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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5 Dec 2011, 12:25 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-196: Agree bud. I am a believer or more game time together the better players get.
Won’t bother me if Jordaan and Mjekevu take a bit of time to gel, they will be unbelievable (imo) once playing together the whole season.
That backline is young which I like. We will have years with them.
5 Dec 2011, 12:27 pm
@cane(cane)-195:
not bad considering the other guy looks bigger and with a longer reach.
why the draw though?
does the clip not show the bits where spencers getting worked over more because it requires a lot to draw a fight after having knocked down your opponent?
perhpas he was penalised points for striking after the referees intervention?
failing that then i suspect a ffucking conspiracy just because the guys helping saffas get back to the top…kiwis will do their bit to push him down…
5 Dec 2011, 12:27 pm
@puff(puff)-200: Very well said!
5 Dec 2011, 12:30 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-202:
A lot of the results are questionable each year…
Spencer probably should’ve won.
And Monty Betham is a real w@nk. Genuinely despise that guy.
5 Dec 2011, 12:33 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-199:
Mjekevu & Jordaan should play senior rugby not u21′s AGAIN.
Yes Im with you that it wouldnt be to their best interest to stick them from the start thus periodically giving a chance as subs,2/3 starts,some Currie Cup rugby much in the same fashion. But they should always be involved with senior squad.
Likes of barritt & Murray were brought through the same way by Muir and were premier centre pairing in SA in 2007 as 20 year olds.Until Sharks decided to mess all of Steyn,barritt,Murray,Vulindlu around to keep likes of Terblanche,Swanepoel then buy Joubert,Bosman etc
Experience….tired of that word after what SA/Boks has gone through last 2 years
5 Dec 2011, 12:34 pm
@puff(puff)-200:
The stormers training squad looks impressive every year my magic dragon.
5 Dec 2011, 12:38 pm
@puff(puff)-200: Exactly. This is why I don’t want Coetzee and Rassie to be lost to the Boks. They have unfinished business.
5 Dec 2011, 12:39 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-206:
Difference now is that they have some of the premier young talents in SA unlike yesteryear where they had a overbloated squad with plenty of hasbeens or middle aged journeymen.
Likes of Kisthoff,Ntubeni,Malherbe,Etsebeth,Johannes,Carr,Kolisi,Koster,Groom,Shreuder,JP du Plessis,Mbovane
That is THE strongest youth set up in the country talent wise.
Thats the major difference.
5 Dec 2011, 12:40 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-203:
Thanks.
It really is a very well-balanced and exciting training squad.
1) Blaauw, Kitshoff
2) Fourie, Liebenberg, Ntubeni
3) Harris, Malherbe, Carstens
4) Elstadt, Lobberts, Roux
5) Bekker, Steenkamp, Etsebeth
6) Kithoff, Johannes, Fenton-Wells
7) Burger, Kolisi, Harzenberg
8) Vermeulen, Koster, Carr
9) Duvenhage, Groom, Conradie, Schreuder
10) Grant, Van Aswegen, Francis, Catrikilis
11) Habana, Coleman
12) De Villiers, Brache, Van Der Spuy
13) De Jongh, Du Plessis, Klaasen (and possibly Jacobs)
14) Van Den Heever, Poolman
15) Aplon, Pieterson, Swiel
For sure, Louw, Sadie, Engelbrecht and Fourie would make it even stronger.
But there’s impressive depth across all positions.
And a lot of the younger players were brought through well during this year’s S15 and Currie Cup.
5 Dec 2011, 12:40 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-205:
Fair call. Just saying that, if your players aren’t performing, there needs to be calm heads and some reflection on whether it would actually be in the team & the youngsters best interest to throw them in the deep end.
Some cases, sure.
And I do think Jordaan & Mjekevu are ready for senior rugby.
But do I think if the Sharks want to make a push for the SR semi-finals that they’d be the correct choices?
Heck no. Give them some time off the bench or separate starts.
