Kruger’s patience pays off
7 Jun 2012
JON CARDINELLI, writing in SA Rugby magazine, says Juandré Kruger, the Bulls, and now the Boks, are reaping the benefits of his decision to stick with the union over the past two seasons.
Patience. There probably isn’t a player in South Africa who appreciates the concept better than Juandré Kruger. True, there have been many who have bided their time as understudies to great Springbok incumbents, but nobody as accomplished or talented who has had to wait as long for a crack at Super Rugby.
When the opportunity finally arrived on 24 February 2012, Kruger certainly made it count. A new-look Bulls pack manhandled their Sharks counterparts, and Kruger turned in a commanding lineout performance worthy of that iconic No 5 shirt. Thus began a promising Super Rugby career, and so ended a long and testing wait.
By his own admission, Kruger has never had much luck with timing. A product of Paul Roos Gymnasium, he came through Western Province’s junior ranks and debuted for the senior side in the 2006 Vodacom Cup. While he featured for WP in the 2007 Currie Cup, his path was often blocked by two promising No 5s in Andries Bekker and Ross Skeate as well as a grizzled veteran in Selborne Boome.
He was contracted to the Bulls in 2008 and went on to help the union’s youngsters win the Vodacom Cup. And yet, there was a similar problem with Victor Matfield holding a monopoly on the No 5 position and other Springbok locks like Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw featuring regularly in the Bulls Super Rugby squad.
Kruger returned to Pretoria in mid-2010 after a two-year stint with English club Northampton. He would still have to wait for an opportunity, although he never suspected it would be as long as 18 months before he played his first Super Rugby game. He was included in the Bulls squad in 2011 but didn’t get on to the field; instead he sat on the bench for just one match against the Highlanders. This frustration may have prompted other players to move on, but Kruger kept faith in his coaches and held on to his dream of playing at the highest level.
‘I realised that Victor, Bakkies and Danie were playing ahead of me, and I wanted what was best for the team,’ he remembers. ‘I backed the decision of my coaches but at the same time I was obviously frustrated that I didn’t get one game. I also had a lot of experience having featured in more than 50 matches across the European competitions. It was difficult, but I suppose I learned a lot during that period. It built a lot of character and probably helped me get to where I am today.’
While the Bulls soldiered on in Super Rugby, Kruger captained the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup.
‘The way we fought back in our semi-final against the Lions was a real highlight. It was difficult to go down to the Pampas XV in the final, but overall I gained a tremendous amount from the experience.
‘If I look at the situation as a whole, there have been many players waiting for the chance, or rather the privilege, to start for the Bulls. The facilities, the structures, the culture – this union is any player’s dream. I’m lucky to be part of it.’
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Kruger’s glowing endorsement explains why he stayed in Pretoria for as long as he did. Matfield, Botha and Rossouw were all expected to move on after the 2011 World Cup and the Bulls would need a player of Kruger’s experience during a period of rebuilding. As a regular starter he would enjoy a platform to impress the new Springbok coach, but there was also a great opportunity to work under Matfield, the newest member of the Bulls’ crack coaching staff.
‘Victor helped me develop my decision-making,’ Kruger says. ‘When you get to this level, every player is an athlete and has the ball skills, so it’s good decisions that separate you from the rest of the pack. One thing flows into another in rugby, and a great try can be traced back to one good decision. You have to be making the right calls consistently if you want your team to get momentum and possibly even more success from there.’
One of the reasons Kruger didn’t get game time in the 2011 Super Rugby competition was because Matfield played every minute of that campaign. Viewed as an irreplaceable leader, Matfield was arguably even more important to the team due to his peerless powers at the lineout.
It has been one of the Bulls’ strengths during a golden era where they have won three Super Rugby trophies and two Currie Cups. If they want to succeed without Matfield, however, they will need somebody who can play a similar role at the set piece. Again, it’s a job Kruger doesn’t take lightly.
‘I travel to Loftus on a Monday knowing that I’m as well prepared as I can be, and that’s what gives me confidence. Rugby’s like business,’ he says, referring to his background in the business world. ‘When you are well prepared for a meeting you will go into that meeting with confidence. It’s the same in the build-up to a game. Sure, it’s a massive responsibility, but it’s one that I relish.’
Kruger also recalls his time in England as career altering in that he was forced to play a more confrontational game. During his stay at Northampton, the Saints won the European Challenge Cup. Competing against the best players in Europe on a weekly basis also pushed him to take his existing strengths to the next level.
And when the time came to make a decision about his future and a possible return to South Africa, there was only one team Kruger had in mind.
