no guarantee that he would cut it at the very highest level.

That he did was down to the developmental methods in place at the Brumbies and the rest of Australian rugby. When he first got to Canberra he was physically assessed and, if you recall, sent for another groin operation before being put on an intensive conditioning programme to hone him for his future career as a professional rugby player.

Interestingly, word filtered back to South Africa that the Brumbies were unimpressed with the level of Rathbone’s skills and that he was being drilled to improve his proficiency with the ball in hand.

Then, when Rathbone was considered to be ready for the hurly-burly of what is a very demanding activity, he was pushed into the fray with exceptional results.

That is why I was pleased that White stopped short of actually capping Bryan Habana after calling him up to join the Springbok squad.

I well remember an experienced rugby medical man expressing his concern when Conrad Jantjes was rushed into the Springbok side. “He’s not ready,” he said. “He’s just not physically strong enough for test match rugby.”

Needless to say his warnings went unheeded and Jantjes broke down; condemned to a constant cycle of injury and rehabilitation that have prevented him from (thus far) fulfilling his undoubted talent.

It is a mistake that must not be repeated with the like of Bryan Habana. White, whatever he and Brian van Rooyen might say, is under pressure to select more black players but not at the expense of their future careers.

Owen Nkumane, Kaya Malotana and Thando Manana count among black Springboks sacrificed on the altar or racial expediency and White, who is just an employee remember, and especially the mandarins at SA Rugby need to ensure that it does not happen to a Bryan Habana.

By calling up Habana White has already sent an alarming signal to other centres in the country, a list that includes Springboks in Wayne Julies, Adrian Jacobs and Trevor Halstead and outstanding uncapped players such as Frikkie Welsh, Ettienne Botha and Doppies la Grange, and transformed the young Lion into a marked man.

Hopefully, however, that when the decision is made to elevate him to the green-and-gold he will, like Clyde Rathbone with the Wallabies, be ready to cope and know that he belongs for no other reasons than the quality of his rugby.

Of course there are some who do cope – like Schalk Burger – and Habana may do too, but let’s be sure.