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, 15:54 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-97: He is k uk scared WP til I die will come up with a few more ‘blasts from the past’ that might make him look even sillier than what he currently does. (He needs to stick around to moderate all new posts)
19 Jun 2012, 15:54 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-100: Why does the word h.o.o.r. get starred out?
Hear! Hear!
19 Jun 2012, 15:55 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-99: True Pompies but I believe the argument was about the physicality in the contact area and there I also believe JDJ does not offer alot.
Cheers
19 Jun 2012, 15:57 pm
Fark its going to be more than a little embarrassing for the Keo rugby geniuses here if Wynand Olivier even half performs well on Saturday.
I have never thought Olivier has fitted in well where he is considered the junior member of a centre partnership… He likes to be numero uno.
Considering that Jean is as inexperienced at 13 for the Boks as Olivier is at playing 12, that should give parity and as a consequence I have a sneaking suspicion that Meisie may actually hand out a big STFU to a lot of bitter and envious StormerPom inclined Mock Bok “supporters”….
Heres to a good performance, Meisie… Show that middle finger by playing the game of your life.
Bokbefok
19 Jun 2012, 15:59 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-103: The problem is “physicality at the contact point” doesn’t mean much if can’t turn it into an advantage ala SBW, who keeps two guys busy and still manages to put someone into space.
Or were you referring to defence?
19 Jun 2012, 15:59 pm
Luke Watson will pray for Meisiekind. All will be well.
19 Jun 2012, 16:01 pm
@KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)-106: A Luciferan Prayer… or Lukeferan more like…?
Voodoo Puke…
19 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
One more little blue eyed knee bending blonde bimbo for the Heyneke Meyer parade.. soon they be goosestepping soon after they do the Hail Caesar (or is it Hail Mary) cross my heart and hope to die for the glory of heaven sent righteousness brigade.
When will these rugger buggers just play goddamn rugby and get done with the pantomime.
19 Jun 2012, 16:03 pm
@Meerkatte(phil72)-87: no,we are sharpening our knives for when his thread comes around
19 Jun 2012, 16:06 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-102: Because the sheltered soutpiele who write the language policy of the site, in all their wisdom, think you’re trying to call someone’s momma a prozzie.
19 Jun 2012, 16:07 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-101: Scared… of what?
I must admit, I am enjoying the blast from the past tributes…
HG Classica…
There are a few others that you might enjoy…
Like the Davey Crockett one… or wanna know where the Sparta stuff actually comes from… yup… Yours truly… Dig that up.
Gladiator has been a theme too, as was Scipio, Carthage and SPQR baby…
Keo All Time Classics….
How about digging up some of those… for the most imitated and imaginative Blogging Meme machine out in the Badlands of Keo…
Yours truly…
(Elegant Bow forthcoming)
19 Jun 2012, 16:09 pm
War Wyno!!
I think that he’s also enjoying lack of depth in sa for that position. JdJ didn’t make that further step we were expecting in the last two seasons.
19 Jun 2012, 16:09 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-101:
451.Heavens Game said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:25 pm
@Heavens Game: 445. Yeah I forgot the “bro”. It is also an identifier, along with the “hiyas”.
455.Heavens Game said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:35 pm
@Transformation: 447. You forgot “bro”. ^5 ?(is that the RT version of the Mormon handshake)
459.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:47 pm
@Heavens Game: blah blah blah , show you pathetic side i see??
460.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:48 pm
pathetic little loosers , grow up idiots
461.Heavens Game said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:49 pm
@sharks_lover: yes “bro”, “hiyas”.
462.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:49 pm
HG you say just rugby is pathetic??? shall we say pot calling the kettle black??
get out from behind that glass door
463.Heavens Game said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:50 pm
@sharks_lover: Sorry, nearly forgot the mormon handshake – ^5
464.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:50 pm
actually shouldnt be answering to idiots
465.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:51 pm
HG grow up ignorant twat
466.sharks_lover said:
31 Mar 2010, 20:51 pm
actually twats are usefull
19 Jun 2012, 16:10 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-108: Hang in there, Skoppie. The time of the black vegan orthodox Jewish Springbok will surely come. And when it does, I’ll buy you a drink.
19 Jun 2012, 16:12 pm
Now he suddenly enjoys it !!!Give you credit for one thing…if you can’t beat them(wp) ,join them.
19 Jun 2012, 16:14 pm
Question to the Breezer bloggers on here;
Why, with all the front-foot ball/ pack dominance/ gainline efficiency, are the Stormers consistently struggling to cross the white-wash?
Here’s possible answers.
1. Fleck is a poor B/line coach.
2. The inside channel with Duvenhage, Grant & De Villiers is pedestrian.
3. They’re missing a trick by deploying De Villiers @ 12, & De Jongh @ 13.
19 Jun 2012, 16:16 pm
this is one hilarious thread, the perfect antidote after the boring meetings i’ve had today
19 Jun 2012, 16:16 pm
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-116:
(3), in my opinion.
Juan de Jongh would be much better at inside centre.
I’m also not convinced about Fleckie as backline coach.
19 Jun 2012, 16:18 pm
My list of not so great bok centre’s, in no particular order
Jaco Pretorius
De Wet Barry
Wynand Olivier
Jorrie Muller
Trevor Halstead
Heinrich Fuls
Danie v Skhalkwyk
And Percy when he played at 13
19 Jun 2012, 16:18 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-113: Lovely stuff.Please just spare us Hg’s fornication with ET….that’s still very recent stuff and very cringeworthy to read again.
