Jean’s joy as Stormers see the light
7 Feb 2006
For 11 weeks last year, the Cape media demanded the inclusion of Jean de Villiers at 12. And for 11 weeks, coach Gert Smal resisted. What a difference a year makes.
De Villiers’ unmatched ability in South African rugby to read and control a game was a highlight of the Boks’ 2005 season, and the new Stormers coaching staff are eager not to make the same mistakes of their predecessors.
So much so, in fact, that captain De Wet Barry has been asked to move to 13 to accomodate De Villiers in his favourite position of inside centre.
“I’m obviously very happy about that,” De Villiers told keo.co.za. “I’ve long stated that 12 is where I like to play and now I get an opportunity to play for the Stormers there.”
The decision to play De Villiers as 12 was not automatic, as witnessed in the Currie Cup last year where Barry played at 12 with De Villiers outside him. Coach Kobus van der Merwe protested that they were rotating, but the matches that unfolded proved otherwise.
“That was just a rumour that we were rotating. It didn’t happen. Really it’s an easy thing to ignore, but 12 and 13 are two completely different positions, and I’m now in the one I prefer.”
Barry’s chances of starting on Saturday have been speculated at 90%, although whether this is a ploy to distract Cats coach Frans Ludeke remains to be seen.
De Villiers acknowledges, however, that Barry’s fitness could be crucial.
“I’m hoping that De Wet’s fit, I’ve played with him a couple of times before and we know each other well. It’s just a confidence thing, and that familiarity will make things easier.”
The inclusion of either Barry or Greeff in the Stormers midfield will allow De Villiers to largely shed the duties of target-setting, or carrying the ball up from first-phase, a role he had to fulfil on the end-of-year-tour for the Springboks.
“When you get to Bok level, you have to fall into the side’s gameplan, not the other way around. Sure, it may be true that bashing the ball up doesn’t really suit my style of play, but that was what the coach wanted and I did my best to execute it. De Wet or Werner are both exceptional target-setters though, so either of them should take over that responsibility which I’m not too upset about.”
De Villiers’ role as kingpin in the Stormers backline is emphasised by the expected inclusion of Peter Grant at 10. Grant will make his Super 14 debut, and has not played with conviction since the middle stages of the Currie Cup last year.
“Ja, I will have to talk a lot to Peter, and that’s why it will be so much easier with a guy like De Wet outside to help. Peter has no more pressure on him than the rest of us though, or indeed the Cats guys. He has guys with experience all around him and that should help.”
De Villiers agrees that the feeling surrounding Stormers rugby on the eve of the competition differs markedly to last year.
“The expectation of last year put a lot of pressure on us, especially the coaching staff. There was a lot of pressure and we didn’t react too well to that. This year there are no expectations from either the media and public, but we know what we want to achieve. I don’t mind being in either position, but I think it’s always a little easier when you’re not expected to perform brilliantly.”
70 Comments
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7 Feb 2006, 12:55 pm
I am still not convinced about JDV at 12. I know he says it is his favourite position but that is probably ingrained in his head from his youth rugby – school and U19 etc where he could really rule at any position. He probably enjoys 12 because he gets the ball quicker. But when you look at his game time for the Boks at 14 and 12 I believe he was much better at 14. He has more time on the ball to create things and was looking for work everywhere. He was scoring 2 tries a match and those tries were not just simple finishing off his wing. He just popped up all over the place and scored.
However he does not have out and out pace for a wing (although he is deceptively quick he is no Habana or Rocokoko) and I would suggest that his best position is probably 13 where he has a bit more time on the ball and create things for the speedsters on the wing and full back coming in. At 12 he is too often required to bash it up and if the ball is required to go wide 10 misses 12 and passes straight to 13 anyway. Thats why I would prefer to see him given an extended run at 13.
7 Feb 2006, 12:58 pm
The fact is that the heart of the battle takes place around the inside channels. ‘Jean Div’, ‘******** Rugby’ as you so offensively call a style of play, Is actually until recently, Not ******** at all. The opposite is true. Deep standing flyhalves, Quick footed and undersized no 12′s, eg E Botha, (rip) would more acurately reflect the Bonehead way. It has not ever worked in the modern era, Only recently have coaches such as Meyer realised that crossing the advantage line and retaining the ball must pre-empt the fancy stuff.
Also, McPhisto makes the valid point based on evidence that in fact Barry IS a creative player, ie: He creates opportunities for his team.
7 Feb 2006, 13:01 pm
Mc
Lets look at the stats.
Bok games in 2005 where JDV played no 12:
Total tries = 19
Tries scored by players inside centre to fullback = 14
Bok games for 2004 where DWB played no 12:
Total tries = 20
Tries scored by players inside centre to fullback = 12
I did not like Naas, but I can not argue with the stats.
