Back to his best
21 Apr 2009
Pierre Spies believes he can become the world’s premier No 8.
Speaking in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale now, Spies said he would not make excuses for having confidence in his ability.
‘If you look at the guys out there, not much separates them. I’d like to think I have that extra bit that sets me apart. I know it’ll be perceived as arrogance, like: “Listen to this guy talking himself up. He needs to learn his place.” That’s the way we are as humans isn’t it? We’re encouraged to aspire to be the greatest, then shot down when we do. But it’s not arrogance. I know my limitations and strengths and I’d like to believe that I can be the best in the world.’
Spies also speaks out about allegations that he tested positive for steroids before the 2007 World Cup, how religion helped him stave off depression during that period and his battle with Ryan Kankowski for the Bok jersey, while Heyneke Meyer and Jake White give unique insight into what makes Spies the player he is.
Also in the new issue:
– An out of shape, demotivated JP Pietersen failed to score a single try in last year’s Super 14. The Sharks winger speaks candidly about that nightmare period and how he got his mojo back.
– Sireli Naqelevuki on adjusting to life in Cape Town, Fiji’s player drain to New Zealand, why foreigners should be allowed to play for South African sides, being busted for smoking marijuana, and why he desperately wants to play in the 2011 World Cup.
– George Smith on his goals for the season, why he enjoys playing under the hybrid ELVs, whether Australia could field a competitive fifth Super Rugby side and who he’d pick for the Springbok loose trio.
– With Dan Carter still injured, Luke McAlister’s return to New Zealand in May after a successful two-year stint with Sale could be a godsend for the All Blacks.
– Jake White column: ‘The Boks mustn’t underestimate the Lions’.
– Having enjoyed success on tour in 1971 and 1974, does Welsh legend Gareth Edwards believe this year’s Lions will return from South Africa as heroes too?
– Why getting sevens into the Olympics would help rugby become a truly global game.
– CJ van der Linde desperately wants to be in the Bok front row against the British & Irish Lions, but playing overseas could count against him.
– England’s Kiwi centre Riki Flutey lifts the lid on a youth of gambling, drinking and violence and speaks of his horror time in an Argentinean jail.
– When Matt Stevens became addicted to alcohol and cocaine he knew he was gambling with his rugby career. The England prop explains why he did it, how he reacted when he heard he’d failed a drugs test and his desire to fight his way back from a two-year ban.
– While the Varsity Cup provides a party atmosphere, winning matters.
– Clint Eastwood’s big-screen portrayal of the Springboks’ 1995 World Cup win will tell the story of a divided nation united by rugby. SA Rugby magazine finds out more about the movie starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.
– We speak to Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal who added a Six Nations winners’ medal to those he earned in the Tri-Nations and World Cup.
PLUS: Free double-sided poster featuring Keegan Daniel and JP Nel.
Click here to subscribe to the mag
130 Comments
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21 Apr 2009, 12:46 pm
#98 Ashley:
Was he at the Lions as well?
And now Trompie has also left them, for Kimberley, would you believe….
They lost two great players then.
I really hope to see Nokwe against the Lions
21 Apr 2009, 12:46 pm
see the rassie vote is quite even!!
296 for sacking him
296 against
21 Apr 2009, 12:47 pm
#95 Pietman: big big mistake… i remember jake picked him for the springboks and nobody even knew who he was.. now look at him..
#98 Ashley: hehe yeah they must be regretting it big time..
i do actually remember the bulls wanting him last year but apparently he didnt want to come to the bulls..
21 Apr 2009, 12:48 pm
#99 Sheriff: #101 Pietman:
Swak foto, ek het hom glad nie herken nie, eers gedink dis JP Nel!
21 Apr 2009, 12:59 pm
#101 Pietman:
unfortunately
nokwe’s case highlights how many talent can get lost because of idiots whose either coaching, running the different unions, or the k@k structures in place at certain unions.
if i remember correctly the lions didnt want him because of deficiencies and so did the stormers!
21 Apr 2009, 13:01 pm
#104 Pietman:
ek sien darem hulle’t die keer seker gemaak die ou op die voorblad vou nie sy arms nie
…
dit lyk nogal vir my of hulle sy arms moes vashou om te keer dat hy nie gevoude arms staan nie!
21 Apr 2009, 13:02 pm
#104 Pietman:
Ja swakker as swak.
Hy lyk amper asof hy poseer vir ‘n tronkfoto.
Ek’t gedog fotograwe moet ‘n oog hê vir dit wat goed lyk, baie naief van my…
21 Apr 2009, 13:02 pm
anyway guys, time for lunch.
see you later!
21 Apr 2009, 13:03 pm
#105 Ashley:
Jongi is in elk geval beter as Habs.
Habs lyk my is halfblind – kan nie bal vang nie.
21 Apr 2009, 13:04 pm
#108 Ashley:
Pagad chips?
