Time heals Wikus’ RWC wounds
19 Jul 2007
The desire not to replicate mistakes of four years ago was the driving force behind Wikus van Heerden’s superb performances on the Australasia leg of the Tri-Nations.
The Bulls man left South Africa knowing that nothing but 160 minutes of polished openside play would convince Jake White and the national selectors to include him in the 30-man World Cup squad. And that’s exactly what he delivered.
Australia will attest to that, with Van Heerden forcing their world class scavenger, George Smith, to lift his level of performance considerably. Over two matches he largely shattered the perception that he is only a force when the tight five are dominating the set phases and collisions.
Van Heerden now has an anxious wait to hear if he will be trudging around Brakpan and Wellington with the Blue Bulls or running drills in the wholly more desirable cities like Paris, Lens, Montpellier and St Denis.
“It’s difficult not to have expectations, but I try and suppress those as best I can. But it’s hard,” Van Heerden confessed to Keo.co.za.
“Having played Australia and New Zealand and faced the haka makes you hungry to experience that level of competition again, and if it’s at the World Cup it would make that experience so much better.”
He attributes his form on tour to learning from previous mistakes. There’s more than a touch of irony in the fact that his World Cup dream crumbled in a Tri-Nations Test against Wallabies in Brisbane four years ago, where that dream has been revitalised against the same opponents this time around.
Van Heerden came on as a late substitute for Corné Krige in that 29-9 defeat and seemed to give coach Rudolf Straeuli the reasons he needed to exclude him from his World Cup squad.
“The last time I played Test rugby before was four years ago in a similar scenario to what I experienced on the Australasia tour,” he recalls.
“I was playing for a spot in the World Cup squad, and that’s all that consumed my thoughts. I was so desperate to make it to Australia. I think that had an adverse effect on my performances because I lost focus on the game at hand in focusing on those still to come.
“This time I promised myself to take it game by game and to really enjoy it. I approached the two matches on their merit and I think that helped my performances a lot.”
When Keo.co.za called Van Heerden he admitted to hoping that it would be Jake White telling him that he had cracked the nod. “I’m on edge here. My wife and I freeze everytime the phone rings,” he said, the desperation evident in his voice.
Van Heerden is however under no illusions that it may indeed be White, but with the entirely undesirable news that he had failed to make the squad.
“The World Cup comes around once every four years and to miss out now having come so close would be devastating,” he said. “It’s probably my last chance to go to a World Cup, so ja, it’ll be devastating if I don’t crack it.”
By Ryan Vrede
90 Comments
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19 Jul 2007, 09:32 am
Here from rugbyheaven:
Watson influence gaining momentum
By SPIRO ZAVOS – SMH | Tuesday, 17 July 2007
“After the New Zealand-South Africa Test in Christchurch on on Sunday, I was telephoned by a knowledgeable source, who asked me: “Do you know why Wikus van Heerden didn’t captain the Springboks yesterday?” I told him I had also wondered why the most experienced forward in the team hadn’t taken the armband.
I thought it may have had something to do with coach Jake White grooming Johann Muller – a huge second-rower who has been impressive on and off the field – for the job,
“Van Heerden,” my informant told me, “is not going to make the Springboks World Cup squad. Jake White is being forced by the ANC to take Luke Watson. So the captaincy had to be given to someone who is going to France.”
So if had picked Wikus as captain he is suppose to take him to the RWC. But he doesn`t want to take him to the RWC so he picked Muller as captain.
19 Jul 2007, 09:37 am
There is no way Luke Watson will be included in the squad
The idiots the run SA rugby are certainly not the brightest but they know enough to realise the consequences of such a move
19 Jul 2007, 09:40 am
What SPIRO ZAVOS should have said was ….after the Christchurch game a “conspiracy theory idiot” rang me and blah blah blah
19 Jul 2007, 09:48 am
What happened to Deep Throat Pissant.
19 Jul 2007, 09:48 am
Vindicated don`t be so sure.
It is part of the transformation plan.Next year if not this year Watson is going to captain the Springboks/Proteas.
19 Jul 2007, 09:48 am
39 PA,
you heard what i heard?
19 Jul 2007, 09:53 am
Vindicated @ 50
That is why I said I like those odds… I see myself making a shitload of money on either of those teams – especially if/when i win my R2500 worth of sport betting vouchers on The Open this weekend…
19 Jul 2007, 09:56 am
What I like about Wikus is that he is really good behind the rolling mall…Schalk cannot do this.
19 Jul 2007, 09:57 am
Eish I hope not #51. I think watson is a gr8 player but hell, to force someone like wickus out now when the coach doesnt want watson would be quite sad.
At least wickus will get game time if he goes.
19 Jul 2007, 09:59 am
Why is John Smit appealing for calm.
19 Jul 2007, 10:02 am
If Watson was going to France, he wouldn’t have been released to train with Province. He’s not going. But there’s no shame in captaining your provincial side.
So chin up, Luke, chest out, arms wide and walk tall.
Okay, but still do the chin, chest and arms.
19 Jul 2007, 10:03 am
Yesterday I chose this as the best back-line for the Boks WC
9. Du Preez
10. Butch
11. Aunty Dawn
12. De Villiers
13. Fourie
14. Habana
15. Monty
Then someone said why did you put a hooker on the wing
19 Jul 2007, 10:04 am
Kerneels
Who did you place buffaloes on?
