Troubles of a white wing
21 Apr 2010
Gerhard van den Heever faces immense obstacles in his quest to earn Springbok selection.
The Bulls wing wants to go to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. And in an ideal world, one uncomplicated by Bryan Habana’s legacy and accepted but flawed selection norms, he’d have a realistic hope too.
This, after all, is the kid who ended his rookie season in 2009 having scored 11 tries in 19 provincial matches, and at the time of writing had bagged four in seven Super 14 starts. Rich in promise and with all the technical and physical attributes a modern wing needs to be successful, his Springbok ambition isn’t misplaced.
But his is a unique battle – one that no other elite South African wing has to fight.
It’s one, firstly, for acceptance and appreciation among the Loftus disciples, who are still in mourning after the passing – figuratively speaking – of their messiah, Habana. Van den Heever is yet to prove he is worthy of lacing Habana’s boots, let alone filling them.
Those in the know at the Bulls tell me he’s quicker than Habana (a South African champion hurdler at school, he once ran 13.7sec over 110m and boasts a 200m best of 20.9). He’s quicker than that now, but speed alone will never see him escape Habana’s haunting shadow.
Habana’s legend was built on feats of brilliance, the most memorable of which came at Kings Park in 2007. That last-gasp try against the Sharks captured the Bulls’ first Super 14 title. Appreciation for Habana became reverence. Whoever succeeded him would be judged by the standard he had set.
Habana was the Bulls’ adrenalin-charged central nervous system, renowned for his ability to spark the team into life with impossibly brilliant feats. Viewed in this context, Van den Heever’s lot is not an enviable one.
He addresses the subject of being compared to Habana with the naivety of the man-child that he is.
‘People shouldn’t compare me to Bryan,’ he says. ‘Of course they shouldn’t,’ I counter, ‘but the reality is they do and are, and will continue to for some time.’
‘I can’t control that. I can’t control what people think. I just know I’m my own man. Bryan is the best wing in the world. Nobody can fill his boots,’ is his rebuttal.
‘Sure,’ I probe further, ‘but as unrealistic as the expectation is, the nature of people is to measure the replacement of an exceptional player by the standards that player has set. Let me ask you this, where do you think you stand in the Bulls supporters’ estimation?
‘I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that.’
Of course he hasn’t. The question was a foolish one to pose to a 20-year-old who was probably oblivious to the issue until I raised it. Such complexities didn’t register with him. Keeping his starting place through consistent performance is his primary, all-consuming, objective. But his ignorant bliss will soon be disturbed by the realisation of the magnitude of the task ahead. The Bulls’ faithful are looking for a new demi-god to worship. Van den Heever’s mortality will only be tolerated for so long. Supernatural is what is demanded.
‘That’s unfair pressure to put on a youngster,’ Bulls coach Frans Ludeke says. ‘We see a bright future for Gerhard, but we’re realistic about his development and understand that we need to have patience with him.
‘Bryan was a special player who will forever be remembered as a legend at Loftus. But I think it’s testament to Gerhard’s talent that people compare him to Bryan. Even Bryan said he [Van den Heever] is a better player at 20 than he was at the same age. That’s a massive compliment and he will only improve.
‘We’re giving him time and space to progress naturally. I hope others will do the same.’
Van den Heever could have done without Habana weighing in on the issue of his successor in a post-match interview after their Currie Cup triumph in 2009.
It was a throwaway line: ‘I think Gerhard has the potential to be a Bulls and Springbok great.’ The implications of which Habana didn’t consider at the time. He was paying a massive compliment to his heir apparent, but inadvertently dumped a jersey that weighed 100kg on the kid and slipped lead boots on to his feet.
Van den Heever remains unfazed.
‘That comment never made me feel burdened. Why would it? I grew up idolising Bryan and for me to feel down about him saying kind things like that about me to the media would be foolish.’
But there is an uncertainty detectable in Van den Heever’s voice. Earlier he told me ‘I back my ability’ when asked if he ever felt inhibited by a fear of failure, then later admits that he ‘sometimes’ thinks he is out of his depth.
