The Lions’ unlikely hero

The Lions’ unlikely hero

5 Dec 2011

Josh Strauss has become a cult figure in Joburg but he very nearly fell into rugby obscurity.

Had it not been for Alan Zondagh, Sharks fans might have been spared the frustration inflicted on them by Strauss in the Currie Cup final, and he might instead have been attending to our furry friends in their hours of need. Before he was spotted playing club rugby by the former Western Province coach, the Strauss life plan was directed towards saving animal lives as a vet.

In the latest SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week, we reveal how Zondagh helped Strauss to play for Boland, and how his impressive performances for Maties in the Varsity Cup resulted in a trial at the Lions.

Strauss also reflects on the Lions’ triumphant Currie Cup campaign and looks ahead to next year’s Super Rugby tournament.

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Also in the new issue:

– SA Rugby magazine reveals how the Lions went from Super Rugby chumps in 2010 to Currie Cup champs in 2011

– John Mitchell on transforming the Lions, living in South Africa, preparing for Super Rugby, and the Springbok coaching job

– The Sharks started to develop a new team dynamic during the 2011 Currie Cup

– Heyneke Meyer’s wants the Bulls to become the world’s best domestic side again. We reveal his master plan

– Boland Kavaliers coach Eugene Eloff on winning the Currie Cup First Division, losing half of his side afterwards, and Saru’s decision to have six teams in the Premier Division

– SA Rugby magazine assesses the candidates who will be vying for the Springbok flyhalf jersey next year

– In an extract from his new autobiography, Butch James reveals how he was promised the Springbok No 10 jersey at the World Cup only to fall behind Morne Steyn in the pecking order

– Graham Henry finally has his inner peace – and his World Cup. Now he can get on with the rest of his life

– From zero to hero, jeers to cheers, agony to ecstasy, no one has a better handle on the fickle world of international rugby than World Cup winner Stephen Donald

– Thierry Dusautoir is an inspirational leader and officially the best rugby player on the planet

– The inaugural Rugby Championship will kick off on 18 August next year, two weeks after the Super Rugby final

– Francois Louw speaks to SA Rugby magazine about his new life in Bath, the recent World Cup campaign and why he hasn’t given up on playing for the Boks

– The Springbok Sevens went into the 2011-12 World Series with a settled squad


398 Comments

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  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 06:27 am

    bwahahaha @ Butch! dragons don’t cry

  • 2.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 06:50 am

    i see they even did the sarugby letters in red in ode to josh.

    who would’ve thought the day would come when a lion would grace the cover of a sports mag… i better check that mayan calendar again…

    also, it would seem monsieur strauss has a little penchant for beards…

  • 3.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 06:57 am

    who on earth promised butch the #10 jersey?

    and did he expect the promise to be kept even though his personal form did not warrant it but the guy he fell behinds’ form did?

  • 4.HHS: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 07:02 am

    A Lions heavy issue….. this must be a first?

  • 5.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 07:19 am

    Finally. A cover I like.

  • 6.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 07:34 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-5:
    he doesn’t look so good in this pic though.
    i mean whats up with the absent light / dark shadow bit? why hide him from cover page glory? as well the seeming absence of any teeny bit of photoshop justice.
    i suspect a conspiracy.

  • 7.Staal: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 07:54 am

    Good morning all.

    Butch promised the 10 jumper? Musta been the tooth fairy…

  • 8.grant10: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 07:59 am

    MMMM

    promises of jerseys?

    Sickens me that

    and it was a hallmark pf PDV and Plods last 4 years

    all those promises

  • 9.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:00 am

    @Staal(Staal)-7:
    More,hoe gaan dit?

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:01 am

    Wow finally a fresh new cover featuring a non-bok

  • 11.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:16 am

    @grant10(grant10)-8: in the heat of the night.

  • 12.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:41 am

    also, i’ve noticed lately a lot of articles on how ‘heyneke’s so happy to be at the bulls and has a master plan..at the bulls…and wont be leaving.. the bulls’..?…
    its as if somebody’s trying to drum a message across that heyneke’s not available for national duty, no?

    its shamefull really when you start to use media manipulation in the media to further agendas…?…reality becomes distorted.. i pray we are not becoming like the americans in this regard.

  • 13.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:50 am

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-4: I may just buy this issue, it is sure to be better than last months failure that they sold to unsuspecting victims. :wink:

  • 14.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:51 am

    ROAR!

  • 15.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:53 am

    Looks like the first worthwhile issue in years.

  • 16.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:54 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-10: Imagine that, the magazine is called SARugby, not BokRugby ….. refreshing not having a cover featuring bonehead Burger.

  • 17.Simon: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:55 am

    @au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-6: The shadow helps create the right mood and gives us a good area to place the coverlines.

