There has been some talk this week about player eligibility and the like, with the Sharks having to get special dispensation to play Freddie Michalak against the Crusaders this weekend, while the Sharks have allegedly been told they are not allowed to play Riaan Swanepoel.
The rules seem to be clear, a player needs to be involved in at least four matches to be able to qualify to play in the semi-final and final. But now, what exactly is involved? Does that mean a player only needs to be selected in the match 22 or actually play? Is there a requirement to play a minimum amount of minutes?
Now there seems to be a SANZAR exemption that if a player is a straight replacement in a squad for an injured player, they will allow said player to play. So in the case of Michalak, he is a straight replacement for Conrad Hoffmann, but has not played in Hoffmann’s position in any of his appearances so far this season. How does that work?
The Stormers have applied to get special dispensation to play Earl Rose in the semi-final next weekend, but which player will he replace in the squad? And at who’s discretion will this dispensation be granted? The Reds themselves will be stuck when it comes to selecting Caleb Ralph for their team, as he ha only played one match this season so far. The same applies to Waratahs lock Dan Vickerman, who has returned to Australia after a lengthy stint in Europe.
It seems SANZAR will have their hands full with applications for special dispensation for teams to play players that weren’t in the original squad named at the beginning of the tournament.
Now don’t get me wrong, I can see the logic in this ruling, it stops a team from borrowing players to strengthen their teams ahead of important play off matches. An example of this would be the Sharks borrowing Victor Matfield from the Bulls and Ashley Johnson from the Cheetahs ahead of their Crusaders encounter. This would be unfair, clearly.
Where do we draw the line though? For the Stormers, they are planning on playing Siya Kolisi for the first time this season and Louis Schreuder for the third time after a bench performance and then starting the last match against the Cheetahs. Those players have not represented any other Super Rugby team and have always only been contracted to Western Province, so what is the big deal?
The same applies to Riaan Swanepoel, he has been always been contracted to the Sharks, so I fail to see the big hoohah?
If players get injured, you have to replace them, that is exactly why unions have more than just their best 22 players contracted. So it only makes sense that the Stormers and the Sharks call up their own players. The Sharks ran into some problems, and instead of backing their youth, they brought in a French player. The player has not played for any other union, and he was not specifically brought in to play in the playoffs, so again I ask, what is the big deal?
All we can hope for is that SANZAR applies common sense to every situation and not leave a sour taste in any team’s mouth as a result of stupid little rule, like the Sharks are tasting at the moment after the Swanepoel ruling.
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I agree with the logic of having such a rule – but it needs to be defined better.
Although I have to say – in our Netball league play-offs, the same rule applies – a player needed to have played 4 games in a season to be eligible to play in play-offs.
@Ice (Comment 1) : In the case where for instantce you need to bring in a player who has not played 4 games dur to injury of a regular player, you just need to get the permission from the opposing team to use that player. But then she must be in your listed squad.
nice article Rich…
Anyone going to ask the obvious question re Swannie, or are you going to leave it all up to me? 🙂
@Ice (Comment 2) :
The problem I see here, is that should we have asked the Crusaders to play Fred, and they had said no, where would that have gone?
There would have been a lot of bad blood?!
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Rob, I think the Crusaders would have paid the Sharks to play Swannie, considering the form that Bosman is in…
they need to figure out what they’re actually trying to achieve with this rule… I think it’s to avoid mercenaries being bought in just ahead of the play-offs… in that case, any player who was contracted to the Union at the start of the season must surely be exempt, regardless of how many games he’s played.
Great thought provoking article Punter.
It does make you wonder though!
With the English Premiership finishing before the Super Finals it would make good sense to have on stand by 6 big named players to bring into your squad as permanent replacements,
eg Dagg, Maitland, McCaw, Luke Whitelock and Kahn Fotauli’i could be replaced by Foden, Banahan, Tom Wood, Ashton and one of the many good scrum halves going around!
What could they do too stop it going on the Michelak test case!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) : I’ll give it to you in writing that the Crusaders (Blackadder specially) would not have refused the SHarks permission to play Fred.
These okes are on a different level of sportsmanship.
Apart from anything else, they’ll want to beat the best team the Sharks can put on the field and will back themselves to do so.
I’m sure Plum knew about this rule at the beginning of the Season? Nobody’s fault except his own.
Okay I chatted to someone at SANZAR.
Each case is studied on merit.
The rule is quite simple as you stated; player has to be involved in a minimum 4 league games in the team’s match-day 22 to be eligible.
