Big Joe fetches open-side jersey
11 Jul 2006
Joe van Niekerk talks of his fetching role in the Bok set-up, even though coach Jake White does not believe in fetchers. Come on boys, read the same page.
Van Niekerk, who was played as an openside option against France, spoke to Die Beeld’s Morris Gilbert in Brisbane. Giblert is on tour with the Boks and in the interview Van Niekerk describes his kind of game and mentioned that word fetcher.
“My game and the kind of game Schalk plays are too different for me to try to copy him. The way Schalk competes for possession is so clinical that he can keep up to four opponents busy at a time. That gave the rest of us time to set up our lines of defence. My main aim as fetcher is not to turn over possession, because that does not happen often. It will be a bonus if I do, but my work is to spoil the opposition’s possession, within the laws, of course.
“The price Australia paid when Rocky Elsom received a yellow card against New Zealand last week made one realise again how important it is not to go in head first but to think what you are doing. Discipline is as important as the ability to delay or steal the opposition’s ball,” Van Niekerk said, adding that the key to success against the Wobblies was slowing down their ball at the breakdown.
“In their match last Saturday, one could see how well the All Blacks managed to deny them quick possession. We must do the same to ensure their backs do not go on the run.”
Van Niekerk is speaking as if he will again be asked to play an openside role, despite convener of selectors Peter Jooste insisting a week ago that Solly Tyibilika would start in place of Burger and Van Niekerk would revert back to No 8.
“As eighthman, it was also my job to retain our possession and to take away the opposition’s, but at number six I have the primary responsibility to get to the breakdown points first to delay their possession. I certainly have the speed to get my hands on the ball first,” Van Niekerk told Gilbert.
What Van Niekerk has to establish with White, though, is if he is an openside flanker or a fetcher. White believes in opensiders and not fetchers, although the player clearly sees his role as fetching the ball or slowing down delivery.
White will tell you all 15 players are fetchers. In theory, he would be right, but in practise if a team has one world class fetcher, they’re usually difficult to beat because no team has 15 fetchers.
27 Comments
11 Jul 2006, 09:50 am
Goeie more aan almal
11 Jul 2006, 09:58 am
You need a dedicated fetcher, just as you need someone who can carry the ball forward.
NZ learnt very quickly the concept of two openside flankers didn’t work. I suspect Henry would prove a similar point if he played 2 blindside flanks at the same time.
Aus have done the two openside idea a few times, but that is because they have no depth.
11 Jul 2006, 09:59 am
Big Joe is not a fetcher and will never be a fetcher. Picking players for roles that they are not suited to is tantamount to selectorial suicide. The only fetcher in South Africa at the moment who can hold a candle to the likes of Smith, Waugh or McCaw is Luke Watson. Watsons performances of late have made me do a complete turnaround, this kid is quality.
As for singing from the same song sheet, don’t expect too much from Van Niekerk, he is not the sharpest tool in the toolbox.
11 Jul 2006, 10:06 am
DEE DAH
Agree 100%.
It takes huge skill to produce a turnover that borders on infringing, but is done so quickly the ref allows it to role on.
A ponderous heavy weight barging about may do the same, but he will get away with feck all and end up being a liability.
11 Jul 2006, 10:14 am
The only thing that Big Joe can do good on a rugby field is to run at a 45 degree angle, when he is going forward with the ball.
He never runs anything straighter than that !!
11 Jul 2006, 10:48 am
Joe – bring me a beer.
11 Jul 2006, 10:54 am
Ig
It is true then these rumours, he is like a dog and responds to orders.
11 Jul 2006, 10:55 am
Ig,
LOL
11 Jul 2006, 10:56 am
Big Joe needs to produce like he did against NZ at Elli park two years ago, he caused them so much grief that day.
Luke Watson as much as i dislike the oak is on form at the moment and should be in there in place of Skalk.
11 Jul 2006, 10:58 am
Brads – yup – i suspect Joe fitness training involves runnning to the fridge as Jake barks orders for drinks for the management team
11 Jul 2006, 11:00 am
Joe. Take off your clothes.
11 Jul 2006, 11:00 am
Forget it guys, if they couldn’t contest the french at the breakdowns in SA, what makes anybody think they will do it against the Aussies on an away test with the same loosies, mind you, Thybilika is there as well (for what that is worth).
