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, 19:48 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-198:
But meisiekind has only scored once in 36 tests. He won’t be happy. I sure as hell wouldn’t.
19 Jun 2012, 19:52 pm
@I am a Bok(I am a stormer)-201:
Bambie has never scored, but yet she is good enough?
19 Jun 2012, 19:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-177: SL making an appearance as Stompie now.That ‘go figure’ a dead giveaway.
Probably not too chuff to appear as SL due to WP exposing him as well as Hg as complete nutters.
19 Jun 2012, 19:57 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-202: I can see Bambie being another Brent Russel- too small to really make an impact in a Bok jersey-given how we play- and always shifted around. Sadly, he doesn’t have Brent’s speed and try-scoring ability. If he can’t cut it 2 years from now and really start banging on the door- he should ply his trade overseas…
19 Jun 2012, 19:57 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-203:
You are so far of the plot… but if you believe yourself? happy for you…..
19 Jun 2012, 19:59 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-205: hmmmmmm
19 Jun 2012, 20:02 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-205: boeet ignore the worm, its as thick as a plank
19 Jun 2012, 20:02 pm
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-204:
And Lambie more than a decent fly-half….but we have Morne and Goosen… not a very good fullback. He is probably better of moving along….. or sitting on the bench for the remainder of his career ?
19 Jun 2012, 20:03 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-207:
Does seem that way
19 Jun 2012, 20:03 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-205: a few Sharks supporters and these stormpoppiegayplanks go into stress mode, they sitting here with all kinds of theories
19 Jun 2012, 20:04 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-208:
Great pity though, really rate him as a fly-half!!!
19 Jun 2012, 20:06 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-210:
According to there blogging, they been dominating rugby for the past ten years?
19 Jun 2012, 20:06 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-211: Phi, Lambie is a far more complete 10 then Steyn, only Goosen is one that will prolly surpass Lambie
19 Jun 2012, 20:07 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-212: LOL only place they dominate is broke back mountain and the tight speedo’s in Camps bay
19 Jun 2012, 20:09 pm
Gavin Rich – SuperSport
Port Elizabeth – You could say that he has had more comebacks than George Foreman, but Wynand Olivier doesn’t give the impression he is too bothered by the intense pressure he must be under as he prepares to make his first start for the Springboks since last year’s away leg of the Tri-Nations.
According to SuperSport.com, the Bulls inside centre is set to wear the No 12 against England at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday as a replacement for Frans Steyn, who has been given the weekend off to get married. Although he played the entire second half in Johannesburg last week and had a cameo role in the first Test in Durban, this will be Olivier’s big opportunity, and some might say last chance, to shatter the perception that he is not up to international standard.
“The team has not been announced yet, but if I do get to start I will see it as a big opportunity that I will definitely try to use to prove that I can play international rugby. It’s not so much about proving anything to anyone else, but to myself. I want to prove to myself that I can play international rugby,” said Olivier
19 Jun 2012, 20:09 pm
hiyas 5
19 Jun 2012, 20:09 pm
Now Looking at our under 20 Boks?? theres some real talent comming through there, like the centers etc
19 Jun 2012, 20:12 pm
Mormon Tyrone.Did you enjoy WP TILL I DIE’S running commentary on you and Hg’s relationship since 2010.
19 Jun 2012, 20:12 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-202: I’m not on the Lambie train either dude. He is talented yes, and will mature as a player most certainly – but for all the hype and bowing down at the alter of his alleged greatness by some, I am yet to be convinced that he is ‘the special one’.
I mean the poor kid isn’t even a specialist in a position – yet some claim he is the best 10, 12 and 15 in the country – so here I can agree with you.
19 Jun 2012, 20:13 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-217:
When you realize that the 2 players of the tournament are both bulls you will probably soon change you opinion…..
19 Jun 2012, 20:13 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-218: ^5 Bruvva.
19 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-220:
But maybe little things like that would not bother you?
19 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
Lambie is just fine where he is. There was a time Morne Steyn was used by the Bulls as a utility back, and could not even crack a place in the starting lineup. There is still lots of water to go under the bridge for Lambie.
As for Olivier’s inclusion at 12 – that is a disaster. Where is Juan de Jongh ? Is he injured ?
19 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
One blogger having a conversation with himself???
19 Jun 2012, 20:16 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-203: Stompie til I die is ‘Meerkatte’. He changed his nic because Heyneke changed his gameplan. (The 2 are inextricably linked)
19 Jun 2012, 20:16 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-223: Lambie needs an extended run at 10 for the Sharks- maybe 2-3 years and we will see…
19 Jun 2012, 20:16 pm
In PE at the moment, forecast looks wet and cold, we need all the big boys! and no!!!!!! not talking about the skeef capies….
