Cape Town – CSA acting director of cricket, Corrie van Zyl admitted that they will not be judging interim team director Enoch Nkwe on the Proteas performance in just India and that he will be given time in the position.

The Proteas play the first of three T20Is on September 15 in Dharamsala, while their Test series gets underway on October 2 in Visakhapatnam.

CSA have thrown Nkwe in the deep end, as he will be the first occupant of the new team director role and manage a new-look Proteas dressing room.

Van Zyl revealed that it would be unfair for them to judge Nkwe’s performance as team director after one tour.

“We are aware that this is an interim position and one cannot we judged on one tour only, it would be very unfair,” Van Zyl told reporters on Thursday.

“Although there is process that needs to be followed to appoint the team director going forward, I don’t think one performance can ultimately influence the decision of appointing the full-time team director.”

READ | Proteas: Enoch faces early brain-teaser

The 36-year-old Nkwe has won two trophies – CSA 4-Day Challenge and T20 Challenge – with the Highveld Lions in his maiden season as their coach last season. He also coached the Jozi Stars to the inaugural Mzansi Super League title.

Van Zyl reiterated that Nkwe is the right man for the job.

“CSA believes he has the characteristics and that can bring the best out of the team,” said Van Zyl.

“Yes, he has inexperience at franchise level but if you look at his history, he has a lot of experience. He has a lot of success that came in coaching roles.

“Just listening to him this morning, I know Cricket South Africa has made the right decision in selecting him for the interim position.”

Cape Town – The Springboks broke a 10-year drought on Saturday when they clinched the Rugby Championship (formerly Tri-Nations) against Argentina in Salta to lay claim to being premier southern hemisphere side.

So just how well do they stack up when measured against their Bok counterparts of exactly a decade ago, who landed the 2009 title after pipping New Zealand 32-29 in a Hamilton humdinger?

I opted to pick a combined XV from the respective starting line-ups as a gauge of that, and it ended up being a very tight exercise.

Taking the liberty of making a positional switch or two, and also bearing in mind that two players are “neutralised” by having been part of squad plans in both 2019 and 2009 (the starting loose-head prop each time, Tendai Mtawarira, and versatile Frans Steyn) representation is shaded by the earlier-era Boks.

Of the 13 berths not involving the admirably durable crossover duo, seven are taken by 2009 heroes, and six from Rassie Erasmus’s fast-emerging 2019 crew.

In fairness, bear in mind that the team of 10 years ago were on the crest of a proven wave, many of them coming off the World Cup success of 2007 – under John Smit, who also captains my selection – and also a British and Irish Lions series triumph just ahead of the Tri-Nations.

Here’s the line-up:

No 15: Willie le Roux (2019) v Frans Steyn (2009)

Le Roux’s a renowned sorcerer, but the Steyn of the time (currently being used as an impact sub in midfield) was a powerful presence both physically and with that bombing boot in the last line of defence; the latter attribute had helped a lot in the Hamilton title-clincher.

Choice: Steyn

No 14: Cheslin Kolbe (2019) v Odwa Ndungane (2009)

Ndungane was a whole-hearted “Mr Reliable” for SA. But he wasn’t blessed with special pace or X-factor and on those grounds the plucky little dynamo who is Kolbe (outstanding against both NZ and Argentina) edges it.

Choice: Kolbe

No 13: Lukhanyo Am (2019) v Jaque Fourie (2009)

Reasonably straightforward: Am is gradually finding his feet for the Boks, but Fourie is a legendary figure of the outside centre channel with his organisational skills, defensive acumen and amazing strength on his feet.

Choice: Fourie

No 12: Damian de Allende (2019) v Jean de Villiers (2009)

Again, fairly clear-cut despite De Allende’s strong showing against the Pumas. De Villiers is another Bok great with his 109-cap career and cutting edge (renowned opportunism, too) in his berth.

Choice: De Villiers

No 11: Makazole Mapimpi (2019) v Bryan Habana (2009)

The 2019 incumbent, while a true flier, isn’t yet established in his spot. Habana is a legend of left-wing play, 2007 World Rugby Player of the Year and RWC winner, plus second most-capped Bok.

