De Jongh should be centre of attention
14 Feb 2012
JON CARDINELLI says Juan de Jongh has completed his Super Rugby apprenticeship and is ready to fill the void left by Jaque Fourie.
Remember Juan de Jongh? He impressed as a 21-year-old in his debut Currie Cup, so much so that he was selected for the subsequent Springbok tour to Europe. He helped the Stormers to their first ever Super Rugby final in 2010, and made his Test debut against Wales a month later.
While De Jongh looked destined for great things he never let the plaudits go to his head. He accepted that Jean de Villiers (back from a season with Irish club Munster) would partner Jaque Fourie in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, a reunion that ultimately relegated the younger player to the bench. He continued to work and wait for an opportunity, which eventually arrived when Fourie announced his move to Japan.
A lot was said about Fourie’s decision to leave the franchise, as it left the Stormers without one of their most pivotal players. Much was written in 2011 about the loss of Johann Sadie, an incredible prospect who moved to the Bulls because his path was blocked by the likes of De Villiers, Fourie and De Jongh. Most recently, it was said that Bryan Habana had the experience and skills to offset the loss of Fourie, while the talented WP duo of JP du Plessis and Michael van der Spuy would also come into their own as 13s for the Cape franchise.
Why is it that there’s been so much excitement around every prospective midfielder in the Cape bar De Jongh? If anything, the 2012 season should be a massive one for the outside centre with the aggressive tackling style and deceptive sidestep.
With Fourie no longer in the mix, De Jongh will enjoy an extended run at No 13, a crucial position in the Stormers’ attacking and defensive system. He will play the big games alongside De Villiers, and providing the pair enjoys success at Super Rugby level, they should continue that partnership into the Test season.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee selected Habana at outside centre last week, explaining the move as one that would have long-term benefits for the team. Coetzee said that Habana would shift from wing to centre in the event of injury, as was the case when the Cape franchise played the Kings in Port Elizabeth. Habana was picked at No 13 because De Jongh had sustained a jaw injury in an earlier warm-up game against the Lions.
At this stage, De Jongh is still expected to start against the Hurricanes in the Stormers’ first game of the season. As Coetzee has clarified, De Jongh is the first-choice outside centre in the squad while Habana’s move to the midfield is a work in progress.
Habana may have started his career in the centres, but it was on the wing that he excelled for the Bulls and the Boks. One of his worst performances in a green and gold jersey was at outside centre, and after that forgettable performance against Ireland in 2006 he was never played in midfield again.
The Sharks are also currently trialing JP Pietersen, Habana’s wing partner at the Boks, at No 13 in their warm-up matches. While there may be merit in boosting the depth at the respective franchises, it’s madness to talk about Habana or Pietersen as prospective Test centres when there are already existing centre options. Yes, De Jongh and a player like Sadie will need to show consistency in the coming tournament, but Habana and Pietersen aren’t even in the midfield pecking order just yet.
De Jongh is only 23, but has experienced two Super Rugby tournaments and a World Cup. He’s grown into a fine player and yet there could be more to come.
If he is handed an extended opportunity at Super Rugby level and allowed to mature alongside De Villiers, he may eventually reach a point where he can challenge the likes of Fourie for the mantle of best 13 on the planet. He’s always been tipped as something special, and with Fourie no longer standing in his way, he may finally realise his full potential.
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59 Comments
14 Feb 2012, 05:31 am
First dragon…! You must all be asleep over there in S.A…
14 Feb 2012, 07:42 am
WHY is it “madness to talk about Habana or Pietersen as prospective Test centres when there are already existing centre options”….?
WHY, if one or either of these two players prove better than anyone else at 13?
WHY is JDJ persistently moved to 13 to make room for Donkey De Villiers (At WP and Stormers) when he has played his best rugby, and most of his top class rugby, at 12?
WHY don’t you dumbfck journos see a rugby player first and then a position second?
IF it were left to the likes of you, and some blinkered, orthodoxy obsessed Saffa supporters then world rugby would never have seen Umaga or Rougerie at 13.
Chrissakes!!!
14 Feb 2012, 08:08 am
@Heavens Game-2:
What are you talking about. He’s a 13 not a 12. When he plays at 12 he never ever passes the ball. 9 10 Stop. He’s totally **** and a very selfish player at 12.
