Why Jake chose Jean
30 May 2006
Jean de Villiers is the Springboks’ stand-in skipper because he offers the Boks “something extra”, says coach Jake White.
However, Tuesday’s announcement came as a massive shock, after White had earlier suggested that Wikus van Heerden was his back-up captain to John Smit.
“There’s been a lot of speculation about Wikus and AJ [Venter], but I think it would have been unreasonable to put additional pressure on Wikus in his first match back in the team,” White told Die Burger’s Herbert Pretorius.
“AJ has occasionally led the Sharks on to the field, but he’s still trying to establish himself in the team. The same can be said of Joe [van Niekerk], who has captained teams up to the U21 level. Jean knows there’s a great responsibility on his shoulders and that this is a big event. He has the respect of the seniors to tell them on the field what to do.”
De Villiers said he was looking forward to his new role on Saturday.
“It came quite suddenly,” he admitted. “I consider it a big privilege. I’ve captained the Stormers this year and feel ready for this challenge.”
Meanwhile, White confirmed that a couple of the new caps would leave the squad after the match against the World XV.
“There’s a possibility that newcomers like Jannie [du Plessis] and Andries [Bekker] won’t get a chance to play soon,” he said. “I’m going to send them, as well as a couple of other players, back to their unions at the end of the week to play Currie Cup rugby.
“These players are happy with my decision. They’re glad that they’ve been able to train with us and they now know they’re being considered for a place in the team. They also know what they’ve got to do in future to become first choice players and establish themselves.”
637 Comments
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30 May 2006, 22:43 pm
bring back buck
30 May 2006, 23:03 pm
Why does Jake want to extend the Stormer’s fortunes into the Bok season?
31 May 2006, 03:20 am
“I is am like not the sharpest stud on the boots”
Quite frankly, Jean like most in this Saturday’s Bok squad,is “still trying to establish himself in the team”!
31 May 2006, 05:23 am
He can add something diferent whether he’s captain or not,so thats a poor reason Jake.
What concerns me is that he needs subbing (altho they dot usually do it) in the last 10 or 20 minutes coz he struggles with cramp late in the game. Also as captain its hard to give a guy a rest. He needs rests and half games at times.
He is a better choice of vice captain than Barry was at 12 ,so when Smittie is ready he will have a good vice capt at inside centre again. this sounds good.
I think for strength and mongrel and experience Venter would have been my pick,but then again see Jean a vice capt really. Not so bad.
31 May 2006, 05:25 am
Just wondering…..if Jake admitted he should have picked one of the Ndungane twins,why is it too late now?
In my mind it should never be too late. When Habana went off injured why didnt he just call one up. Its not like the boks are overseas anyway.
But the fact that he admitted this means Odwa or Akona should keep their boots polished.
31 May 2006, 07:22 am
Like Jannie Du Plessis must now go work harder than Eddie Andrews and Lawrence Sephaka because he’s not good enough!
What a joke!
31 May 2006, 08:06 am
Chilliboy to fire up Baby Boks!!
At the tender age of 19 Mahlatse “Chilliboy†Ralepele has taken the next step on his road to Springbok greatness.The young hooker was a double world champion with the U/19 and U/21 squads last year and will this year lead the U/21 team in their title defence.Much is expected of the young Blue Bull in the future and this is a great oppurtunity for him to secure the captaincy for his remaining years at this level.The powerful hooker is a product of Pretoria Boys High School and seems set to follow in the footsteps of another old boy in national captain John Smit.He has already caught Jake White’s attention and been tested by the Bok training staff.
31 May 2006, 08:11 am
No need to explain Jake.
JDV is a Brokeback product and that is enough reason for you.
31 May 2006, 08:21 am
Jake you idiot
31 May 2006, 08:48 am
i tell u what, why dont u okes wait until the end of the game and then u can give jake kak. sheesh man, somes of u okes are bitter eh, no snoo snoo from the mrs last night?
31 May 2006, 08:51 am
“something extra” = not as stupid as the rest of the players.
31 May 2006, 08:52 am
Rasta
Baie potensiaal in daai laaitie! Hy kom ook mooi deur die ranks en gaan nog n great Springbok word! Hy gaan ons eerste swart Bok kaptein wees!
31 May 2006, 08:52 am
Whatever its 1 game and at least jake chose one of the people who have cemented their positions.
Would have liked to have seen what would have happened if victor was not injured…
31 May 2006, 08:59 am
You okes never cease to amaze me.
