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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16 May 2010, 21:51 pm
@skopskiet(yliad)-65:
if you have vermeulen at 8 for boks and spies on bench spies can only really cover 8.
Juan or even burger can cover 8 with louw on bench,
16 May 2010, 21:54 pm
For years I have been wrestling with this dilemma: do I meet these guys ie embrace them unconditionally or do I write them off?
More often than not the latter seems more attractive.
Writing someone is not that hard – its like taking a ruler and drawing a line through someone’s name. Its as easy as that.
16 May 2010, 21:56 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-99:
hahaha
earthquakes only hit remote places like tulbagh every 50 years or so.
and we don’t really come across gangs unless one resides in or around the flats.
those cal gangs are serious though – been watching some documentaries – life not worth much for those low-lifes
16 May 2010, 21:57 pm
@Flametop(Flametop)-60: still not a bad place to place a stake Flame. Just make sure you don’t bring all your eggs. Leave some behind. I’ve just spent six days walking down the Wild Coast with mates. It would be difficult to beat that I’d have to say.
16 May 2010, 21:58 pm
@charo(charo)-103:
Yeah California is falling intot he ocean in more ways than one.
I was in Camps bay when the Cape town earth quake hit
I was inthe big one here Ca too Scary
16 May 2010, 22:04 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-100: hows it coach. California feeling the chill too boet? I watched the Bulls Saders game from the hotel pub in Morgan Bay, with perfect rights breaking in the background. Was dark but they were certainly audible.
16 May 2010, 22:05 pm
Im rehearsing for what Im gonna do when Im in CT.
Kick-shoot! Kick-shoot!! Kick-shoot!!!
Kick the door in and shoot whatever appears in front of me; that’s how it will be.
16 May 2010, 22:07 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-106:
I watch game on rugby zone hook laptop to Big sceen
wake up the family with my shouting at the ref etc
16 May 2010, 22:08 pm
Of in Afrikaans selfs:
Skop-skiet! Skop-skiet!! Skop-skiet!!!
16 May 2010, 22:08 pm
seriously Sheriff let me make it easier for you. I have zero desire to want to meet you, not even a passing fleeting meager iota of half a desire so you can safely scratch me off your list.. As far as you concerned I simply don’t exist. Now if there anyone else you need to get consensus about whether to come or go or leave or stay please don’t mention it in that nonentity of a void of association where no one is real and only figments of your rife imagination.
16 May 2010, 22:08 pm
Take care or take away.
16 May 2010, 22:09 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-105: I was lying in my pit at boarding school in Claremont when that one struck. At worst, a few window panes rattled a tad more than during a robust south easter. But Tulbagh was the epicentre and took a clobbering. But nothing compared to the scale of a West Coast quake.
16 May 2010, 22:12 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-112:
yes i remember that at tulbagh it was worst hit
16 May 2010, 22:13 pm
Ive met people like you in the past; those who say that they dont want to meet- mostly its a decoy
You need not worry, I have a calming influence on people – remember Im colourblind so I wont notice that you’re white and so on
16 May 2010, 22:13 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-107: been watching too many westerns Butch.
16 May 2010, 22:14 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-115:
You prefer post 109?
16 May 2010, 22:15 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-112:
i was lying on my bed in durban north and the cupboard started rattling and swaying – and i was about 1600kms away!
16 May 2010, 22:17 pm
Skopskiet
Let me tell you what’s really on my agenda right now.
To get some rest; that’s where Im at.
Take it easy fellas.
16 May 2010, 22:17 pm
@charo(charo)-117:
That wasnt the earth quake maybe it was the you and the girl next door
16 May 2010, 22:20 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-119:
did i mention the squeals of delight?
16 May 2010, 22:20 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-108: watched the Stormers/Bulls game again today. That was a pretty slick performance from our boys, if one is mindful of the opposition. The support play, communication, off-loading and ball protection was all a big step up when compared to the previous week’s effort against the Sharks. Was a good parctise run for the Tahs clash next week.