Choice: Habana

No 10: Handre Pollard (2019) v Morne Steyn (2009)

Pollard has everything Steyn boasted as a Springbok … only more. His directness and bodily strength make him doubly dangerous, and he was a massive factor in landing the recent Rugby Champs silverware.

Choice: Pollard

No 9: Faf de Klerk (2019) v Fourie du Preez (2009)

De Klerk’s always a tiger for the national cause, but Du Preez was a globally-revered genius of scrumhalf play at his peak, with a rare game-reading ability.

Choice: Du Preez

No 8: Duane Vermeulen (2019) v Pierre Spies (2009)

Thrilling athlete though he could be when games opened up sufficiently, Spies wasn’t always too prominent at the coalface, where Vermeulen is simply a tough-as-nails combatant.

Choice: Vermeulen

No 7: Pieter-Steph du Toit (2019) v Schalk Burger (2009)

Burger played blindside flank in the Hamilton clincher, but I have other plans for him (read on!). So that role goes to the very much on-the-up Du Toit, the former lock adjusting wonderfully to the side of the scrum … and existing SA Rugby Player of the Year.

Choice: Du Toit

No 6: Kwagga Smith (2019) v Heinrich Brussow (2009)

At his vintage best, Schalk Burger (he of such demonic energy) was primarily a “six” for the Boks, so the popular, world-renowned figure eclipses both lower-centre-of-gravity diggers to the jersey here, despite Brussow’s killer showings specifically against the All Blacks during 2009.

Choice: Neither … it’s Burger

No 5: Franco Mostert (2019) v Victor Matfield (2009)

Mostert’s an admirable pro with a ceaseless engine, and especially strong in Salta on Saturday. But Matfield is an all-time lineout legend, and still SA’s most capped player. Nobody, surely, has ever wreaked havoc on opposition throw-ins more?

Choice: Matfield

No 4: Eben Etzebeth (2019) v Bakkies Botha (2009)

Difficult … and no doubt my choice will attract controversy. Both Etzebeth and Botha are ace, front-lock meanies of highest standing. But Etzebeth’s superior athleticism earns him my nod.

Choice: Etzebeth

No 3: Trevor Nyakane (2019) v John Smit (2009)

The way is clear for the rising tighthead force who is Nyakane (utterly lethal at scrum-time in Salta) to claim the spot, as Smit instead enters the radar for the hooker berth – see below.

Choice: Nyakane

No 2: Bongi Mbonambi (2019) v Bismarck du Plessis (2009)

Du Plessis was arguably a nose better than Smit in this berth, which partly explained the latter’s Test spell as a tighthead in order to accommodate both. Mbonambi’s on an upward curve, too. But I want RWC-winning Smit’s calm, revered leadership for my combo, so he fits in here. 

Choice: Neither … Smit cracks it

No 1: Tendai Mtawarira (both 2019 and 2009)

Encouragingly, the “Beast” of the current international season is showing all the relish he demonstrated when he first burst onto the Test scene. It is a tribute all of its own that he was wearing No 1 on both the 2019 and 2009 occasions when the Boks scooped the Rugby Champs/Tri-Nations honours.

Choice: Well, obviously … Mtawarira

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

Johannesburg – A 14-man Blue Bulls held on to beat the Golden Lions in a thrilling Currie Cup encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

As it happened: Golden Lions v Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls won 31-26, after leading 18-12 at half-time.

Debutant loose forward Fred Eksteen was red-carded in the 19th minute, leaving the Bulls to play for over an hour with just 14 men. On top of that, lock Andries Ferreira was sin-binned in the 61st minute, meaning the visitors had a spell of 10 minutes with just 13 players on the field.

Despite their defeat, the Lions climbed to the top of the Currie Cup standings courtesy of two bonus points, while the Bulls moved off the bottom to sixth.

In next weekend’s action, the Lions host the Sharks at Ellis Park (Sunday, August 18), while the Bulls have a bye.

