Fourie is first prize
17 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI says it’s imperative that Heyneke Meyer convinces Fourie du Preez to assume the Springbok captaincy.
Du Preez and the new Bok coach are currently in talks about the vacant captaincy position as well as a return to the Test fold. Victor Matfield has been mentioned as a potential skipper for the England Tests, although it is Du Preez who could eventually settle into a more permanent role.
After winning the Japanese double with Suntory Sungoliath, Du Preez returned to South Africa in late March. He has since been approached by Meyer, who has said that he wants the former Bok scrumhalf to lead the next generation of Springboks.
At this point, Du Preez is undecided about a return to Test rugby. This is why Matfield has been touted by some as the strongest option. If Du Preez decides that his international days are done, Matfield will assume the captaincy for one final season.
Du Preez had originally identified the 2011 World Cup as the end of his Test career. However, the disappointment of exiting that tournament in the quarter-final has left him with a sense of unfinished business, according to a recent interview with SA Rugby magazine.
In that interview, Du Preez said he was surprised with the level of professionalism in Japan, and how his time in Tokyo has made him a better player. At the age of 30, he may still have something to offer at the highest level.
It’s an opinion that is held by Du Preez’s coach at Suntory, Eddie Jones. Jones feels that Du Preez is in fantastic physical shape and has taken his skills to another level. The former Bok technical adviser, who worked closely with Du Preez at the 2007 World Cup, still believes there is no equal to Du Preez in South African rugby.
Francois Hougaard has long been groomed as Du Preez’s successor. He has replaced Du Preez at the Bulls with mixed results, however, and there are doubts that he can execute as efficiently as Du Preez or play that pivotal role of game manager. In the context of a Bok game plan that relies heavily on tactical-kicking accuracy, Hougaard is still not in Du Preez’s class.
While Du Preez has never captained the Boks, he formed part of the team’s leadership core for eight years. Du Preez has worked with Meyer at the Bulls for an even longer period, and so Meyer is well aware of his strengths in this regard. All in all, the Meyer-Du Preez combination looks a good fit.
When he was appointed, Meyer said he would select a captain who shares in his own philosophy. He said he would not pick a long-term captain until he got to know the Bok squad, and thus it was inferred that the captain for the England series would have worked closely with Meyer before.
As Jones suggests, Du Preez would add value to the Boks from a playing perspective. At 30, he is far from a spent force. Jones also argued that Du Preez is only now entering his prime, and that Du Preez will produce his best rugby in the next two years.
Because of the time constraints, Meyer doesn’t have a lot of options. He was appointed in January knowing he would have a week to work with the Boks before the first Test against England. His management team was only confirmed last Sunday. It’s now six weeks before the Boks meet as a group and Meyer still doesn’t know who will captain the side.
Taking all of this into account, you can’t blame Meyer for sticking with a leader who he has worked with before. Du Preez is a more attractive option than Matfield as at 30 he still has the ability to dominate the best in the world. If Du Preez decides to return, he will also play for more than one season.
At 34, Matfield is likely to play for just one more year. It may prove an effective stop-gap measure for the series against England, but beyond that Meyer must start looking to build a new leadership core from the younger players in the squad.
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376 Comments
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17 Apr 2012, 21:51 pm
Bekker looks old and slow. Victor looks like a teenager compared to him.
17 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
Yip and I can only laugh at the so-called experts – this oke is shitting himself and he hasn’t even had 1 game in charge. Only problem is I hate it when the couch experts get it right and the real experts fk it up so badly that the Boks and all our hopes get blasted to hell with these bullshitters. As the yanks would say, this is a mugs game, coaches are highly overrated, and now we got 27 of them – get a decent selection panel – screw the coaches and sa might actual dominate.
17 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-350:
Exactly. That is why I can only smile. Not to be taken seriously.
Just like those clowns who took on Victor by telling him he should stay where he is.
17 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-314: Besides some of the racial tones, I agree 100%. Has a proper journalist interviewed Heineke and asked some tough questions? What kind of leader is FDP, he gives away all our possession. What kind of leader is Matfield, he has not made a tackle in 4 years. Are these the examples we wish the rest of the team to follow?
17 Apr 2012, 21:58 pm
My ouma Tant Sannie can hit a ruck harder than matfield and she’s 96 with only 1 functioning leg.
17 Apr 2012, 21:59 pm
@cab(cab)-352:
How do you know he is shitting himself? Spoken to him?
Take a step back Cab and look at the bigger picture. Talk is cheap and shite walks. You know that.
Judge him by his results. Some of you okes are like hysterical little girls because he has different ideas.
We can all select the teams we would like to see, but that doesn’t mean the teams are the best.
Easy to criticize a Survivor participant for his or her strategy, but until it is you that have to make the call, you will never know. Viewers only know 10% of what is happening behind the scenes.
Relax.
17 Apr 2012, 22:00 pm
@cab(cab)-355:
That is a lie. And another laerskool joke.
17 Apr 2012, 22:03 pm
@garth(garth)-354:
go and look at Matfield’s tackle stats for the last four years and then come back and ask nicely if you can join the discussion.
take your pointy cap with you.
