Heyneke’s Hougi masterstroke
9 Feb 2006
Derick Hougaard has edged out Morne Steyn and will wear 10 against the Cheetahs tomorrow night. It is a gamble by coach Heyneke Meyer, but equally insightful.
Meyer is renowned as one of the finest tacticians in the country, and the selection of Hougaard shows he has done his homework.
The Bulls played the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein once last season, during the Premier Division of the Currie Cup. Meyer afforded Hougaard a rare opportunity to start, and was duly rewarded as the maligned pivot produced his finest performance of the season.
He kicked with efficiency, turned the Cheetahs pack and allowed his forwards the opportunity to play on the front foot. It was a snapshot into the potential that saw Hougaard heralded as the saviour of South African rugby only two years previously.
The display contrasted with Morne Steyn’s Currie Cup final calamity, and was enough for Meyer to exhibit his devout faith in Hougaard once more.
Hougaard’s selection does indicate that the Bulls are not going to venture far from the tactics that saw them steamroller to a Vodacom Super 12 semi-final last year.
Both Hougaard and Fourie du Preez will be tasked with winning the battle of the boot against counterparts Willem de Waal and Michael Claassens. It will be the critical focus of the evening, as the similarity of Hougaard and De Waal means that whoever has the better game is likely to end on the winning side.
For the first time in a while, the only question mark hovering over the Bulls concerns their pack. As predicted earlier in the week, there will be six changes from the unit that lost in the Currie Cup final late last year.
Bakkies Botha and Jacques Cronje are the only survivors.
BULLS SIDE TO PLAY THE CHEETAHS
15. Johan Roets
14. Akona Ndungane
13. JP Nel
12. Wynand Olivier
11. Bryan Habana
10. Derick Hougaard
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Jacques Cronje
7. Johan Wasserman
6. Danie Rossouw
5. Francois van Schouwenburg
4. Bakkies Botha
3. Danie Thiart
2. Kobus van der Walt
1. Jaco Engels
Subs
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Wessel Roux
18. Pedrie Wannenburg
19. Pierre Spies
20. Heinie Adams
21. Morne Steyn
22. Riaan van der Bergh
121 Comments
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9 Feb 2006, 12:56 pm
I wonder if Os would feel anything if you hit him over the head with THE KOUS. I mean, not Chuck them at him.
9 Feb 2006, 12:58 pm
Stinkvinger he shouts that first. then hits.
Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris
9 Feb 2006, 12:58 pm
If you Chuck The Kous at him, he might think it’s a ball and fall to the ground…
9 Feb 2006, 12:59 pm
Even when the weather’s bad you say it’s Chuckin it down. The boy has a monopoly on everything.
9 Feb 2006, 12:59 pm
I dont think OS could feel anything immedietly, hes to strong. Same as Chuck. They are like twins.
9 Feb 2006, 13:00 pm
Someone once tried to tell Chuck Norris that roundhouse kicks aren’t the best way to kick someone. This has been recorded by historians as the worst mistake anyone has ever made.
9 Feb 2006, 13:01 pm
Nee,nee. Bronson het nooit sy vrouens gemoer nie.
Dit was vincent.
9 Feb 2006, 13:01 pm
Chuck Norris uses staples as hair gel
9 Feb 2006, 13:03 pm
Vincent’s Dead now, Bronson killed him.
9 Feb 2006, 13:03 pm
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack.
Chuck Norris has not had To pay taxes ever.
9 Feb 2006, 13:06 pm
Enough of Chuck Norris.
If I don’t get back to work now, my boss is gonna Chuck Norris roundhouse me…
Cheers, been fun
9 Feb 2006, 13:06 pm
Now if Chucky just had a Kous. Even Jean Claude would tremble.
9 Feb 2006, 13:29 pm
Robdoos.
If you dont know the Bulls forwards then you obviously dont know a lot about SA rugby, the Bulls pack will be up to the task on Saturday, and the Bulls team will have a wonderfull Saturday afternoon with the sweet taste of victory still hanging in the air.
If anybody would like to place a bet against the Bulls, Im your man.
9 Feb 2006, 13:48 pm
hope they up for it on friday as well… sure they will be though
9 Feb 2006, 13:49 pm
If Hougi has a shocker will the headline be change to Heyneke’s Hougi **********?
9 Feb 2006, 14:03 pm
Hougaardt is ****. He is a pocket boy
9 Feb 2006, 15:14 pm
jean div
your absolute blatant outcry of not knowing anything about rugby enlightens my day
thanks
9 Feb 2006, 15:20 pm
Hougaardt is a fairy
9 Feb 2006, 15:23 pm
jean div’s knowledge is scary…..
9 Feb 2006, 15:24 pm
Well look who you support
He’ll never play SA again
9 Feb 2006, 16:01 pm
O now because you support the stormpies, who cant do @$#%%ol wright that makes your statement intelegent.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
May not play for them again, still doesn’t make him **** boet
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