Isma-eel Dollie to the Brumbies

Yet another South African could be making the trip to Australia with the aim of becoming a Wallaby star following in the footsteps of Clyde Rathbone. The player we talking about today is the Cape Town based flyhalf, Isma-eel Dollie. The 23-year-old, who was included in a Springboks training squad in May this year, has been frustrated at the lack of professional opportunities in South Africa. So my thinking is: if you are not good enough to make it in South Africa what makes you think you will cut it in Australia?

Dollie has not received a new contract from Western Province and thus he is looking to move on. Former Springbok coach, Jake White, rated Dollie very highly. In my opinion, if Dollie is as good and talented as they say he is, then why are they letting him leave South Africa so easily? If he can not even get a contract for his province then what is all the fuss about? I would have thought that since Dollie represented South Africa at Under 19 level and lead them to the Under 19 World Cup win in 2003 coupled with being the flyhalf for South Africa U21′s in 2006, he would certainly have been the person to be groomed as the future Springbok flyhalf. But now there is Ruan at number 10 and no back up for him. It would only have made sense for Dollie to now be the second choice flyhalf in the country and not Earl Rose.

Are South Africa loosing potential talent yet again by letting Dollie go to try his luck in Australia or should they not care? Mind you, Dollie has not even been offered an opportunity to play for the Brumbies yet and he still needs to go on trial. So Dollie may just come back to South Africa with his tail between his legs if he fails to make it down under.