Former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says the South African teams can’t afford to play their star players across the Vodacom URC and Champions Cup.
The opening round of the Champions and Challenge Cup this weekend has seen the two local franchises playing in Europe – the DHL Stormers and Lions – field second-string lineups for their fixtures on Sunday, resting their best players for their home games next weekend.
The Stormers’ decision not to send star players Manie Libbok and Evan Roos into battle with Leicester Tigers’ Springboks Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese has invoked the ire of match-going fans.
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However, coach John Dobson said his hand was forced by the six-day turnaround with the clash with defending champions La Rochelle at Cape Town stadium.
During an interview with Sunday newspaper Rapport, former Bok coach Meyer, who had stints in Europe with Stade Francais and Leicester, says there are simply too many matches for South African teams to play their best players all the time.
“At Stade Français I learned hard lessons,” Meyer told Rapport.
“In the beginning, I picked my best players every weekend, but unfortunately you can’t do that. You have to plan well.
“It doesn’t help that you play with your best team and reach the knockout rounds, but then your players are overtired when they get there.”
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