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.
Click here to subscribe to print edition
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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, 13:26 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-250:
You’re a Cheetahs supporter, right?
Any indications given re the Cheetah’s training squad?
Would be keen to see the names.
5 Dec 2011, 13:27 pm
@puff(puff)-251:
I’m a WP supporter… but, here you go:
Cheetahs – 52-man provisional squad
1 Coenie Oosthuizen / Marcel van der Merwe / Janro van Niekerk
2 Adriaan Strauss / PW van Vuuren / Ryno Barnes / Hercu Liebenberg
3 WP Nel / Lourens Adriaanse / Trevor Nyakane / Eugene Butterworth
4 Francois Uys / Andries Ferreira / George Earl / Ockie van Zyl / JC Astle
5 Waltie Vermeulen / Izak van der Westhuizen / Martin Muller
6 Heinrich Brussow / Johan Wessels
7 Juan Smith / Ashley Johnson / Justin Downey / Lappies Labuschagne / Philip van der Walt
8 Davon Raubenheimer / Leon Karemaker
9 Piet van Zyl / Tewis de Bruyn / Marnus Hugo / Jacques Coetzee
10 (Johan Goosen) / Sias Ebersohn / Marnitz Boshoff
11 Cameron Jacobs / Rocco Jansen / Dusty Noble
12 Andries Strauss / Philip Snyman / Barry Geel / Matt Rosslee
13 Robert Ebersohn / Wilmaure Louw / Jean Stemmet
14 Rayno Benjamin / Riaan Smit / Philip Burger
15 Willie le Roux / Hennie Daniller / Rudi Vogt / Nico Scheepers
5 Dec 2011, 13:27 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-223: calm down man, do you really believe that Plum, he who does not rate youngsters is going to drop MJ and Bosman ……… then select rookie centres.
Get real now …. and FYI Mjekevu is not yet on the guppy books.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for Mjekevu …. and to correct you it is not that Mitch does not rate the boy, as you say. It is more like Mitch sees him as a troublemaker as he has recently cut more than 20 players who fall in the category of, has-been, loafer, average, poor, never will be and troublemaker.
To me Mjekevu falls into the category of troublemaker, his attitude does not make him a good team player so he too was cut along with 20 other players. Good luck to the guppies.
5 Dec 2011, 13:29 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-253:
Trouble-maker?
Must be pretty easy being head boy at King Edward VII then.
5 Dec 2011, 13:31 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-253:
Do you have the full list of players still in Lions den?
5 Dec 2011, 13:31 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-249: Going to the Cricket this Friday??
I’m buying tickets this arvie
North stand i think.
5 Dec 2011, 13:31 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-252:
Shot.
Is this official, or did you thumb-suck it?
5 Dec 2011, 13:33 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-252:
Whoops, I put Johan Goosen in (caps) as one of my new (or guys who haven’t seen much game-time) players to potentially pick up for Fantasy Rugby.
Juandre Kruger, Johann Sadie & Hurricanes prop Reggie Goodes being the others.
FYI everybody: Reggie Goodes is a South African prop from Pretoria. Played at centre for the Bulls U-13 Craven Week side, before moving to Wellington and playing prop at Wellington College. Now might even be a starter by the time the S15 starts.
5 Dec 2011, 13:33 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-252:
No Kabamba Floors or Pieter Myburgh?
I think the Aadrianse props will be making a significant impact on SA rugby shortly.
5 Dec 2011, 13:34 pm
@puff(puff)-257:
-_- I didn’t know who some of them were until I saw this squad… so it’s official.
Eugene Butterworth was the only name that wasn’t announced, but they mentioned he was called up later on, so I presume he’s still there.
5 Dec 2011, 13:35 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-250:
Vermuelen actually had been let go by the Lions & Farns Ludeke who thought he wasnt good enough,Too flash.was at Lions for u19
Went to Pumas & put on a bit of weight and moved to blindside
But was still a experimental exercise for Rassie as Pumas have produced some very good loosies(Dlulane,Pierre Uys,Gerhard Vosloo,Dries Schalkwyk) over the years-a few of them failed to make step up when they moved from union
5 Dec 2011, 13:36 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-256:
I’ll see if the mood takes me.
My titans aren’t playing
maybe a quick shaprener or two in the members stand.
Am also considering a cheeking soujourn to Arnies to keep the peasants in check.
so much of decisions
5 Dec 2011, 13:37 pm
@puff(puff)-259:
Was surprised for a long time that we didn’t hold onto either of the Adriaanse brothers. But not much we can do about it now.
Pieter Myburgh was on a short-term contract, and they decided not to keep him on I believe.
And Kabamba Floors is gone. Can’t remember where, maybe the Kings?
