ANDY COLQUHOUN, Cape Town | Monday 12.30pm.
NATIONAL rugby coach Nick Mallett said on Monday he is saddened and disturbed that former Springbok Joel Stransky wants to play for England in this year’s World Cup.
The 32-year-old fly-half, who won 22 caps for South Africa, qualifies for England through a grandparent. England coach Clive Woodward has said he would have no qualms picking the Leicester player if he were the best available option.
”I honestly have to take it with a pinch of salt when players start saying ‘it is a dream come true and a great honour to play for a country’ they have been resident in for two or three years, especially when they have played at the highest level for South Africa,” Mallett was reported as saying in the Cape Times newspaper on Monday.
Stransky dropped the goal in extra time which won South Africa the World Cup in 1995.
He won the last of his caps as a replacement against New Zealand in August 1996 but moved to England shortly afterwards having fallen out of favour with the South African selectors.
His qualification period ends a few weeks before the World Cup kicks off in October. Another former Springbok Tiaan Strauss, who won the last of his 15 caps in 1994, has been included in Australia’s World Cup training squad where he plays number eight for New South Wales.
”I have always maintained that if Joel and Tiaan wanted to play for South Africa again, they would have to compete for South African teams in the Super 12 and be available for selection in domestic competitions,” said Mallett.
”If I were English, I would also be disturbed that the national selectors are considering a foreigner, in his 30s, for the World Cup.”
If both England and South Africa progress as expected during the competition in October and November, Stransky could face his countrymen in the quarter-finals or final. — Reuters