Baby-faced assassin
19 Apr 2011
South Africa’s great prodigy continues to exceed expectations.
In October 2010, SA Rugby magazine hailed the arrival of a special talent. Pat Lambie exhibited all the attributes of a match-winning flyhalf, although at the time of writing, he was yet to substantiate the speculation; he was yet to take control. That article was written about a promising teenager, and few could have predicted the accelerated metamorphosis he would undergo in the next five months.
Lambie has ascended; he has begun to spread his wings.
In the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, we speak with Lambie’s kicking coach, former Bok flyhalf Braam van Straaten, about the work they’ve put in to the youngster’s game. Sharks backline coach Grant Bashford also talks about Lambie’s progress in recent months and why he’s such a special player.
Also in the new issue:
– Willem Alberts‘ physicality allows him to get over the advantage line regularly and hurt players in the tackle, but he also has an impressive skill set
– Waylon Murray is rebuilding his life one game at a time
– Andries Bekker has taken his game to a whole new level
– Rookie Super Rugby coach Jamie Joseph has turned New Zealand’s weakest franchise into a competitive unit
– At the end of this season, Adam Ashley-Cooper will leave his ‘family’ in Canberra to join his girlfriend in Sydney
– South African Super Rugby franchises like the Sharks and Stormers should consider playing one home game at Twickenham every year
– Bunker Capital’s involvement with the SWD Eagles was supposed to transform the game in the region. SA Rugby magazine finds out what went wrong
– The Cheetahs’ Super Rugby future rests on Saru’s capacity to find a workable solution to a very complex problem
– The Vodacom Cup still has a very important role to play in South African rugby
– Former France tighthead prop Pieter de Villiers on coaching in Cape Town, the Bok front row and why the All Blacks scrum is the best
– The Baby Boks are selecting bigger players in a bid to win the Junior World Championship in June
– Former Sharks prop Eduard Coetzee has embraced Basque culture and made Biarritz his home
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138 Comments
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19 Apr 2011, 08:52 am
The second season is always more of a defining one. Last year he was the youngster with lots of potential, this year he’s starting to look like an experienced hand. I hope he can kick on from his good start this year, SA rugby will be the better for it.
Lambie, Jantjies, Francis, Van Aswegen, there are some promising youngsters out there. Lambie the best of the young bunch at the moment. I’m sad that Gary is out for the season now, WP need to blood a talented youngster who has a more complete game, like Lambie does.
19 Apr 2011, 08:53 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-45: I cant tell you how this is killing me, and the fact that the SH administration are not forcing IRB to deal with this…. the only good news, I suppose, is that it will inevitably be the end of NH rugby…just like the English Premier League has killed english soccer..
19 Apr 2011, 08:54 am
@Sonny_bill_is_k@k_Mossie_is_king(WO_to_kill_Sir_Elton)-49:
NZ were comfortably in the lead against France when Carter was replaced in ’07 – so it was hardly because of him that they lost. It just shows you how desperate we are in SA that some of us can only remember the handful of poor days that he had against our sides while conveniently forgetting the bags full of occasions when his brilliance skittled the best we had to offer. Go figure
19 Apr 2011, 08:56 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-16:
Poppa, did you watch the Reds / Bulls game on Saturday? If you did you would’ve heard the commentators continuously refering to the challenges of playing a game after coming back from Africa (as they refer to it). Then in the post match interviews I heard 2 players (inlcuding captain) refering to the challenges of playing well when returning from Africa. Are they also overstating the challenges?
19 Apr 2011, 08:57 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-45: It is such a difficult situation ….the average player has so many seasons in order to make money so you cant blame a player going …. But the due to the exchange rate the lure of pounds and euros is just to attractive – the only hope we have is like you say the Norhtern clubs allow 2 foreign players to play for example ……… the only solution i can see is playing a world wide tournament – best of the Heineken cup v the best of the Super 15 – i think this would be rather biased towards the S15 sides though ???
19 Apr 2011, 09:02 am
@Craven(Craven)-54: Craven… Im not denying it isnt tough… but for all the years Ive been on here, Ive heard numerous times how SA teams were disadvantaged by travel, having to do 4 weeks at a time while NZ and Aussie teams only had to hop across the tasman and spend a couple of weeks in SA..
My initial post, to which kevinrack took such exception (Ive got under his skin,go figure) was in stating that we heard enough about the amount of travel SA teams did and now in the magazine theyre suggesting the Sharks and Stormers play a game at Twickers every year?
my original point, but poor old kevin thinks its my supposed hatred of Saffas? LMFAO…
19 Apr 2011, 09:04 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-51: There is some great talent finally coming through at 10. I think Burton Francis is seriously underrated, has all the attributes of a great flyhalf.
