Stormers borrow from Rassie's playbook to gain edge over rivals

For South Africa's rugby coaches and some top players, it's the least wonderful time of the year. By Jon Cardinelli

- Jon Cardinelli

The Springboks are coming off a five-week tour to Europe and in effect, a five-month Test season and being asked to maintain their physical and mental standards across club tournaments such as the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European Champions Cup.

The tug-of-war between club and country was laid bare at the end of November, when the Boks' last Test against Wales was staged on the same weekend as the sixth round of the URC.

Those who weren't released to their local franchises and overseas clubs for the first Champions Cup pool match last week will be in action this weekend.

And it won't get any easier for the coaches and players over the festive season.

The present block of club fixtures stretches from 28 November to 30 January. A few teams will have a break around Christmas, but those who don't will compete for 10 straight weeks.

That's before accounting for the preceding five-Test tour to Europe, or the five-game block of URC matches before that.

All the teams will enjoy a three-week break in February, and most of the contracted Boks will receive their mandatory annual leave, which can last up to eight weeks.

As a result, local coaches will have to make do with what players they have at a potentially defining stage of the season.

Knowing what lies ahead, the coaches may need to use the Boks extensively in this 10-week window, regardless of whether these individuals are fatigued or mentally burnt out.

It's an unforgiving schedule that threatens player welfare as well as the standard of performance in all these major tournaments and it must change sooner rather than later.

Until a global season is implemented and there is a regular off-season where players can rest, these problems will persist. But for now, the coaches as well as the players will have to roll with the punches.