When Jake first picked Jean to play for the Boks, everyone said the same rubbish – because Jean didnt have the experience.
Jake has proven over and over again that he knows what he is doing.
So why not trust his judgement for a change?
31 May 2006, 09:18 am
Why dont you idiots stop moaning about everything and let the boys get on with it…
ARE YOU GUYS EVER HAPPY??????????????
Leave Jake, he’s proven what he can do…
come on man..!
31 May 2006, 09:23 am
nicksteroonie
Remember what happened when jake picked Habana , there was this huge riot on the blog LOL! and now those same okes act like they all know better than jake or that jake is an idiot its easy being an armchair critic. I understand criticising someone who seems to have no idea what his doing eg Ludeke or VDMerwe but jake record particularly in selection speaks for itself he has been right more often than not.
31 May 2006, 09:28 am
Knersboy… snoo snoo??? moenie die girl laat lui raak nie maat
31 May 2006, 09:33 am
I generally have a problem pickin my captain too far away from my forwards, but for this game, I dont care.
31 May 2006, 09:41 am
Agreed PA, i prefer the skipper to be in the engine room……But Jake really put his foot in his mouth with the whole Wikus is my next captain saga….
31 May 2006, 09:44 am
I really dont give a **** how “experienced” the captain is – as long as he can see what is happening on teh field, where our weak spots are, what their weak spots are, what they are doing to get an upper hand and what we must do to get the same – and then communicate this to teh team. I really think that while John Smit is a nice guy, he is too buried at teh bottom of a ruck most of the time to see that the other team is using the blind side more often, or driving up the middle exposing our defences out wide, or that we can kick for touch and compete in the lineouts, or whether we shoudl attack their caentre channel or WHATEVER. He does not strategise and communicate, so that we can change the game plan DURING the game (and not just at halftime).
A captian should recognise at once that Richie McCaw is lying all over our side of teh ruck, or that the tacklers are not rolling away etc and tell the ref the problem, so that he can keep an eye out for it.
31 May 2006, 09:45 am
Ig
Did the Wikus to be next captain saga come from the same reliable source that leaked the team a week ago???Seems someone is pulling the wool over the eyes there somewhere.
31 May 2006, 09:47 am
Agreed Ig,
I always played in the backline, I always felt we did better when the cappy was in the engine room with the vice at scrummy or 10.
31 May 2006, 09:48 am
Lol rastafox …nah Jake said it himself !
‘Bok coach White unwisely publicly declared that Cats captain Wikus van Heerden was the successor to Smit should the Sharks hooker and Bok captain get injured in the Super 14 or the early part of the test season. White went on record to say he did not believe he had a capable international captain in his current squad’
31 May 2006, 09:51 am
amazing recovery on the 29th he had a heel injury and was doubtful next day he is super fit and the captain perhaps the medical and conditioning staff need more scrutiny
31 May 2006, 09:52 am
Just like Tana Umaga is/was in the engine room.
Bollocks to you.
31 May 2006, 10:00 am
Dee
I was at the Bok practise yesterday and Jean didnt practise, but he ran and kicked balls the whole time. Strange thing are happening??
31 May 2006, 10:00 am
I genuinely have a problem picking a captain that has never won a single thing. Or indeed one that does not have an obvious playing position nor pedigree of impressive performances.
But since when has anything in SA rugby been about getting the basics right?
31 May 2006, 10:02 am
i suppose it makes sense to make him captain as he has established his position in the team. AJ and Wickus are not 1st choice in their positions. So lets say Jake makes Wickus captain for this game, then when the tests come he doesnt make the team. Does it make sense? I dont think the players will respect a guy who isnt a regular in the side…
31 May 2006, 10:02 am
jon,
sometimes you get a guy with exceptional leadership qualities, from what i have read, tana was one of those.
i never perceived him to be a great leader of a rugby team, but somehow, he managed to get the guys to play exceptionally well as a unit.
when he retired, i read somewhere that his biggest strength, was getting the white okes and the maori’s to gel together as play for each other to such an extent that they would die for one another.
this, in this guy’s view, was his greatest strength, very madiba’ish in my view thus i am not surprised he is regarded as one of the greatest AB’s of all time.
it was in fact, or is still, a view or fear people have of McCaw, that he won’t be able to unite the maori’s and white players as tana managed to do.
it is also interesting to note that henry picked collins to captain the team in mccaw’s absence.
tana was one of the greats, and one of the very few exceptions i can think off.