However (and this only really happens in a case of injury but stuff like lost passports and other strange occurances might also see a team apply for special dispensation), any team can apply for dispensation.
Consideration is made on WHO (player’s skills level, positions he plays or has played and at what levels) is replacing WHO (reason for non-availability, his position, etc).
IF players that are eligible are available to that team, SANZAR can decline special dispensation AT THEIR DISCRETION (very vague).
Only two players have been allowed special dispensation from SA so far, Michalak (replacing injured Hoffmann who remember, can play 9, 10 and 15 and represented WP in all three those positions) with Michalak being a similar utility player and the Sharks not having an experienced player available in one or two of those positions (scrummy specificall).
Second one is Schreuder, more or less on the same grounds, injury or injury concerns to both Januarie and Duvenhage.
Two have been denied (don’t ask me on what grounds, I don’t know), being Rose and Swannie.
Stormers have not applied for special dispensation for Kolisi yet as of this morning, but I am sure that will be coming soon…
@robdylan (Comment 8) : So let’s get Nonu on a 1 game loan deal then! 🙂 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) :
From what we have seen of Fred over the years…. I don’t think they could believe there luck when he arrived. 😆
@Ben (Comment 11) : just cause they’re good sports doesn’t mean they’re stupid 🙂
I also think that trying to pull a move like that would hardly be fair on our part!
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 12) : still smarting after 2007, eh? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Yup it wouldn’t be fair at all.
@Morné (Comment 10) :
Thanx Morne..
That has answered a few of my questions..
What is the Rose deal? Why would Stormers even want him? 👿
I’m glad he’s been denied. 😈
Against the Cheetahs he was sent on at 79:52. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Give me the answer..please
I know its only wednesday, but I’m getting soooo damn excited for the game on saterday!
@Ice (Comment 18) : I’m gonna save it for an article
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Can I ask the one about Rose?
WTF would anyone object to his inclusion in a team? 😯
And then more importantly, are all the other flyhalves injured, WHY do the Stormers need him?
A few games back, who wouldve ever thought that no one will be complaining that Bosman is our staring 12? Lets hope he keeps up his new found tackling mojo and keep SBW in check.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Exactly, I think the problem is one of some short sightedness.
this sort of rule is very legitimate for VC and the likes to prevent players from a HIGHER league being loaded into a lower side. There IS no league above the S15 in the SH though, so the only players who should/could be excluded are players from other S15 Franchises (but I can’t ever see a team trying to sink the level of trying that) or international players.
@robdylan(comment 8) Mentioned more or less the same thing yesterday in another thread. The diffs between the Crusaders and others is as wide as a gorge. You can see it in their fanbase as well, highly knowledgable and sporting. 😀
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) : In my “example” it meant that we should have asked Saders if Swannie could play…
Common sense will always prevail (I hope)
As a fair example.
Michalak played for us as soon as his season was over and he became available. It’s not as if we brought him in JUST for the finals.
As a poor example.
Did Vickerman play any pool games for the Waratahs? Or has he been considered JUST for the play-offs?
@Caratacus (Comment 24) : In their fan base? 😯 You need to read up about their fan base a little. Some of the happenings at some of their matches would make some of our bigger louts look like niceguys.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
Vickerman came off the bench in the Tahs’ last pool game…
Two Blondes sitting in a bar, who knows the least about rugby..?
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.Wynand Olivier!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) : Thanks. 😳 working weekends sucks.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) :
Now I wonder if he will be able to play for the Tahs on Friday?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 31) :
Just answered my own question.. NO..
He was not selected in their 24 man touring squad..
I’m a little confused, on one hand some are saying that the ‘saders gave the Sharks permission to play Michalak, while also saying that special dispensation has to be granted by SANZAR. So who gave the Sharks permission to play Michalak, the ‘saders or SANZAR?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 33) : And if permission was granted by the ‘saders was permission also required by SANZAR, if so why both? If not, then why not just ask the ‘saders for permission to play Swanepoel. Something is just not adding up here.
@Ice (Comment 29) :
@KingRiaan (Comment 22) : i am still weary 😐
@Dancing Bear (Comment 34) : Fair point.
@Ben (Comment 37) : So who did the Sharks have to get permission from, the ‘saders or SANZAR????
@Dancing Bear (Comment 38) : SANZAR.
Teams have no say.
@McLovin (Comment 39) : Then why all this talk by Rob about the ‘saders being such good sports because they gave the Sharks permission to play Michalak? I am rather confused at this point. 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 40) : I mean I am all for recognizing the superior sportsmanship of a team, but aren’t we giving credit where it is not due?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 41) :
I think the point Rob was trying to make, is that should it have come down to the Saders, they would have given us the permission..