16 May 2010, 22:22 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-116: nah. Skoppie made it clear he’s anti-social.
16 May 2010, 22:24 pm
@charo(charo)-117: maybe our dorm had stronger walls. Was built in about 1066.
16 May 2010, 22:25 pm
@charo(charo)-120: no why? What was in the cupboard?
16 May 2010, 22:25 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-121:
But nice to see Stormers win.
Yes, good win but a Bulls 2nd team, no real desire to win for Bulls except indevidual efforts for future contracts
Stormers should beat Tahs
Bulls may find Saders tough
But its a Stormers/Bulls final IMO
16 May 2010, 22:28 pm
@rugbywriter(rugbywriter)-73: He isn’t as yet blessed with technical skills for the position. At test level, he hasn’t yet showed a level of physicality that corresponds with his size. An ok No.8 doing an ok job, although he has time to develop.
16 May 2010, 22:28 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-124:
8)
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-125:
cheers guys – going to watch the texas open.
saffas and ozzies making a push.
cheers
16 May 2010, 22:29 pm
@charo(charo)-127:
Cheers
16 May 2010, 22:29 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-125: I don’t think anyone was expecting another result but it was good to see the team geling and the quality of their play was back up there. Very encouraging. Recall, we nailed the Tahs earlier in the comp, so the fear factor is negated. They just need to play like they did yesterday and they’ll go through. I don’t think the Bulls will get caught by the Saders again but you can never tell away from Loftus.
16 May 2010, 22:32 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-129:
Yes just need to improve on taking our opportunities near the line against tahs (bit of while line fever on Sat ).
Never right off Saders
Ok I am outa here too
Cheers all
16 May 2010, 22:32 pm
@charo(charo)-127: cheers Charo. I’m off to. Go well Coach. Good to have a brief chat again. Stay cool.
16 May 2010, 22:58 pm
Howdy folks. So heres the deal. I have been really impressed with the Stormers loose trio and mentioned early in the season that with the new laws the loose forwards who can play as strike runners like Schalla and Spies will thrive with the new interpretations.
In spite of the form of the Loose trio of the Stormers I have to ask the question “what happened to them in Durbs?” . When their tight five have been competitive they have been outstanding but I would venture to say they were comprehensively outplayed by the Sharks loose trio who also lost an important part of that trio in the first half as well.
16 May 2010, 23:05 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-132: the Sharks loose trio are simply better.
16 May 2010, 23:35 pm
Cheers guys for all your thoughts re gong back to SA… got evicted from the computer so didn’t get the chance to reply to you all.
Would like to speak to you all about this again
17 May 2010, 00:37 am
Boks XV 2010
1.Guthro
2.Smit(c)
3.BJ
4.Bakkies
5.Matfield
6.Burger
7.Smith-still CLASS
8.Spies
9.DuPreez
10.M.Steyn
11.Habana
12.De Villiers
13.Fourie
14.Pietersen
15.F.Steyn
16.Mtawarira
17.Bismark
18.Bekker
19.F.Louw
20.Pienaar
21.Olivier
22.Mapoe
What I’d like to see vs Wales(incl overseas players-excl sum Bulls/Stormers)
1.Beast
2.Smit(c)
3.BJ
4.Flip vd Merwe
5.Bekker
6.Deysel
7.Smith
8.van Nierkerk
9.Pienaar
10.Grant
11.Mapoe
12.F.Steyn
13.De Jongh
14.JPP
15.Kirchner
16.Liebenberg
17.Kruger
18.Alberts/Vermeulen
19.Rossouw/Sykes/J.Kruger/Fondse
20.S.Pretorius/N.De Kock
21.De Villiers
22.Aplon
17 May 2010, 01:21 am
Total number of wins per nation in S14.
RSA – 31
NZ – 29
Aus – 29
Average number of team wins per nation in S14
Aus – 7.25
RSA – 6.2
NZ – 5.8
The fifth franchise is heading in the right direction!!