14 Feb 2012, 08:09 am
The Stormpies want to play Habana at 13
14 Feb 2012, 08:14 am
JdV has been exposed as the weak link at 12 in WC , Fransie was much better, than crashball JdV,
17 tries in 2011, 18 tries in 2010 with,
JdV, Fourie, Aplon, Habana, Pieterse.
Maybe its time to realise that these guy are not as good as what everyone wants them to be.
Habana holds world record for tries at WC while playing for the Bulls, and now after a few years with Strompies his best attribute is his play without the ball. To think all the strompie support fall for nonsense like that.
What happened to the play that use to be WP , Carel, Willie , ect.
14 Feb 2012, 08:17 am
@Jeez-3: And JDV … he is as predictable and selfish centre i have ever seen – not my favourite
14 Feb 2012, 08:19 am
AC is killing Habana’s test career. He wont be picked as a centre and at wing his form is not good enough for international level. Hasbeenana should retire from international rugby. Seriously if he makes a bok squad again it would be worse than picking John Smit ahead of Bismark. Young and exciting players deserve to fight for a starting place ahead of a old and slow and defensive liability like Habs.
14 Feb 2012, 08:21 am
@stew-6: Nope Frans Steyn should/hopefully will be the clear favourite to be the number one 12.
14 Feb 2012, 08:25 am
Aplon/viljoen/Lambo
Basson/JP/Mvovo/Hougaard/Aplon
DeJong/Fourie
F Steyn/ JDV
Jantjies/Lambo
DuPreez/Hougaard
14 Feb 2012, 08:26 am
less yada yada…
14 Feb 2012, 08:34 am
with frans steyn coming back i cant see anyone taking the 12 jersey but him.
jdv may be on the bench as backup.
that leaves jdj and…..sadie? in a straight shootout for 13 and i think jdj will win it for now.
jaque is in japland and like fdp and danie, must stay there and earn cash. let the local boys play imo.
who is talking about habs and jpp playing 13 at test level? this frikken journo, thats who.
“ooh look at me causing controversy”.
stupid reasoning.
14 Feb 2012, 08:37 am
Juan is a 13 who filled in at 12 when needed. People who watch one season of Super Rugby without knowing anything about the players and automatically assume that’s his position without actually listening to anyone..
If you haven’t heard the above been said a bunch of times on this site over the past years then you are obviously just a poster and not a reader.
Try reading some posts sometime. You may learn something.
14 Feb 2012, 08:48 am
Whenever Juan De Jongh touches the ball something happens. Yes, he has a few defensive issues and doesn’t fit into a “Jamie Roberts like” mould but I’m sure 2012 will be his season to come through.
14 Feb 2012, 09:05 am
Some people forget how long this coming Super season will be. It makes perfect sense to bolster up the centre rankings, particularly with the loss of 3 (predominantly outside) centres in Fourie, Whitehead, and Sadie.
If the young Stormers flyhalves make good on their potential, we may even see Peter Grant covering at 12 – where he is arguably best suited, considering his good distribution and defence, and atrocious out of hand kicking.
That leaves Stormers with 4 able centres for the season ahead, with only Habana limited to 13, and Grant to 12. JDV and JDJ are interchangeable. du Plessis, though promising, probably needs a season of domestic rugby before making the step up.
So what exactly is the problem?
14 Feb 2012, 09:08 am
@ali-14:
The young Stormers flyhalves showing their potential.
14 Feb 2012, 09:09 am
@ali-14: bolster up the centre rankings
after losing sadie, jf and whitehead they are scratching mate, that is the problem.
superrugby is no place for stopgaps, ask the sharks and andy goode
14 Feb 2012, 09:12 am
You poor, stooooopid invalids….
WHEN is a 13 actually a 12?
WHEN that centre forms a successful partnership with Mossie in what is probably the Stormers most successful Super Rugby season ever… Namely 2010!!
Atcually when you think about it in this light, JDJ and Mossie have been the Stormers most successful centre partnership ever….
And in this partnership JDJ was a 12…. Not 13.
Yes…
REPEAT AFTER ME… 12 NOT 13!!!
14 Feb 2012, 09:15 am
@Heavens Game-17: shhhh……you are upsetting the donkey fans.