That inconsistency isn’t unexpected from one so young. It does, however, remind us that Van den Heever’s is as much a battle to emerge from Habana’s shadow, as it is one for emotional and cognitive equilibrium.
Then there’s the issue of Springbok selection and the World Cup, which poses an altogether new challenge.
Not since Nick Mallett routinely penned Pieter Rossouw’s name on the team sheet has a Springbok coach consistently selected a white wing.
This has become the domain of the dark-skinned player, and the prospects of the perception that white is whack changing are slim, unless Van den Heever plays so exceptionally that he makes himself invaluable to the Springboks.
And even if he should master levitation, acquire a jet pack and blow his opposition away in the coming year, he would still be competing for just one position, given that Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is highly unlikely to look beyond Habana as his starting left wing.
That leaves Van den Heever competing with eight wingers (at the time of writing, all of whom were black, and one of who, JP Pietersen, is a World Cup winner) for the right wing berth.
‘If I suggested those were insurmountable odds, what would your response be?’
‘I don’t think like that,’ he says, ‘I don’t think about the issues you’ve raised, or all the wingers I have to get past to make the Springbok squad. Maybe it’s naive, but I’d like to think that if I’m the best of the bunch I’ll get picked.’
‘But that hasn’t been the reality of Springbok rugby recently,’ I interject. ‘The best players sometimes don’t get picked for various reasons.’
‘The Springbok coach has said on a number of occasions that he will reward those who perform consistently. I can only trust that he stays true to his word,’ he says.
Only time will tell whether Van den Heever will die in the darkness cast by Habana’s shadow, or whether he’ll stay the execution and build a legacy of his own. This year’s rugby season will be decisive in answering that question.
Time is not an ally. Conclusions about his aptitude for Super Rugby will be drawn at the end of their 2010 campaign, or perhaps sooner, without due consideration of his age. Even exceptional performances will still not guarantee that he even gets a passing glance from the Springbok selectors.
Welcome to the world of Gerhard van den Heever. It isn’t a place for the faint-hearted.
By Ryan Vrede
– This article first appeared in the April issue of SA Rugby magazine. The May issue is on sale now.
566 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 12 » Show All
21 Apr 2010, 10:54 am
@stormersboy: 197. Yeah, you are a bit atypical – a sane, decent Stormer supporter on Keo.
21 Apr 2010, 10:55 am
@grant10: 184. Wrong G10, my husband is Greek, so I am more than up to speed
21 Apr 2010, 10:56 am
@Dawn:
Never mind a kilt
You dont want even to go near there in a full suit of body armour AND chastity belt… full stop
21 Apr 2010, 10:56 am
@Heavens Game:
You are a Spear supporter right?
21 Apr 2010, 10:58 am
@RugbyRulz: mmmmmmm Greek, i could do with a Makynos Vima from Babylon right now.
21 Apr 2010, 10:58 am
@MacToogie: MacStooge 198 I will save you the bother of posting the same comment tomorrow.
Feel free never to respond to any of my comments… care factor = Zero
21 Apr 2010, 10:58 am
@Dawn: 195. Pretend its a skirt. That should do it for you. And don’t flap…
21 Apr 2010, 10:59 am
@stormersboy: 197
Barca will take them at home i reckon….last 15 minutes inter were on the ropes….but great game.
21 Apr 2010, 11:00 am
@RugbyRulz: 202
Good people the Greeks….bankrupted there country…but what the hell…..
21 Apr 2010, 11:01 am
@grant10: True, so typical is their attitude too… What the hell
21 Apr 2010, 11:02 am
@grant10:
The chosen one will be too good for Barca. Classical comment of his on how he will now be blamed for the volcano..
How we miss that man…
21 Apr 2010, 11:02 am
@RugbyRulz: ummmmmm, huh?? what did i say wrong now?
21 Apr 2010, 11:02 am
@grant10: 209 Greeks are a bit like Stormer supporters particulalry those from Camps Bay. They all like a bit of Greek, don’t they G10 (wink, wink)
21 Apr 2010, 11:02 am
@RugbyRulz:
Morning RR – Don’t use language here. We might start blogging in Greek.
