Local teams must bolster their squads with seasoned South African players to win the Investec Champions Cup within the next three to five years, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane highlights the need for a balance of youth, experience and proven Test players to compete with European giants such as Toulouse, Leinster and La Rochelle, whose squads boast extensive depth and numerous internationals.
He notes that current South African squads, while competitive, lack the depth to sustain campaigns across the Champions Cup and Vodacom URC.
Injuries and squad rotation have further strained resources, with the Stormers and Sharks particularly affected. Keohane argues that the Vodacom Bulls, considered the strongest of SA’s franchise squads, have underperformed due to inefficiency in key matches.
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He calls for greater investment in repatriating South African players like the Stormers’ signing of Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, and recruit marquee foreigners, particularly from New Zealand, Argentina and the Pacific Islands.
“Bring back more experienced South African players. And why not add the option of each of South Africa’s competing quintet having the option to sign non-South African players to strengthen squad depths,” he writes. “This is the feeling of all South Africa’s leading coaches.
“If a South African team is to win the Champions Cup in the next three to five years, it is going to demand these squads are loaded with a mixture of youth, experience and grizzled Test players.
“A failure to beef up squads will mean South Africa’s best will invariably be top eight achievers, at best.”
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