Olivier aims to shatter perception
19 Jun 2012
Wynand Olivier says he will use a start against England to convince everybody including himself that he belongs at the highest level.
Olivier is set to replace Frans Steyn at No 12 this Saturday, as Steyn has plans to get married and has been granted a release from the squad.
Saturday will mark Olivier’s first start for the Springboks since 23 July 2011 when he played for a dirt-tracker South African side on a winless Australasian tour.
The last time Olivier started for a full-strength Bok team was back in the 2010 Tri-Nations. Then coach Peter de Villiers was swayed by senior Bok players to give Olivier a final chance, and unfortunately it was a chance Olivier didn’t use to alter the perception that he wasn’t Test quality.
De Villiers then dropped Olivier completely, only recalling him in 2011 when the majority of the first-choice players were not available. Once again, Olivier blew this opportunity to impress, and was not picked for the World Cup squad.
His most recent recall to the national side has come as a shock, although Meyer has responded to criticism by pointing to Olivier’s experience. Nevertheless, there is a sense that there will be no more chances following this Saturday’s Test, and nobody is more aware of the fact than Olivier himself.
‘I don’t want to say I’m going out there to prove a point, it’s more about proving to myself that I can make the step up to international rugby,’ he said.
Olivier has played off the bench in the last two matches, and it’s been clear that England prefer to attack the Boks’ 10-12 channel when he is on the park.
Defence coach John McFarland confirmed that Olivier made more tackles than any other Bok back in the second Test, and what this stat indicates is that the England attack have targeted his channel as a potential weak point.
Olivier feels that he can cope with the hard-running England backs this Saturday and that he will also offer the Boks some strong options on attack.
‘Manu Tuilagi is a big guy and I’m looking forward to the challenge of stopping him,’ he said. ‘I am enjoying playing alongside Jean [de Villiers]. We haven’t played [as a midfield combination] since 2006 and 2007. He’s a guy with a lot of experience and I believe he will also bring something else to my game.’
Olivier believes he can succeed where he has failed before, that he can show his coach and team-mates that he is more than just a solid Super Rugby player. While there is pressure to perform in this situation, Olivier said that he won’t let it affect his confidence.
‘I’ve been out of the team for a while now, but it feels different now compared to when I was involved with Jake White’s team and then Peter’s, I was young back then. I’m more experienced now and more relaxed and focused on what I need to do.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Port Elizabeth
453 Comments
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19 Jun 2012, 13:53 pm
Optimistic Dragon
19 Jun 2012, 13:54 pm
The boks will have to beat the English with 14 men
19 Jun 2012, 13:55 pm
Piss off with your Goebels-style repetitive propaganda, Cardinelli.
19 Jun 2012, 13:58 pm
Surely HM’s not trying to say that this currently SA’s third-best centre…?
19 Jun 2012, 13:58 pm
Stange that Olivier admits that he was poor and given a get out of jail free card from his ex Bulls Coach… PdV said he was finished and klaar… Poor oke…
19 Jun 2012, 13:59 pm
At least he should know that there are about five people who think he has what it takes….
19 Jun 2012, 14:05 pm
How can we justify playing a centre pairing that last played together in when 2007.
4fksake Coetzee and Etzerbeth were playing under 14 when this pairing was already so terrible. that nobody had the courage to put them together for another 5 years.
19 Jun 2012, 14:07 pm
Let’s pray that it is the red wine scenario…
19 Jun 2012, 14:07 pm
‘I don’t want to say I’m going out there to prove a point, it’s more about proving to myself that I can make the step up to international rugby,’
Doesn’t fill one with confidence does it? Ironically, i think his combination with Morne does doesn’t work in test rugby. Morne’s static play, combined with the lack of explosive speed or brute strength of Olivier, highlight’s the difference in pace between test and super rugby. Olivier would fare much better with a flyhalf who plays flatter and attacks the advantage line, because defenders would be as committed to the inside center channels with a flyhalf who possesses line-breaking ability.
19 Jun 2012, 14:07 pm
At least he also knows that he’s not up to standard. How can one player be afforded so many opportunities? This Bozo had his chance, blew it, had it again, blew it again, had it again, blew it again etc….
There are other guys who are just as (if not more) talented who haven’t had a SINGLE shot. WO just doesn’t have what it takes to make the step up. Whatever you need at international level, guts, level-headedness, heart, balls, who knows? He ain’t got it.
