Former Southern Kings rugby star Chris Cloete is backing the Springboks to give Ireland a black eye in a two-Test series between the nations in South Africa in July.
Cloete, who was schooled at Selborne College in East London and recently called time on his career, is well placed to judge the merits of both sides after a glittering career for Munster in Ireland and Bath in England.
The marauding loose forward was a favourite with Kings fans when they competed in Super Rugby against the best teams from New Zealand and Australia. Cloete decided to hang up his boots at the age of 33, saying his body had taken a lot of strain during a long career. Asked to preview the Boks versus Ireland series, Cloete said: “It has to be South Africa , no debate about that.
“They won the previous World Cup, yes, we might have lost that opening game of the World Cup, but that’s just the bounce of the ball,” he said. “We know how to win when it counts and the depth now in South Africa is crazy.”
Looking back on his career, Cloete said he was proud of what he achieved at several clubs. “The road that got me to where I am now, I think I got a lucky break really. I wasn’t re-signed at Bath and didn’t want to chase the dream in France and play in a lower league where things aren’t professional and I wanted to end my career on a high.
“My body has taken a lot of strain and my family always planned to move back to South Africa. I had a great innings, I am 33 now, and I have always given my all since the age of 17 and am very proud of what I have achieved. I feel it was the right time to retire, being at two great clubs in Europe.”
“After school, I was signed with the Sharks for two years, I broke my leg and had a couple of injuries. Not really favoured by the coaches there, so they didn’t recontract me,” Cloete told SportsBoom.com. I moved over to Western Province under John Dobson for the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup, playing for match fees at the time.
“I got glandular fever, so I couldn’t play for the rest of the season. At this point, I was at no-man’s-land, so I stopped playing rugby for a bit. I then moved back to the Eastern Cape, played for the Southern Kings, and played in the Super Rugby against the best players in New Zealand and Australia.
“I also played a bit in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Kandy was probably one of the best times of my career, to be honest. The people, the culture and getting paid thousands, ignited my passion for the game.”
Cloete said he had always enjoyed his rivalry with Bok skipper Siya Kolisi.
“I went to Selborne and Siya was at Grey and Selborne played Grey in the final game of the season. There was always a big rivalry, but I respect Siya, always have, a great person, a great leader since his school days.
“I don’t really compare myself to him, I don’t really look at what people say on social media. But I have to say schoolboy rugby in South Africa is probably one of the biggest in the world, I think New Zealand is also very close to South Africa.
On the exodus of South African players to overseas clubs, Cloete said: “Anyone who doesn’t sign a decent contract mid-20s, or no unions showing interest locally, you do start looking abroad. If you look at Japan, they play 13-15 league games and get three months off.
“As an international player playing 13 games in Japan, you are a lot fresher than other players who play over 26 games in the URC or the Premiership. The money is definitely good, you are fresh and you are off for three months there.
“I mean for myself, I went to Munster on a small contract, to get a foot in the door. Rassie [Erasmus] signed me before Johann van Graan took over, loved my time there at one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe.
“Every team or club wherever you play have different environments — the English, French or South Africa are different in their own right. South African rugby is faster, conditions are drier and the guys are a bit more mobile, and here at the Prem [Premiership] you will have bigger collisions, rugby is slower as the conditions are more damp and wet.”
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