19 Jun 2012, 16:19 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-113: Excellent… I actually reckon SL gave as good as he got…. Makes some of the StormerPoms I regularly embarrass nowadays look really farken more idiotic than is normal….
Brokeback Cowboys
Riding out on a dy.ke in a StormerPom rodeo
Like Brokeback cowboys
Giving blogs and posts about rugger which they hardly know
….
19 Jun 2012, 16:23 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-120:
I could always repeat some of the Lionel Richie (Heavens Game) and Diana Ross (ET) “My Endless Love” that went on here, but I think I’ve done enough for one day.
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-121:
You had sharks_lover really upset that night, accusing him of trying to “recruit” people to RT, calling him a “Mormon on Voldy”, hiyas bro ^5 and all that.
19 Jun 2012, 16:25 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-67:
19 Jun 2012, 16:26 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-122: Thanks for the memories WP.
19 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm
That’s got rid of Mad Eye.
OK who’s next.
19 Jun 2012, 16:36 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-118:
Thanks dude.
I think the Bulls inside channel gets knocked a lot with biased opinion. In Timotei’s case especially – the guy’s solid, without being spectecular.
That being said, I think most Keolites? would probably agree with this pecking order come the Rugby Championship;
12. F Steyn / De Jongh, with Whitehead in the wings
13. De Villiers / ?, with R Ebersohn in the wings.
As a Bulls man, I’m also not sold with Timo in the Green&Gold, and have not seen enough to justify JJ’s inclusion.
At the Bulls, I prefer 12. F Venter, 13. Sadie – looking at the future.
19 Jun 2012, 16:40 pm
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-126:
Say what you like about Wynand Olivier, he has three Super 14s in addition to a Rugby World Cup winner’s medal.
Not many players in world rugby can claim that.
19 Jun 2012, 16:40 pm
Perfect time to put R100 on an Olivier hat trick it will be awesome odds. Of course you get the feeling that even if he does manage it nobody will back him. Beware the player with something to prove. Personally I wish him all the best on saturday
19 Jun 2012, 16:44 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-122: All water under a bridge…
Refugee All Sharks Unite…
19 Jun 2012, 16:48 pm
Stooooooooooooormers!!!!!!
19 Jun 2012, 17:04 pm
Hi guys, I don’t comment much on this site but read every article and often many of the comments.
The sad thing for me in this is that we discussing whether a player of close to 40 test caps is good enough to play at this level.
How does a player of Olivier’s quality get 40 caps. Its nothing personal, he is just not a great player at test level, and has never consistently;y shone at super rugby level. I can’t but help to feel that its a farce. Having said that, for the Boks sake I hope he grabs this opportunity on Saturday with both hands
19 Jun 2012, 17:08 pm
heinrich Fulse was actually a damn good center when he played for EP, however, Macintosch decided to turn him into a crashball donkey in a green jumper!
19 Jun 2012, 17:09 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-121: hehehe you must feel like such a tool, who is “fibbing” now?
the archives don’t lie tl tl tl
19 Jun 2012, 17:11 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-133: The fibbing… Where? Come explain, Rossi’s pet umfana
19 Jun 2012, 17:14 pm
@Tony(Tony)-131: spot on Tony, well said.
19 Jun 2012, 17:14 pm
@Tony(Tony)-131: what’s up Tony.
look, every Springbok coach has favourites so let’s allow heyneke to have his, as long as we beat the Poms…
19 Jun 2012, 17:16 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-134: Exposed LIAR
bwaaaaahlaaaaaa
enough said…
gym calls
hehehe
19 Jun 2012, 17:19 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-134: next time hou jou ****** bek and think before spewing garbage
19 Jun 2012, 17:21 pm
WP did a great job today exposing Hg,once again,for he fool we all know he really is,but to see it confirmed in print straight from the mal donners fingertips makes it just so more schweeeeet.
19 Jun 2012, 17:22 pm
HG reckons he embarrasses Stormer folk! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe! Looks like you got some good backyard sheet in your pooper mate! If only everybody had the high opinion you have of yourself little weener!
19 Jun 2012, 17:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-137: Thats not explaining… thats just stating… Hehehe
Looks like I got the whole bang shoot of you LukeLovers, Keo Multi-Profilers and StormerPom Bok haters in a real twist…
Just me and the Refugee All Sharks…
19 Jun 2012, 17:23 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-134: “Eish Transie, your fibbing is continually allowing you to live up to your stereotype… Add in a bit of stealing and then you are complete…. ‘
stereotype se gat
exposed!
19 Jun 2012, 17:24 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-138: Ag, go get that collar on for Dom Rossi…. 6 lashes for you boy
19 Jun 2012, 17:24 pm
What happened to Mad Eye?
19 Jun 2012, 17:25 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-141: cheers Mormon_Lover
19 Jun 2012, 17:26 pm
Olivier to have a blinder this week cementing his place in the starting 15 and in the same instance solving our fullback problem…..best possible solution?
19 Jun 2012, 17:26 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-139: @Transformation(Transformation)-142: Enough of a platform for teenage w.inkies… You little bespotted hormonal midgets got enough faux glory on this legend’s coattails now…
Poof… Begone
19 Jun 2012, 17:28 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-147: This post not meant for Transie – meant for Capo and the other midget… forget its name… Pee Wee or summink
19 Jun 2012, 17:29 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-142: Thats you you poor pitiful fool… Not me
Sheezus, I really got you upset today, hey…. hehehe
19 Jun 2012, 17:30 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-148: wp really got your mind in a spin today old hg?
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