31 May 2006, 10:03 am
so StM,
who is england’s captain now?
31 May 2006, 10:04 am
When are we going to have a black captain?
I think White missed a good opportunity for transforamtion here.
31 May 2006, 10:04 am
The All Blacks are all intelligent footballers, so Umaga’s captaincy is more about motivating and pacing the players.
Our best captains have been scrum-halves, fly-halves or 8th men – positions where their decisions have a greater impact on the game itself, and where their performance is more visible to the rest of the team. We’ve had captains at wing, lock, flank and hooker, but these are not real decision making positions.
31 May 2006, 10:04 am
I dont think it ia a bad idea from Jake. He knows what he has got in Wickus as captain, why not give Jean a chance to see how he does in an unofficial test. Because its Wickus first game back, then give Wickus a chance to concentrate on his game. I think Wickus will be captain after John in test matches.
31 May 2006, 10:05 am
Cool Ig but that Jake White is an old wool puller!!!
Bloem
With Jaco’s poor clearance kicking in the Super 14 they need a backup clearing boot.
31 May 2006, 10:08 am
Hey Stan,
It takes one brokeback to recognise another.
I reckon JDV will break your back!
31 May 2006, 10:08 am
I think he should have chosen Januarie… or maybe Dlulane for captain.
Its not like our regular captian is a first-choice in his position either.
31 May 2006, 10:08 am
Rasta
Jace also didnt kick well against the Shimlas, couldnt find touch, and when he did gained only 20m at a time. I prefer Bosman or even Gaffie has got a good boot.
31 May 2006, 10:09 am
PA, not sure the kiwis have the same divisions we do, when they pull on an AB jersey, they’re all together, JW has done the same with the boks.
I think basically the most important thing about a captain is someone who inspires through his play, especially when the team as a whole is down and someone that all the players respect.
31 May 2006, 10:11 am
cane, you talking about rogers or shelford?
31 May 2006, 10:11 am
Vinnie in about 4-5 years time see Post #7
Introducing in the Green and Gold corner weighing in at a whole lot of pounds
Mahlatse “Chiliboy” Rallepele !!!!!!!!!
31 May 2006, 10:13 am
cab,
it was something i read when tana retired.
i actually think it came from fitzy, brooke or jones (iceman) on one of the NZ websites.
it is definately not an opinion of mine, just something i found very interesting at the time as i think as you do in this instance.
31 May 2006, 10:14 am
Thats a bit of a punt though rastafox – Ive seen lads like that crash and burn.
And he has to survive for 4 or 5 seasons without serious injury…
31 May 2006, 10:14 am
This site is going to be dead today, nothing is happening.
31 May 2006, 10:14 am
Ah guys…. Jean just gave Jake “something extra”… his mother always said it was rude to spit in public. Gobble gobble gobble.
31 May 2006, 10:15 am
Bolla for Bok captain!!!
31 May 2006, 10:16 am
Wynand Claassen, captain of the 1981 Boks wasn’t the best in his position, according to the prevailing game plan. The rest of that NZ tour, the poor results and the strange selection policy, has been documented.
31 May 2006, 10:16 am
That was a joke. Paul Delport is quite good. WC winning captain of U19′s a few years back and last yr captained the U21′s to the title. What you think Vincenzo?
31 May 2006, 10:17 am
Jean has established himself in the Bok team. He has a good feel for the game and knows how to read a game.
Give the guy a break. He didn’t ask to be captain. If Jake feels that he is the best guy for the job, leave it at that. Jake has proven to us before that he knows his ****.
Should the Boks perform and Jean’s captaincy proves to be fruitful, all of you guys will probably say that Jean is the best captain again….
Go read up on Jake’s profile. He has come through the ranks as a coach, from u/15, u/19 up. He’s not an ex-player trying to be a coach. He’s been involved with coaching for years.
Everything of the best to Jean, Jake and the Boys.
31 May 2006, 10:17 am
I have a kiwi mate from north harbour which is just across the bridge form auckland and they are sworn enemies so i think they have the same divisions, probably worse.
Incidentaaly north harbour is home to great All Blacks as Walter Little, Frank Bunce, Ian Jones, Glen Osbourne and Buck Shelford. More recent ABs include Ron Cribb, Troy Flavell and Luke McAllister
31 May 2006, 10:18 am
Dunno wpw, Im just not such a fan of delport. Dont know why Im just not.
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