‘It was never a hard decision to rejoin the Bulls. If you are a forward and you want to push for a Test position, the Bulls pack is the place to be.’
The performance of the Pretoria-based side in the early rounds of the 2012 competition would have surprised those who felt that 2011 marked the end of an era for the once mighty side. Not only did they lose Matfield, Botha and Rossouw at the end of last season, but two other Bok forwards in Gary Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Most teams would have struggled after such a significant drain of their forward resources, but the results will confirm that the union still boasts quality in reserve. Forwards coach Johan van Graan says the hard-nosed showings against the Sharks and Cheetahs were expected, although he admits that he was very pleased with the results.
‘We are proud of our structures at the Bulls, and most of the forwards have come through the ranks. Juandré may not have originally come from the Bulls, but he has spent time in our systems and knows what we want to achieve on the field.
‘He took it well when he was told that he would sit behind those Bok locks. He used that time to soak it all in, to learn from the best in the business, and he is realising the benefit of that education now.’
Van Graan has also noted a marked improvement in Kruger’s game since he rejoined the Bulls in 2010.
‘He’s learned how to make the right call at the lineout and which tactic will work against a particular opponent. He’s also become an important figure at the kick-off. If you look at that first game against the Sharks, they tried to put us under pressure in the air, but Juandré was excellent.
‘The No 5 is also expected to hit a lot of rucks, it’s a big workload. That’s what some people didn’t realise about Victor; he was an excellent lineout manager but he also got through an impressive amount of work at the breakdown. Juandré has now taken on a similar role.
‘All in all I’d say he’s taken ownership of that No 5 jersey. I think Flip van der Merwe is in the same boat, having had to sit behind Bakkies and Danie for all those years. Both have made a big impact this season and complement each other well.’
There are always going to be great expectations when you’re replacing the best second-row combination of all time. Fortunately for the Bulls, Van der Merwe and Kruger have come into the 2012 season with experience as a unit. And long before they were packing down for the Bulls in the Currie Cup, the two locks enjoyed a healthy rivalry at the lower levels.
‘Flip and I have been great mates since our school days,’ says Kruger. ‘Our friendship goes all the way back to the U14s when I was at Paul Roos and he was at Grey College. We also played against each other at junior provincial level, Flip for Free State and me for Western Province. We’ve always enjoyed the challenge of playing against each other, and I’m now enjoying the privilege of being his team-mate at the Bulls. Our wives are also best friends.’
The Bulls are still in a rebuilding phase, but Kruger hopes to play an important role in a trophy-winning campaign, if not in 2012 then in the near future.
‘Somehow I’ve managed to miss all of the Bulls’ successes,’ he says. ‘I arrived here in 2008 when the Bulls didn’t do well in the Super 14, and was an unused substitute when we lost in the 2008 Currie Cup final to the Sharks. I played most of the games in the 2011 Currie Cup but lost in the semis. I want to change that; I want to win trophies with this Bulls side.’
Towards the end of Matfield’s career, Bekker had begun to close the gap between himself and the lineout legend. Bekker is the natural successor to Matfield at Test level, although it would seem that for the first time since Matfield’s retirement, another genuine contender has emerged.
As shown by his patience and determination to claim that coveted position at the Bulls, Kruger doesn’t give up. If the Bulls pack performs consistently, he may receive a call from Heyneke Meyer sooner rather than later.
‘The players realise that if the team does well in Super Rugby, individuals are going to be in line for higher honours,’ says Van Graan. ‘There’s still a long way to go, but if the forwards continue to play well, guys like Juandré and Flip will come into contention. You are playing against quality opponents every week, so if you can be consistent you can make a statement.’
– This article first appeared in the May issue of SA Rugby magazine.
159 Comments
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7 Jun 2012, 09:55 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-99:
you tell them girlfriend.
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-95:
you cant blame supersport.
they forgot that the stormers heads grow buy at least 15% during the off season.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-94:
indeed.
they are thinking of renting them out as a sightscreen for limited overs cricket in the off season.
7 Jun 2012, 09:56 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-98:
You did not watch the whole clip obviously.
7 Jun 2012, 09:57 am
@ufo(ufo)-96:
Stormers have without a doubt the better lock depth in the comp…
Quin is a unit… needs a few more cm’s though (like Eldstadt)… he’ll be getting more game-time this S15 after the break…
7 Jun 2012, 09:59 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-101:
Buy a donkey.
7 Jun 2012, 10:00 am
#99 wp is dood That is funny coming from a “man” whose team have won fick all for so long now they cannot even remember the last time they won a trophy.I stand corrected they won the vodacom cup this year i suppose that you could call that progress.