14 Feb 2012, 09:16 am
@Jeez-3: So please tell me “genius”…. What was the number on his jersey when he played for the Stormers and the Boks in 2010…
Chrissakes… Jeez, you are a dumbfck
14 Feb 2012, 09:18 am
@rangerman-18: Fark these okes are either dyslexic, can’t count or both…
Farken idiots
14 Feb 2012, 09:18 am
@Heavens Game-17: And when John Smit played tight-head in 2009 and we won everything, took the no 1 spot and the Tri nations?
Did that make him a tight-head?
He’s played 13 all his life and will continue there now.
PS what made them the most successful centre paring?
Because you said so?
Please man.
14 Feb 2012, 09:22 am
@Jeraldjay-15: My money’s on Van Aswegen and Burton Francis to jostle for the 10 Jersey. Both have shown immense promise, hampered by equally immense bad luck.
@rangerman-16: Think we can all agree that ‘the skullet’ did wonders for the Sharks PR team.
But as players that have been part of the system for a good couple years now, PG and BH are hardly what you’d describe as a stop-gap. Stormers are just in a very similar position to the Sharks, in having an abundance of talented outside backs, and a wish to accommodate these rather than fielding average 13′s.
Besides, both BH and PG have had at least a season each in their covering positions. and Pieterson is just a natural, imho. That guy is just class, probably make a great fullback too.
14 Feb 2012, 09:26 am
@ali-22: JPP made his bok debut as a 15 i think.
he has played there for the sharks.
look i dont mean to be mean but BH is a stopgap. he hasnt played 13 for years.
PG is a genuine 12, shouldve played there all along and probably wouldve been a bok a lot more.
14 Feb 2012, 09:29 am
@Heavens Game-17: Thats the year they scored 17 tries ?
14 Feb 2012, 09:30 am
@rangerman-18:
@Heavens Game-19:
Who was the Stormer number 12 who cut the Shark’s line to pieces and ran them ragged suring his M.o.m performance during the Super 15 match at Newlands last year? I am sure he was a tall and blonde bloke….. correct me if I am wrong.
Btw.. The Stormers won that match 32-12 against you okes
– it was such a “walk in the park”.
14 Feb 2012, 09:32 am
@Robzim-25: ja, every donkey has his day.
pity it wasnt in a wc 1/4 though.
fransie will put him on his backside soon, watch robbo.
14 Feb 2012, 09:37 am
@rangerman-23: That was the Rustenberg test, remember it now.
Maybe Habana will be a stop-gap, his form is just so hard to predict in any case. Point I’m making is that Stormers need someone to cover that position, as JDJ will be injured / rested at some point. That is almost inevitable, so the options are either moving JDV out to 13, moving Habs in to 13, or using one of Brache or JP du Plessis.
With those options, playing Habs is probably the best bet, should JDJ be unavailable
14 Feb 2012, 09:38 am
@stormersboy-21: And in 2007, what position did Barney play?
Before that he also played Loosehead… So, Barney has successfully played in all positions in the entire front row…
JdJ is a centre… Either inside or outside…. And he has performed best at inside.
So, firstly your little example of Barney is irrelevant and rather trite…
Secondly, 2010 was a year in which the Stormers were at there best defensively and I wouldn’t be far out by guessing that the center partnership that year has the best defensive record ever for the Stormers…
Halfway there to best centre partnership ever already….
You obviously a decent chap, but hellsteeth you employ sh.yte logic in your attempts at arguing….
14 Feb 2012, 09:39 am
@capebull-24: Yeah. Maybe
14 Feb 2012, 09:43 am
@rangerman-26:
I wonder where Fransie will play if he comes back- maybe even out of Cape Town taking over from de Viliers when he retires (probably) next season.
Venter from the Bulls also seems to be someone to challenge for the number 12 bok spot in the not too distant future- very gifted player.
14 Feb 2012, 09:43 am
@ali-27: yes, i agree but thats the real point isnt it, its a neccescity, not a choice.
14 Feb 2012, 09:45 am
@Robzim-30: if the stormers couldnt afford sadie, they cant afford fransie.
anyways, its too far from his farm.
durbs is just down the road so it will be either sharks or fs imo.
ja, that venter is one for the future indeed.
14 Feb 2012, 09:47 am
@Robzim-25: The funny thing about that match is that the match stats showed that he conceded as many tackles as Bosman…
But there are those fools who still believe Donkey is the best Bok 12 ever… Contrary to Munster….
And Contrary to an improved Bok side with Frans Steyn there when Donkey was injured…Again….