Not quite sure what they’re going to do at lock. If there is one position from the 5 SA teams that is wide open, it is the 5 jersey for the Cheetahs.
5 Dec 2011, 13:38 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-254: well see how he gets along as the lowest form of guppy …. he does not like taking orders from anyone, otherwise he would not have been head boy.
@puff(puff)-255: only the 22 that won the Currie cup. They are all contracted and safe ….. Mitch has been doing major cutting from the squad, 21 victims and counting that are no longer Lions.
5 Dec 2011, 13:43 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-264:
May I ask where you got this information?
At the same time I’d hate to see the Lions go the Straueli route of only having yes-men.
5 Dec 2011, 13:51 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-265: Lions are looking to have a lean mean squad, it pointless having 50+ professionals on your books if you are not going to use them, like the bullies
I suspect a senior squad of around 35-40 players is what Mitch is working towards.
5 Dec 2011, 13:53 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-253:
Troublemaker? Shifting goalposts now 7 making up new categories for reasoning of questionable man management skills from Draconian Mitch…rich..
What troublemaking are you talking about? mjekevu has been committed to lions since a schoolboy,stated so many times during his shot career. He has gone back to junior rugby & put on weight as asked by Lions & Muir in 2010.He was 1.91m 78kgs in 2010,in 2011 he is 1.91m 91 kgs,hasnt lost his speed neither. thats a man who wants to succeed.2 years in a row SA u20′s and a superb talent,
Hope youre not making up stories about “trouble making” blah blah to denigrate a young player’s name to defend a coach who THROUGHOUT his professional stint as coach has had tumultous relations with players,management,media etc and shown himself to be a “loskop” more times than not.
Anyone with a strong personality & sense of worth in their abilities seems to be classed a “troublemaker” by Mitch & his ilk. Mate rugby like life one has to work with a number of different personalities to make it work especially with one so talented/gifted….man management
5 Dec 2011, 13:56 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-264:
I cannot believe a supposedly top union would only have 22 players on their books prior to the start of the S 15.
In fact:
1) Van Rensburg, Aadrianse
2) Maku, Bezuidenhout, [Marutlulle?]
3) Cilliers, Van Der Linde, [Buys, Geldenhuys?]
4) Van Heerden, Roodt
5) Van Der Merwe, Snyman
6) Minnie, Grobelaar, Kriel
7) Rhodes, [Van Schalkwyk ?]
8) Strauss, Whitely, [Wheeler?]
9) Bondesio, new Australian recruit
10) Jantjies, James
11) Killian, Boshoff
12) Hollenbach, La Grange
13) Murray, Des Fountain
14) Mapoe, Van Rensburg
15) Taute, Kamana
More than 22…
5 Dec 2011, 13:57 pm
@puff(puff)-268:
Oh, and that young 10 – is it Cronje?
Who else remains/has been drafted in?
5 Dec 2011, 13:57 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-266:
Fair enough, but he’s probably below that 35-40 mark at the moment in terms of how many players are currently in contention for a starting spot.
You’d think he’d be releasing players like Dries van Schalkwyk, Edgar Marutlulle and so forth…
Not a young guy who’s made a reasonable impression.
John Mitchell may be the hero now, but he will soon be the villain.
5 Dec 2011, 13:59 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-258: where do you play fantasy rugga?
5 Dec 2011, 13:59 pm
@puff(puff)-268:
- Callie Visagie was signed as a hooker.
- Johan Snyman has gone to the EP Kings.
- Ross & Guy Cronje have been signed. Ross a scrumhalf, Guy a flyhalf.
- Think they’ve included Hein Cronje in the mean time.
5 Dec 2011, 14:01 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-271:
http://superrugbyfantasy.foxsports.com.au
I only started during the World Cup, where I did pretty badly… but this time I’m doing my preparation
5 Dec 2011, 14:02 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-272:
Yes, that’s right – the Cronje brothers have signed!
I remember now.
At least Lions have a bit more depth at scrumhalf, thank goodness.
Seriously, Snyman has left?
So Mitchell has gotten rid of David Bulbring, Dawid De Villiers, George Earle and Johann Snyman???
And contracted Hendrik Roodt?
Wow – weird.
5 Dec 2011, 14:02 pm
I wonder whether the Sharks will snap up Dawid De Villiers?
5 Dec 2011, 14:03 pm
@puff(puff)-268: all of those players are safe, Snyman was cut.
At 9 not sure about that Aussie as we have Cronje and Moolman as cover. Kriel is another I’m not sure about, the rest look safe.
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-267:
We will see, either Mitch was the troublemaker or Mjekevu.
