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
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272 Comments
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21 Jun 2011, 09:55 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-40: not good defense…are there stats that support missed tackles???
21 Jun 2011, 09:56 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-50:
Yes, spot on. Expect them to kick the leather off the ball and hope that the other team makes a mistake. Wing and prayer rugby – good enough to maybe make the quarters, but not much further
21 Jun 2011, 09:57 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-50: spoken like a true Kiwi.
How about I don’t think many teams will be too worried about the Allblacks, as a unit they don’t offer much on RWC’s….:)
21 Jun 2011, 09:59 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-52: Its not the players but the game plan chosen by our kak conservative skop en donner coaches.
21 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-52:
Thats a bit rough Coach you have quality forwards and we both know you’ll make the semi’s for an epic battle at the garden of Eden.
21 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
Did any of you hear Jake White explain the similarities between the 1995 and 2007 squad. Dont take it too seriously guys – he was just being light hearted. Some of them I cant remember completely, perhaps you guys can help out. I thought it was worth a laugh.
Both Nr 15′s were playing for the Sharks at the time of the world cup final. (Andre Joubert & Percy Montgommery)
Both Nr 14s played for the Sharks and have the same first initial (James Small & JP Pietersen)
Both Nr 13s came from the Lions and have the same first initial (Jacques Fourie and Japie Mulder)
Both Nr 12s were not specialist inside centres, and both could play flyhalf (Hennie Le Roux and Francois Steyn)
Both Nr 11s were coloured, and both broke try scoring records during the world cup (Chester Williams and Bryan Habana)
Both Nr 10s had played for the Sharks. (I cant remember so well what his similarity was – there was something else as well)
Both Nr 9s came from the Bulls (Joost vd. Westhuisen & Fourie Du Preez)
Both Nr 8s were actually locks or played at lock during the same tournament (Mark Andrews & Danie Rossouw)
Both Nr 7s originally came from the Cheetahs (Ruben Kruger & Juan Smith)
Both Nr 6s had blonde hair (Francois Pienaar & Schalk Burger).
Both locking pairs (Nr 4 & 5) came from the same province (In 1995, Krynauw Otto & Kobus Wiese from the Lions and in 2007, Victor Matfield & Bakkies Botha from the Bulls)
Number 1 – Os Du Randt played both times.
Number 2 – Both hookers had played prop before (Chris Rossouw & John Smit)
Number 3 – Both tighthead props could play both loose and tight head (Balie Swart & CJ Vd Linde)
21 Jun 2011, 10:03 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-56: Sorry correction. The locks in 1995 were Hannes Strydom and Kobus Wiese. Not Otto.
21 Jun 2011, 10:04 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-53:
Kevin your backs lack imagination, flair and with Morne you have a one- dimensional robot controlling play, if you think your backs as a unit are world class and score beautiful tries fair enough, I don’t see it like that.
21 Jun 2011, 10:07 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-58: Buddy, the world cup (if that is the context of your conversation) doesn’t go about attacking flair, and beautiful tries. It goes about the most points on the board.
Heck, the All Blacks know that all too well.
21 Jun 2011, 10:08 am
Got my copy this morning, hope its better than the last one…
21 Jun 2011, 10:09 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-56: I think Stransky and Butch both went to the same school in Natal.
21 Jun 2011, 10:15 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-58: RWC’s are about territory and points.
Anyway was just joshing and I kinda do agree too. South Africa has a new breed of player who are not stuck in the rigid progamming that stifles creativity. Players that score tries form deep. Even our soon to be most prelific try scorer Habadonna has absolutely no creattivity at all.
Will the coaches select them or bore them into metrmones…
21 Jun 2011, 10:16 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-61: Thats it ! Both were from Maritzburg College. Could we have another Maritzburg college boy in the final this year ?
21 Jun 2011, 10:20 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-56: on that basis Boks will win it cos the starting team in 2011 will be pretty much the same as in 2007 unless of course he needs to start with Danie Rossouw instead of Spies cos if he starts with Spies and Boks lose then we can all blame Spies and be outraged that the Bok coach actually picked a specialist No 8 to start at No 8 in a WCF … maybe that is where the All Blacks are getting it wrong every time. They need to be picking blokes out of position and only have one coloured winger in the side. The flyhalf issue isn’t one as the All Blacks picked a flyhalf from Durban in 95 and all he did was miss the drop goal that would have won them the Cup!