But you have to get this permission from SANZAR..
@Dancing Bear (Comment 40) : no no… I never said they DID… I said that had it been up to them, I’m quite convinced they WOULD HAVE
@Dancing Bear (Comment 38) : Saders have had a tough time this year. We are sweet talking them before thumping them on Saturday.
WHICH I WON’T SEE BECAUSE OF OUR STUFFED UP WEEKENDS. 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : PVR!!! 3rd best thing to do!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 40) : maybe they gave us blessing 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : You look pale, maybe you should spend a day or two in bed. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 43) : OK fine, of course we have no idea what they would actually have done had it come down to that. Now I see my confusion, Ice was talking about her Netball league where permission is granted by the opposition.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 48) :
Confused you, did we? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : The ‘saders have not had that tough a time this year, the people of Christchurch have had a very tough time, and my heart goes out to them, but other than some additional travel, how has life been so hard for the ‘saders?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 48) : it’s simple mate… avoid confusion. Skip Ice’s comments…
3…2….1…..
@Ice (Comment 49) : Don’t be too proud Ice, it’s not that hard to confuse me! 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : hey oubaas… guess who got voted Sports Illustrated’s Sports Blog of the Month?
(seeing as your blood pressure clearly isn’t high enough today)
😆
@robdylan (Comment 51) : Rob, read your comment 8 again and tell me it could not be interpreted that permission was granted by the ‘saders and Blackadder specifically. Once explained and I reread your comment, it made sense, but you can’t blame Ice all by herself for confusing me, you had a hand in this too! 😀 😉
@robdylan (Comment 51) : 👿 😯
@Dancing Bear (Comment 54) : Thank you kindly! 😉
@Ice (Comment 56) : Actually, if I had read your first post before your second post, there would have been no confusion 😉 I really have to stop bouncing around from comment to comment. 😆
@robdylan (Comment 53) : who ?
@robdylan (Comment 53) : Keo surely. It would NEVER Be Reitz.
@rekinek (Comment 58) : Must be Keo..?
@robdylan (Comment 53) : How do we enter?? 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 50) : I suspect most of their families are in Chritchurch.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 59) : And I do’t believe there are any other sports blogs.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 63) : It’s not the twat who tried to hijack our JustRugby site is it? I mean surely a blog should actually have comments on it?
Gimme the answer before tha battery on my phone dies.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 62) : I will feel sorry for them only after we beat them this weekend! 😉
Is everyone on SASI now?
all that is on there is that the Bulls have signed a new kit Sponsor. Puma.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : Reitz 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 68) : who’s he 😕 ❓
@robdylan (Comment 68) : Holy crap, just figured it out, un”effen”believable! Blog of the month with a readership of what? Perhaps 30. 😯 😯
@robdylan (Comment 68) :
NO
EFFING
WAY!!!!!
Don’t you need comments and readers to be a blog?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 70) : We all know which blog is the best. So who cares? 🙂
@Ben (Comment 72) : Sorry “young” Ben, you just weren’t around when so many of us “old timers” used to frequent that Blog, before Sharksworld. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 71) : hehehe 😆 at your comment on readers, see my comment right above yours! 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 73) : Okay Uncle. Never even been to “Reitz”.
@Ben (Comment 72) : @Dancing Bear (Comment 73) : i am trying to figure out who that Blog is but the oldies seem to be quiet on this one
@KSA Shark © (Comment 71) : 😆 their article on winning this “blog of the month” thing has garnered more responses than any article I have ever seen there. 😉
@Ben (Comment 72) : agreeeeeeeeed 👿
@rekinek (Comment 76) : small clue, one of the administrators and authors on that blog also contributes here on a fairly regular basis, both articles and comments. In fact most of his articles can be found both on Sharksworld and on this other blog. 😛 Does that help? 😀
@Ben (Comment 75) : You may not have been there, but you have read many articles that are posted on that blog. 😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 79) : 🙁 no .
The only one I know that has other blog is Walter the Lion – but he does not really write here. More clues pls.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 80) : Morne?
@Ben (Comment 82) : does he have a blog?
@Ben (Comment 82) : ummmmm yes…
😉 hoping it is OK for me to reveal this on this site. 😳
@rekinek (Comment 83) : It is not only his, he is a major contributor though.