5 Dec 2011, 14:03 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-219:
“If he’d marketed himself better he might’ve even had a shot at going all the way”
He had a few title shots Lennox being one of them… and held plenty of lower promo world titles KO’ing plenty along the way… Cameron had nothing to be ashamed of…
5 Dec 2011, 14:06 pm
@puff(puff)-274:
Yeah something tells me Michael Rhodes will be playing a lot at lock…
Won’t be long before Ruan Venter & Ruan Botha start looking elsewhere as well.
5 Dec 2011, 14:08 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-277:
I realize that, but the reputation he has in NZ now is “that guy that got smashed by Tua”.
The Dominion Post was talking about it ending his career unless he knocked out Betham…
Seems that here Cameron is just one of those guys everybody loves to hate.
5 Dec 2011, 14:08 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-265:
no, it seems as though mitchell is mellowing with time and aquiring a more complete skill set/ability coaching wise. i dont think he goes in for the complete ja broer routine as much, anymore.
also, carlos spencer looks like more of a man than just an arse kissing yes man to me.
5 Dec 2011, 14:09 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-273: Ok cool. When does registration for S15 open? I also heard about some guys playing on TestRugby.com or something like that.
5 Dec 2011, 14:15 pm
Lions getting rid of dead weight and priming themselves….i like i like. Will it come back to bite them if they get a few injuries? Their youth talent doesnt seem that good.
5 Dec 2011, 14:18 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-278: why would they when the only locks ahead of them is Wikus, vd Merwe, Roodt and Greef …. they will get game time superrugby, count on it.
5 Dec 2011, 14:18 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-281:
I have no idea. FoxSports does run it really well though.
I’ll try to remember to let you know when it opens.
5 Dec 2011, 14:20 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-284: Ok cool thanks bud.
5 Dec 2011, 14:20 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-283:
Greeff?
Wasn’t he behind Quinn Roux, Eben Etzebeth, Reniel Hugo & Wilhelm van der Sluys at WP U-21′s?
And he’s going to be in the Lions 22?
Damn.
5 Dec 2011, 14:23 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-283:
Whoops I read that wrong.
I see… I’m not so sure though. The Lions have been signing and then sending locks on their way for years.
Gordon Gilfillan another that comes to mind.
Something about Jo’burg and locks.
5 Dec 2011, 14:23 pm
Thank you, BuckT, for finding my cd!
Am going shopping.
Scuse moi.
5 Dec 2011, 14:26 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-286: yes the varsity cup lock that the WP did not want or rate ….. I don’t mind the WP did not rate the man on the cover of this months SARuyby magazine either
5 Dec 2011, 14:28 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-286: btw some of those names mentioned are behind Ruan Botha and Ruan Venter, it is true.
5 Dec 2011, 14:29 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-276:
By your assertion a player like Victor Matfield would have been cut by Mitchell had he been a junior in his set up….(known to have a big personality throughout career & is probably the best lock of his generation at the very least)
Draconian Mitch
5 Dec 2011, 14:30 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-262: maybe a good spit roasting of a young local is in order……
Got my tickets.
5 Dec 2011, 14:31 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-289:
One good CC season doesn’t mean that much.
Otherwise Pietie Ferreira would be one of the greats.
5 Dec 2011, 14:32 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-289:
Yeah the same way the Lions didnt rate Duanne Vermuelen,Jean Deysel…..Never offered them senior contracts
5 Dec 2011, 14:33 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-291: Matfield was a naughty boy, remember JW sending him home after pulling his ears. Mitch is just old school, if you want a no nonsense hardarse coach Mitch is your man, if you want a psychologist Divvy or AC is your coach.
5 Dec 2011, 14:35 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-294:
Jean Deysel?
I thought he just left because he got a better deal with the Sharks.
Surely the Lions offered him something!
I don’t think he’s all that good anyway though. Has no variation in his game. Has that Pierre Spies thing about him about not ‘feeling’ the game.
5 Dec 2011, 14:41 pm
The only loose forward the Lions genuinely regret losing in recent years is Willem Alberts. The rest are all much of a muchness, and wouldn’t have held a starting place in the current Lions team anyway.
5 Dec 2011, 14:48 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-295:
Divvy, a psychologist?! Help!
A self-proclaimed religious guru, maybe…
5 Dec 2011, 14:54 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011(RL)-295:
that naughty boy won 3 super titles, 2 tri nations, , 3 c/cups, 1 wc, 1 b/i lions series and a legion of admirers both male and female the world over.
5 Dec 2011, 14:56 pm
Mshini, plum is just as old school and hardarse as Mitch …. just ask Barrit, Murray, Pienaar and Steyn.
Good luck to him and Mjekevu
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