Time to end the pain
2 Feb 2011
RYAN VREDE writes that Andre Pretorius must be honest with himself and retire.
On Tuesday Pretorius, 31, suffered the latest in a string of injuries, this time a chronic hamstring problem proving to be his undoing. Reports suggest it is not as severe as those that have kept him sidelined in the past, but Pretorius has never been a quick healer and won’t be this time.
It is utterly perplexing why teams continue to recruit him, despite his injury history being so well known. Pretorius has spent the bulk of his what should have been his prime being stuck back together in the hope he could somehow remain injury-free for an extended period and make a telling contribution to his team’s cause. That has never happened.
The Lions were patient beyond what was acceptable in his first stint there, before the Western Force somehow concluded it was a good idea to recruit a virtual cripple as their marquee signing for 2010. Pretorius snapped his hamstring off the bone in pre-season and spent three months in recovery while banking Australian dollars. As a result of the injury a pending move to Japan collapsed like his brittle muscle fibres.
Why the Sharks signed Pretorius latter that year remains a mystery, although I’d venture to suggest Rudolf Straeuli (who handles contracting) was the force behind his recruitment. I struggle to believe that an astute coach like John Plumtree would push for the acquisition of a liability whose ability doesn’t justify that gamble.
For the most part he remained fit while in Durban but played like a man restricted by the fear that his body could fail him at any moment. Herein lies the deeper problem with Pretorius, he may recover from injuries but his confidence has been irreparably fractured. No professional team must carry a player like that.
The Lions rekindled their love affair with Pretorius only to now be left heartbroken. The injury is likely to heal, but the Lions would do well to throw him a coach’s tracksuit thereafter, rather than another No 10 shirt.
Pretorius could and should make it easier on his current employers by admitting that he has nothing left to offer as a player, despite what his heart tells him.
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter
124 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
2 Feb 2011, 16:04 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-99: Great minds…
2 Feb 2011, 16:05 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-99:
There is more than one I can vouch for that.
2 Feb 2011, 16:21 pm
I think you should be honest with yourself and retire as a journalist!!
2 Feb 2011, 17:01 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-102:
so that’s not why you are NZ in China then?
2 Feb 2011, 17:03 pm
Maybe they should tell Ali Williams the same thing……
2 Feb 2011, 17:15 pm
@gunther(gunther)-104:
I am here for something a little different, the worlds largest firework display is unfolding outside my apartment window as I type Spring Festival tonight culminates with 1.5 billion Chinese letting off fireworks together this will happen in about 50 minutes time, an incredible display.
2 Feb 2011, 17:18 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-105: it’s only been 2 years with Ali, come on
2 Feb 2011, 17:20 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-105:
Matfield said Wiliams was the best lock he’s played against, he’d know.
2 Feb 2011, 17:26 pm
This is to the people supporting AP: The guy is not that good and has never been. In every match I have ever watched him play he just turns up and nothing more. And he inconsistent goal kicking has let many teams (including the ‘Boks) down.
2 Feb 2011, 17:29 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-106:
make sure you have a bucket of water handy.
enjoy.
with something cold I trust…
2 Feb 2011, 17:35 pm
@gunther(gunther)-110:
They actually light them inside their houses and everyone fires them out of their lounge windows I’m amazed the whole of China doesn’t burn down annually, I have a local beer and a front row seat.
2 Feb 2011, 18:23 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-108:
I am surprised Matfield did not mention Dan Vickermann considering the amount of lineout balls the latter stole from him.
2 Feb 2011, 18:26 pm
@boetman123(boetman123)-109:
We could do with a 10 who stands flatter and can distribute accurately (off both shoulders) from close quarters.
Not as good as Honiball, but AP could do this better than most.
2 Feb 2011, 18:40 pm
@willievz(willievz)-112:
I just remember him saying Williams was his most difficult opponent, Vickerman also a superb player will be interesting to see if they can both get back to the top of thier games.
2 Feb 2011, 21:20 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-93:
Pretorius on form? He had something like two good games for the Boks, period. And that’s your basis for labeling a great commander of the game? Butch did more in 06 and 07 than Pretorius has done his entire career! Giteau, Wilkinson, Lynagh, Butch, Morne, Hougaard, Mehrtens, Spencer and dozens more, all vastly superior to Pretorius. Pretorius is a better Earl Rose, of the same mould, but slightly better. So many people keep falling for these myths. However, I honestly expected this one to have been better exposed by now.
2 Feb 2011, 21:24 pm
@willievz(willievz)-112:
Vickerman was the only player who could avoid embarrasment against Matfield. a truly great player in his own right. But I do stress, the ONLY player anywhere near matfield, and even then, Matfield was clearly the master.
2 Feb 2011, 22:55 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-115: I was referring to Super 14 and Currie Cup level. Pretorius was more gifted and a far more natural flyhalf than Buth or Morne in my opinion. If you’re comparing Pretorius to Earl Rose then we may as well end the conversation now as we clearly have vastly different views on the player.
I’ve watched Pretorius divert some major thrashings against the Lions almost single handedly.
2 Feb 2011, 23:49 pm
I echo the views of some other posters that the subject of this article should have been about John Smit. I am a Sharks and Boks fan and would like to have the best players on the field.
Smit is an embarrassment finished and klaar!
3 Feb 2011, 06:03 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-94:
I won’t mention it again this year.
3 Feb 2011, 06:42 am
I have some reservations to RV thread
The call should be directed to Kevin De Klerk and John Mitchell, they are those who signed AP recently.
AP is a Pro rugby player, it how he makes his living,
I found it strange that the call was not extended to Chavhanga, how many games did that waif played since 2005?
3 Feb 2011, 08:02 am
http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/goodlife/funstuff/2011/02/02/for-fun-check-today-s-cartoon
Funny stuff!
3 Feb 2011, 08:53 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-120: Dit gaan net ‘n paar games vat voordat Chavhanga jou tjoepstil gespeel het.
3 Feb 2011, 09:26 am
We shall see,
his slender built and high speed will bring soon another injury.
He is entitled to make a living too, I just pointed out that he is no less a ‘sick note’ than AP.
3 Feb 2011, 09:35 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-120:
Haha , ja in Chavangha and Pretorius they must have the 2 most injury prone players in the country.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.