Skinstad good enough to overcome obstacles

It is now less than four weeks to the kick-off of a new Super 14 season, heralding the start of what should be a momentous rugby year capped by the World Cup in France in September.

There are many reasons why South Africans should be excited. While 2006 was not a successful one for the Springboks, there were some massive gains in terms of emerging player talent, and if the youngsters who showed promise in the Currie Cup can carry that form into the far more testing environs of the Super 14, then Jake White has a lot to choose from when he considers his options for the world showpiece event.

Talking of the Springbok coach, there were pleasing signs towards the end of the last tour that he might at last be turning away from the stubbornness that has been one of his biggest stumbling blocks.

If White can continue down this path, then the Boks must be in with a chance of World Cup success, for just about everyone appears to agree that the South Africans are the only team capable of extending the Kiwis.

But it is going to take a mighty effort to beat them – and White is going to have to choose players who are in peak form when the tournament arrives. He cannot rely on past reputation, as reputation has never won any trophies.

In this regard, it is going to be interesting to see how Marius Joubert fares now that he has moved from Cape Town to Bloemfontein. If he can get his confidence up, I have a feeling that under Rassie Erasmus at the Cheetahs we may just see Joubert return to the form that saw him score a hat-trick of tries against the All Blacks in a Tri-Nations game in 2004.

Joubert is certainly young enough to get back to his best, it all depends on his mind and his heart. Hopefully Erasmus can work on those two things, for there is no denying that Joubert is one of the most devastating attacking centres on the planet when he picks up momentum.

If he does regain his old touch, Joubert will prove that old adage that form is temporary and class is permanent, something that I am delighted to say that our national cricket captain Graeme Smith has managed to do over the past few weeks.

As I don’t write about cricket I should be allowed to admit that I am a big fan of Smith, and cannot understand the negativity which appears to follow him around. The purists will tell us he still has some work to do on certain technical deficiencies, but happily for now it appears I have been vindicated for my view that he is too good a player not to come right.

And there are a few of my mates who owe me after I took a friendly wager with them before the Kingsmead test that entails them coughing up every time he passes 40 or a multiple thereof – meaning that I am 4-1 up with the Pakistan series to come.

I am not quite as certain about Joubert, as I do have doubts about the strength of his mind. But here is hoping, and at least he is still young enough.

Whether Bob Skinstad, at the age of 30, is still young enough to cast off the cobwebs of a four year hiatus from top rugby, is something that we will discover in the next couple of months. But Skinstad’s return through his short-term contract with the Sharks is one of the several reasons we should be excited about 2007.

The challenge facing Skinstad is different to that which was faced by Smith and which is now faced by Joubert in that his heyday was a long time ago. In his case arguments related to Father Time might have to be factored into the form is temporary, class is permanent debate.

South African fans though should be hoping that Skinstad can regain at least some of his old flash and skill, for when he was at his best, he was in a different league as a player.

Dick Muir will be hoping that his experience and intelligence will be an asset to the Sharks. As Skinstad was a special player, you shouldn’t bet against it. If you want me to put my head on a block, my gut says the same thing that it said about Graeme Smith.