And yes I am taking the piss
21 Jun 2011, 10:20 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-62: I don’t neccessarily think that Lwazi Mvovo or Bjorn Basson have that much attacking creativity either. I actually think Habana is trying too hard.
Both Basson and Mvovo have proven to be better finishers in this years tournament though.
21 Jun 2011, 10:22 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-60: excellent content in this one
21 Jun 2011, 10:23 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-59:
C’mon mate its at the garden of Eden this time, was at the last final there in 87′ our boys showed plenty of flair and scored a couple of great tries, don’t get caught in that trap that great tries won’t be scored great that tripe only comes from certain quarters who aren’t capable, the Aussie’s and us will be looking to play with flair lets hope your boys do.
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-62:
Yer yer I know Kev no flair allowed, kick for the corners…
21 Jun 2011, 10:27 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-63: I certainly hope so fella!!
21 Jun 2011, 10:30 am
@keo(keo)-64:
Jake asked what the parallels would be this year. This year we COULD have (depending on injuries etc.);
15 – Frans Steyn (meaning that in all 3 world cup finals, the fullback had played for the Sharks and in two of them, had originally come from Free State)
14 – JP Pietersen. Easy parallel here. He played in 2007 as well.
13 – Jacques Fourie. Again, played there in 2007 as well.
12 – Pat Lambie. Both 20 year old Sharks that can play 10 and 15.
11 – Bryan Habana. Played there in 2007 as well.
10 – Peter Grant. Another Maritzburg College boy.
9 – Fourie Du Preez. Played there in 2007 as well.
8 – Pierre Spies. Both him and Danie Rossouw come from Bulls.
7 – Juan Smith. Played there in 2007 as well.
6 – Schalk Burger. Played there in 2007 as well.
5 – Victor Matfield. Played there in 2007 as well.
4 – Bakkies Botha. Played there in 2007 as well.
3 – Jannie Du Plessis. Both originally from the Free State.
2 – Bismark Du Plessis. Hookers from 2007 and 2011 both play for Sharks.
1 – Beast Mtwarira. Not sure what parallel we can draw from this. Maybe CJ will play, then we can say in all 3 world cups, we used a utility prop in the final at loose head…..:-)
And of course, I too am taking the piss. Just a bit of light entertainment
21 Jun 2011, 10:32 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-68: Yep – Butch James
21 Jun 2011, 10:34 am
if bissy is dropped for plod I will certainly puke on my Bok jersey.
Klaar
21 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@keo(keo)-66:
Excellent, look forward to it then!
21 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-70: Meet me in the Parking lot!
21 Jun 2011, 10:36 am
@grant10(grant10)-71: Make sure it’s the RWC one… because it’s worth a puke or two.
21 Jun 2011, 10:38 am
@grant10(grant10)-71: Oh well, then you and mini-me will have some more in common
Bissy wont be dropped anywhere, but you should prepare yourself (as this is obviously a point of serious mental strife for you) that John Smit and Bismark will no doubt be the two first choice hookers for the world cup.
I think John is probably seeing the writing on the wall though. Especially when we see the improvement in the Sharks game against the Bulls without him on the field. I thought the Sharks scrum was probably the best its been all season.
I think John is ok at hooker, and I dont think you need to worry. Pieter De Villiers knows now after he opened his mouth about it – if he plays John at hooker he will get huge criticism.
21 Jun 2011, 10:38 am
I want Beardface (Josh Strauss) on the cover…. and a nice little story about the bloke…. or did I miss that issue?
21 Jun 2011, 10:39 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-69: dont forget Player 23 all of us Saffas minus a few playing every position on the field scoring tries in front of the tv…..in the finals and thats not a joke!
21 Jun 2011, 10:39 am
@grant10(grant10)-71: did you see, apparently plum said smit was on the bench because he had diarrhea and his hammy was twitching
21 Jun 2011, 10:40 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-73: Damn…what is it with you guys and wanting to meet me in the parking lot. Do you think I am some kind of parking lot hooker or something ?
