Jake White Proposes an End to Overseas Boks in National Team, Social Media Critical of the Decision

• Jake White believes that players who are contracted by overseas teams should not be selected for the Springboks
• Social media argued that the Boks are current World Cup champions because of their use of overseas players
• White was labelled as a hypocrite by some on social media who argued he was guilty of promoting overseas players when he coached overseas clubs

Former Springboks coach Jake White has caused quite a social media stir after comments he made about the overseas-based players in the Springbok squad.

The current Blue Bulls Director of Rugby believes that South African Rugby should no longer select Springboks who are signed by overseas clubs and instead focus on players plying their trade locally.

“Now is a good time, before the next contracting cycle, for SA Rugby to draw a line on picking players who are contracted to overseas clubs," White said, SARugbymag reported.

In South Africa's last game of the 2021 season, 14 overseas-based players were selected for the 23-man Springbok squad.

Super Eagles player tells fellow African stars what to do at forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations

Football

The South African recently reported that it was pointless playing for local South African franchises when you could play abroad and earn in dollars or euros and still be able to represent the country.

Jake White's recent comments though seem to echo that sentiment and he's urging the rugby union to change the system.

Social media though has scathing of Jake White's comments. While a few agreed with his thoughts, many accused him of being a hypocrite.

@gip_hunter:

"Jake was the one who recruited half of SA & set up Grey Bloem as an academy for Montpellier when he was coach (also roped in a few Saffas when he was at the Brumbies). Now he changes tune because he’s coaching domestically. SA’s best interests at heart"

@iYusufVaid:

"As always , Jake White only cares about himself. When he coached overseas he was the first guy to snap up SA based players making many lose their chance of playing for the Bokke, at the Brumbies, at Montpellier etc. ignore him."

Emotions as World Cup’s fastest ever goalscorer now working as Uber driver in exile in USA

Football

@JasonGilbs:

"That is literally the selection policy that saw South Africa drop to 7th in the world. Don't change a winning formula, just work to improve the domestic competition if you want to retain SA-based players"

@MayibongweMotha:

"That is an utter nonsense. Why risk at least half of the Last world cup winning team"

Rassie sets Twitter alight, says Boks focused on defending World Cup title

In other Springbok related news, South Africa's rugby director Rassie Erasmus has never been shy to speak his mind and his New Year's Day Twitter posts are once again proof of that, Sports Brief earlier reported.

South Africa's rugby director Erasmus is currently serving a two-month ban from all rugby-related activities after he criticised the officials in the South Africa vs British and Irish Lions match in July 2021.

Erasmus was also banned from all 'matchday activities' until September 2022 after he was found guilty by a World Rugby tribunal, Daily Maverick reported. Rassie took to Twitter on New Year's Day to share two tweets about his views on next year's tournament, which the Boks go into as defending champions.