17 May 2010, 02:24 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-135:
nice teams, tho i’d like to see this team take on EOY tour
1. Gurthro 2. Bismarck 3. BJ 4. Bakkies 5. Bekker 6. Brussow 7. Louw 8. Alberts
9. Hougard 10. Grant 11. Habana 12. Frans Steyn 13. De Jong 14. Fourie 15. Morne Steyn
17 May 2010, 04:25 am
@skopskiet(yliad)-49:
all those players are the Bulls players that played more rugby than any other players world. You can’t expect them to carry an entire team all the time. They played whole Super 14 + semi & finals, B&I, tri-nations & then currie cup semi’s & finals….did I mention we won all those comps if you forget…
They should never have gone on the end of year tour, that was bad management by the Springbok coaches. However if you can’t admit that those players you have mentioned have done us proud then you’re not the wise rugby spectator your previous post have suggested…
Not to mention the rather unsettled front row that they had to play behind…& as a stormers supporter I would think you know the importance of having a functional front row
17 May 2010, 06:31 am
“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.”
apparently Pierre, humility is NOT saying things like the above…sheesh, you and Fourie should get a room mate…
and SA’s wonder where the arrogant Saffa line comes from??
perhaps he has been attending Church with Baxxies, so long as you go to confession you can be a thug on the field..
17 May 2010, 06:32 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-139: attending church – “a more holistic approach”..
just thought I’d clarify…
17 May 2010, 07:42 am
In 2008 Kanko and Spies were neck and neck.
Spies since then has pulled away…from EVERYONE!
He’s a brilliant player who still does well when the Bok scrum is going backwards.
Kanko needs some glue on his hands…special player but stuff me he loses the ball in contact alot!!
17 May 2010, 08:00 am
@cab(cab)-137:
Alberts has impressed me BIG time with the Sharks.
What a player!
17 May 2010, 08:33 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-139: Which of what he said do you deem to be untrue?
17 May 2010, 08:45 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-143: lacking humility… thought that was obvious…
his own estimation of his standing in the game…FFS do the talking on the field, not off it…
17 May 2010, 08:49 am
But Poppa, he’s not saying he’s the greatest 8 in the world or even in SA. He’s saying he’s one of the fastest and has experience as a backline player which gives him a broader understanding of backline play. Fair comment I would say.
17 May 2010, 08:53 am
@grant10(grant10)-50:
yes, and Fiji is statisically better than Brian in the S14….
17 May 2010, 09:03 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-145: I suppose, its just the “I believe I have something special” line that gets to me…
Its fine for him to believe he has that something special, and to make it in top class sport anywhere I think every player needs to beleive it about themselves, but to publically state it does IMO show a lack of humility…
guess the americans started the ego athlete we see so much of today…
17 May 2010, 09:12 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-147: I dont know Poppa, guess Im gonna have to disagree. Saying you are “the best 13 in the world” like Jaque Fourie I think shows a lack of humility (not to mention an overdose of stupidity). Spiessie merely stated he’s quite fast for an 8 and has played in the backline before. Maybe he should have rephrased the “something special” bit but the guy is not a linguist and would not have considered the loaded potential of his words. I assure he is keenly aware of his fallibilities and the fact that he is far from the finished product yet. I have had a number of chats with him. He’s a bit reserved which crates the impression of aloofness but he doesnt have an ego.
17 May 2010, 09:13 am
Pierre Spies looks like a stupid mountain.
17 May 2010, 09:15 am
3. PissAnt(PissAnt) :
May 16th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
It was funny listening to the commentators in the one semi (Tigers v. Bath) how they rate Watson as an 8.
They made (an almost dismissive) reference to Spies as being very good, but Watson being better…
Yeah, and how many times have you heard the Aus, NZ or Saffa commentators mention Little Lulu? Shows you the worth of Spies if commentators that see Lulu week in and week out has to mention someone playing half a world away.
2 diffirent comps played in completely contrasting styles and condition.
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