21 Apr 2010, 11:03 am
@Heavens Game:
?? ??? ??????????, ??? ????, ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ? ????? ????? ????!!
21 Apr 2010, 11:03 am
@MacToogie: @212 – Oh so it is not only me! Maybe it is the way we project things.
21 Apr 2010, 11:05 am
@justrugby: ? = Applause? Why thank you Mini-me
21 Apr 2010, 11:06 am
@Heavens Game:
You are a annoying limp **** prat ……. and still no rugby contribution from you since day 1 !!!!!
21 Apr 2010, 11:07 am
@Bill Reyts: No problem, blog in whatever language you are comfortable with.
I only swear a little, I definitely do not punctuate with it.
21 Apr 2010, 11:08 am
@justrugby: Is that so? Rgby does exist outside the Stormers. You do know that, don’t you?
21 Apr 2010, 11:09 am
@RugbyRulz: are you going to tell me what i did to offend you RR?
21 Apr 2010, 11:12 am
@Bod: 211
he will take over from Fergie at man u…
21 Apr 2010, 11:12 am
@grant10: 208 They may well do that, but by 2 goals? I guess they have the team to do it, and the Spanish will be all over them to raise their game. The Noukamp must be one of the most partizan venues to play at, even more than Old Trafford. Will be a good return leg regardless…
Not as bad as loftus though…..
21 Apr 2010, 11:13 am
@Heavens Game: 213
you a closet my man….no doubtwhatsoever.
Bass guitarist for the Village People.
21 Apr 2010, 11:14 am
Dear Ryan
“Wondering why Cheetahs are where they are?, thats should be you next article heading. Here is an example, this was last year September’s article
” Johannesburg. – Fabian Juries, Man of the Match in two of the Free State’s last three Currie Cup matches after being a late inclusion, was again not selected for the side which plays the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Saturday.
Juries’ Sevens Springbok teammate Danwel Demas takes over on the wing because of his better kicking proficiency, while two other Sevens Boks, Lionel Mapoe (injured hamstring) and Jongi Nokwe also swap places on the other wing.
In an interesting move, the Cheetahs have selected young Coenie Oosthuizen as tighthead.
Former Springbok great Os du Randt, who looks after the Free State scrum, is confident Oosthuizen is strong and talented enough to play on both sides. He has impressed on the other side of the scrum, but the Cheetahs’ management felt it wasn’t fair on the youngster to blood him at tighthead in the tough Currie Cup competition.
They are now confident he can take the step up.
Springbok No 6 Heinrich Brüssow is back in the side in place of Hendro Scholtz and, in another change, Louis Strydom starts as flyhalf in place of Jacques-Louis Potgieter who has injured his back.
The Free State team for Saturday: Hennie Daniller, Danwel Demas, Corné Uys, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Louis Strydom, Tewis de Bruyn, Ashley Johnson, Frans Viljoen, Heinrich Brüssow, David de Villiers, Nico Breedt (capt.), Coenie Oosthuizen, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez. Replacemenmts: WP Nel, Izak van der Westhuizen, Hendro Scholtz, Kabamba Floors, JP Joubert, JW Jonker, Fabian Juries. – Sapa”
21 Apr 2010, 11:14 am
@RugbyRulz:
Tolerance is something few posses! ??? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???
21 Apr 2010, 11:15 am
@Bill Reyts:
Oops it didn’t pick up the Greek? Sorry – I said a good day to you.
21 Apr 2010, 11:15 am
@MacToogie: You have not as yet offended my sensibilities. I referred you to your post #198, whereby you have reiterated your stance of yesterday.
21 Apr 2010, 11:16 am
@Heavens Game:
Yes I know, that’s why if the Sharks had listened to the basic advise and had played Ruan at 9 and JS at 2 or 1 from the first game , you might be real semi final contenders rather that a wish and a prayer contenders.
