Braced for battle
21 Jun 2011
Watch out Sonny Bill Williams, the best is yet to come from Jean de Villiers.
After Williams and De Villiers’s first meeting, in the Super Rugby match at Newlands in May, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder declared the midfield spoils shared. However, that didn’t prevent an avalanche of post-match analyses and comments on what the perceived outcome of this particular battle portended for the World Cup.
‘I didn’t pay attention to what was being said in the media,’ says De Villiers, in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale Wednesday. ‘For me it was just another big game. Sonny Bill is a good player, but you can’t get hung up on personal battles because you don’t go up against your opposite number in every single situation. There are so many other things to worry about. You have to trust in the guy next to you and work together to beat the opposition.’
In the same article, Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck talks about the little changes that De Villiers has made to his game since returning from Ireland that have made a big difference, while former Wales centre Scott Gibbs explains why De Villiers is not being used properly by the Stormers or Boks.
Also in the new issue:
– Rassie Erasmus will give the Springboks a technical edge. SA Rugby magazine finds out exactly what his role entails
– Nothing much changes for the All Blacks when it comes to the Tri-Nations, even when the bigger prize hovers just beyond its conclusion
– Sonny Bill Williams on his trademark offload, facing Jean de Villiers, and his love for boxing
– Robbie Deans believes Australia’s improved playing depth will allow the Wallabies to adopt a squad system in this year’s Tri-Nations
– Matt Giteau on why teams will take the Tri-Nations seriously, Jake White’s appointment as Brumbies coach, and signing for Toulon
– Os du Randt speaks out: ‘They used that late-night incident as an excuse to get rid of me … Peter [de Villiers] and Saru don’t deserve to be a part of any World Cup success’
– The Springbok Sevens were full value for their World Series tournament wins in London and Edinburgh
– New Sharks signing Marius Joubert has become a thinking midfielder
– The Pampas XV overcame unique obstacles to win the Vodacom Cup
– Robert and Sias Ebersohn on life, loyalty and the Springboks
– Six years ago, Ryand Hattingh had his neck broken in a schools match after his opponent used an illegal scrumming manoeuvre. SA Rugby magazine reveals how, in a landmark court ruling, the latter was made liable for damages
– Schalk Brits was the best hooker in the 2010-11 English Premiership and should go to the World Cup with the Springboks
– Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss on winning the European Cup and why he wants to play for Ireland
– What happened to McNeil Hendricks?
– FREE: Double-sided poster of Jean de Villiers and Sonny Bill Willams
– SMS COMPETITION: Win Samsung products worth R60 000, including a 40-inch LCD TV, camcorder, double-door fridge and notebook
Click here to subscribe to print edition
Click here to subscribe to digital edition
Follow us on Twitter:
@SARugbymag
@mark_keohane
@SimonBorchardt
@jon_cardinelli
@Ryan_Vrede
@Gareth_Duncan_
272 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
21 Jun 2011, 16:42 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-247: WWF is scam bro. Surely you don’t belive that all those moves and throws and jumping off ropes is real??? Can’t hold a candle to boxing….
Come now Shaunie, it’s all entertainment. Not good entertainment, but entertainment it is
21 Jun 2011, 16:48 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-250: YOu can be as angry as you want but the AWF and the WWF have been found out and if you have any association with them then I would question your morals.. AWF, WWF… FIFA. If you have not supported the eviction of humans or the removal of their means of survival then you have nothing to worry about.. but I have seen how them Park Managers at Sanparks live an extra-ordinarily comfy life in the name of conservation
21 Jun 2011, 16:52 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-251:
.. but just in case you missed the point …WWF = World Wildlife Fund..
21 Jun 2011, 16:55 pm
Shut up shaun
21 Jun 2011, 16:59 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-254: ok… I can type with my mouth shut though
.. Multi- Tasking Genius
21 Jun 2011, 17:01 pm
The best of JDV came 3 years ago and it wasn’t even that good then (Jacobs played better). SBW has only been playing rugby for about 2 years and is already better. He has embarrassed them once this season already in a weakened Crusaders side, expect the same again.
21 Jun 2011, 17:07 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-253: Ahem. Yes. It was a joke
21 Jun 2011, 17:45 pm
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-230:
It is only me you have to deal with King Rat but you are clearly grossly incapable of that. Hence in gestapo – like fashion you have to bring totally innocent people to disparage and fraudulently and falsely so, on every level. Note too that everyone of your ‘gatgabbas’ who so seemingly ‘honourably’ claim no family, including G10, SuperBlack Trans. and more are stunningly quiet.