Also, please note that my comments regarding said blog should denote no negative feelings about Morne. I have massive respect for the man and his rugby knowledge, and I am very glad he posts his articles here so I don’t have to go to said blog to read them. Morne is a class individual, and for that alone, he deserves some congratulations for the blog being selected, but that is about as positive as I will get about that place.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 84) : Lucky 1st guess hey!!!
Rob feel free to het the delete button if this is cool with you. 😉
@Dancing Bear (Comment 85) : Agreed about Morne.
@Ben (Comment 86) : I’m fairly sure that Morne is the only one that meets all the criteria. 😀
@Dancing Bear (Comment 85) : i can’t help to ask why 🙄
@Dancing Bear (Comment 77) : 😆 I couldn’t be bothered to go and check. To many bad memories.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 80) :
@Dancing Bear (Comment 84) : No problem. 🙂
Okay I’ll put you all out of your misery.
Morne, myself, Rob and some others were Admins on another blog before. There was a split due to some differences and a few weeks later Rob Started SW
@rekinek (Comment 89) : A lot of history there, and one particular individual that I have had far too many run ins with, and would just as soon never have to communicate with again.
@rekinek (Comment 89) : Have a look at the rules on this site and you will understand the major reason for our split. 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 93) : I do kind of miss Duiwel though and I was able to get on well with Boertjie as well.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 96) : Yeah Duiwel was cool, and there were a few other cool ones as well.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 96) : Luckily you’ve got me now! Lol
🙂
@Ben (Comment 98) : don’t add to KSA’s stress
@Ben (Comment 98) : Of course, this place would not be the same without my nephew around. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 95) : is it just a plot to get me read the rules. Have you forgotten that I need to be fed information in plain blonde language to understand
Bryce Lawrence to referee the final.
Semi final refs: reds semi: kaplan
Stormers semi: craig joubert
Or should I have put that in a post?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 95) : It could get very ugly and nasty over there from time to time. Far far too political!
@rekinek (Comment 99) : How am I adding to KSA’s stress? Doesn’t he like me? 🙂 😉
@Ben (Comment 104) : i’m sure he does 😎 you just talk a lot
like me 🙄
Haha…
I will have you know that for the 4 (soon to be 5) platforms I have the privilege to publish on, this site gets most of the articles first by at least an hour (sometimes a day and sometimes not at all) because of the audience the article is specifically intended for!
RW is strictly speaking my ‘home’ I suppose since that is where it all started, but I value each blog or platform I write on equally, and of course its members (and rules which I have never read BTW)!
I am privileged enough to have friends on all of these platforms, in fact, I am lucky enough to have very few enemies if any I can think of (apart from the crew at Keo who some of them I know hates my guts).
I am also very proud of the recognition RW received from SASI, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, and like here, the guys over there has put in a hell of a lot of effort to create a home for their readers.
As is human nature, people just feel more comfortable with different things and personally, I think its great (sometimes unfortunate because a lot of old folks here contributed massively to what we achieved on RW).
However, it does not make me any less proud to have contributed there, as I am proud to have contributed in whichever small way to the success of this blog.
I am what you will possibly call, a blog slut!
@rekinek (Comment 105) : Yes, but you and Ben rarely, if ever, say anything that is out of bounds. Talking a lot is one thing, talking kak is another. 😉
@rekinek (Comment 105) : Who me? Never! 🙂 😉
@Morné (Comment 106) : “I am privileged enough to have friends on all of these platforms, in fact, I am lucky enough to have very few enemies if any I can think of (apart from the crew at Keo who some of them I know hates my guts).” Being hated by the crew at Keo is definitely something to crow about. 😀
@rekinek (Comment 105) : Have I even said Ola Ola today? Sorry don’t know where my manners have gone too.
@Morné (Comment 106) : You blog slut you! 🙂
@Ben (Comment 111) : If he gets paid, he would not be a blog slut but rather a blog …….
😆
@Dancing Bear (Comment 107) : hmm… I am a proud nonsense talker 😛
@Ben (Comment 110) : shocking really. don’t let it happen again.
@Morné (Comment 106) : congrats 😛
@Dancing Bear (Comment 109) :
Haha, true DB, it is of course the only place I still post under my old nickname as it does not deserve anything more!
@rekinek (Comment 114) :
Thanks!!!
@rekinek (Comment 113) : That’s why you have those two golden cups and the article icon above your avatar. 😉
@Morné (Comment 115) : I kind of miss PA! Perhaps you could use him as an alter ego here on SW! 😀
@Dancing Bear (Comment 112) : Yeah a certain player than plays no2 for the Canes goes by the Surname of THAT word. 🙂
@Dancing Bear (Comment 117) :
Shhhttt…
I might bring him out as an alter ego sometime!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 117) :
Oh mate, wanted to still wish you a belated happy birthday! Things been crazy on my side in the last two weeks!