I tell you what, please let the Stormers make him Captain this year…. Please!
And please let the Stormers play Donkey instead of JdJ at 12.
I will be happy like a piginshit. It means the Stormers lose a bit of potential with every Farked up Capie decision they make with their backline…
Which just helps out the mighty Sharks and the other SA S15 sides that little bit more…
Heck, maybe the Stormers come last in the conference… get replaced by the Kings and JdJ then finally decided to come to the Sharks…. away from the blonde obsessed Table Mountain Team….
Christmas comes early!
14 Feb 2012, 09:50 am
@Heavens Game-28: Just because he made a very good 12, doesn’t mean that’s what he is.
He’s a 13. He plays there. Except when he covers 12.
Your opinion won’t change that fact.
I know you hate JDV and it’s not as if I think he’s the best 12 ever either, but Juan is far more valuable at 13 than he is at 12 IMO
14 Feb 2012, 09:50 am
@rangerman-32:
It’s not that they could not afford Sadie- he wanted a deal that included some guarantees re gametime and at that stage they apparently had a verbal agreement from Fourie that he will stay in CT so it was complicated.
Anyway, I must get some work done, have a good day.
14 Feb 2012, 09:51 am
@Robzim-30: JdV retired 2 years ago , the Stormers must just realise it. 17tries 15 games in 2010
14 Feb 2012, 09:53 am
@Heavens Game-19:
Haha no one agrees with you. He’s a 13 not a 12.
14 Feb 2012, 09:54 am
@Robzim-35: cheers you too man.
14 Feb 2012, 09:56 am
@Jeez-37: i think he is great in either position but his offload needs HUGE work.
imagine him stepping at 12 AND then offloading to someone running off him?
that would be simply awesome.
14 Feb 2012, 09:57 am
It’s amazing how some of the journos and posters are already picking Sadie in their Bok teams and squads.
The guy has tremendous potential, but I will personally keep a close eye on him during the Superrugby tournament with the Bulls. He didn’t exactly set the world alight in our sub-par Currie Cup last season with Wp. Maybe he played within himself.
14 Feb 2012, 09:59 am
@Heavens Game-33:
You remind me of the Supertramp song:
“Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Dream,dream,dream, dream along
Etc..”
Remember that one?
CU later, I am late.
14 Feb 2012, 10:00 am
@pakslae-40: agreed.
i only mentioned him because of the hype around him but i have yet to be convinced. apparently meyer rates him so maybe thats why?
i would probably be more comfortable with jpp at 13 for the boks at present but we have jdj so i would think he will be the natural choice.
14 Feb 2012, 10:03 am
Although De Jongh might be a very capable S15 player I don’t think he is good enough for Test level. Comparing him to J Fourie is like comparing a Ferrari to a Fiat, and besides, J Sadie will be making the Springbok # 13 jersey his own within the next season or two. At inside centre F Steyn is by far the better option. So unless one or two of Fourie/Sadie/Steyn gets injured I can’t see him starting for the Boks on a regular basis.
14 Feb 2012, 10:04 am
@Jeez-37: Who’s “no-one”…? Those okes peering out of Jean De Villiers Dutpipe…?
Ja, okay.
14 Feb 2012, 10:04 am
@capebull-36: Thats hardly JDVs fault. Bad gameplans…Defensive gameplans…
14 Feb 2012, 10:16 am
@ddewet-43:
On what basis do you think Sadie will make the Bok 13 jersey his own?
He had a few run-outs at wing for the Stormers. I remember him scoring a good try from the wing cutting inside last season. Then he had a good game against the Blues, but so did Juan de Jongh.
I have nothing against the guy, he has something about him. It’s just I didn’t see enough of it during the Currie Cup with WP last year.
14 Feb 2012, 10:18 am
The combination of JdJ, Habana and Aplon on defence is a mouth watering one to watch
So much fun
14 Feb 2012, 10:22 am
@Jeez-45: I can count the times JDV had cracking games on 1 hand, Fransie made huge impack in WC, no excuse for gameplan.
14 Feb 2012, 10:27 am
@rangerman-42:
Seeing JdJ facing Jaimie Roberts, Nonu or even that tattooed disfigured young Tulagi at test level is something to look forward to
Bring him on!