We are gonna get owned, and the backs are gonna have the same kak ball to try and work with as they had at Newlands, let’s just hope that Jaco’s decision making under pressure will be better than previously, and that the few balls that come out at the breakdowns, actually manage to reach him eventually (lovely slow ball, easy to catch).
11 Jul 2006, 11:06 am
Juan Smith at the moment is far and away our best blind side flanker. Joe currently (INMHO) is our best 8th man with respect to his qualities as a player, and not choosing a P3/Cronje type 8th man.
By playing Joe at 6 means we need to find a new 8, and then have 2 positional changers instead of playing 1 open sider for the injured open sider.
11 Jul 2006, 11:11 am
Totally agree hardcore,
Why don’t we just do the logical thing, replace one opensider with another, Luke for Burger? the sooner we stop playing people out of position the better!
What has pienaar done to upset Jake, did his dad also not want to play for the white apartheid springboks or is it because he is a shark? It seems like you have to be a yes man like Smit if you as a shark want a place in the springboks?
Lets ask the question why are there not more sharks and cheetahs in the springboks, seeing as they are the two sides on form??
11 Jul 2006, 11:18 am
I dont think selection is provinicially biased, (if the senctence makes sense).
However, I do thin that Jake has a tendancy to play players he has coached at under 21 level. His earmarked his players, and INMHO its made him blind to players who have been consistantly out performing his so called glory players.
Example, Marius Joubert, far and away one of the most overrated players, had a shocker of a super 14, but was still selected ahead of a player like Roney Cooke, JP Pietersen, Barrit and even Jacobs would have been a better bet.
Jakes blindedness and fued with Watson is at the moment his biggest problem.
11 Jul 2006, 11:29 am
So Luke is out of favour as an opensider. Tim Dlulane was taken on tour to keep the bench warm a year ago.
What has he done wrong since then apart from having a dodgy start to the S12? If it’s between him and Solly simply to keep the quota good then I back Dlulane.
11 Jul 2006, 11:35 am
Dlulane would be no quota, the guy is playing really good rugby (even if hes a bull).
Solly has a contract though, so first call on quota numbers.
11 Jul 2006, 11:43 am
Agreed with Dlulane, dont no if his playing open side, but he is starting to look really good.
I’m afraid to admit this, but, had quotas not been in place, a player like Dlulane would never have had an extended oppertunity to play the game. Now that he has, he INMHO, is starting to really play some decent rugby.
This is where quotas work.
11 Jul 2006, 12:03 pm
Hard, that’s right he really only started getting opportunities when Meyer decided to include Welsh ahead of Ndungane. Makes you wonder about Meyer’s commitment to real change that sort of thing. Both Dlulane and Ndungane deserve a spot on merit
11 Jul 2006, 13:42 pm
We can play either Watson or Dlulane at #6. Go and look at the Province/Bulls game over the weekend again – Dlulane gave Luke a good run for his money, especially in the 2nd half. At least then we have someone who should be in that role and not a guy played out of position (Solly is not on form – he does not even make the Sharks team at the moment). If we loose then, we can say we were beaten by a better team, but at the moment we are beating ourselves – ridiculous!!!
Don’t ask questions about Meyer’s commitment to transformation – we know the answer…and I agree, Dlulane and Ndungane both deserve to make the BB team on merit. The jury is still out on Ndungane being good enough for
international standard, but we’ll only know if he is given a chance and we see how he performs.
11 Jul 2006, 13:58 pm
alibaba
solly has never been given a clear chance both at sharks and nationally not compared to the names u mention. yes luke is better as a fetcher but solly does secure our ball ask phil waugh…
on ndungane i’ll pick Akhona over Odwa any day
11 Jul 2006, 14:22 pm
Dawn
getme a brannas !
11 Jul 2006, 15:32 pm
Joe is only good on the open side with first year chicks from PE.
11 Jul 2006, 16:22 pm
Is Joe White’s son? I thought only his son fetches things for him.
11 Jul 2006, 18:17 pm
Dawn. Take your clothes off.
11 Jul 2006, 18:19 pm
Perhaps Jake should look at using Luke at 6 and Joe at 7. Both fetchers, although Joe has size as well for taking it up.
And Juan at 8.
11 Jul 2006, 19:22 pm
Joe fetches a beer for jake too….
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