Du Preez helps Suntory to double triumph
19 Mar 2012
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in the leagues around the world over the weekend.
While many believed Fourie du Preez was past his best following inconsistent performances for the Springboks at the World Cup last year, the former Bulls No 9 has shown outstanding form for Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath. He’s been an instant hit for Eddie Jones’s charges as the first-choice scrumhalf and was central to their success, which continued in the Japan Cup last weekend.
Du Preez scored a brace in Suntory’s 47-28 Top League final win over outside centre Jaque Fourie’s Panasonic Wild Knights in February, and he played another key role in clinching the team’s second title in the Japan Cup final on Sunday – a repeat of the league title decider where they also faced the Wild Knights. This time it was a more closely contested encounter, with Suntory winning 21-9 in the last match of the current Japanese season.
Should Fourie du Preez play for the Boks again?
Du Preez formed a dangerous halfback combination with Samoan flyhalf Tusi Pisi and the duo spearheaded their side to a 14-3 half-time lead. The Wild Knights reduced the deficit to five points with two Mike Delany penalties soon after the restart, but Suntory outside centre Koji Taira sealed the result with a try in the last quarter. Fourie featured off the bench for the Wild Knights, while Danie Rossouw failed to make the Suntory match 22.
Last Tuesday, Du Preez told the media that he still has hopes of playing for the Boks this year, and Suntory boss Jones and flank Todd Clever both believe he can make a valuable contribution to Heyneke Meyer’s team if selected.
‘Fourie is still a valuable asset,’ Clever told keo.co.za. ‘As we prepared for the two finals, many of our players were nervous heading into the fixture … especially in the locker rooms before kick-off. But Fourie was a calming influence as he had already played on the biggest stages of world rugby before. He went to every player, gave them advice and told them to focus. His experience helped us on and off the field. I’m sure he can do the same for the Springboks.’
In Europe, the French Top 14, English Premiership and Pro 12 were all on a break with the final Six Nations round being played over the weekend. There was action in the LV Cup final, though, which saw Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints 26-14 in Worcester. Tighthead prop Brian Mujati played off the wood in the second half for the losers.
17 Comments
19 Mar 2012, 09:29 am
and there you go….
done and dusted… fdp will lead the boks against the english.
(p.s.: bulls players in japan 1 – stormers players in japan 0 …once a bridesmaid always a bridesmaid
)
19 Mar 2012, 09:31 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-1: Well there is Jaque Fourie.
Though we also have JP Nel over there.
And Jaco? Did he go back?
19 Mar 2012, 09:31 am
Welcome back to bok rugby fdp. Can’t be long till vm joins too.
19 Mar 2012, 09:44 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-2:
ja, i’m just rubbing it in that fdp’s team beat jaque fourie’s team…and i like it…thats all
19 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
How is Danie unable to make the match 22 for a Japanese club side?
19 Mar 2012, 10:01 am
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-5: They have a quota of 3 oversees players per match 22.
19 Mar 2012, 10:10 am
arme Danie, first quotas makes him lose his Bok place, and now he can’t make a team in Japan because of quotas! now he knows what my father felt like! best nr 13 SA has ever seen, but couldn’t make the Bok team because of his colour! the wheel turns!
19 Mar 2012, 10:40 am
@grant10(grant100)-7: Get a life and stop using Grant10′s name.
19 Mar 2012, 11:10 am
He will valuable in the greater squad but Hougaard still needs to be the first choice.
19 Mar 2012, 12:46 pm
Okay, maybe I am missing it, but what did he actually do, apart from “forming a dangerous halfback combination”?
Did Gareth actually watch the game or something?
19 Mar 2012, 15:47 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-6: I knew there would be a rational explanation. Thanks.
19 Mar 2012, 15:52 pm
@WTF?!?(bofh)-10: Good point. Maybe another book deal in the making.
19 Mar 2012, 16:09 pm
And so the media campaign(propaganda) begins…to write and influence the inclusion of du preez into Bok squad.
Last year it was Butch James
The year before that it was Frans Steyn & Joe van Niekerk..
I see you….
19 Mar 2012, 16:24 pm
@WTF?!?(bofh)-10: He went and spoke to each player. It’s there in the article.
19 Mar 2012, 16:33 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-14:
20 Mar 2012, 05:44 am
Lekker mature, vintage suurgat Gwanty10. You got a RWC medal? Cheers, weakest link.
20 Mar 2012, 06:04 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-13:
Nobody needs to influence anyone… Heyneke Meyer is one smart cookie and his own man… if he thinks FDP is up-to-speed and worthy of a test place against a resurging England team with games under belt… FDP will be there no matter what any mug punter feels…
The only thing he won’t have control over… is that there will have to be some form of POC in his coaching staff!
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