14 Feb 2012, 10:29 am
@stormersboy-34: My opinion wasn’t the entire 2010 Super Rugby season… During that season he played 12… and he played 12 better than anyone else in the country…
And then 2011 came with the arrival of the prodigal MunsterMessiah at 12… (Lets not mention that he is also a 13, no, where he played for half of his rugby career? Or is he definitely a 12?) Nevertheless, lets call him a 12 (a shitone, but a 12 he is now). JdJ was consequently a bench centre… Other than a certain game where he (at 12) and Sadie (at 13) proceeded to rip apart the Blues (I think it was) in the midfield….
But no, you dumbfk Cape Town slopies have labelled JdJ a 13… Because “thats where he plays”….
Yeah right… knobbers
14 Feb 2012, 10:32 am
@capebull-48: With you there 100%… If that was Frans Steyn who made the linebreak I could almost guarantee that Lambie would not have got a forward pass – it would have been right in the breadbasket – straight….
The Aussies targeted Donkey… they targeted the midefield – not because of M Steyn, but because of Donkey and his defensive frailties – known worldwide outside of the Cape Town bubble…
14 Feb 2012, 10:55 am
@Jeez-3: Does any of our other 12s pass the ball?
14 Feb 2012, 10:56 am
Anycase, I would like to see him play 12, for reasons mentioned before.
14 Feb 2012, 12:09 pm
@51. HG. You could almost guarantee. Jeezus boy, you can talk sh it.
14 Feb 2012, 18:58 pm
de Jongh is a handy little player, but the cruz is that he is little, far too little to play test rugby. The world game just does not have 85kg centres. His tackling technique is good, it has to be given his lack of size, but his lack of size means he is unable to impose himslef physically on attack or in defence – he will never knock a player back, he might cut him down at the ankles and he will always have to rely on gile, speed and a step to beat his man………..all great attributes to have as a centre, when coupled with size – something de Jongh lacks.
Good player, but too small
14 Feb 2012, 22:08 pm
@Heavens Game-51: You seem to know absolutely nothing about rugby, right? Forget what JdJ has actually played so far (even though most of his rugby life was spent at 13 where he came to prominence in the first place).
Time for a lesson!
A 12 needs to be able to impose himself physically, something JdJ is never going to do OR a 12 needs to play like a Flyhalf and be an excellent distributor. Again, something JdJ isn’t especially good at. JdJ is good enough that, despite not fitting the mold, he still did well enough.
When JdJ REALLY excels is when he is allowed to run in a somewhat wider channel where he can use his pace and elusiveness. In 2010 he did really well because Bekker was playing the inside center so often allowing JdJ to run a bit wider.
In fact, if you analyse their game plan, they often had a split attack where both JdJ and Mossie were technically playing in a typical 13 style. Their forwards played the linking role of a 12.
That said, I agree wholeheartedly that JDV is a terrible terrible player. The most overrated Bok in history. The problem is, Stormers have 0 inside centers worth mentioning. Everyone, ‘cept for Klaasen, coming through is a natural 13.
Thus ends your lesson.
SO, stfu and let the people who know rugby talk.
Thank you!
14 Feb 2012, 22:19 pm
@Saffex-55: James O’Connor is lighter than him and he seems to be doing OK. Matt Giteau was a superstar for quite some time and considerably smaller.
The important thing with the smaller guys is that they can’t seem to have prolonged careers. If they are sharp enough they’ll cause more cumbersome guys a helluvalot of trouble, but eventually they loose their speed and nippiness (like Giteau) and fade away. So they can do well, but not into their 30s (or even late 20s). JdJ is fine to go to 2015 WC still, but after that his smaller stature might start becoming a problem.
That’s just my opinion here…
PS: Guys like Conrad Smith aren’t THAT much bigger. He has 8 kg on JdJ.
15 Feb 2012, 03:40 am
De Jongh will never have the skills of Matt Giteau or James O Connor so that’s the 12 argument closed… at 86kg’s the Smith’s have 10 plus kilo’s on him… he should have been a wing… whether he’s better than the other POC’s playing there for the Bok’s is another argument…
Wingers have evolved into requiring the skills of a 15…
15 Feb 2012, 04:20 am
Far from it. Giteau and O’Connor are not your classic 12s. In fact O’Connor is better suited to 10. Using them as a yardstick is pointless. De Jongh is a hard running, hard tackling centre who holds his own against any opposition. Easily the best 12 in the country after JdV.
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