21 Apr 2009, 13:16 pm
#66 Tbozknows:
yip both chav and nokwe not great in contact, but that sheer speed gives oppo backlines a whole lot more to think about cos they have to cover those speed merchants very tightly.
#70 Ashley:
must say tho, nokwe looks a completely different player this year and could be the real deal, whereas before he just looked too uncertain and fragile. he could be used as a real attacking weapon especially if he’s confidence is boulstered even more.
21 Apr 2009, 14:36 pm
#111 cab:
agree. he definately just look that more confident
…
is it perhaps because someone showed confidence in his ability?
anyway, nokwe isnt the first player deemed not good enough in the cape … the list of such players who achieved success elsewhere is long
therefore my reason for describing them (wp coaches, decision makers etc)
as
c*nts!!
21 Apr 2009, 14:49 pm
#111 cab: Nokwe looks to have bulked up a bit since last season. I just wish Plumtree would get his cheque book out and purchase him, lord knows we need another class wing at the Sharks!
I honestly believe we would’ve won on Saturday if we had Nokwe instead of Ndungane. I still can’t get over how Odwa failed to score a try with no-one to beat! Jeez even Demas wouldn’t have screwed up so badly. Why didn’t he just dive for the ball? Useless!
Vulindlu must start in place of Odwa from now on, he’s inexperienced but it just can’t get any worse than Saturday’s performance! I don’t think you can blame the Sharks lose solely on Steyn, Ndungane should also take responsibility as well as Pietersen because he should’ve picked up that ball rather than toeing it down field…eish!
21 Apr 2009, 14:53 pm
First choice 11 and 14 against the Lions should be Habana and JPP with Nokwe and Mentz as cover on the bench.
21 Apr 2009, 17:01 pm
#113 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke:
sharks squandered alot of chances on sat, pretty dissapointing really, could count alot. seem to lose to the weakest teams in the comp or at least those with the lightest packs. strange.
21 Apr 2009, 17:55 pm
#26 Tacitus:
Jonahs whole career – prior to his Test debut vs France, on the wing – was at no8.
Fantastic coverage of Jonah playing 1st XV rugby, swatting guys off like flies. Literally. He was no8 for NZ Seondary Schoolboys for 2/3yrs.
#33 Tacitus:
Thats really interesting, Makes sense, re his anticipation. Quick but not lightning. But lightning in the top 2 inches.
Similarly I like Dougie Howlett. No sidestep or power like S.Williams or Jonah but seriously serially concentrating, ready to pounce on every opportunity. Similarly, in that way, to Habana.
I still put Habana as the best wing around altho his form this year is surely just building. Surely ?!
21 Apr 2009, 18:18 pm
#115 cab: We really did miss many very good chances. Knocked on a few times right on their line. Many other chances just went begging. Very poor handling errors. If I actually count all the times we should have scored we actually should have put 20 past them and won with a bonus point. Its gone we have to move on now. Maybe wont even make the semi. If we have to travel to NZ then hope we don’t make the semi. Rather just get ready for the Lions tour. Players will be just far too tired. We need a home semi and final. Not sure it will happen now.
This year we should have asked for the S14 to start a week or two early. As we have the Lions tour staring so soon after the S14. Wish S14 ended this year mid May. Would have given players a rest before starting to train for the Lions series. Going to be tough. By the time we play 3N we will be dead on our feet. Far too much rugby being played. One tourney finishes and the next starts. Crazy. Need breaks before each tourney.
21 Apr 2009, 22:06 pm
To Spies
if you want to be a premier 8 and have a complete game you have got to learn to tackle. i am not talking about making a tackle so that the guy doesnt run right through or round you and you get him to ground….i am talking about learning to OWN the tackle. you have got to learn to use your size and strength to dominate in the tackle.
at present you are making tackles the same way someone like brent russell or other smaller guys make hits, by just trying to get your man to the ground. that is not good enough for an 8. every tackle is an opportunity to impact the situation at ruck time.
as Chopper would say, “harden the eff up!”
21 Apr 2009, 23:41 pm
i dnt see y people keep suggesting haban be dropped .i fu ask me its not gonna happen and it should nt !
fisrt of habs is a better all round player ,nokwe scores lucky tries habana scored an intercept under tremendous pressure with an overlap and he still pulled it off with a textbook hand off !
secondly the cheetahs prefer to give the ball out wide to their dangerman nokwe whilst moren steyn rather prefers to kick or give it to the bruiser forwards .
then theres defence HABS has nade 31 tackles compared to nokwes 12 enough said !!
21 Apr 2009, 23:49 pm
#118 Tomsta: I agree.
21 Apr 2009, 23:51 pm
#120 SodaJoe: But I think he’s very close. Compared to last year he’s doing a lot of hard yards, he sucks in a lot of defenders, and he just needs to know that a man of his size scares the fk out of someone on the other side.
It seems more technique to me.