May the seas remain calm and may you always have the wind on your back!
@Ben (Comment 118) : Yeah, but he spells it wrong. 😆
@Morné (Comment 119) : Ooops, sorry outted! 😳
@Morné (Comment 120) : Thanks Morne, that is very kind of you, I really do appreciate your kind wishes. 🙂
I’m relaxed. As you can all tell, I’m great friends with Morne and I consider what happened between us and those other chaps ancient history now.
I’m glad they’ve received some recognition for the work they’ve put in. That other blog fills a very different niche to the one that we fill, though and at the end of the day, it’s good to offer variety to the blogging community.
@robdylan (Comment 123) : Mature attitude Rob, perhaps KSA and I can learn from that. 😳
@robdylan (Comment 123) :
Exactly mate, the two cannot be compared and yes, thankfully I managed to remain mates with everyone irrespective of what happened.
And its friendships that means a lot.
@Morné (Comment 120) : oh- there you are. Congrats to you and the others… do send them my sincerest regards and congratulations.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 124) :
Don’t stress it mate, seriously, there is nothing to stress about!
But enough of all that, there is a small matter of one moer of a game coming up this weekend.
I am working on a ‘how the Sharks can win this’ and ‘how the Sharks will lose this’ piece, hopefully up tomorrow before lunch.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 116) : but I have been punished for talking too much … you see just yesterday I had 5 stars now only one 🙄 😆
I am pleading with Rob to introduce more icons 😉
@robdylan (Comment 126) :
Means a lot mate, thanks, and will do.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 124) : DB – dont get me wrong – I wake up sweating at night sometimes thinking back to January 2008. But it’s in the past and it needs to remain there. I’ll not actively seek out friendships with the individuals in question, but I’m also way past the stage where I want to pipe-bomb their houses.
I also behaved like a real prick at times, which I’m not pleased about in hindsight. I am pleased, though, that I’ve managed to smooth things over with at least one of the guys I had a fall-out with and we’re good friends again. That’s something, at least.
@rekinek (Comment 128) : congrats babe! I can’t believe I missed it 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 131) : thank you 😛 is it an opportune time to bring out the topic of more icons
@rekinek (Comment 132) : where would we fit more?
cheers people – i need to start finishing and go home 😀
@rekinek (Comment 132) :
I have more stars!!!
(Still no clue what it means…)
@robdylan (Comment 133) : left hand side and the bottom now seems a bit empty 😀
@robdylan (Comment 133) : or i will get myself a wider avatar (like yours) to accomodate 😀
@Dancing Bear (Comment 124) : My Statement of what happened WAS the mature version. 🙂
That Said During the split Morne and I never had any issues, we have always gotten along.
@robdylan (Comment 130) : I NEVER delete an email and i still have all those and my resignation letter. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 138) :
Sjoe… Thats good to know 😈
If you remember, I also left for a bit which was a difficult time personally for my family being forced to leave Namibia (when all this unfortunate kak went down).
I am blessed to have kept the friendships that I have.
I love SW. As long as I have an internet enabled device, then this will be my preferd blog. Even the Blue Bull supporters on here is likable, like Muzi
@Morné (Comment 140) : And even a mail or two from the missing Russian in Aus during the time…… 😈
@robdylan (Comment 130) : To be completely honest, there is only one individual over there I really have a problem with.
The worst part is I sometimes go there just to browse the articles and comments, and invariably there is a comment by this individual that serves to piss me off all over again. I think I am getting over it, and then…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lDUSoR8ZK8&feature=share
The protection of Dan Carter confirmed.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 144) : 😆 saw that on facebook, hilarious KSA. I always thought it was brilliant having a hooker named Hore! 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 144) : 😆 We’re not allowed to tackle Dan Carter then????? effen hilarious!
I also like Nonu’s response to the ref…..”Late tackle????? Seriously???????” all said with a smirk.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 142) :
How I miss that Russian! What a gentleman!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 146) : Saw that on Reunion. Very funny indeed! 🙂
@KingRiaan: lol speaking of @Muzi ,I wonder where he was yesterday?
@Morné (Comment 140) :Sjoe – that sounds SERIAAS!
Congrats PA! You know i am very fond of you and your great articles and off course your ‘thinking out of the box’ 😆 ! 😉