5 Dec 2011, 12:41 pm
stormers look good on papaer….
But…analyse squad carefully…..
We have issues at openside….Kitshoff has to shape or we in trouble….
We are suspect at 3…….Brock gets overplayed …..
We do not really have a standout proven 10….Grant s boot is an issue and Gary Van Aswegen always injured…..then it is a drop down to youngsters…..
What happens if JDV and JDJ get hurt?
It is all very well not wanting to be critical but one has the right to be critical…..
Stormers are ,imo, undoubtedly a lot weaker than they were last year…..
Sadie….JF and F Louw are not small losses….
5 Dec 2011, 12:42 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-208:
Exactly!
5 Dec 2011, 12:44 pm
@puff(puff)-209:
You missed a lot of names that have been included.
1 Deon Carstens / Steven Kitshoff / Wicus Blaauw / Schalk Ferreira / Hein van der Merwe / Alistair Vermaak
2 Deon Fourie / Tiaan Liebenberg / Scarra Ntubeni / Clemon Lewis
3 Brok Harris / Frans Malherbe / Tom Botha
4 Rynhardt Elstadt / Quinn Roux / Hilton Lobberts / Donovan Armand
5 Andries Bekker / Eben Etzebeth / De Kock Steenkamp
6 Schalk Burger / Reuben Johannes / Rohan Kitshoff / Nick Fenton-Wells
7 Duane Vermeulen / Siya Kolisi / Yaya Hartzenberg
8 Nick Koster / Nizaam Carr
9 Dewaldt Duvenage / Louis Schreuder / Nic Groom / Bolla Conradie / Ricky Schroeder
10 Peter Grant / Gary van Aswegen / Elgar Watts / Timo Swiel / Burton Francis / Demetri Catrakilis / Kurt Coleman / William van Wyk
11 Bryan Habana
12 Jean de Villiers / Michael van der Spuy / Berton Klaasen / Adrian Kritzinger
13 Juan de Jongh / Adrian Jacobs / JP du Plessis
14 Gerhard van den Heever / Danie Poolman
15 Gio Aplon / Joe Pietersen / Marcel Brache
JC Kritzinger & Heinrich Steyl out until the Currie Cup.
5 Dec 2011, 12:45 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-204:
i looked up the fight out of interest.
the monty guy looks way out of his depth against cameron.
they should never have been drawn to fight each other.
but ja, that cheap shot just smacks of despicable character.
5 Dec 2011, 12:46 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-208:
well lets see, throw in a couple of injuries early in the competition youngsters in the deepend in key positions and you have the the annual snuff movie that is the stormers.
but ja, maybe this year will be different.
certainly look like the best sa team on paper.
happily the game isplayed on grass.
5 Dec 2011, 12:47 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-205: Agree with you Mshini. Jordaan and if we sign Mjekevu they have to be playing in S15 not U21′s again. Just look when Lambie got a chance at 19 last year how it turned out for him. He was a Springbok and off to the world cup the very next year.
Time to believe in the youngsters and give them a chance. We will never know what we have until we give the youngsters a chance. Lambie’s chance only came from a player being injured. Just pleased he grabbed that chance with both hands to show Plum what he had in him.
5 Dec 2011, 12:49 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-207:
que survivor’s eye of the tiger…
5 Dec 2011, 12:49 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-213: i see you still have scahlk as opensider….
other super 15 teams will just love you
5 Dec 2011, 12:51 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-214:
Betham talks it up. He wanted the fight no doubt, and has been vocal in saying he wants to be a professional boxer.
They all like taking the p1ss out of Shane Cameron after he got knocked out by Tua, but end of the day Tua spent his career fighting in Vegas. If he’d marketed himself better he might’ve even had a shot at going all the way, and Cameron took him on.
If it were a serious fight, Cameron would’ve knocked him out in the first 3 rounds, no doubt.
5 Dec 2011, 12:51 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-213:
I condensed it as I feel my listing will be closer to the pool of players used in the S15.