7 Jun 2012, 10:00 am
@Stawm(Stawm)-89: My wife who is a psychologist and reads this blog occasionally has the opinion that it’s a repressed ****-sexuality trait brought on by overbearing female role models and a subconcious envy/hatred for the good life that we have here in the Cape.
Then again it may just be that they haven’t enough social intelligence to be able to banter/insult with any degree of subtlety.
It’s like the “Yo’ Mama…” insult. Too easy to go there….
7 Jun 2012, 10:00 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-102: I watched the first half, and all I saw was Bekker getting the ball at flyhalf and flopping over (with his feet just outside the 22) for a try.
7 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-101:
Apparently Denel has been experimenting with samples of Kobus Wiese’s hair in a bid to develop a light-weight, high ballistic protection fibre to replace kevlar and aramid.
Only problem is they have not been able to synthesize it.
7 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-99: Ja see my last post.
7 Jun 2012, 10:03 am
@blueboy(blueboy)-105:
We won the Vodacom Cup some weeks ago…
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-106:
Both theories have merit.
7 Jun 2012, 10:03 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-106: My wife’s an anaesthetist and she reckons there are several medical explanations for why the average Stormers post puts people to sleep within 12 to 15 words.
7 Jun 2012, 10:03 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-106:
what will she say about Wikitillidie’s donkey obsession?
heehaawwwww.
7 Jun 2012, 10:05 am
If anyone needs a solid belly laugh on this miserable wet morning, check out this link:
http://www.wimp.com/ofortuna/
7 Jun 2012, 10:06 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-106:
I suppose we could draw attention to various things: the hero worship displayed for “Spartan ideals” like Pierre Spies, the current fascination with the colour pink/cerise, some of the phallic symbolisms of the bull…
7 Jun 2012, 10:07 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107:
He’s a tightforaward lock getting over the advantage line.
How many times did you ever see matfield doing that.
At his best, there is no more physical or more athletic no. 5 in the world than Bekker.
Beats Matfield in this department even.
Matfield was also athletic but more a genius tactician and lineout forward without peer.
7 Jun 2012, 10:09 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-99:
Snap
7 Jun 2012, 10:09 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-113:
I though Stormers supporters posts make you laugh.
7 Jun 2012, 10:11 am
Rugby Student
I never said that Bekker is not a great player… I rate him very highly… people forget the games he played like against the Blues a couple of years ago… where he was perfect at line-out time and ran with all the flair and skill of a French 3/4 in the loose… that was when he was injury free…
but he has been plagued by injury the last two seasons… and his appearance stretches are getting shorter and shorter… so rant all you want… but the fact is it is not looking good for him and rugby lovers look to be deprived of watching a great player…
but that is another issue and nothing to do with my comment…
secondly… IF Bekker was fit and Eben was injured or being rested… there is no doubt in my mind that Juandre could play 4 with no reduction in quality… he is that good too…
thirdly… to try and put down juandre by comparing him to (in your opinion) an overreated victor mat field is just plane ridiculous,…
matfield is one of… if not the greatest lock ever… and his stats for the physical stuff are there for all to see… he skill in the loose sublime too although he didn’t always show it… his chip kick against the aussies and the one in his first season against the warawaras (i think) were things of beauty that the best backs dream of executing…
so yes… your opinion is silly…
i’ll never understand why, to build up their favorite player fans need to try and knock and tear down their rivals… fact is matfield and bekker are freaks talentwise… etzebeth looks to be like that too… kruger may not have quite the same natural talent as all three but is still a great talent and an excellent rugby player and lock… and will form a great pairing with etzebeth…
at the moment andries is injured… i hope he makes it back to join the other two in what will become a group of locks to scare the bejeezzuz out of other everyone else…
7 Jun 2012, 10:11 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-111:
Does she have the same theory regarding Lions rugby?
7 Jun 2012, 10:12 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-115:
what the arseingfuck are you talking about?
big Vic was born over the advantage line.
7 Jun 2012, 10:13 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-103:
absolutely bryce…
7 Jun 2012, 10:15 am
@Stawm(Stawm)-119: Similar. She regards them as a viable substitue for laughing gas.
7 Jun 2012, 10:17 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-122:
Especially when one considers the relevant log positions.
7 Jun 2012, 10:17 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-120:
Lol.
Bekker is a much more physical player Gunther.
Why do you think he was chosen at 4 for a couple games for the Boks.
Still would choose would choose Matfield over Bekker 8 days of the week.
Purely for his ability to mindfk his opponents before even stepping onto the field.
7 Jun 2012, 10:18 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-117: No, my posts make me laugh. Stormers posts generally make me despondent and gloomy.