Only SCUM do that and particularly so behind one’s back.
Here is a Trollip(DA) of a response to you straight from the IOL :
” Stuur die IDIOOT in sy m o e r assebloief ….” as he categorises an “arsehole and the reincarnation of the AWB, KP, FF+ and Nazi “
21 Jun 2011, 17:47 pm
Jean de Villiers is:
- The best attacking centre in SA. He regularly breaks the line and is a threat for any defense.
- Rock solid on defense. He very rarely misses tackles. He also cleverly rushes the attack when he sees an opportunity.
- One of the best decision makers in world rugby. He knows when to cut inside, when to straighten, when to rush on defense, when to pass, when to skip pass and generally how to use opportunities that other player don’t see.
- Part of the best center combination in the world. He and Jaque Fourie form a brilliant midfield on attack and defense. Since 2005 they have played together and no other center pair in the world work better together.
- An experienced leader. He has captained the Stormers and WP and is a senior player for the Springboks.
Sure; he’s not amazingly quick, but he’s fast enough for an inside center. We can be lucky to have this guy. No other center, save Brian O’Driscoll, has been more consistent in good form than him in the past decade.
21 Jun 2011, 17:57 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-257:
Is there not a single honest bone in your body(some have been broken earlier) when you have to deal with anyone NOT from the King Rat ” collection of white rats” i.e. not from the previously franchised?
Your #257 is the most BLATANT LIE encountered as that response to Shauns #253 is as DAMN as serious as can be even if just considering your ” Can’t hold a candle to boxing …” beside what follows. You clearly do not know the serious WWF.
” You don’t have to be right always ” is your motto, not so? Try to follow it just sometime
21 Jun 2011, 18:35 pm
Oh ExTraball
It was a gentle joke.
The original joke goes
My girlfriend wants to break up with me cos I’m obsessed with the *******.
I thought she was joking.
And then I saw her face….
See what I did there?
Thangyaverymuch..
I’ll be here all week…
21 Jun 2011, 18:38 pm
@ET.(ET.)-260: You seriously can’t see that my post is a very obvious joke aimed at the play on words on the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the WWF (World Wrestling Federation)?? The context that Shaun posted was pretty obvious, referring to government grants and Wildlife Conservation. He got it, hence the laughing, he just wanted to make sure.
I may be a bad speller but I’m not ignorant doc.
We’ve been joking with Treehugger on the conservation issue, it had started long before that post. Read back a bit.
Your inability to detect social nuances is showing ET. No wonder you get all freaked out and post such offensive nonsense. You have no ability to differentiate between humour and seriousness.
Your ***-burgers is showing again.
21 Jun 2011, 18:48 pm
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-261:
F you with your joke or even gentle joke .My family,, other than me do not engage you let alone insult you with despicable lies.
What is to joke about that specific lie?
If I did not think you to be SCUM I would demand an apology and report the matter to KEO. I deem it SICK.
This matter is closed unless you spread further garbage about innocent people.
I have never disparaged your siignificant other or anyone else in your family.
21 Jun 2011, 18:54 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-262:
It is blatantly serious even to the blind, the deaf and the dumb.
Your pathology ‘joke’ boomerangs on you dummy as I revealed your lack of its correctness and other facts that you cannot even begin to understand.
Two birds dealt with so I have more significant things to see to than be humoured by dunceheads.
21 Jun 2011, 18:56 pm
Report me to who you like.
Just make sure you show them where I disparaged anyone.
Otherwise you will like very silly.
21 Jun 2011, 18:58 pm
So go away already
21 Jun 2011, 19:00 pm
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-265:
Again you read and do not comprehend.
I said if you were not SCUM I would do so , as a teaching moment and social lesson.
But doing that to SCUM is a huge wasted moment.
21 Jun 2011, 19:03 pm
Oh dear.
There is no hope.
None at all.
21 Jun 2011, 19:09 pm
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-268:
Finally you have arrived at a point where you realise you have sunk to the gutter.
Is this only due to the state of your woeful team? I have my doubts.
21 Jun 2011, 19:11 pm
21 Jun 2011, 19:16 pm
@ET.(ET.)-264: You must be a riot at parties.
You really have no clue.
Shame.
1 Jul 2011, 16:15 pm
Jean de Villiers vs SBW, SBW is a complete player and one of the best ever and is still young, he will have a massive impact on the All-Blacks and their world cup succes, with such an amazing team full of All-Stars the All-Blacks and Crusaders will achieve succes this year! So JdV you must practise your tackles on a train to beat this guy
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.