You don’t like JDV, but you can not argue with the stats.
7 Feb 2006, 13:06 pm
my ant brother with a number,
how many were intercept tries though?
7 Feb 2006, 13:13 pm
Question Ant 227, how many were intercepts and how many were worked backline moves?
That said it all depends on the game plane that the coach wishes to emply and the conditions that are expected. If it is pissing with rain then we are probably not gonna be spinning the ball wide are we?
7 Feb 2006, 13:13 pm
Me with a piss.
Unfortunately I do not know that, but, even with the intercept tries, if the stats indicate more tries being scored by the oiutside backs with JDV at 12 than DWB at 12, why not carry on like that.
Although I must agree with you. I would love to see JDV at 10 and I do believe he may be a revelation there as Honiball was.
Man, wouldn’t it be grat to have another Honiball int he Bok squad.
7 Feb 2006, 13:18 pm
my brother with a number,
hell man i will stop drinking the day they play him at 10.
7 Feb 2006, 13:56 pm
Moet dit ook nou net nie te ver vat nie!!!
If he plays 10 we will just be drinking better, celebratory type drinks, you know – a very good red wine or a 12 year old single malt, a cognac or 25.
7 Feb 2006, 14:09 pm
PissAnt, why is it so difficult to share some views with me? Better get use to that cause Im never wrong!
7 Feb 2006, 14:27 pm
McP,
dont you support the stormers/wp?????
7 Feb 2006, 14:50 pm
Ant227 – you’re argument is simplistic at most…
surely not every ounce of creativity in a team can be sourced to no. 12. You forget to mention that in 2005 AP was 10, yet Jaco was flyhalf in 2004.
There were other differences too in the team, as well as the opposition and the game plan.
But I will agree with anyone who says people criticise Barry too easily. His value is immense and he will feature at the world cup – barring injury of course.
7 Feb 2006, 15:13 pm
munki
Don’t get me wrong.
I rate DWB as one of the best centres in SA at the moment and defencively at 12 as one of the best in the world. I do not doubt his current and future contribution to SA and especially to the solidity in the defensive patterns of the the teams he plays in.
My argument was solely re JDV at no 12 and some possible arguments as to why it will be good to keep him there.
My arguments re the stats is rather simplistic, but I did it to point out to McPhisto who argued that DWB is the better option at 12 with the tries scored by SA when he played there.
The stats, although simplistic and with numerous other variables contributing to it, does prove that statement invalid, but does not prove the contrary either.
My hope though is that JDV may spark a resurgence in brilliant backline tries in the teams he plays at 12.
7 Feb 2006, 15:15 pm
PissA, 4sure! Big big Stormers man! The biggest in Pretoria.
Gaan maar swaar hier agter die Boereworsgordyn en tussen die tannies van die Kappie Komando!
7 Feb 2006, 15:36 pm
Although I believe that Jean is the best no.12 in the country, I’d still like to see him play a game or two at 10
7 Feb 2006, 15:39 pm
I’ve said this many times before, and I’m gonna keep on saying it: Jean is not an inside back. He is an outside back. I don’t care what he thinks – rugby players are not known for being towering intellectual geniuses anyway. Jean has been totally anonymous at no.12 for SA (except when throwing panicky passes into the hands of the opposition) – as opposed to the constant stream of tries he scored when he was played on the wing, supposedly “out of position”.
JdV is an outside back, South Africa. When the rest of you finally wake up and realise it, I’m gonna say “I told you so” until I come in my pants.
7 Feb 2006, 15:39 pm
Jean will create the space that Barry needs. Is Joe Pietersen still in the starting 15? Does anyone know anything about him?
7 Feb 2006, 15:42 pm
Jean plays best closer to the pack. His pace and vision create space for players on the outside of him to exploit.
7 Feb 2006, 15:44 pm
Stormers might as well play JdV at 10, cause they don’t have another flyhalf.
7 Feb 2006, 16:08 pm
Pierre, se hulle se hulle!!
8 Feb 2006, 09:22 am
I have to admit I have not seen anything special fom Jean in a no 12 jersey. The hype about seieng him in a no 10 jersey scares me. He cannot kick well (50% of the job) or off both feet. If he cant find space at 12, he certainly wont find it at 10. At 12 you dont expect to have much space, which is why you need either exceptional acceleration (a la habana) or a very strong runner, so that you draw in as many defenders as possible to make space on your outside for creative speedsters (a la Jean DV) at 13 on.
The ability to distribute is also important, and its great if you have good hands to get your arms through a tackle and make a pass (a la Habana).
On teh defensive side a no 12 must be solid too. Barry (and Habana actually) has all of those, but he has been in a form slump, choosing the wrong sides, and the wrong gaps, and getting carried backwards in the tackle.
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