19 Jul 2007, 10:14 am
Not Yet Bod – but at those odds it is hard to ignore the Convicts and the Frogs… if/when I get my vouchers it will probably go 50-50 on those two.
(I still want SA to win it, but if we don’t I have a feeling it will be one of those two…)
19 Jul 2007, 10:23 am
I cannot confirm anything, and I really rate Wikus, but it does not look good for the man.
I hope for once the info is wrong.
19 Jul 2007, 10:25 am
Kerneels
I meant on the Open
19 Jul 2007, 10:26 am
vindicated!
That is also sooo old!!!
Yeesh. Almost stale!
19 Jul 2007, 10:28 am
PissAnt we need more that that!
Why is the capt appealing for calm?
Why is the riot squad on standby?
Why will the selection committee be wearing helmets and flack jackets?
19 Jul 2007, 10:33 am
Why is the world round and not flat?
Why am I here?
19 Jul 2007, 10:35 am
Bod – sorry man!
My picks are:
Ernie
Angel
Poulter
Schwartzel
and my tie breakers:
Ernie
Phil
Scott
If the wind picks up more than a 2-club the Iron Tiger is f*%ked… The smart mony says a four day wind-free Carnoustie will not happen.
19 Jul 2007, 10:35 am
Why am I part of the rat race?
Why is Robert McBride still op vrye voet?
Why does Richard Branson not donate money to me?
19 Jul 2007, 10:37 am
Why is golf so interesting?
Why do thousands watch motor racing?
Why didn’t the Nandos curling team win any gold medals at Olympics?
19 Jul 2007, 10:39 am
Kerneels
I think you are going with your heart a bit there. The SA boys seem to have hit our eternal nemisis… the mental block.
I have put a couple down on Jim Furyk… I need the cash.
19 Jul 2007, 10:41 am
Watch Ernie. Watch Richard Sterne. And watch Trevor.
Those boys are going to do us proud.
19 Jul 2007, 10:47 am
nah Bod – it was always between Ernie and Scott for me, the yanks seem to struggle on links courses (except Tiger, and only as long as he doesn’t need to hit his driver).
The SA boys have a shot, but I think those who play most of their golf on the USPGA are going to struggle on this course (Trev and the boys). Schwartzel is a bit of a ‘buite perd’, but IMO he is one of the finest young players out there…
19 Jul 2007, 10:48 am
I hope so gentlemen, I hope so…
19 Jul 2007, 10:58 am
Good luck wikus. Seems you may be in for dissappointment. Depends on
a. JW’s forward contingent, who replaces Schalk.
b. political ‘neccessety’
19 Jul 2007, 11:31 am
Bod, Kerneels
BBC wheather forecast this morning looked like Tiger can shelve his driver for the last three days. That will make him more accurate I reckon. The yank is going to win this…
But I’ll put money on a Scandinavian this time of the summer
19 Jul 2007, 11:51 am
PFS – I hope he doesn’t…at least it’s raining today which should make the course play longer, now we just need a bit of a breeze…
19 Jul 2007, 11:57 am
Wikus MOET world cup toe gaan.
Hy is volgens my die 2de beste vlank in SA. Schalk is nr1. Al speel Jake vir Schalk en Wikus saam dink ek dit kan net goed wees vir die Bokke.
Ek sou graag die volgende los trio wil saam sie
6. Schalk Burger
7. Wikus van Heerden
8. Pierre Spies
19 Jul 2007, 12:02 pm
#79 Howsit Kerneels
I played St Andrews Oct 05 which is just across the bay from Carnoustie. That afternoon the rain came in from the sea and although it was three months later than where we are now, the blinking wind and rain got through everything. I ended up so cold I could play any proper shot on the 18th and ended up in the adjacent building three times :-}
Same will happen the next three days and good luck to the SAfas playing, hope the young guys can negotiate the weather better.
19 Jul 2007, 12:09 pm
Ryan,
If you think Brakpan is dull, you have obviously never been there during happy hour…
And who wants Paris, France anyhoo when you can sip on a Castle in Paris, next to the Vaal?
19 Jul 2007, 12:11 pm
Hope you there 2 mate
19 Jul 2007, 17:57 pm
watson is not in the world cup squad as he told them he was not available for selection. he does not want to play under jake white. he was unavailable for selection.
19 Jul 2007, 18:56 pm
wikus plays like a donkey,he shouldn’t be going to the world cup.
19 Jul 2007, 19:20 pm
hi – visit RUGBYHEAVEN.COM, there’s a rumour that the ANC are forcing Watson into the squad, he is very talented, Floors is as good, what do my esteemed afficionadoes think !
19 Jul 2007, 19:32 pm
Jy sal die spanne maak Wikus! Jy was die beste speler op die Australie en Nieu-Seeland toer.
19 Jul 2007, 19:58 pm
6. Blondeburger
7. Van Dutchie
8. Juan Smith
20 Jul 2007, 02:05 am
good luck Wikus!!!!
21 Jul 2007, 14:44 pm
Smith will never match Wikus’ physicality so would Bobby never match the much faster ,stronger Spies ,Nor would Kankowski ,No one matches Habana on the left wing,The FLYHALF situation is unsolved,Butch will start but guys like Derik,Peter,Monty are more capable,The centre pairing should stay the same so should the T5
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