Scorers:

Golden Lions

Tries: Penalty try, Shaun Reynolds, Pieter Jansen, Stean Pienaar

Conversions: Reynolds (2)

Blue Bulls

Tries: Cornal Hendricks, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Manie Libbok

Conversions: Libbok (2)

Penalties: Libbok (4)

Teams:

Golden Lions

15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sti Sithole

Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Leo Kruger, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 James Venter, 22 Dillon Smit, 23 Duncan Matthews

Blue Bulls

15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain), 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Fred Eksteen, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Dayan van der Westhuizen

Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Andre Smith, 20 Jean Droste, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Stedman Gans

Cape Town – Cricket South Africa (CSA) is pushing full steam ahead with plans for a domestic restructure that will see the number of professional sides increase from six to 12. 

As has been well documented, the decision has been met with resistance from the South African Cricketers Association (SACA), who are demanding to see CSA’s detailed financials before endorsing or opposing the proposed expansion. 

With SACA having taken legal action in an attempt to get CSA to produce those statements, the relationship between the two organisations has reached an all-time low. 

CSA CEO Thabang Moroe came out strongly in Johannesburg on Monday, suggesting that the role of SACA should be decreased with CSA taking on more of those player welfare responsibilities moving forward. 

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in the domestic restructure, however, is how the new model will impact existing and future player contracts. 

It is there where SACA becomes instrumental in the negotiations and it is difficult to see CSA moving forward without without having the players’ association on board. 

Moroe has said previously, though, that CSA does not need SACA’s permission to go ahead with the restructure, and that still seems to be the stance. 

“We’ve done the domestic cricket review over the past couple of years. During that time our president (Chris Nenzani) has mooted that there would be changes as far as structure is concerned,” Moroe told media at CSA headquarters in Melrose. 

“That top tier (franchise system) has become a burdensome structure as far as the finances of CSA are concerned.

“If you look at the performances of that tier, they are not satisfactory. Essentially it is a structure that is costing us money, but not necessarily yielding results that we want to see.”

Moroe added that, because of the franchise system’s quota rule that demands six players of colour, including three black Africans, be picked in every starting team, there was a lot of movement of players between semi-professional and professional cricket that was proving problematic. 

“Because of us having targets, players tend to be called up to represent their franchises when there are injuries or shortfalls at the top, and similarly they get called from franchise to the Proteas,” he said.

“More often than not, we found ourselves transgressing against the rules of the ICC when it comes to players moving up and down. I’ve had to explain to the ICC why we shouldn’t be suspended or have points docked. It was causing too many administrative problems for us, so the best thing to do was to remove this one tier and bump of the first level.

“That creates more job opportunities for coaches and more opportunities for players to turn professional.”

While CSA says the new system will have cut logistical costs and play a major role in decreasing the predicted financial losses over the next four years, it will also see a number of existing professional and semi-professional players out of contract. 

“When we do the rough calculation in our head, there would be about 70 players who lose their contracts,” Moroe said.

“We feel it’s the right way to go as CSA.

“You really have to be a poor performer to find yourself in that 70, if you think about it.

“There will be around 140 players who get to turn professional from semi-professional. We think we’re giving everybody a fair opportunity now.”

CSA are aiming for the restructure to be in place by 2021. 

Cape Town – Former England coach Peter Moores is reportedly the leading candidate for the South African team director vacancy.

This news comes after it was confirmed this past weekend that Cricket South Africa (CSA) have parted ways with head coach Ottis Gibson and his core backroom staff.

READ: Proteas: The sudden death of the head coach position

Sport24 revealed that there will no longer be a head coach appointment moving forward.

Instead, CSA had created the role of ‘team director’.

The team director will take on the responsibilities of the head coach and will report to the director of cricket, who will report directly to the CEO.

For the time being, the man in charge is Corrie van Zyl, who will serve as an acting Director of Cricket.

According to the Daily Mail website, Moores, who is currently head coach at Nottinghamshire, has emerged as a leading candidate for the Proteas gig.

The 56-year-old’s three-year contract with the county club reportedly runs out at the end of the English summer.

Moores was in charge of England national side for two spells from 2007-2009 and 2014-2015.

He was involved in a public fall out with South African-born England batsman Kevin Pietersen, which resulted in Moores’ removal from the England and Wales Cricket Board.