Saffas abroad
16 May 2010
Keo.co.za looks at the South Africans who performed in European club action this weekend.
Brendan Venter, in his first season in charge, led Saracens to their first Premiership final in seven attempts as they beat Northampton. Schalk Brits scored the winning try and although his lineout throwing faltered at times, his general play was exemplary. Petrus du Plessis, Mouritz Botha, captain Ernst Joubert, Neil de Kock and Brad Barritt all started, while Justin Melck and Derick Hougaard came off the bench.
For Norhampton, Bulls-bound Juandre Kruger delivered another industrious all-round performance and must come into contention for the Boks’ Test against Wales in Cardiff on 5 June. Brian Mujati also started and scored a try.
In the other semi, Bath’s Butch James, Michael Claassens and Luke Watson couldn’t have their desired impact as the Bath pack were massacred after half-time. James and Claassens were both brilliant and aggressive in defence and with a better platform they could’ve had more of a say on attack. Watson was also one of Bath’s better players.
In the Top 14 play-offs, Joe van Niekerk‘s Toulon’s fairytale campaign came to an end with a dramatic 35-29 loss to Clermont in extra time. Van Niekerk carried on his inspirational form, while Ross Skeate came off the bench. Interestingly for the victors, Marius Joubert started at inside centre.
In the other play-off, Perpignan ensured they reach another final when they beat Toulouse 21-13. Daan Human and Shaun Sowerby were again in Toulouse’s run-on team, but they couldn’t stop the defending champions from winning a string of penalties that handed them the win. Gavin Hume started at No 10 for Perpignan.
In his final game for Munster, Jean de Villiers went off injured as his side were knocked out of the Magners League by Leinster. For the victors, CJ van der Linde came on after 46 minutes.
18 Comments
16 May 2010, 19:01 pm
and we sit with the lions??
16 May 2010, 19:04 pm
can the lions union afford their salaries grant?
16 May 2010, 19:07 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-2: ja….i know….still a pity…..i reckon both SA and Kiwis could easily put together a fantastic super rugby outfit from these okes….damn shame….but i understand the maths.
Couldnt bring myself to watch the lions on sat….just so sad.
16 May 2010, 19:21 pm
Come back home Jean, think of your combination with Fourie and how potent you are together.
16 May 2010, 19:25 pm
@fuzzy(fuzzy)-4: Jean would look better in a Sharks jersey I think, along with Cooper
16 May 2010, 20:01 pm
JDV should go to CT. DeJongh to the Sharks. Sharks need someone who can make that position his own for 2 – 3 seasons or more. JDV will probably go to France straight after the world cup.
16 May 2010, 20:12 pm
Bye Jean ***
thanks for helping munster. i really hope he lights up the tri-nations this season. word in the north hemisphere is that jean will return to munster following the world cup.
16 May 2010, 20:30 pm
You always forget to mention Brett Sharman of Northampton (formerly Bulls) and Regardt Dreyer, although to be fair I think Regardt stayed on the bench.
Sharman is English-qualified, but unlike Brad Barritt he is not tied to England by a B team cap.
Pieter Dixon also came off the bench for Bath, and we all like to think of Jacques Burger as one of us, despite being Namibian.
Anyway, 20 to 25 players from South Africa involved in the play off stages of 3 foreign competitions is a commendable achievement. Cream rises to the top.
Maira, I’m sure Jean will go back to Thomond if asked, but I really worry that his body is breaking down. I wince every time I see him in contact and he runs without straightening his knees. Needs a lot of physio.
16 May 2010, 20:34 pm
Get as many of them to play a test for the Boks if they haven’t already and stop the bloody english from poaching the Bok talent. I like the idea of the northern boks for this tour
.
17 May 2010, 06:52 am
Except maybe for Jean de Villiers I don’t miss any of them:
The Current Springbok side would probably look like this:
15.) Zane Kircner
14.) JP Pietersen
13.) Jacque Fourie
12.) Wynand Olivier
11.) Bryan Habana
10.) Morne Steyn
9.) Fourie du Preez
8.) Pierre Spies
7.) Juan Smith
6.) Schalk Burger
5.) Victor Matfield
4.) Bakkies Botha
3.) Jannie Du Plessis
2.) John Smit
1.) Beast Mtawarira
16.) Bismarck du Plessis
17.) Wicus Blaauw
18.) Andries Bekker
19.) Francois Louw
20.) Ruan Pienaar
21.) Peter Grant
22.) Juan de Jongh
I don’t think there’s place for any of the Saffas except JdV
17 May 2010, 06:55 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-10:
Bakkies Botha is so off form – how do you fit him in? On name only! No ways. Better locks than him at the moment mate. Flip vd Merwe way ahead of him at present and so is Rossouw.
17 May 2010, 07:06 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-11:
Form is temporary mate. Flip van der Merwe is dumber than Bakkies. I don’t understand some of you guys. Why does everybody want to get rid of John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield and up till recently Schalk Burger???? If you are brave enough to put young bucks to replace these hard men, then you probably not the Sprinbok coach and thank goodness for that.
17 May 2010, 07:17 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-12: I agree with you bro! Some of these people are so critical! These players in question have given so much and still have two seasons to give for the boks atleast!! However i think if someone really is good enough then they should be considered but the legend doesnt just get thrown away! Like Brussow he is better than Schalk imo but Schalk is still there and starting and playing his heart out! We cant get sentimental either we need to pick the best but form doesnt determine the best! The question is who gets the job done? Bakkies 9/10 gets the job done and the same goes for the other players!
17 May 2010, 07:24 am
@OzBok789(OzBok789)-13:
Brussouw vs Schalk: If it was last years crazy rules where defense was the primary objective then I would say Brussouw but in terms of continuity, attack, defense and scourging I’d pick Schalk. Unfortunately Brussouw was injured so we can’t make a comparison but from the form of the either out and out opensiders I think he would struggle under the new rules and funny enough may now be the one who is a walking yellow card.
17 May 2010, 07:47 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-14: Mate Brussow was key in their wins at the start of the season once he was out they played catch up and then to lose Smith was the end! But i get what you are say i just think Brussouw is a turn over specialist! Burger is a freaking hard worker! No one else matches him with work done on the field but brussow cant be out fetched so it depends what you want! I personally think more tries are scored from turnovers than from any other element in the game! Thats why ill go for Brussow but i like schalk so i dont mind him there!!:) much of a muchness
17 May 2010, 09:45 am
@The Bill(The Bill)-6: I’ve been saying the same thing re du Jongh and de villiers. It will be great for SA rugby to have Jean and Jacques playing a full super 14 together with du Jongh playing in his preferred no.13 jersey.
The Sharks need to make some clever purchases in the off season. du Jongh, Burton Francois, Pienaar only aloud to play 10 with Kockett kicking for poles, a lock and an inside centre at the very least
17 May 2010, 09:49 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-14: Ja the rule changes have helped Schalk big time regarding his rivalry with Brussouw (and obviously Brussouws injury). Will the new rules apply to all international games though?
17 May 2010, 17:05 pm
@ Rugby Student – I disagree mate. Firstly – we MUST get Frans Steyn back. He is in a class of his own at 15 – not to mention an absolute match-winner with his drop-kicks from the back, and huge 60m penalties – which has a huge impact on the psyche and moral of the opposition. Like JP Pietersen – he’s a big match player…
Also – BJ Botha – we must get him back too. He is streets ahead of any cuurent tight head in SA at the moment. Butch James would also be great cover for Morne Steyn, and Michael Claasens is playing great rugby too…
That’s 3 “must-have’s” currently playing in Europe – Jean de Villiers; Fran Steyn and BJ Botha.
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