17 Apr 2012, 22:05 pm
Kleuter – why don’t he strike out then? Look at all the talent at our disposal.
Ok I tell you what, let’s see whose right – I will bet if HM picks matfield, spies and fdp England will beat us – and their young team should never ever beat us on home soil if tge right talent was picked – then we can see whose right. Mark this post cos when we lose to england and your man still in charge we’ll see who crucified him – I rather be in the minority and do it now while everyone else not blasting him.
17 Apr 2012, 22:11 pm
@cab(cab)-359:
That is a deal. I will mark this post.
You are not in the minority by the way. Read the comments here. You’ve been swept up by the hysteria just like most here.
17 Apr 2012, 22:13 pm
@cab(cab)-359:
See post #354 to see what I mean. Now am I suppose to take comments like that serious?
It is unbelievable how some can go on about things without even thinking about it.
Smile, smile, smile…
17 Apr 2012, 22:13 pm
Actually maybe these cretins deserve what they get – this okes rep will be in tatters quicksmart – let him pick those players, let’s see the experts get it right – I’ll actually take a bet we get pomped in that first one and everyone goes – WTF just happened?
Can we not actually just get a coach who selects the right players, is not a complete and total doos and got half a brain when speaking to the press? does sa only produce dimwits?
17 Apr 2012, 22:16 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-349:
excuse the ignorance, didnt realise who ratel was. good squad
good luck boks for the season. hope meyer doesnt fk it up
17 Apr 2012, 22:17 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-356:
Imagine PdV was still coach and he decided to bring a retired player who has not played for 8 months back to captain the Bok team.
There would have been an outcry- he would have been called a clown, an idiot or even worse by many.
So, Heynecke must just take the flak from the armchair critics and live with it. Peter, Jack White and those before them had to do it. Heynecke is not special and will be criticised in the same manner, that is just how it is. Whether it is fair or not is not the issue.
17 Apr 2012, 22:26 pm
I want the Boks to give it to the Poms but this insular approach by Heynecke bordering on nepotism is a worry.
17 Apr 2012, 22:30 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-364:
You are right. Same thing happened t o White and de Villiers.
17 Apr 2012, 22:31 pm
Kleuter
Remember also that you are 1 down in the prediction stakes after the stormers beat the bulls – armchair novice leads the Kenner – but it’s fine this oke will dig his own grave with these selections – same as what happened with pdv – 3 players at test level will make that difference.
17 Apr 2012, 22:37 pm
@cab
What’s wrong with you? So what if I was wrong with a prediction? What does that have to do with anything?
You said I should mark your post, and I said I will. Don’t come act like a child now please.
If you are wrong so what.
17 Apr 2012, 22:46 pm
Kleuter
I hope you were equally as forgiving of pdv – cos these selections are truly horrific 5 years on when they were still arguably contributing. I don’t mind age so much but these guys haven’t even been playing firsrate rugby – it’s goddamn shameful and just a plain joke and that is why caper’s post at 311 is such a classic – it’s so laerskool absurd cos that is exactly what these selections are – read that post again -it’s brilliant – naas’ coach bull van bukkel a former golf pro who says naas is playing some of rhe best golf of his career. I actually just shat meself laughing again.
17 Apr 2012, 22:50 pm
It’s such good satire precisely cos it at the same time exposes the ridiculous journalist agendas behind the scenes too. Read the words carefully, it’s a goddamn masterpiece – i don’t think it’s Rasputin maybe huge mtondo?
17 Apr 2012, 23:00 pm
@cab(cab)-369:
You should accept that I dont share your sense of humor. I don’t. And that is okay. As long as you are happy and I am happy we are all happy.
I was never a PdV fan, but I never went at him for selecting teams. He was the coach, he knew the players on a personal level, and he wanted to keep his job. When I was younger I was quick to blow my lid and criticize. Now I look at things from all perspectives before I cement my opinion.
To call for his head before he even coached one game is unfair and unrealistic.
I see myself saying the same things over and over over the course of the next few years! Phew!
17 Apr 2012, 23:06 pm
Kleuter
alright I give u the benefit of doubt for time being that you very well balanced broad perspective goed sin van snaaksheid, rather than being a bloubul disciple. I still say u and HM going to get it badly wrong with these selections, just like with pdv v oz, I can see another smash coming precisely because I not biased. But ok laat ons maar sien, he gets paid tge big bucks for a reason, let’s hope it’s not all bullshit baffles brains this rugby coaching mslarchy
17 Apr 2012, 23:16 pm
@cab(cab)-372:
Thanks, that is nice of you.
Look, HM will make mistakes. I said before that 2/3 against England, 4/6 in 4-Nations, and 2/3 in EOYT will make me happy. That would be a successful first year in my opinion.
Let’s see.
18 Apr 2012, 03:37 am
@greentea(greentea)-198:
Remind me again how much you won the WC by?
Dingbat!
18 Apr 2012, 03:48 am
@cane(cane)-239:
Any different to Robbie Deans?
Another doos comment by Cane!
18 Apr 2012, 15:59 pm
To hell with Matfield and Fourie du Preez coming back to play or captain the Boks!
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