Gunning for greatness
17 May 2010
Pierre Spies has become one of the world’s elite No 8s. And if he and some of the game’s most respected figures are to be believed, he will get even better.
Former Bok technical adviser Eddie Jones is one of several experts who rate Spies in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week.
‘The breakdown law interpretations will see him become the pre-eminent No 8 in world rugby, simply because he’s light years ahead of any of the competition in terms of sheer athleticism and physicality,’ says Jones. ‘Who matches his pace? Nobody, not even [Ryan] Kankowski, who has some appreciable toe. Who matches his upper-body strength and leg drive? Same answer.’
In the same article, Spies explains how he’s learnt to treat adulation and criticism with equal contempt, and why his self-belief is unwavering.
‘I don’t think the media and public know what they want you to be sometimes – humble [read: self-effacing] or supremely confident,’ he says. ‘I don’t think I lack humility and neither am I apologetic about my own estimation of my standing in the game. I believe I have something special because I’m unlike most No 8s in terms of my pace, and my experience as a backline player gives me a more holistic understanding of how best to link with them and about attacking lines in the backline.’
Spies also talks about the 2011 Rugby World Cup, how South Africa’s success in New Zealand has removed the aura of invincibility Kiwi teams used to have, whether he’d consider playing overseas and why he’s looking forward to the soccer World Cup.
Also in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine:
– Keo on why Peter de Villiers must use this Test season to build Springbok squads for the 2011 and 2015 World Cups
– Wynand Olivier has mounted a serious challenge for the Springbok No 12 jersey
– The Stormers are no longer the South African softies of Super Rugby
– Nineteen-year-old Sharks fullback Pat Lambie on his Sharks debut, his rugby future, Stefan Terblanche’s influence, and being selected for the Baby Boks
– Brumbies fullback Julian Huxley has made a remarkable return to the game after being diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago
– Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu on what went wrong this season, how they can put things right, and why they won’t be medal contenders at the 2016 Olympics
– SA Referees manager Andre Watson on the new law interpretations, Saru’s scrum factory and the criticism of referees
– Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards on stopping the Springbok pack, South Africa’s fantastic depth and why the new law interpretations are good for Wales
– France centre Yannick Jauzion is teaching his younger rivals a lesson
– Italy tighthead Martin Castrogiovanni will give the Springbok scrum a stern examination in June
– Former All Blacks wing Jonah Lomu has found happiness on and off the field
– Plus: Jake White column and Jonathan Kaplan tests your knowledge of the laws
162 Comments
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17 May 2010, 09:22 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-148: no disrespect meant Taah, and obviously having met him you are much closer to the truth then I.
I truly think he can redefine the mould of a number 8, so will concede and say I misread his intentions…
17 May 2010, 09:32 am
No Tacitus yet? I thought he had an “alert” when the name Spies or Van Der Heever gets mentioned…
Probably late getting to work, his train is not running today…
17 May 2010, 09:34 am
SSSSPPPPIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS….!!!!
17 May 2010, 09:46 am
hehehe, Skopskiet accusing WO of not fronting up in defence is hilarious. the man is a serious defender, just go check the stats and see for yourself. he gets through plenty and donty miss much
look at how often his channel gets attacked. (i know you dont actually watch Bulls games so i’ll help you, -not very much)
17 May 2010, 10:13 am
I hate the Jake White article. There, I said it.
17 May 2010, 12:35 pm
Spies is a freak, if only he had the hands of Kanko he would be light years ahead of anything else with 8 on its back.
17 May 2010, 13:27 pm
Pierre, we need a seriously huge game from you this weekend.
you haven’t turned in your own standard of performance yet this season.
Nows the time, when the presurre is on and the oposition is the toughest.
Nows the time, get that lucky skullcap back on and lets start hitting the line at speed.
17 May 2010, 13:34 pm
Just writing this so I might be in the next issue of SA rugby!
17 May 2010, 16:44 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-152:
Tac is avoiving me like the plague after I called the last 5 Stormers correct…. including the snotklapping of both the Crusaders and the Bulls.
Even he is not querying the fact that its going to be a Stormers/ Crusaders final
17 May 2010, 17:45 pm
@Oubaas2009(Oubaas2009)-156: Ou top…nee man. At present Kanko has “pap in sy hande” He has dropped the ball a lot more this season than Spies.
SPies is the best 8 in SA at present and that is a fact. Adn he is still honing his skills at 8. He is not yet best in the world…but just give him till next year at the WC.
I knew SPies when he was still n’ little boytjie and there is nothing Prima donna or egotistic about young Pierre.
SPIES!!!!
17 May 2010, 18:18 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-152: tacitus doesn’t post unless the Bulls win or the Boks lose
23 May 2010, 15:20 pm
Better than the Jaque Fourie one which was boring! The Victor Matfield one was good and so is this Pierre Spies edition, I’d like to see an over-seas based player on the front next.
Thumps-up to Spies supporting the Soccer World Cup and to SA Rugby Magazine, though I’m not much of a soccer fan, let’s all get behind Bafana Bafana and support our country!!!
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