7 Jun 2012, 10:20 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-124:
I said ‘would choose’ twice there…
7 Jun 2012, 10:20 am
@Stawm(Stawm)-123: Relevant log positions? Sounds like you’re talking about the stages of constipation.
7 Jun 2012, 10:21 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-126: It’s called a glitch in the matrix. Quick, find an exit.
7 Jun 2012, 10:23 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-113:
excellent…
big ups for being brave enough to put your old 8mm on youtube…!!
7 Jun 2012, 10:23 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-124:
how much would would a would choose if a would choose could choose would?
7 Jun 2012, 10:24 am
@ufo(ufo)-118: SO true boet,
7 Jun 2012, 10:25 am
hehehe
7 Jun 2012, 10:25 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-128:
Trinity….Help!
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-130:
Baie snaaks.
7 Jun 2012, 10:27 am
#$#% *&$#
7 Jun 2012, 10:29 am
should’ve hit the reply button…
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-130:
hehehe…
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-131:
yeah… people forget the word ‘fans’ is derived from ‘fanatics’…
7 Jun 2012, 10:30 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-111: hahahahaha you should bottle the stuff.
7 Jun 2012, 10:31 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-112:
7 Jun 2012, 10:31 am
@ufo(ufo)-118: excellent post UFO! Its why I enjoy reading your posts even the “anti-Shark” ones they never attack a player or team! Something I also do not understand why tear a player apart in favour of another player you like makes no sense!
7 Jun 2012, 10:34 am
How from the below did you decide I think Matfield is overrated?
59.RugbyStudent said:
7 Jun 2012, 09:13 am
@ufo(ufo)-53:
Juandre is not a physical 4 lock. Never has, never will be. He is a Matfield type player and hangs around the centres and wings quite a bit. Go look at the tries he has scored for the Bulls this season.
So from this YOU decided that Matfield/Kruger/Bekker can play a Bakkies Botha/Etzebeth type role. So am I getting this correct, you are saying there is no real difference in the physical attributes and roles of all these players.
7 Jun 2012, 10:36 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-127:
You just described Lions rugby to a T
7 Jun 2012, 10:38 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-113: Enjoyed that thanks.
7 Jun 2012, 10:41 am
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-138:
thank you kindly…
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-139:
this a trick question…?
read the first two sentences… there’s a clue in there somewhere…
i never mentioned bakkies botha…
and yes… i do believe juandre could play no 4 in the circumstances i outlined and that etezbeth could play no 5… and bekker HAS played number 4… which sort of proves my point that they are all skilled enough and physical enough to play either role should the circumstances require it…
7 Jun 2012, 10:44 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-113:
I think we could have done better than
“hold his sock tip”
7 Jun 2012, 10:51 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-143: That wasn’t the best line, I’ll admit. But “Get me cod please” more than made up.
And “Salsa cookies! Windmill cookies!” was pure rock genius.
7 Jun 2012, 11:02 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-144:
agreed.
all in all fine family fun.
suck juice from moose and sending the octopus to north korea were highlights for me.
7 Jun 2012, 11:15 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-145: Also appreciated the fierce intensity of “They gave you gonorrhea!”
7 Jun 2012, 11:32 am
I see its all so very highbrow and civilised today on Keo…
Such righteous psychoanalysis and patronising “superior” knowledge…
Come to think of it, I’m beginning to think readers preferred the hysterical whining blue, black and white envy and that sense of faux Stormer injustice…
Its more entertaining… and honest
7 Jun 2012, 11:39 am
@garth(garth)-28:
Those are pretty d.a.m.n. funny.
7 Jun 2012, 12:14 pm
The fact of the matter is there is no way Bekker will make another 2 world cups like victor did with all his injuries he might not even make the next one, we need to think ahead and build an inseparable partnership in the second row and Juandre and Etsebeth are the answer to that. Of course Juandre has a lot to learn in his tactical play and the mindf*cking of opponents but as with Matfiled those things only come in time and with experience.
But he did show great thinking in the first clash of the bulls vs stormers this year when he played on Bekker’s insecurities by deliberately sucking him in out wide, knowing that Bekker would target him because he felt threatened before handing a clean pass to WO for the try – this shows great vision and unselfish team play, not wanting to prove his better than Bekker by physically taking him on. This is the reason why Matfiled was always better than Bekker because he outsmarted him and played on his weaknesses.
check from 14:40 to see what I mean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OckaC7E08kQ
7 Jun 2012, 12:20 pm
Don’t get me wrong though I think Bekker is an outstanding athlete, but we have to think of the future both Etsebeth and Kruger show great promise and have age on their side and are also less injury prone.
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