19 Jun 2012, 14:08 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-3: Your repetitive and entirely unsubstantiated defense of Olivier is also kinda repetitive.
19 Jun 2012, 14:08 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-3: This hardly qualifies as propoganda Tac, the man just stated the facts. WO was not terrible, he was just sub par. I hope for him that he somehow finds the form to be ffective at this level, but I doubt it.
All the best of luck to WO (won’t call him Meisiekind, seeing as he stopped dying his hair like a girl).
19 Jun 2012, 14:11 pm
After 30-odd tests, he still has to convince everybody including himself that he can play at test level?
19 Jun 2012, 14:22 pm
one test wonder for the girl from the bulls – doesnt matter Steyn will be back for the next test
19 Jun 2012, 14:23 pm
One thing you don’t want is a group of Englishmen to whiff a weakness in the armoury. They are gonna pile in on Wynand should Tuilagi one-up him in the most miniscule manner possible. You know how they do!
Anyone remember De Wet Barry’s last chance match against France at Newlands in 2006…
19 Jun 2012, 14:23 pm
Noone doubts that hes a decent rugby player but he hasnt played well at test level since 2007 and people want to see form being rewarded.. In this case Juan De Jongh should have been in the squad but Olivier was picked because Meyer likes him and feels sorry for him.
19 Jun 2012, 14:24 pm
OTO = one-try Olivier. One try in 36 tests– and that versus Italy. That’s a slow-pedalling world record for a midfielder.
19 Jun 2012, 14:25 pm
Olivier is a passanger on the field for the boks. Does the basics but won’t contribute with that extra bit that’s needed by any Springbok player. Since when has mediocre become an acceptable yard stick when picking Bok players. I’ve never rated him and wouldn’t mind seeing the back of him after this test. Besides, who is he think he’s fooling with that new haircut anyway???
19 Jun 2012, 14:26 pm
This guy makes Pierre Spies look like a legend… Brian O’Driscoll, Danie Craven, Phillippe Sella, Frank Bunce, Tim Horan, Wynand Olivier…. Choose the odd one out…
19 Jun 2012, 14:27 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-17:
Only bambie with 14 test and zero tries will probably be able to score less tries, and that from fullback…..
19 Jun 2012, 14:28 pm
“…..coach Peter de Villiers was swayed by senior Bok players to give Olivier a final chance…”
I wonder if it was his Bulls gatgabbas (Matfield, FdP etc.) that convinced PdV to give him another chance.
It sure does not say much for PdV’s authority as a coach, or is it the players lack of respect for the coach?
Could we deduct that HM just took over from Matfield and co. to give WO another change?
What has he got on them?
19 Jun 2012, 14:32 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-21: You do realise that that statement is made up completely by the esteemed writer of this article?
19 Jun 2012, 14:32 pm
All the springbok and bulls coaches and selector over the past 8 years have selected WO… Surely they should know a bit more about rugby than the odd stompie and guppie supporters…..
19 Jun 2012, 14:33 pm
@line break(line break)-19:
Odd one out is Danie Craven, he was a scrumhalf.
19 Jun 2012, 14:33 pm
@BishopsOD(BishopsOD)-15: That game was on ESPN few weeks ago, we lost and Barry was toilet!!
19 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@Craven(Craven)-24: or Brian O’Driscoll – never won a test against NZ
19 Jun 2012, 14:38 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-17: for once i do agree with you. Could you see the all blacks sticking with a player of his calibre?
19 Jun 2012, 14:40 pm
it’s more about proving to myself that I can make the step up to international rugby,’ he said.
Hahahahahahaha he´s had how many shots at it now?? How many caps?? And he´s still trying to prove he can make the step up???? FFFFFFFSSSSSSS
Heyneke Meyer trek jou kop uit jou poephol uit asseblief. The selections have got to imrpove. The rest I´m happy with but the selections are very detrimental to the Bok cause… players who shouldnt be anywhere near the squad at present – Werner Kruger, Keegan Daniels, Ryan Kankowski, Wynand Olivier, JJ Engelbrecht, Zane Kirchener. 4 of them Bulls. ruk jouself reg. Kolisi should have been above Daniels or Brussouw, Ashley Johnson leaving or not should have been above Kanko, Juan de Jongh above Olivier, Ebersohn above JJ, and Kirchener just got in due to injuries to guys like Pietersen and Taute I hope. Kruger is a tough one cos really we are lacking in the 3 department but in that case maybe trying something new like calling up Coenie for 3 instead of 1 cover and choosing Greyling as 1 cover.
