White and Wikus’s little secret
7 Apr 2006
Jake White told Wikus van Heerden at the end of last year that he was the Bok captain successor to John Smit, but the Cats captain did not take it too seriously. Now he does.
Van Heerden, delighted that Bok coach Jake White had gone public with the news that Van Heerden was the next in line should Smit be unavailable to lead the Boks this season, told Keo.co.za that White had discussed the national captaincy with him on last year’s end of season tour.
It was the first time Van Heerden had toured with White’s Bok squad but he did not feature in any of the three matches.
White spoke to him about the captaincy at the conclusion of the tour and a day ago confirmed to the media that Van Heerden would be the chosen one in the absence of Smit.
When keo.co.za contacted Van Heerden he had not yet heard the news that broke on Thursday morning, but revealed that White had pulled him aside on the end of year tour and “chatted about things, among them the captaincy.”
“That’s amazing that he has come out and said that though. It certainly gives me extra motivation. It’s a huge compliment!” van Heerden exclaimed. “We had words on the end of year tour and we discussed a little about the captaincy, but I just thought it would be left there. I was flattered, but didn’t think much of it.”
Van Heerden said that White told him he was impresed by the hard-working flanker’s leadership on tour. “I was just contributing in my normal way. As I didn’t get game time, I spent most of the time carrying tackle bags, but I always gave input when I could. I also learned a new respect for those guys in the squad that don’t get to play on the Saturday. It’s not easy, but you live in hope.”
Van Heerden, whose father Moaner played 17 Tests for the Boks between 1974 and 1980, has been a stand-out performer for the Cats for several seasons and was picked by then Bok coach Rudolf Straeuli in 2003, earning his first cap against Scotland at Absa Stadium in Durban. It is difficult to recollect when Wikus last had a poor match for either the Lions or Cats.
Asked if he was now secretly hoping for Smit to pick up a debilitating injury, Van Heerden laughed it off: “No way would I think like that. John is a great captain and it’s a priviledge to be considered as his possible successor by Jake. I’ve always had a positive attitude, but this news certain helps to pick up the spirits after recent times. But I must focus on the Cats game against the Reds because that’s alll that counts right now. We have worked really hard this past week.”
All eyes will be even more fiercely on the tireless flanker throughout the 80 minutes at Ellis Park on Saturday as he aims to justify the huge faith put in him by the national coach – and the enormous pressure that comes with that expectation.
Van Heerden has played five Tests for the Boks, all in 2003, twice against Scotland, twice against Australia and once versus New Zealand and says that the match against the Aussies was his favourite. “The opening match of that year’s Tri-Nations against Australia at Newlands was the most memorable. It was a great win. I really hope I can get to experience more moments like those.”
By Andrew Hollely
64 Comments
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7 Apr 2006, 07:14 am
No way will i make hime captain, rather bring in Luke Watson
7 Apr 2006, 07:14 am
Would be my first choice captain … but where to play him?
7 Apr 2006, 07:15 am
just keep on knuckeling down and be patient.
7 Apr 2006, 07:30 am
What do guys like Victor, Juan, Jean and A.J. think when they hear that they are not under consideration for Bok captaincy if John is injured?
It must be a bit of a slap in the face!
I don’t think it was a good idea at all for Jake to let this out at this time.
All players must have someting to play for and all of a sudden they hear through the grapevine that they would be led by a total outsider so to speak.
Think before you speak Jake!
7 Apr 2006, 07:34 am
I think to keep your spot in the team is already something to play for, captaincy is a bonus
7 Apr 2006, 07:51 am
Iceman: Victor, Juan, Jean & AJ? Great players, yes. But great captains? No (or maybe not yet).
You’ve got to love Jake White … he is refreshing, always says what he thinks and doesn’t care what other people say about him. It’s about time we had a coach that wasn’t a people-pleaser.
Personally, I would like all of Victor, Juan, Jean & AJ to be leadership figures, but specific to their positions. E.g. Victor in line-outs/set-pieces, Juan at 8th man as a vital link between forwards and backs, and Jean marshalling the back-line.
If you ask Jake today, he will still say that out of the Irish national team there are only 2 people who would make his Bok side, maybe even less now because Bakkies & Victor are now MUCH better than they were 2 years back.
7 Apr 2006, 07:55 am
I would make Wikus Captain in John’s absence. He’s a great captain.
Victor, swears to much. Juan has a disipline problem SOMETIMES. Jean and AJ, i love them, but i wouldn’t make them captain, unless Wikus and Johan is out.
7 Apr 2006, 07:55 am
No Iceman, I think you’re wrong. White doesn’t owe any of Victor, Juan, Jean and AJ the captaincy just because they’re in the team. They’re not there as back-up captains. They’re there as locks, loosies and centres. If that’s not enough reason, then they shouldn’t be there anyway. If White reckons Wikus will make a better captain (as well as fulfilling a specific role as blindside flank), then he has all the right to say so.