19 Jun 2012, 20:17 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-223: No,Meyer don’t rate him.Says he doesn’t believe small players should play test rugby.
19 Jun 2012, 20:17 pm
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-204: Go check Lambie’s stats before you make the stupid mistake of calling him small. He weighs more than quite a few guys in the current Springbok squad including Morne Steyn.
But for the two or three kgs he gives away to guys like Wynand Olivier, he makes up for by the fact that he is not scared to tackle. So get your facts straight. I think you’ve been eating too much roadkill green curry.
19 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-228: Well then he must drop Morne Steyn too – who is a kg lighter than Lambie. And also Joe Pietersen and Gio Aplon, both of whom are quite a bit lighter than Lambie.
19 Jun 2012, 20:19 pm
@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-226: Yes – well that is exactly it. There was a time when nobody would have put a one cent bet on Morne Steyn ever being the Nr 1 Springbok flyhalf.
19 Jun 2012, 20:20 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-229:
And what has bambie achieved in his test career? apart form missing a few easy conversions and not scoring any tries?
19 Jun 2012, 20:20 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-228: Oh sorry – he didn’t select Aplon…..probably because he really is a little….
19 Jun 2012, 20:20 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-225: OK,all my apologies to the Mormon then.
19 Jun 2012, 20:22 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-232: Nothing yet and I would be the first to admit that. He also didn’t play well on the weekend. That would be for me – a better reason for his non-inclusion. Not the fact that he is ‘small’ – because that is a piece of perception inspired nonsense you just sucked from your thumb.
Lambie is still a kid. A lot can still happen in his career.
19 Jun 2012, 20:24 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-220: which tournament??
nope never gonna change my opinion, and i said lots of talent comming through, never said they were all sharks
19 Jun 2012, 20:24 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-235:
So then… he could possibly be as useless as meisiekind?
19 Jun 2012, 20:25 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-233: Well,that’s what he said when he started out,so i guess he was a bit forced to select Aplon at the end of the day.I think someone higher up probably had a word with him about that statement.After the first test Stransky mentioned it to him that he like his players big and strong but he dodged the question.
19 Jun 2012, 20:25 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-236:
Good for you!! just checking…
19 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-237: Yes – he could. But if I am not mistaken, Meisiekind hasn’t scored 25 points in a Currie Cup final against WP, nor has meisiekind captained his first rugby and cricket teams at school, nor can meisiekind kick for goal to save his life, and if I am not mistaken – I think meisiekind has been given a few more opportunities in a green and gold jersey and is a few years older.
Give Lambie a chance – he still has a few things to show I think. I cant help think your dislike of him is based purely on provincial motivators – which is childish.
19 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-230: I want Lambie at ten,but the Bulls mob will lynch me if they get their hands on me.
19 Jun 2012, 20:29 pm
Hiyas bruvvas
19 Jun 2012, 20:29 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-238: It would be a very stupid philosophy for a coach that has won Super rugby titles. So – I have to believe you since I did not see the interview, but I would find it very fascinating and slightly strange if Meyer was that short sighted.
19 Jun 2012, 20:30 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-241: I dont think Lambie is a better 10 than Morne Steyn – yet….but its good to know we have something in reserve.
I would still first pick Morne at 10. He needs to get his head right with his kicking issues though.
19 Jun 2012, 20:31 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-242: Mormon ^5. Hiyas Dawn.
19 Jun 2012, 20:32 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-240:
But……….. he has a British lions medal, a currie cup medal. a tri-nations medal, a world cup medal, a super rugby medal and and English tour medal…. Now try and compare apples with apples ?
19 Jun 2012, 20:32 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-242: Hey Dawn – you been dopping again ?
19 Jun 2012, 20:32 pm
Meyer is boxing very clever here in his selection of Aplon and Pietersen.After this Saturday his next outing will be in Cape Town.I guess it would be a crying shame if the Bok coach gets taken apart by the Newlands faithful now.
19 Jun 2012, 20:33 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-246:
And lambie scored 25 point in a local match… really………….. Bambie for president!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
19 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
fark me, not even one rugby player in the highest paid athletes top 20
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/06/18/mayweather-tops-list-of-the-worlds-100-highest-paid-athletes/
this elitist sport still pays peanuts in the biggers scheme of things…
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