5 Dec 2011, 12:52 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-213:
But the extra names in the expanded squad helps to reinforce my stance.
5 Dec 2011, 12:52 pm
@grant10(grant10)-218:
Grant, grant, grant.
I put him in the position he’s likely to play.
Not because I want to see it happen.
5 Dec 2011, 12:53 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-210:
Sharks WONT make a push for SR title with likes of Joubert,Bosman,JLP in midfield. They are patch up specialists,polyfillers.
Sharks have arguably one of the best pack in the S15-Beast,Bismark,Jannie,Deysel,Alberts,Daniel,Kankowski.
but the deficiencies in backline wont allow a sustainable challenge.There will be lucky to sneak into top then get smashed in away quarters just like this year.
5 Dec 2011, 12:54 pm
@grant10(grant10)-218:
I expect this to be Stormers starting loose trio.
6) Kitshoff
7) Burger
8) Vermeulen
with Koster on the bench.
5 Dec 2011, 12:57 pm
@cane(cane)-195: That looks like it might have been a pretty decent fight. Better than anything Sunni Bin has produced.
5 Dec 2011, 12:58 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-222: who says he is likely to play there?
Insane choice…….
5 Dec 2011, 12:58 pm
@puff(puff)-220:
I see!
In that case I can’t see them using Hartzenberg. Also unlikely to sign Francis (I thought he had a contract with Boland, but apparently not. He’s just trying to impress for a contract).
And if they play either Coleman (you’ve got him on the wing btw) or Catrakilis I’m pinning my hopes elsewhere!
Can form a nice WP U-21 team for 2012 out of there though… without those who would then be called up for Currie Cup duty of course.
Something like this I’m imagining:
1 Steven Kitshoff
2 Scarra Ntubeni
3 Frans Malherbe
4 Wilhelm van der Sluys
5 Eben Etzebeth
6 Beyers de Villiers
7 Siya Kolisi
8 Nizaam Carr
9 Ricky Schroeder
10 Timo Swiel
11 Devon Williams
12 Michael van der Spuy
13 JP du Plessis
14 Tshotsho Mbovane
15 Craig Barry
16 Renier Marais
17 Justin Ackerman
18 Gerbrandt Grobler
19 Cobus Nel / Rayn Smid
20 Gerhard Jordaan
21 Dillyn Leyds
22 Kobus van Wyk / Patrick Howard
5 Dec 2011, 12:59 pm
@puff(puff)-224: I can live with that
5 Dec 2011, 13:00 pm
@grant10(grant10)-226:
If they don’t play him there, I’ll be happy but surprised.
But my prediction… he’ll spend the majority of the SR campaign at openside, or again playing left-and-right with any of Vermeulen, Koster or Kolisi.
5 Dec 2011, 13:01 pm
@grant10(grant10)-211:
The fact that an average prop like Brock gets overplayed tells you all you need to know about the Stormers
5 Dec 2011, 13:03 pm
@puff(puff)-224:
If they thought that highly of Kitshoff, answer me this…
Why wasn’t he called up to the Currie Cup side after returning from the World Cup? He should’ve been back in there before the Springboks even returned, with Namibia falling out earlier.
I can’t recall an injury. He was on the bench in every game in fact.
That’s why I don’t think they see him as their best and starting openside.
5 Dec 2011, 13:03 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-225:
sunny bin only fights halaal boxers.
served up by the MJC
5 Dec 2011, 13:04 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-230:
Malherbe and Carstens will be able to allow Harris to rest more.
Brok is under-rated.
He spills the odd ball in open play but his scrummaging is actually pretty good.
It’s Blaauw who seems to have a few technical deficiencies in his game.
But young Kithoff is a powerhouse and a star in the making.
5 Dec 2011, 13:04 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-230:
Just wait until we get our next Cobus Visagie.
Then you’re all in deep sh17.
