WHITE HINTS AT SUPER 14 DRAFT

Springbok coach Jake White has many visions for South African rugby and all have to do with a common cause, that of taking the team to the number one spot in the world, and keeping them there.

White, in Bloemfontein with the Springboks for their annual training camp, put forward his visions to the rugby hierarchy last week and the reports were positive.

White again re-iterated these visions but also added that he would like to see a Super 14 draft system in place in South Africa, much like there is in Australia and New Zealand.

While it may not be common knowledge or official policy that sees the best players in these Antipodean countries playing for two 'selected' franchises, it is obvious to serious observers that this happens, and White seems to be of this school, even if he did not come out and say it verbatim.

"I believe that we should look into the possibility of a draft system here in South Africa, of getting the best players in the same team," said White. He also alluded to the success of select teams in New Zealand and Australia.

This belief will lead to a winning culture, one which the Crusaders have now, and the Blues used to have. The same can be said of the Brumbies in Australia. That belief, particulalry the Crusaders, spills off over to the national team and the All Blacks lost just one game last year, the same amount the Crusaders lost this year.

After the press conference White remarked off-handedly, "How many games has Richie McCaw lost in any jersey?"

And that is a pertinent question.

The answer in South Africa will not be that simple, but maybe take two teams that have performed best in the Super rugby and draft in players that would make an impact both in the competition and for the Springboks and instill that winning culture. Imagine if South Africa could boast two semi-finalists and at home to boot.

That would mean stacking the Bulls and Stormers for example with the pick of the country's players and getting the winning feeling from the onset of a season, and then developing and nurturing that.

Such is the strength of New Zealand rugby that they are toying with the idea of taking the top 30 Super 14 All Blacks out of the competition next year (World Cup year).

"New Zealand can afford to rest their top 30 players and they will still dominate the competition," agreed White, saying much for their culture that has been in-bred since the Super rugby idea first started.

For White, this may be all pie-in-the-sky, as the World Cup looms and South African rugby too far behind to catch up in that regard. He may be a visionary but he will have to become a realist. He knows that and said as much at the press conference.

"We have to deal with what we have been given," he said.

For White's sake let's hope he has not been given a dead horse to flog.