7 Apr 2006, 08:07 am
For a moment I thought he meant Luke Watson. Then I pinched myself and realised that would never happen.
7 Apr 2006, 08:10 am
Hi sharki!!!
7 Apr 2006, 08:12 am
Helo lang!
7 Apr 2006, 08:12 am
Should the players not have a say in picking the captain and vice captain and heaven forbid the Standin captain?
7 Apr 2006, 08:15 am
When do we get the much anticipated pic/s???
7 Apr 2006, 08:15 am
I don’t have a problem with Wikus. Unfortunately the only way he could become Bok captain is if JS gets injured. Unless it’s against Uruguay or Southern Mongolia or something.
Sharkgirl, don’t you have dishes to do or something ? I mean we’re trying to talk rugby here.
7 Apr 2006, 08:15 am
I went back to read the comments after i left yesterday. I’m not very impressed.
7 Apr 2006, 08:18 am
Sorry babe… but here’s your chance to set the records straight…
You change your mind?
7 Apr 2006, 08:18 am
I have no problem with JW making this public and do not agree with your point, Iceman.
JW has had huge success thus far with picking the captain of his choice. It should continue that way.
If the players you mentioned are less motivated because they are not in line for the captaincy, then they should not be there. I do not think it will have that effect though. I see them as professionals who want to give their best.
What will probably come of this is that Wikus will me all the more motivated and I am sure his performance will improve even more.
7 Apr 2006, 08:21 am
Langman go and try pick up something at russianbrides.com
7 Apr 2006, 08:27 am
Moeg
No need, my secretary seems to have that base covered this morning…
7 Apr 2006, 08:34 am
So the only way Wikus will ever get gametime with the Boks is when JS is injured or sidelined ?
I dont buy it.Like I said yesterday,not going to happen.
However,usefull player to have on the bench.Does this mean that JW will ease him into the Bok 22 at some point ? At whose expense ?
7 Apr 2006, 08:34 am
BlueBlood, no sorry. I have a bulls supporter that does that for me.
7 Apr 2006, 08:35 am
Great news!
Now Schalk Britz can start packing for the tours with the boks!
7 Apr 2006, 08:35 am
JW said he’ll be resting some of his players in the ‘less’ important tests … does this mean that if he rests Smit, Wikus will come in as captain for those games? … will only make sence if he does.
7 Apr 2006, 08:36 am
Ah the Jake White cosmic smoke….
7 Apr 2006, 08:36 am
Wikus is awesome, he will die for the Bok jumper!
7 Apr 2006, 08:48 am
This most probably pissed off Big Vic.
7 Apr 2006, 08:55 am
No-one doubt’s the ‘braveheart’ tag, but if he is not the form loosie, he should not be there, captain or no captain!
No point dying for the Bok jumper and still losing the tests!
7 Apr 2006, 09:02 am
Rubbish adoons.He already has his hands full leading the Bulls.
7 Apr 2006, 09:05 am
Where’s sharkgirl?
7 Apr 2006, 09:05 am
Moegrat,
Watson kan nie eers die Stromers span op n gereelde basis haal nie, en jy wil hom kaptein maak? Hy speel een goeie wedstryd teen die kakste span in die S14 in 2 jaar en jy wil hom bo Juan en Burger kies?
7 Apr 2006, 09:14 am
Stan, Moegrat is not the only person in the country who believes Luke Watson will captain the Boks. Like Wikus & John, he is a born leader and people WANT to follow him. Only thing is he’s only 21/22. Jake White might not like Luke Watson (for whatever reason) but it will take more than Jake to stop this man’s rise to the top.
He has not only had 1 good match in the Super14. He has outplayed Schalk Burger in every game (see article published on Keo about a week ago), and was the standout performer amongst a team of clowns for most of the games at Newlands this year. He was a revelation at Kings Park in his first season of Super12 at the age of only 19 but didn’t have a good season last year. But unlike Schalk Britz (who is SO talented but is kak in the set-pieces) he’s worked at his weaknesses and is bigger, faster, fitter and has the higest workrate in the team in every match. Every flaw of his which Jake White pointed out has been taken into account and negated.
Wikus would be a great Bok captain, but he’s just not the best flanker in the country by a mile. Watson on the other hand would cover both bases once he comes of age.
7 Apr 2006, 09:18 am
Wikus is currently one of the form loosies in SA… I’d only pick Juan, Pedrie and AJ ahead of him. Skalla is dogshite at the moment and Watson will never make Jake’s team. The rest of the bulls loosies are slow and ill-disciplined.