5 Dec 2011, 13:05 pm
@puff(puff)-209: That’s a great training squad. In fact, when it comes to training, they might be the best there is.
In the words of Kenny Powers, “I play a real sport. I don’t try to be the best at exercise.”
5 Dec 2011, 13:06 pm
@puff(puff)-224: @grant10(grant10)-228: Yes agreed that is a great loose trio. Just hope Kitshoff can cut it. Burger and Vermeulen to handle the rough stuff Kitshoff just needs to ensure he is first at the breakdown.
5 Dec 2011, 13:06 pm
@puff(puff)-233:
If Harris would stop playing scrumhalf, and flyhalf…. well that would be a good start.
5 Dec 2011, 13:07 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-227:
I added a few names merely to illustrate the depth.
But it will be cut down to about 36 players.
And I’m sure Harzenberg and Coleman won’t be in the top 36, but will be looked at in the event of injury if necessary.
Don’t be surprised if Francis is offered a contract.
Grant’s potential unavailability at the start of the season and Van Aswegen’s penchant for breaking down physically may prompt the decision makers to rope in a flyhalf with S15 experience.
Francis has that, albeit getting limited game time at the Bulls and the Lions.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Francis is included in the 22 for the first few games if Grant isn’t back.
5 Dec 2011, 13:07 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-230: yip
we have 100 loosies…..and only 2 inexperienced opensiders…..
CJ will be a revelation at Lions ….watch Mitchell get him into the best condition ever….
5 Dec 2011, 13:09 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-237:
Heh.
Now that’s a fair comment.
5 Dec 2011, 13:09 pm
@puff(puff)-233: Deon Cartens always performed well at 1
but struggled at 3
5 Dec 2011, 13:11 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-206: THIS time will be different!
5 Dec 2011, 13:11 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-229:
dont forget his cameos at first and second receiver.
5 Dec 2011, 13:14 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-232: Or at least his sponsors, Orion Cold Storage, assured him they were halaal.
5 Dec 2011, 13:16 pm
On Rohan Kitshoff.
I’d love to see the Stormers give the openside jersey to one of Kitshoff, Fenton-Wells or Johannes. Not my job to decide who the best option is, and I don’t know either… but they need to put an OPENSIDE at openside. Please!
I just can’t see it though. Like I said, when Namibia returned from the World Cup, they didn’t bring Kitshoff back into the squad, and Fenton-Wells dropped out of the squad the weekend after Kitshoff’s return with Burger taking his place in the 22.
They played Burger at openside, which suggests they will do so in SR as well. Nothing has convinced me that they’ll play any of the other options there.
5 Dec 2011, 13:17 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-245:
Anyone saying Kitshoff will be at openside… that’s just wishful thinking.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
5 Dec 2011, 13:19 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-242:
Carstens can only do a better job than CJ did during his stint at the Stormers.
Your supreme confidence in Mitchell being able to get the best out of CJ has been noted, and I do hope you are right, for the sake of the player and for the sake of SA rugby (which needs as many capable and experienced tightheads as it can get).
But a little more confidence from your side in the Stormers youngsters such as Malherbe at 3, and Kithoff and Johannes (very highly rated) at openside will be nice to see.
Remember when Rassie introduced a very young Brussow and a very green Vermeulen at the Cheetahs?
Rassie is a great talent spotter and, from what I can see, these youngsters are being well prepared.
Look at Elstadt as an example.
He has come through in awesome fashion!
5 Dec 2011, 13:21 pm
@puff(puff)-247:
Sorry stormersboy
Post was meant for Grant10
5 Dec 2011, 13:23 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-242:
inshallah.
alhimdiallah.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-244:
norty.
5 Dec 2011, 13:23 pm
@puff(puff)-247:
To be fair Vermeulen had a HUGE reputation when he was still with the Pumas.
He was of course playing openside and there were a lot of people saying he was better then Keegan Daniel and so forth (they came about at around the same time).
Rassie only had to sign him up, and that was that.
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