Or try out WP Nel maybe?
19 Jun 2012, 14:45 pm
I rest my case… Will always sound like sour grapes…
19 Jun 2012, 14:47 pm
Delusional to say the least.Seriously Timo?So,you want to prove that,after 37 opportunities,that you can make it at test level.heheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh….i can’t stop laughing….hehhehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
19 Jun 2012, 14:47 pm
wynand olivier must be a great guy off the field seeing as so many ppl are willing to ‘give him another chance’. JdJ is a much much better player on so many levels. His defence is solid, definitely has more attacking skills and deserves it more.
19 Jun 2012, 14:49 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-31:
It is called pay back time… Sorry but the truth…
A few very poor selections which make the man look a wee bit silly.
19 Jun 2012, 14:49 pm
@Beertjie(Beertjie)-22: Waar daar ‘n rokie is…..
19 Jun 2012, 14:52 pm
“…it’s more about proving to myself that I can make the step up to international rugby,’ he said.”
Well, at least he is honest with himself. Admitting that he not make the step up to international rugby yet. Even after 36 test.
All the best to you then WO.
Hope you will be honest with yourself if you don’t make the step up on Saturday and announce your retirement from international rugby. Concentrate on the Bulls.
19 Jun 2012, 14:52 pm
Gio Aplon, Kolisi and JdJ should be in the team, all WP players. It is a bit worrying that Heyneke won’t pick them ahead of old dinosaurs like WO.
19 Jun 2012, 14:53 pm
All the stompies supporters are asking for Tuilagi to run at midget JDJ the whole game….. You guys are more delusional than I thought…..
19 Jun 2012, 14:53 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-33: rokie uit ‘n tik pypie? Then the keo “reporters” might be on (to) something
19 Jun 2012, 14:53 pm
The 10-12 axix will be attacked by the Eglish.On the Stormers website there are photos of Kolisi peosklapping both Morne and Timo on his way past them.Classic defending from the two that day at Newlands.
19 Jun 2012, 14:54 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-38: axis
19 Jun 2012, 14:54 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-35:
…that is the bias that concerns most…of course we get slated for even suggesting such…
19 Jun 2012, 14:55 pm
@Meerkatte(phil72)-36:
…no he will be running WO whole game mate…watch and enjoy…
19 Jun 2012, 14:56 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-31: My 58 year old neighbour who suffers with mild dementia is also a great person – but I don’t see him being given 38 chances to prove himself as an international 12.
Olivier either has the dope on the entire BB brigade, or he delivers on some other as yet unknown level.
This B grade squad of ours is the stuff of nightmares – the squad, not the starters.
19 Jun 2012, 14:56 pm
In all my time on this site I have never seen Tacitus swear twice in one day.
Unfortunately the gravitas is slipping.
19 Jun 2012, 14:58 pm
Real Goebbelsdy-Gook stuff, this article.
Honest and Loyal Bok patriots will be behind Meisiekind for this test… Just like they got behind Captain Donkey….
Go Wynand….
Bokbefok….
Like Bismarck, JPP, Coetzee, Alberts, Lambie, Kruger have done… Proper Bok supporters will enjoy the figurative middle finger you will no doubt give to those StormerPom envious sensibilities…
Schweet like a Lemon…
19 Jun 2012, 14:58 pm
@Meerkatte(phil72)-36: Oh yes? And pray tell just when it was you decided Juan de Jongh was “weak” in defence? Dates, times and opponents names please.
19 Jun 2012, 14:59 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-44:
I thought you left.
19 Jun 2012, 15:01 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-45:
I was at Loftus and saw both de Jongh and De Villiers tackle the daylights outta the Bulls centre pairing… I must have been watching a totally different game of course…
19 Jun 2012, 15:02 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-42: ‘delivers on some other as yet unknown level’ LMAO! Hahahaaaa. Yeah, iD love to sit in on the post match video reviews and hear exactly what he did on the field that makes him so special!
19 Jun 2012, 15:02 pm
The propoganda of big is better has really got to some… The coach has confused some but not the rugby knowledgeable bunch…
19 Jun 2012, 15:03 pm
Lambie, Aplon, De Jongh may be small but they can tackle…
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