Roets on Irish shopping list
2 May 2006
Injured Bulls fullback Johan Roets may be lost to South African rugby entirely if he does not earn a call-up from Springbok coach Jake White this year.
Roets, arguably the form fullback in the country before a knee injury forced him out of action two weeks ago, has been knocking on the door of Springbok selection for some time, but as yet has not been let in.
But he may yet get a chance to display his talents at Test level, and quite possibly at the 2007 Rugby World Cup – but not in the green and gold of South Africa, but for the green of Ireland.
His wife, Bronwyn – whom he married in December last year – has an Irish passport and he could qualify to play for them before next year’s World Cup and has already been approached to go and play there at the end of this season. It is something the in-form No 15 has been contemplating for some time and he is apparently giving it serious thought.
Whether he is in White’s plans remains to be seen, but a place in the Bok squad could be further hampered by having to undergo an operation on his injured knee in the next few weeks.
While the seriousness of the injury does not require immediate action, the Bulls are hoping that Jaco van der Westhuyzen remains injury free so they do not have to call on Roets in the remaining games in the Vodacom Super 14.
White would be well-advised to snare the Bulls man, as he is certainly among the best in his position in South Africa. The national coach has Percy Montgomery as his first-choice, while van der Westhuyzen is an able understudy. However, if injury or a serious drop in form is experienced by either, Roets would certainly be more than capable of making the transition to the top level.
Other choices open to White – looking at the players in SA’s Super 14 franchises – include young Sharks prodigy JP Pietersen, Stormers speedster Joe Pietersen, Cheetahs’ Bevin Fortuin and Conrad Jantjes, although the latter has been played out of position for much of the competition.
By Andrew Hollely
132 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
2 May 2006, 11:50 am
Hallo Kitty!
blueb,
Ja, jy kan nie Greeff met heunis en joubert vergelyk nie.
2 May 2006, 11:50 am
Just havent seen Roets finish,he is ok ,but the Bulkls are better now with Jaco at 15. He can also up n under and gather,but he offers a whole lot more.
Roets isnt **** ,he is just OK,Bulls fans ,you are doiung better now with the best 15 we have,incl Percy.
2 May 2006, 11:54 am
Roets may not be our 15 for the Boks, but Heyneke Meyer should not lose a player of his experience and calibre. Losing Kees Lensing was not good for them and losing Johan will also not be a good.
Its cool the Frikkie Welsh has brought back his experience, but I really do feel for Akona. That dude was a really good finisher, nobody can argue that.
2 May 2006, 11:55 am
ddrek, if Roets is not what we need, who is? At least it’s one dimension Roets does well. Roets isn’t the answer to our prayers, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a chance in the green and gold.
2 May 2006, 11:55 am
Agreed ddrek
Jaco is best fullback around.
Would love to see the following backline play for the boks some time:
9) FdP
10) Andre P
12) De Wet B
13) Jacques F
11) Habanero
14) Jean Div
15) Jaco vd W
Bench: Ricky/Ruan, Butch (inside backs), Jantjes (outside backs)
All have good touches except DwB – but he has other qualities offering a balanced set-up.
2 May 2006, 12:01 pm
Hey Kitty!
did you get the red paint off? I tried to look in the stands on the weekend but didny see anything..
2 May 2006, 12:03 pm
Hi bluebarb! Yes i did thank you! were you there??? clearly you didn’t look hard enough!
2 May 2006, 13:22 pm
read the last sentence
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/theres-an-answer-to-rugbys-problems–and-its-not-more-leaguies/2006/05/01/1146335671556.html
2 May 2006, 13:22 pm
YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE IRB ELIGIBILITY THROUGH A SPOUSE. Roets can easily get Irish RESIDENCY through his wife but if he wants to play for the Irish National team he will first have to serve out a three year residency period before being eligible (unless he has Irish parents or grandparents which is not mentioned).
Come on Andrew DO A BIT OF RESEARCH before posting such articles.
2 May 2006, 13:23 pm
**** Muir is trying to hold onto Tony Brown but his Japanese club want him back. So **** is trying to settle on an exchange programme, where he will send a couple of players over.
I dont see how mixing it up with the Japanese is going to benifit our boys????? I really dont, they are not a froce in rugby! Stick to the Sony gadgets and let the manne play rugga!
2 May 2006, 13:29 pm
Come on Mackie
The Japanese recently THRASHED South Korea to take the Asian championship. These guys are super-committed pint-sized kumakazi pilots on the field. They even ‘nearly beat’ Scotland once!! Give them respect.