Lambie at the moment should be our first choice at the world cup with either Grant or Morne on the bench
19 Apr 2011, 09:05 am
@Sonny_bill_is_k@k_Mossie_is_king(WO_to_kill_Sir_Elton)-49:
‘remember the RWCs’ ?
‘DC in 2009′ ?
DC injured out of both.
When are you going to stop making an idiot of yourself ?!
19 Apr 2011, 09:08 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-56:
Yeah, not sure I am keen on games being playing at Twickers, it is a SH comepetition for goodness sake, why take it to the NH ?
I can understand the merits of a one off game like the Sharks/saders game, but fail to see the need to do it on a regular basis !!
19 Apr 2011, 09:09 am
Has Lambie really been tested under pressure ????
19 Apr 2011, 09:13 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-59: agree totally… theyre already taking our players, and now they want to take away potential classic encounters from our own backyards? the one off was special circumstances, and I too can see the benefits that had.. but every year? no thanks..
19 Apr 2011, 09:13 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-45:
The only thing that will keep the young performers in the country is selection for their national teams. Flo has had a rotten time at the Boks and was merely discarded without being told what the plans were for his international future.
Sarel will probably take the offer to play overseas because he has to compete with THE PLAYER-FORMERLY-KNOWN-AS-JANUARIE for a place in the Bok side and we all know that he is a certain selection – whether to keep up the quotas or because he is PDV’s love child is open for debate. That is unless Januarie gets an offer from overseas to go and direct traffic on the busy Champs Elysees. I doubt that it will happen though because he will block the traffic with his substantial rear.
The perpetual selection of players who are not the best at provincial or franchise level for the Bok side is going to drive the best away because overseas clubs do not have hidden agenda’s and ulterior motives in selection – they want the best and they are willing to pay for it. Players who fall into that category are Spies, Smit, Januarie, M Steyn, CJ, Kirchner, Olivier, Habana, Jacobs, Ralepelle
The handling of fringe players in the Bok set-up has been apalling for a very long time and unless this is sorted out we will continue to see a player exodus that is detrimental to our depth at international level.
19 Apr 2011, 09:17 am
Lets all just take a breather here, Lambie has had a great start to his carreer but lets not get ahead of ourselves.
We know he can handle himself under big pressure, we saw that in the currie cup semi final against the Bulls.
Everyone talks about his man of the match performance against the Stormers but I believe it was the Bulls game where he really showed what he is capable of.
It was wet, pouring in fact, and he was a relative newcomer against a full strength Bulls side before they started the slow downhill slide they’re on now.
It was certainly as good a performance from a young flyhalf as I have ever seen. Cool as Luke.
I do, howeverm believe that it is a players 2nd and 3rd seasons that defines them. After opposition teams have time to suss their strengths and weaknesses and plan against them accordingly.
Still, I am very happy to have him at he Sharks. Hopefully his humility and calmness under pressure continue. Great prospect.
19 Apr 2011, 09:20 am
@stew(stew)-60:
I posted above but, for a young flyhalf, I dont think you can get more pressure than a CC semi against the Bulls in the pouring rain.
19 Apr 2011, 09:21 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-9: Carter was smoking hot on debut. And has had two indifferent — not bad — tests in his whole career. He’s the best in history right from Test #1.
19 Apr 2011, 09:22 am
shaka:52. The English don’t care, they’ll play all the newly-arrived NZlanders in their National team like they’ve done now with Thomas Waldrom, Tuliagi and apparently D.Bowden is also in their sights.
19 Apr 2011, 09:23 am
I always thought Carter debuted at 2nd 5/8… happy to be corrected…
19 Apr 2011, 09:25 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-65:
I hope you mean best in NZ history.
Most would take a fit Wilkinson over a fit Carter any day.
19 Apr 2011, 09:41 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-65: OK Tackles, drop the stiff and get back to work.
19 Apr 2011, 09:42 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-66: exactly , thats why there are more south africans in the english cricket team then english
oh and a welshman
19 Apr 2011, 09:42 am
Not a sharks fan but this boy can play at the highest level. Would like to see what he does in the heat of a Tri Nations game or a WC but a super prospect.
19 Apr 2011, 09:45 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-71: kwagga he still young boet , and of course he will have his bad games , if he didnt he wouldnt be human
but yeah the kid is way mature for his age
19 Apr 2011, 09:47 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-72: It’d be nice if he had one in a couple of weeks…
19 Apr 2011, 09:48 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-73:
M
eish no boet he can have a off day the week after when the sharks have a bye
19 Apr 2011, 09:49 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-74: hahahaha yeah life’s all about timing I guess.