Vic and Jean- haven’t ever seen their captaincy make a difference. AJ did well for the Sharks and Juan for the Cheetahs. Wikus is probably a good choice (and I HATE the cats).
7 Apr 2006, 09:27 am
i read in a sarugby mag and newspaper some time ago that victor wants to be the bok captain….I WILL NEVER MAKE HIM MY CAPTAIN! look what captaincy is doing to his play @ the bulls.jean de villiers will never be my captain when he captained the stormers for 1 game he walked away from his team when a try was scored against him.i would like to see luke get into the bok setup and become the next captain! he is a superb leader!
7 Apr 2006, 09:29 am
Agreed Boeja!
7 Apr 2006, 09:29 am
Surfbok – check 7, 11, 15, 21.
7 Apr 2006, 09:42 am
Luke and Wikus are two players in the same mould for me. Both real honest, no hidden agenda, no politics, straight forward, sincere and hard grafters. They are the type of guys that will give you their everything at all times and never lie down – guys you can go to war with.
I hope at some stage both of them get rewarded by being called up for higher honours, whether for captaincy or not.
7 Apr 2006, 09:45 am
True Blue.
7 Apr 2006, 09:47 am
In my oppinion the form lossies at the momment are Schalk, Watson, AJ, Juan (until injured), Pedrie, Wikus and Baywatch … and the No 8 from the cheetahs.
So Wikus will make my team on merrit and be the captain.
Mmmmm .. Wikus to move into lock maybe latter in the game to bring on another lossie, depending on the match situation.
7 Apr 2006, 09:56 am
Leave Scahlk out of that list Paws.He’s been nowhere near his 2004 form.
7 Apr 2006, 10:04 am
Very true Anvil … playing the wrong possition maybe … currently he will not make it into my match 22 if I was to chose.
But the boy has pedegree and can get back to where he was ..
7 Apr 2006, 10:07 am
Victor Matfield – Come on give me a break.. !
Jean – I can see him being a great captian, but I dont see that he NEEDS to b captain..he’ fine where he is now
Watson – What a player, what a great south african..great all round person…
as said above, he’s worked HARD on his weeknesses unlike so many other players
7 Apr 2006, 10:10 am
Katman, excellent post (8)
I wonder how many of you actually remember the Francious Pienaar v Tiaan Strauss issue?
No way was FP in the same league as TS as a player but Kitch wanted the best captain and he chose him. A world cup victory speaks wonders for his decision.
Even the All Blacks have done the same… Rueben Thorn and Todd Blackadder spring to mind.
Hell even Douglas Jardine of Body Line fame proved that a brain and leadership qualities can overcome any questions about your playing ability.
7 Apr 2006, 10:11 am
Wickus is a great player. But wasn’t he picked for Boks after he had a great S12 season for the Bulls when Rudi drafted Wickus as Cats hadn’t place for him?
7 Apr 2006, 10:14 am
Wikus Vaporub.
Ruik baie sterk.
Werk geheel en al glad nie.
7 Apr 2006, 10:18 am
only in sa can we turn such a non topic into a hot debate. no idea why Jake felt the need to make this public. it can only lead to criticism – warranted or not.
7 Apr 2006, 10:19 am
Surfbok, Watson is really going to battle to get into the Boks, not because of his play but because he tends to run off at the mouth from time to time.
I think he got under JW’s skin last year when he wasn’t picked and mouthed off on some site.
Jakes also said on numerous occasions that even if a player is not the best in his position, he’d be looking more at his leadership skills.
7 Apr 2006, 10:19 am
sampionman…
i think the reason jake doesn’t like luke is because at u21, jake told luke he thought he should be a hooker and luke basically told him to get stuffed, thats what i read somewhere.
7 Apr 2006, 10:20 am
Paws,
There is concern that he become a yellow card magnet all over again when he shifts postion at the Boks.No dount JW will select him on the basis of consistancy, not form.
Hope he has learned.
7 Apr 2006, 10:21 am
wickus kinda reminds me of the ex-all black captain rueben thorne. an absolute rock for the crusaders, and a fantastic captain. but no x-factor, and an international non entity.
7 Apr 2006, 10:28 am
Munkiboi
There is always of course the other side of the coin… Perhaps the guys in the current bok squad will feel somewhat relieved knowing exactly where they stand.
Anyway, a few weeks ago we were all moaning about the impending BvR and Hoskins election / re-election debate and the one gripe to raise its head concistently was a lack of transparancy. How Transparent is this?
Whats more, rugby being rugby imagine this scenario… Smit is injured and cant play in the tri-nations and Jake calls in Wickus, imagine the uproar in the media and from the man in the street if we had no prior knowledge that Jake had planned this all along?
Oh the rage, the old provincial bias chestnut, the tears!
At least Jake has a plan and we all know what it is. Forewarned is forearmed.
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