  • 18.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 08:58 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-15: Buy it and let us know how it goes.

    i expect the salient points on my desk by Wednesday.

    Although I doubt it will take you that long.

  • 19.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:01 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-18: The good folk at the Cape Times have deemed me suitably deserving of free delivered copies for almost 3 weeks now. About time keo’s bunch did the same. I am what you call an influencer.

  • 20.Simon: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:06 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-19: Don’t be so cheap. Sure you can afford R199 for 12 issues.

  • 21.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:09 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-19: No doubt HSM have some unsold copies lying around.

    I’ve never been one for buying mags.

    My neighbour is a big subscriber.

    He thinks those pesky neighbourhood teenagers keep stealing them.

  • 22.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:10 am

    @Simon(Simon)-20: Is that what you pay?

  • 23.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:15 am

    @Simon(Simon)-17:
    oh i see.
    i understand the coverlines bit but i dont think i like the moody look you guys were going for here. of course it does suggest all sort of undertones and stuff like that so i get that too.

  • 24.Simon: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:15 am

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-22: Why would I pay for a mag I work on?

  • 25.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:20 am

    I thought There was a good reason why Butch left Bath,
    At least the blame for the Quarter Final failure fell squarely on Morne Styen and FdP combo, spare your tears for Butch: he is a big boy who should have known better than to believe someone like PdV.

  • 26.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:20 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-18:
    ‘salient points’ :lol:

  • 27.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:20 am

    @Simon(Simon)-24: So they pay partly in kind?

    Like the old “dop” system?

    Shocking.

    I’m calling Carte Blanche.

    Derek Watts won’t stand for this!

    Don’t worry bro. We’re behind you all the way.

    Amandla!

  • 28.sparticus: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:22 am

    Can someone please shed some light on this ? “The inaugural Rugby Championship will kick off on 18 August next year, two weeks after the Super Rugby final” ? Is this the expanded Trinations with Argentina in it ? Please dont say so it is please , cos I had some romantic vision of a comp called the 4 nations……

  • 29.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:24 am

    Who cares about shadows and photoshop twaddle.

    Finally it ain’t skulk.

  • 30.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:26 am

    And what man puts “I luv you bakkies botha” in nic

  • 31.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:26 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-29: I see the burgers are making headlines in mainstream media these days.

    Moving up in the world. ;)

  • 32.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:26 am

    @Simon(Simon)-24: Easy, buttercup, don’t get prissy with me. I’m just trying to determine exactly where the freebie line sits.

  • 33.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:27 am

    And the red picks up nicely on the Christmas theme.

  • 34.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:27 am

    @sparticus(sparticus)-28: That it is.

    4 nations.

  • 35.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:29 am

    It’s a real man for once.

  • 36.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:30 am

    @Simon(Simon)-24:
    do you guys to some extent or the other, conciously or otherwise, seek to ‘manufacture consent’ and use your power in the media to subliminally subvert the social group into accepting the shadowy and secret, yet well known and understood, cape based rugby illuminati’s agendas?

    it goes without saying, that your answer will reveal a great deal.

    also, is keo a manchurian?

    again, please note, your answer will reveal a great deal…

  • 37.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:31 am

    Simon in a brawling mood today.

  • 38.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:32 am

    “Iloveyoubakkiesbotha” whatthehellyoutalkingabout!!!!!!!

  • 39.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:35 am

    Iloveyouybakkiesbotha,

    Last time I looked josh played for the lions where is cape-based agenda

  • 40.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:35 am

    @Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-16: Exactly my sentiments. Burger has like a gazillion covers…..seems about right he is a legend of the game. I would of liked to see Basson get a cover after his record breaking season.

  • 41.sparticus: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:36 am

    @Simon(Simon)-24: To double the sales.

  • 42.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:37 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-30:
    there isn’t a man alive who doesn’t love bakkies botha.
    who doesn’t love him for the manly man he is.
    even those filthy kiwis deep down somewhere in their truest hearts, revere, respect and love him..for the manly man he is.

    josh strauss wishes every night of his life he could be like bakkies….

  • 43.Roar my Lions .... Currie Cup Champions 2011: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:37 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-33: that settles it ……… I’m buying this edition today! It is red and it features my Lions.

  • 44.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:38 am

    Buttercup.

    Snigger

  • 45.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:38 am

    All we need now is black player on cover and everyone will be happy.

  • 46.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:39 am

    The Flyhalf battle will be interesting next year. My money is on Elton Jantjies being the Bok 1st choice 10 next year.

  • 47.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:40 am

    Iloveyoubakkiesbotha

    Real women love josh more than bakkies

  • 48.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:40 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-45: Damn skippy

  • 49.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:42 am

    Iloveyoubakkiesbotha has been subliminally illuminatied.

  • 50.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    5 Dec 2011, 09:44 am

    @Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-43: Better get in fast before they are all gone. ;)

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