Boss of the Boks has to watch from afar

Exiled Vos makes a new life at Quins

When England complete their autumn collection against South Africa at Twickenham next Saturday, Andre Vos will be there in spirit if not body. He's not sure whether he'll be watching the match on television in the clubhouse at Franklin's Gardens, where Harlequins play Northampton at midday, or on the coach coming back to London. A new job, new priorities.

Only the Springboks cull captains and coaches as if they belonged in a game park, rather than treating them for what they are, an endangered species. They do not mess about down in the Republic, where reputations count for zilch.

This time last year Vos was a member of the South African back row who lost to England at Twickenham and he doesn't get to return to headquarters, not even as a spectator. Remember Francois Pienaar, the chap who lifted the World Cup in Johannesburg in 1995? It didn't stop him getting dumped, so he left home and moved to Saracens. There was the equally estimable Gary Teichmann, whose captaincy was also terminated and he found himself playing for Newport. Joost van der Westhuizen didn't last long as captain and he was succeeded by Vos.

Nor do the coaches qualify for a gold watch. Nick Mallett, despite a record run, was replaced by Harry Viljoen, the man who took the captaincy off Vos and gave it to Bobby Skinstad. Viljoen was in the job for little over a year before stepping down because of "media pressure''.

His successor, Rudi Straeuli has his own problems, losing Skinstad to a shoulder injury before the current tour, which got off to a record breaking defeat to France in Marseilles last week. Nevertheless Straeuli, a member of the Boks' World Cup winning team, has been through a lot worse. He had a spell with Penarth and as recently as 1999 was attempting to keep Bedford afloat.

South Africa, like New Zealand, seem to have a production line in producing world-class back-row forwards. If Vos, who won 33 caps, 16 of them as captain, was a battle-weary veteran, his sudden departure from Test rugby would be understandable. But at 27 he's in his prime. "I was playing No 8 and Harry Viljoen told me he was looking for someone with more flair,'' Vos said. "I was never that type of player.''

Skinstad, the Boks answer to David Beckham in terms of hero-worship and hype, is very much that type of player and he was moved to No 8. "A captain has to be assured of his place and I was fighting for the No 7 jersey,'' Vos added. "There are a lot of youngsters coming through and I thought it was the right time to get out. Also, playing international rugby means you spend a lot of time away from home. You don't have a marriage.''

Playing in the Zurich Premiership has become an attractive proposition for overseas players, particularly South Africans to whom the pound, worth a kitbag full of Rand, is more golden than the Krugerrand. There are an estimated 100,000 South Africans in Britain. "I have more friends here from school and university than at home,'' Vos said.

London Irish, who have a strong Bok connection, wanted Vos and so did Harlequins. He talked it over with his wife, "sweet Caroline'', and met Mark Evans, the Quins chief executive. "Everything just clicked,'' Vos said. "We got on well together. As a young player growing up in South Africa you hear about famous clubs like the Auckland Blues or the Queensland Reds and Quins are one of them.''

Harlequins like to think they have a world brand name but comparing them to Queensland or Auckland has crossed few minds in Whitton let alone Wellington. Vos has only been here two weeks and he's already talking the talk. "The club has huge potential. We haven't really performed yet but when everybody's fit we'll get it together. I can see why English rugby is in such a strong position. In Australia there are three good teams, in New Zealand three or four at the top and in South Africa five that do well, but in the Premiership here any side can beat anybody else. I'm very impressed. The standard is similar to Super 12. It doesn't quite compare because they play in the summer when the weather and pitches are good and the referees let small things go. But here players are trying to keep the ball alive.''

Vos, who has signed a two-year contract, has not only inherited the No 7 shirt of David Wilson, his brilliant Australian predecessor (in 1998 they shared a season at Queensland), but Wilson's house near Richmond Bridge. He will fill it with furniture from South Africa before finding his own place. "I'm very happy with the decision I've made. Watching the Boks from afar was a little bit odd at first but I've no regrets. Their performance against France was disappointing and they would have come under lots of pressure from home. It's easy to call for changes but we should be getting behind them.

"They're a young, exciting side who have fantastic years ahead of them. Straeuli has to see them through to the World Cup. England look in great shape and the Boks will be up against it. The All Blacks were given their chance and but for inexperience might have won it. If you've been there you know what to do.''

It is why Quins regard the Baby Boks' loss as their gain. Today Vos captains Quins for the first time against Wasps at the Stoop. Looking out on to the ground he is struck by the quality of the pitch. It has been preserved while Quins do all their training at Aldershot. "I'd like to practise once a week at the Stoop,'' Vos said. "When I was in Jo'burg we trained every Thursday at Ellis Park. It's important to know your home ground.''