Lions want Dollie
2 Jul 2006
Spears and SA U21 flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie is set to join the Lions for the Absa Currie Cup.
Dollie is contracted to the Spears, but with the franchise facing extinction he is wisely looking elsewhere.
“Peter de Villiers offered me the chance to play at the Spears,” he told the Sunday Times. “At the time, I was with the WP U21s and wasn’t offered a contract, so it seemed a golden opportunity. There are now talks that I might soon be going to the Lions. They have made an offer.”
While Dollie was one of the Baby Boks’ stars at the U21 World Championship last month, doubts remain over his ability to play Super 14 or Test rugby, considering he weights just 80kg and is 1.72m tall.
“It’s not just [about size], you also have to kick 100m, hit the opposition back in the tackle and so on.” he said. “It’s good to have those attributes, but a flyhalf should create things by passing to put guys away, not bashing it up.
“I bench about 120kg,” he added. “I know that in today’s rugby conditioning is very important, but what really counts is what happens between the four lines, not how much you bench.”
30 Comments
2 Jul 2006, 18:06 pm
Some good news for a change. But the Bulls will probably get him in the end…
2 Jul 2006, 18:59 pm
come on dolli my man!!!!
2 Jul 2006, 19:33 pm
I eat the chicken.
2 Jul 2006, 19:43 pm
The lions want a life.
and some fans would be good too.
2 Jul 2006, 19:47 pm
Dollie shaould really be playing for WP. But if he will get game time at the Lions, good luck to him.
He will show that he is the most creative flyhalf around.
2 Jul 2006, 20:55 pm
Dollie should really be playing for SK Walmers in the WP club league…..thst is where he belongs! The fact the he evn played for the u21′s does not make him Gods gift to rugby…..which he def is not!
2 Jul 2006, 21:06 pm
Dollie my bra, moenie djou talents daar loep morsie. Bly innie kaap of gaan cheethas toe.
2 Jul 2006, 21:22 pm
An improvement on Rose would be good. Somebody who has their own idea of what a fly half is and can do it woulg be better than ‘fecken solid’ games.
3 Jul 2006, 02:21 am
Thought that sheep died ages ago…anyway, they will have to fight the NZedders for it
3 Jul 2006, 05:30 am
Good signing for the Lions if this is true he is a very intelligent fly half but I can’t say the same for some of our other no.10′s!
3 Jul 2006, 06:00 am
Vat Hom Donut,
You’re still the best legspinner that SA has ever had.
Still love ya,
Sherriff
3 Jul 2006, 08:52 am
Steel Shark]
The words intelligent and SA flyhalf are like oil and water they dont mix
3 Jul 2006, 08:56 am
He did some good things at the u21 WC , but one decent hit on him and he either goes off or his game falls apart …
Sorry to say , but this guy wont handle the Super 14 or CC … Fly halfs in modern day rugby have to be able to attack the line at some stage and be able to defend the first channel … Jerry Collins running hard into this guy could end his life …
3 Jul 2006, 09:09 am
120 Kg bench Press. That is 1.5 times his own body weight. No to bad at all.
3 Jul 2006, 09:10 am
If this is true, then this is a good move by the Lions. Dollie will play adjudant to Andre Pretorius. Earl is a fullback and not a flyhalf (he suck), and Jody cant cope at the moment, to inexperienced.
3 Jul 2006, 09:13 am
The Lions REALLY need him, and it would be great to see him in JHB. Size has nothing to do with it, his ‘stats’ cant be much different from Andre Pretorius’.
3 Jul 2006, 09:32 am
For goodness sake.
3 Jul 2006, 09:38 am
Another light weight youngster about to be broken.
3 Jul 2006, 09:45 am
but what really counts is what happens between the four lines, not how much you bench….. too true !
3 Jul 2006, 09:46 am
Howzit Dawn
How are you doing with that work? Are you making progress?
3 Jul 2006, 09:49 am
I reckon this guy is class. A bit light, perhaps, but he plays a great game. And he’ll fill out in a year or two until he’s Pretorius’ size (or Giteau or, if he decides to grow a big ***, Hougaard). Anyway, he’ll be bigger than Russel. I think he’ll be the perfect deputy to Pretorius.
3 Jul 2006, 10:58 am
Said it a long time ago , he is one of the better one , cherrie bomb , moenie k@k praat nie , he was special when he played U19 and he is even better now !!!!
3 Jul 2006, 13:38 pm
Did anybody notice how he was outplayed by the French U21 flyhalf. We need world class flyhalfs, not average flyhalfs.
3 Jul 2006, 13:57 pm
No.
3 Jul 2006, 14:58 pm
I agree, he was outplayed in the U21 final…why don’t we rather get the little french guy to come and play for the Lions….
3 Jul 2006, 20:27 pm
Dollie is a fine player, and in even in super 14 standards will always be able (despite his size/weight) to spark one or two great opportunities… which i believe is good enough, but i’m worried about his defense. His offensive despite being small is good enough for sure, and he will also be working on his kicking.
Besides Chuck Norris,
Every guy (especially the ones playing rugby) at age of 20 and over get bench about 100-120 kg. I believe that to be quite norma, nothing really outstanding. but still proves that dllie is not a complete lightweight.
4 Jul 2006, 01:10 am
Has everyone forgotten that Dollie was the one who kicked that match-winning drop-kick against the New Zealand in the final when he played under 19?I agree that he had a poor game in the under 21 final;but so did the entire team!!He was absolutely magnificent in the semi-final against the New Zealanders.And, at the age of 21, most of the guys are already playing professional rugby.So I think he did well for himself.
What surprise me ( or perhaps it shouldnt) is why WP threw this talented youngster out when there is a scarcity of talented, creative flyhalves who can kick?After all, Dollie has a good pedigree having represented South Africa at the various age groups and went to a good school in Sachs. Is it only because he is ‘small’?As we are told.
Or is it a racially motivated decision?Did Nick Mallett( remember the lilly white Springbok team against wales in ’99) not want a talented non-white player representing WP in their most important position?Instead WP has Peter Grant and Naas Olivier.Say no more.
4 Jul 2006, 04:47 am
Wwith Dollie as fly, the Lions would require an additional loosie just to cover his defensive frailties. Even if he benches 120, it doesn’t make him a good defender.
Another one of the Lions’ shite buys, e.g. the Roses, Daniel Muller, Bertus Smit, Swartbooi, Molefe, Willemse, Hurter, and the list goes on…
4 Jul 2006, 05:22 am
We need good players grab him and show him the way.
6 Jul 2006, 11:46 am
Watch out for Isma-eel’s brothers in the Dollie dynasty.
Their names are Moray and Conger. Way scarier than Isma.
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