Maybe Buck can give him a lesson or 2.
21 Apr 2009, 23:54 pm
#121 SodaJoe: More important to the Bok cause is 10 & 3.
Ruan needs to own the position for ever. (I hope he is doing a LOT of practice kicking). Butch should stay in retirement.
And Smit is a 2. CJ or BJ at 3. Simple.
Number 8 – and loosies in general we have plenty. Although Piet Snor might just have to get used to Schalk not being an opensider.
21 Apr 2009, 23:58 pm
#52 Richie: Have you ever seen Kanko on a run? There are damn few wingers that can beat him at full speed, much less round him on the outside!! He does take a bit of distance to get up to speed though. He is faster than Spies.
You could see Nokwe surge past him in the first few metres, but not enough in the long run to get past him totally.and let me make this clear: Nokwe is BLOODY fast.
22 Apr 2009, 00:01 am
Why dont the Boks get Habana to play at 13/15 and then we can use Nokwe as a Bok winger? I am MOST ipressed with Nokwe- he has realy matured into agreat winger – he has finishing abilities second to none.
22 Apr 2009, 00:03 am
#123 SjamBok: Shimmie. But I would be happier if he ran straight every now & then. Took the hit and drew in defenders. Like a real 8.
He is blitz vinnig, but he is a known entity now, and they know if they crowd him he crabs sideways.
22 Apr 2009, 00:05 am
#124 SjamBok: Good finisher, but kak defender. Especially vs high ball. Weak tackler too. Maybe in 2 years time.
He does make finishing look effortless though.
22 Apr 2009, 00:07 am
#124 SjamBok: Terblanche, Zane, Ludick. All are excellent 15′s – why would we convert an out of form Habana in to a full back?
22 Apr 2009, 00:08 am
#127 SodaJoe: And Conrad is so out of form, what a pity. But he’s definitely not in top 3 or even 4 fullbacks (Daniller is very good too).
22 Apr 2009, 00:29 am
#127 SodaJoe: Because they dont have Habana’s speed in space.
Expect the rugby rules to change again soon to make it more of a certainty that attacking teams get their ball back from a ruck. This means that teams will prefer to run more and kick less, and will make Habana useful at fullback. the current uncertainty means that teams prefer to kick and chase, which is ruining rugby as a spectacle. I dont like the aerial ping pong -nobody does- too much like Aussie rules football!
Terblanch is good, but getting old. Zane is good and shows promise, but is still not as fast with a bit of space to run in. Good off the bench.
For the current rules, it just makes the most sense to have Steyn at 15, to slot drop goals from the halfway line every time that they kick the ball in field on defence. It is REALLY stupid not to use this option – really easy points that no-one can match! Even if he only slots 1 in 5, this happens many times a game. We need to play the percentages cleverly.
Then, when they start kicking the ball out, we get a good attacking platform in their half. If they kick it out directly after passing back, we get an even better attacking platform.
But for now, 13 is probably best suited for Hanbana with is drop in speed, his reading of the games and intercepts (look what JdV did from 13 with his intercepts). His pace wil also make space on his outside for Nokwe, since opposition will stillneed plenty of manpower to mark him.
22 Apr 2009, 06:21 am
#129 SjamBok: disagree abt habana. the guy doesnt have the game to play 13. he is a winger through and through. sure he can cover the position at provincial and super level but at test he just hasnt got it. the will also need to learn how to pass effectively at pace to be able to play 13 and/or 15. at the moment habana is not good at passing the ball.
sure terblanche has made a good comeback. he provides solidarity and gives guys around him a lot of confidence. i would however stick with jantjies, and i think the coach will stick with him too, and possibly be a similar case of jp’s poor prov and super form and then striking hot for test level. jantjies i feel needs to be given the torch and we just gotta believe in him. dropping him now for a player who will only serve 1 last season in bok colours is hardly a step forward. jantjies will be prime age for 15 come next world cup. his maturity and presence then with the experience over these next few years will be vital. i reckon you put faith back in him.
steyn at most is cover for jdv at 12. possible bench cover at 15/10, but only if injuries occur. the last few weeks of seeing him at 10 for the sharks proves the kid has skill, no doubt about that, but also proves he doesnt have the game right now to play 10. defensive lines like the crusaders only needed one player to push up quickly and the defenders in the inside channels to come up slower to convince steyn there was a gap to exploit by stepping inside. he fell for it over and over again, and he didnt seem capable of identifying this strategy and allowing his outside backs to get fluid ball. if steyn is going to be encouraged to remain an instinctive player the boks will need him to be surrounded by more astute ball players to give steyn the ball when its right (@12) and therefor put him positions to let his instinct run wild without negative effects.
i do like nokwe too. for me its either him or chavanga. both provide electrifying speed and finishing ability, and both at this time still bring defensive frailties. but i cant look past keep our wing combination intact for Lions tour.
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