The fact that stormers fans highlighted this at the very begining shows you how astute our rugby brains are in CT !!!
Must be the Camps Bay boom hey !!!
21 Apr 2010, 11:16 am
@grant10: 223. “My man” is a bit possessive. G10 are you getting excited?
21 Apr 2010, 11:17 am
well kobus kitty thinks “hurdles” look like a girl…hehehe
21 Apr 2010, 11:17 am
This boereseuntjie will never make the Bok team…that’s just the way it is..!
21 Apr 2010, 11:18 am
@RugbyRulz: ahhhhhhh so you are a sheila then……. lol
21 Apr 2010, 11:19 am
@justrugby: 229. Yeah thos damn Sharks coaches should have listened to the completely sane views of some Stormers fans. After all they do follow the most complete, incredible, invincible team in the S14. (Sorry I couldn’t include successful in the hyperbole)
21 Apr 2010, 11:20 am
@justrugby: 229 agreed…it was so simple to point out the obvious and Sharkies just took everything so personally…now Ruan has shown he can be the best 9 in the country…why was everybody so one-eyed..?..except for Stormers supporters pointing out the obvious
21 Apr 2010, 11:22 am
@Storm outta hell:
LOL………we should share the CBB (camps bay boom )
21 Apr 2010, 11:22 am
@Bill Reyts: ??? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? <<< Kalimera means good day.
@MacToogie: Yes I am Australian
21 Apr 2010, 11:23 am
@Heavens Game:
AHHHHH…..so you do dispaly the ability to learn !!!!!!……..slowly, but you are making progress !!
21 Apr 2010, 11:23 am
@bokbal: @171
I think Keo must now be re-routed via China ?!
I had 1 article stopped 3 x, even tho I ethnically-cleansed that baby like never before.
21 Apr 2010, 11:24 am
@RugbyRulz:
I tried writing it in Greek and Keo picked it up as Hieroglyphics
21 Apr 2010, 11:25 am
plumtree today in the witness says sharks fortunes turnaround came when they settled on new sharks front row.
when i said that all these closets attacked me?
Very funny….they should listen to sage advice…..and it doesent even come at a cost…its free.
Plum…e mail me ,mate….dont listen to the Rangerman, HG,Ratel Brussow ****….
21 Apr 2010, 11:26 am
@justrugby: I’m in da winelands…we can mix in the Robertson Skunk with some CBB and have a blended Boomtime…at Newlands nogal
21 Apr 2010, 11:26 am
@justrugby: 238. Thank you so much. I just so want to be accepted… (sniff, sob, sniff).
Please “Bud”, please…
21 Apr 2010, 11:26 am
@Bill Reyts: My Greek is limited as my husband and his family speak predominantly English. If I can help ask away, I can always get my husband to translate if I get stuck.
21 Apr 2010, 11:28 am
@grant10: 241. The only “sage” you know or give is good ole Camps Bay boom. (wink, wink)
21 Apr 2010, 11:28 am
@Bod: @211
the ‘Special’ One needs to learn some respect, I hope he gets his @@@@@@@rse kicked and that smug arrogance wiped clean off his face.
(think youre right tho)
21 Apr 2010, 11:28 am
@Storm outta hell:
LOL……sounds like a plan…….shoud we invite HG ??
21 Apr 2010, 11:29 am
@RugbyRulz:
I don’t speak Greek! But I do speak Australian
It was so funny listening to an interview once, where the actress said she spoke American.
21 Apr 2010, 11:32 am
@Heavens Game: 243
You are accepted….
with Ranger man…and Ratel Brussow…you make up the 3 stooges….
The most moronic, senseless,rah,rah,pom pom ladies on keo….without a doubt….
Absolute closet loonies masquerading as rugby lovers….single cell organisms have more brains and knowledge.
wallys of note i tell you.
21 Apr 2010, 11:35 am
@justrugby: Bru…HG is permanently stoned with his head so far in the clouds he can’t see the obvious problems with his team that the Stormers fans so politely try and point out.
If someone told me Ricky is kak,I would not argue,just say he has his part to play
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