Big Joe to bulk up
7 Apr 2006
Joe van Niekerk has told keo.co.za that his six month lay-off means he’s fitter than ever, but has admitted his strength has suffered as a result of his injury.
A typically frank Van Niekerk spoke about his concern at his upper body conditioning after being unable to gym with one arm for the entire off-season.
“Because of my wrist injury, I was unable to do any gym with my left arm. So now my right arm is stronger than the left. For the past three or four weeks, I’ve been able to gym my left side properly so now it’s a case of catching up.”
“My aim is that I’ll be at optimum strength in six to eight weeks. My strength must increase, and I’m aware how important that is to my game.”
Van Niekerk said the silver lining was that he was able to work on his fitness at an intensity that he hasn’t matched before.
“Generally my conditioning and fitness is the highest it’s ever been. I’ve been doing lots of running and 120s. Adjusting to contact again is the immediate challenge, as after the Force game I picked up a niggle and was a little stiff.”
Despite the difficulties and the end-of-year tour he was forced to miss, Van Niekerk believes having surgery last year was the correct decision.
“Overall it was the best decision I could make, and I’m pleased that I’ve put the proper rehab in and I wasn’t rushed back. Obviously, though, it’s awesome to be back.”
Van Niekerk has been named on the bench for the Stormers’ Vodacom Super 14 clash with the Blues tomorrow.
By Chris Hewitt
17 Comments
7 Apr 2006, 06:35 am
Fit but weak. He’s not alone in this.
7 Apr 2006, 07:07 am
In another thread you talk about playing boardgames and here you mention the word “alone”.You are the purest form of alone.Friday evening coming up,are you going to go out partying or are you gonna stick around here because you have no friends and are starved for attention.Lets see……….
7 Apr 2006, 07:12 am
it’s an interesting problem he has. if he’s 100% fit his body mass is not enough. the same as with bill young. would probably be wise to let him do just 20 minutes per game for the next three games.
7 Apr 2006, 08:13 am
Joe should’ve played VC first..
7 Apr 2006, 08:26 am
They tried to rush him in …seems theres no thinking going on
7 Apr 2006, 08:42 am
i’d pick Juan or Pedrie before i pick Jo
7 Apr 2006, 08:50 am
Don’t worry about bulking up too much, we don’t want another hulkingly slow loose forward.
7 Apr 2006, 09:00 am
Its always been Joe’s problem…he loses the ball in contact too often…
A great footballer, but you cannot give away possesion, count how many times he is held up etc…
7 Apr 2006, 09:30 am
If you love your rugby, Blix, you don’t go out “partying” when there’s a top-of-the-table action replay of last year’s S12 final on offer! No party is as good as this game!
You get a case of dirt-cheap, high-quality, ice-cold Viking beer, put a few snarlers on the barbie and get your mates to come around and watch what is virtually the Wobblies get whopped by the one-eyed Crusaders on your widescreen plasma TV in full surround-sound where you can almost feel the crunch in every crunch tackle and you can see and hear Chris Jack’s cauliflower ear swell up in real time before your very own eye!
Hell, bro! It’s almost as much fun as watching the Boks cop their umpteenth snotting down at the House of Pain straight after the big brag has gone down on this blog!
Who wants to “party” when all this is going down, hey?
7 Apr 2006, 09:36 am
Oops! Blix is off to a “party” in his stretch lycra pants and his pink disco shirt. Hey, maybe there’s even a retro earring or two involved and a generous splash of Brut 33 Original after shave lotion? And a Zapata moustache? And Ray-Ban Aviators?
And a BeeGees Greatest Hits and a Donna Summer CD in his moonbag for the deejay to play at the big paah-tay, hey?
Hey, we’ll watch the footie instead and sink a few longboats belonging to the Vikings.
7 Apr 2006, 10:26 am
The problem I have with Big Joke is that this weak upper boby story come up after every injyry. Where are the guys that are naturally strong ( houtkappers and Mieliesak draers )
How can one or two weaks in the gim make you strong and when you stop training you become weak again ?
7 Apr 2006, 10:29 am
why not bring him back to fitness through the vod cup – I know he’s the best loosie in the country, but still – this should be done properly. we’ve seen ashwin and others relapse from being brought in too soon at too high a level. there needs to be more thought in this process.
7 Apr 2006, 10:47 am
Ahh that was funny Tackler. You paint a not-so-pretty picture
7 Apr 2006, 12:27 pm
Tackler, enjoyed the Wobblies make the ‘Saders hang their tongues out for the last 10 minutes.
Probably fair reflection of the play, but Wobblies may have shaded the second half.
7 Apr 2006, 13:36 pm
If it is true surely the headline should be-
JOE TO BULK UP
7 Apr 2006, 13:47 pm
Stop ****** bulking up big joe!!!WTF. You played much better rugby before you tried to become a bodybuilder. At least then you used your skill to open up gaps for others or maybe try a sidestep!!! Now your just like JC trying to run over everybody. **** I hate SA rugby sometimes. You get a guy with skill, and the next day there goes the skill and the old SA mentality of lifting weights and rtunning over everything sets in!FoK!!!
7 Apr 2006, 15:43 pm
tackler
You’re a ******* moron. having lived in new zealand for 6 years i can say with conviction that there is not a soul in that country who would possibly like you. if u have such hatred for south africans why dont u **** off and go to sheepshaggers.com seeing as that seems to be more in your line of interest. also dont talk **** about plasma screens u poor sod…we all know ull b listening to the match reports on a crackly old radio your grandmother bought for you
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