19 Apr 2011, 09:49 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-67:
Yep, started off at 12.
19 Apr 2011, 09:50 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-75: this be true
19 Apr 2011, 09:51 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-75: you guys are lucky it seems deysel’s return is only due after our bye
19 Apr 2011, 09:52 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-65:
If you carry on like that you are going to make a mess on your computer.
19 Apr 2011, 09:52 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-78: Something tells me we’ll be seeing our fair share of Deysel this year regardless….
Good player though. Wonder if he’ll be able to get back to his form from last year, Good for the Sharks if he can,
He seemed to have our number last year,
19 Apr 2011, 09:54 am
ANZAC Kissing Cousins.
Australian Rugby Union chief John O’Neill has tipped the Wallabies to meet the All Blacks in the World Cup final this year, but would not hazard a guess as to who would come out on top.
“I think our prospects for World Cup 2011 are really encouraging,” O’Neill told local media on Tuesday. “No one is sitting here saying we are going to win it.
“My prediction is we will make the final and play the All Blacks. As to who might win the final, well, we’ll come to that.”
19 Apr 2011, 09:59 am
naas botha says peter grant should be the flyhalf at the wc and who are we to argue with the legendary bull.
19 Apr 2011, 10:00 am
@Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-80: lol he is one strong mf
i watched him in his last 2 games for the vodacom sup team he was superb
19 Apr 2011, 10:01 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-81: Anzac kissing cousins? okay, so a statement made by John Oniel is indicative of NZs stance?
please…
thats like saying Mugabe really is the SA populations spokesman… eish..
19 Apr 2011, 10:05 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-83: His timing might be just too late to make a charge for the Bok team though. Pity. I’d have picked him last year, were it not for the injury.
19 Apr 2011, 10:06 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-84: History tells us that the two of you love jumping in the sack together when it comes to opposing the Boks.
19 Apr 2011, 10:08 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-66: Don’t get me started on the English….
19 Apr 2011, 10:10 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-83: Hope he gets back to his best soon. Great player.
19 Apr 2011, 10:12 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-86: please show me these examples? other then one email… or are you so far removed from reality that you too buy into the whole conspiracy propoganda that many of you seem to use as an excuse?
do you know of the fierce rivalry in any sport between NZ and Aus? the only thing you accomplish with that statement is a tiotal lack of respect for the many men of the REAL anzacs who laid down their lives for the many generations that follow..
always with the persecution complexes… sheesh..
19 Apr 2011, 10:13 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-1: totally agree with you !this oke could be the andy murray/tim henman of rugby.
19 Apr 2011, 10:18 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-89: No examples mate I am not an archive. Yes i buy into it because it is as clear as day.
19 Apr 2011, 10:19 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-65: Your analysis leaves a lot to be desired as does your pathological hatred of anything to do with the land of your birth..
19 Apr 2011, 10:27 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-92: i have to agree with tackler that carter is the most complete flyhalf in world rugby…possibly ever.serious questions marks on lambie’s international bmt.watered down currie cups doesn’t count.
19 Apr 2011, 10:44 am
I have my reservations about Deysel , another strong ball carrying , crash ball specialist, which he does very well.
Juan Smith, Alberts, Schalk probably all ahead of him at the moment.
Also seems injury proned, which hopefully the worst is behind him now, but he could have a role to play for the Boks in the future, he is still young !!
Looking forward to see how he develops !!!
19 Apr 2011, 10:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-89: Oh dear, now you’ve upset Poppa… wait – isn’t he always a little bit upset…
19 Apr 2011, 10:46 am
Problem is that the current Bok game plan will even make Lambie look poor. Even the EOYT last year negatively affected Lambie’s play. Plum had to do beat the Bok’s playing style out of Lambie again.
I don’t think that Lambie can play like PdV wants the Boks to play and make a success of it. I reckon Lambie should not even be involved with the Boks until we get a new coach!
19 Apr 2011, 10:49 am
@Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-93: watered down currie cup….?
19 Apr 2011, 10:50 am
@Shaka(Shaka)-95: Always on the defensive.
19 Apr 2011, 11:00 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-88: thanks iori, @Pick the team in August not March(stormersboy)-85: true mate , but yeah these kinda injuries happen , but the sharks have made sure that he will be 100% before bringing him back
he has now played 4 games for the VC team and yet they still holding him back
19 Apr 2011, 11:05 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-94: even though i agree JR watch deysel nicely and you will find him doing a fetchers role too
thats where he differes from alberts , he does not get bashed off his feet as easily as daniel or botes for example
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