21 Jun 2011, 10:43 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-76: forget it, he is not popular enough to warrant a cover! next month it will be framcois steyn…
keo, where is the chiliboy cover mate?
21 Jun 2011, 10:43 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-78: Maybe he should stick to clean foods and ditch the greasy bucket.
21 Jun 2011, 10:46 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-80: Or just go and play for the Stormers?
I’ll take a Chilli cover too… he impressed this year.
21 Jun 2011, 10:46 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-79: Hahahahaha I certainly hope not!
21 Jun 2011, 10:47 am
NZINCHINA – i agree. The Boks in RWC95/2007 actually could score good tries, Dusky just can’t see that. They also had good defense. The Boks of 2011 are not scoring good tries anymore. I think the Boks have the players to pull off a shock win over the ABs but they don’t have a techie specialist like Eddie Jones to give them that edge and we will not beat the ABs. Then i am going get behind the ABs toi win!!
21 Jun 2011, 10:47 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-78: well he had better pull a hammy before the Frank Bros or Crocket smash him into kingdom come.
He is a bloody has been and him and spies in a bok pack equals huge strife….
Bloody selectors got no ballas I tell you
gotta run
outta here
21 Jun 2011, 10:53 am
@keo(keo)-6:
Where-ells did you think I would get hold of you to tell you what an arsewipe you are.
A brilliant place to do it is on your own blogsite where people can see it.
perhaps you can explain to all and sundry why most players of value not only avoid you, but would love to meet you quietly in a dark alley and kick the **** out of you, and why SA Rugby will have nothing to do with you.
21 Jun 2011, 10:54 am
As I’ve said before, I don’t have a specific preference for a particular type of player at 12.
But I do value combinations.
And it does not make sense to pick a slower off-the-mark, bulky center next to a flyhalf that stands slightly deeper in the pocket. You will not dominate the tackle point on the early phase, which in turn means your ruck ball will be at a snail’s pace.
21 Jun 2011, 11:00 am
@welshbok(welshbok)-86: Hey man – is that necessary ?
21 Jun 2011, 11:05 am
@welshbok(welshbok)-86: I think rather what you are trying to do is tell everyone what an arsewipe you think Keo is. Which to be honest is not exactly the classiest move I seen on this site for a while.
21 Jun 2011, 11:06 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-88: His feelings are hurt. Having a good cry, indulge him.
21 Jun 2011, 11:07 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-89: I think if you want to have a go at someone like that, then have the balls to identify yourself, instead of hiding behind a pseudonym.
21 Jun 2011, 11:08 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-90: Why – is he a Bulls supporter ?
21 Jun 2011, 11:09 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-92:
Ouch!
21 Jun 2011, 11:12 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-91: we all know who M is, so can we have a go at him?
21 Jun 2011, 11:15 am
@welshbok(welshbok)-86: why don’t you come to my office or better still I will come to yours and let’s see who kicks the **** out of each other. I am happy to do it in the open … I don’t need quiet alleys. Again says everything about you … you sad sack of ****!
21 Jun 2011, 11:19 am
@keo(keo)-95: Wow.
Not a good look Keo.
21 Jun 2011, 11:19 am
@keo(keo)-95: okay keo, move away from the keyboard….
21 Jun 2011, 11:20 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-89: Go and ask those players you refer to why they would need a quiet alley? Everyone knows where my office is … what my email address is … what my office nr is … and that I have an open door policy.
And come on you surely have a bit more belief in your own value as a human being that you don’t have to justify the size of your balls to yourself by hiding behind a knick and trying to take a pop at me. Come on, your mom and dad would be disappointed. Come on … log on with your real identity and then tell me what an arse wipe I am … or do you need a quite dark alley for that …
21 Jun 2011, 11:22 am
It’s on!!! Keo and the Welshman.
I smell a Keo TV opportunity here……
21 Jun 2011, 11:22 am
@keo(keo)-95: I’ll come beat him for you if you want. I might even pay you for the opportunity. You can put the video on Keo TV
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