2 May 2006, 13:31 pm
Delek – Roets can never play for Ireland, he has played for SA A (2002 (or 2003) vs Argentina)
2 May 2006, 13:32 pm
Thanks Gecko – even more reason for Andrew to DO A BIT OF RESEARCH!
2 May 2006, 13:36 pm
Delek,
Yup I heard about the Scottish thing.
The Sharks supposedly had an exchange programme with the Leicseter Tigers, now that would have been more benificial as far as im concerned. The Japanes thing will only get the players a bit of “me love you long time” as opposed to international rugga experience.
2 May 2006, 14:04 pm
I also think that roets is a solid provincial player at best.Jaco has showen the class difference between a springbok&a solid player.
I do however believe that we need a roets in our provincial structures,cause he adds experience 2 youngsters coming through.Also someone like pat barnard is a case in point.He is a young guy who would not walk into the bok team but he can add value 2 our provincial structure.Maybe in a year or 2 if he proves himself get a bok call up.But he is not better than jannie dup,bj,cj..Or not yet anyhow.
2 May 2006, 15:14 pm
IG, they can play 80min’s like they did the first 40…They just did’nt see the point.
I also recon that you lot at Keo should club together and buy Keo some nu bones, Dem bones are lookin a tad shabby. Having said that, I hope the bones go against the Monster Bulls again, It always works.
2 May 2006, 15:45 pm
Although I prefer Roets at No 15 for the Boks because of his defensive and positional skills, I rate his chances as nil to break into the Boks squad, the position has been pencilled for a quota player for a long time.
2 May 2006, 15:50 pm
To quote another muppit from last week:
‘Bang on time Onlooker appears with his rubbish post of the day. You can set your watch to him’
2 May 2006, 16:00 pm
gecko,
The smart money supports my opinion,
It’s the same as with Luke Watson who cannot break in because of ‘springboks’ Dlulane and Solly are already entranched there
2 May 2006, 16:07 pm
Let me see – Roets first played for SA A in 2002 – so from 2002 the SA fullback were:
Greeff
Delport
Monty
Russell
Yes, I can see Roets losing out to quotas.
Off course, you must have enjoyed sitting back watching SA playing NZ at cricket, and on a excellent batting pitch had to rely on two quotas to get us past the follow on – not to mention our only class bowler being a quota.
2 May 2006, 16:37 pm
Onlooker you are a moron. The top bok candidates are:
Percy
Jaco vd Westh
Conrad Jantjes
If these three are injured you will see:
Jacque Fourie
Breyton Paulse
and only then:
Then a toss up between Roets and Russel.
Roets has no chance of becoming a Bok – not becuase of race – but because of lack of skill.
I rate Geordan Murphy higher than Roets !
2 May 2006, 16:58 pm
ja Gecko, I was also wondering about how the quota brigade took the cricket performances this weekend.
No doubt the peanut gallery would be vociferously damning had both Amla, and Prince scored ducks.
2 May 2006, 17:12 pm
ek se maar niks!
2 May 2006, 17:12 pm
did you guys hear Lardy Davids is going to play his rugby in the Free State. hehehe
2 May 2006, 17:14 pm
Guys,
None of the mentioned above fullbacks can field a high ball, none will tackle as a Test fullback should tackle.
I actually would pick Bevin Fortune ahead of that lot, he seemed to have it all: size, speed, out of hand kick and not shy of tackling
however, with that current bobojantjes brigade in the Boks squad Roets better go north
2 May 2006, 17:15 pm
Onlooker – Roets can’t field a high ball either – not under pressure anyway as any Bloemboy will probably tell you.
2 May 2006, 17:35 pm
comment no 29 is very right roets is very good all round but he is not really fast enough to play fullback at international level every player has his weakness its too bad his is a little overwelming
2 May 2006, 18:06 pm
Quota Jantes will get the call before Roets in the event of an injury.
2 May 2006, 18:52 pm
Go Play Ireland…..more cash as well Roets
2 May 2006, 21:25 pm
Onlooker
Few have ever been as good as Jaco under the high ball….and he can counter.
2 May 2006, 21:38 pm
Kitty…everyone deserves a chance ,but i’ve answered that i prefer Jaco at 15 ,w Pret at 10 and Perc on bench as experience backup. Actually momngril has my team on paper ,except the rewserves not quite my choice.
Mongril i’d also love to see Habs,JdV and Fourie being tested at wings and centers so we have our most dynamic combo. it would be awesome to get Habs at 13 someday,with JdV at 12 once defence is sorted out.
2 May 2006, 21:39 pm
Somebody said we need Roets atleast at CC level for assisting the new boys coming thru. Very true indeed. Our underlying players need to be good too.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.