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, 20:35 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-242: hiyas angie ^5
19 Jun 2012, 20:35 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-246: Yes – he has been around a while and had the opportunities to be part of those squads. What’s your point ?
Does that make him better than Frans Steyn ? Frans doesnt have a Super rugby medal – he has a silver mug though.
Or, what about Marcelle Coetzee. Does the fact that Bob Skinstad have a World Cup winners medal, make him a better flank right now than Marcelle ?
If you dont like Lambie – that’s fine. But give good reason, and at least allow the guy (at his young age) a few more opportunities to prove you wrong. I mean, other players have been afforded that ? And still play poorly in a Bok jersey – like Wynand Olivier.
19 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-249: 25 in a Currie Cup final against the ‘favourites’ to take the title.
19 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-249:
Pity he is our third choice 10… and only slightly ahead of grant and jantjies…..
19 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
Dopping.
Yes indeed. All day long.
19 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-255: Stay off the balcony.
19 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-252:
And in local rugby WO has been the best centre (Generally accepted) for the past 5 years
19 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-257: What ? Ok – if you think so. Moving right along….
19 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
Hiyas Trans ^5!!!
Brudder!
19 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-246: I am glad for him ….but that still doesn’t make him a great test player.David Silva,currently earning big bucks at Manchester City and now wanted by Real Madrid,was blamed for Spain’s opening game defeat at the 2010 WC and never played another game at that tournament,but he still got a gold medal at the end of it.So,you see,that medals sob story is nothing but a load of bollocks.
19 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-252:
So…. what is your point?
19 Jun 2012, 20:43 pm
Now you guys have driven SL,THE MORMON,away with all these hiyas’s.
19 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm
Hiyas bruv!
19 Jun 2012, 20:48 pm
So, Francois Steyn can play for the Sharks in the last two rounds of the Super 15, but cannot play in the playoffs if the Sharks make it ? I remember reading the reason somewhere, but does anyone here know ? I am not asking the under 15s for a cocky answer.
So, is Jebb Sinclair allowed to play in the playoffs ?
19 Jun 2012, 20:48 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-259: how’s it this evening? ltnc
we must do frosties & pizza @ firemans
mwah to you angie
19 Jun 2012, 20:50 pm
Duskee stop being hardegat
Oh and btw Hiyas bru
19 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-260:
He did not only win 1 medal….. he has won all of them!!!!!!!!!!!! now to put this into perspective…… The the not so clever ones will struggle to get this… the only other player in the squad to achieve this is, Habanna. I know this is a lot take take in, but think about it….
19 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-264: No player who joins the squad after a certain date (somewhere in April?) may play in the knock-outs.
19 Jun 2012, 20:52 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-266: What you mean ? I genuinely want to know ? There is obviously a cut off time – and I want to know that the rule is being applied fairly across all teams.
19 Jun 2012, 20:52 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-267: well,he is still uber kuk man!
19 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-268: So, Jebb Sinclair joined 9 May. So he must also sit out ? I am honestly trying to find out what the rule actually is…..
19 Jun 2012, 20:54 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-270: Where is Juan de Jongh ? Is he injured ? I haven’t followed Super rugby that closely this year.
19 Jun 2012, 20:55 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-271: Yep, he can’t play then either.
19 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm
Trans bruvver when next you down here mos def bru
19 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-262: @Dawn(Dawn)-263: I wonder if Jim Jones the Sharks Lover will wangle us an invite to the Cape ‘Sharks Supporters Club house’? It would truly be special. All the Hummers outside, all the toppies with their poppies inside. More gold medallions than at the upcoming Olympics my bruvvas. Mr Price board shorts, pony tails and Savannahs to spare.
If he won’t invite us, we could possibly work out the secret Sharks password to get in? I reckon it’s something like: “The Boy wonder Bambie rides at midnight” or considering the membership, something like: “Hiyas Bruvvas – Sharks forever”.
It would be like gaining access to the Famous Five’s clubhouse.
Hell, maybe SL would give us a free boerie roll, as he is probably the catering head honcho.
19 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-273: But I hear Francois can play in the last two log phase games.
19 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm
So tell me, when JdV returns to Super Rugby, will AC have him play 12 or 13?
I think they should keep him at 13 for the greater good.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
19 Jun 2012, 20:57 pm
3 late tries, and suddenly England’s score against the Northern Babaas looks much better than they actually were.
19 Jun 2012, 20:57 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-268: yeah, no player signed after april 1 is eligible.
no repeat of schalk britz for stormers
19 Jun 2012, 20:58 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-270:
And yes…. yet he has been one of the key players and leaders in by far the most successful franchises in SA rugby… Figures……….. somehow he understand winning. As for the stompies… have no clue, how to win a competition?
19 Jun 2012, 20:58 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-268: I thought it was any player who was not named in the initial squads at the start of the S15 is ineligible?
19 Jun 2012, 20:58 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-276: Ja, nothing prevents a team from adding players for the log stage, but they must revert to the squad registered by early April for the semis and finals.
19 Jun 2012, 20:58 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-267: Sorry for my crude response in the previous post.I give him credit for those 3 super medals because he is a damn good super rugby player.Test rugby,now,is a totally different thing. He has been given 36 chances to prove himself at test level and failed each and everyone of them.For him to come out now and say that he wants to prove himself that he can play at test level,after 36 chances,are simply not acceptable to me as a rugby fan of the Boks.At the end of the day that is only my opinion.I don’t select the team ,so,good luck to him on Saturday.
19 Jun 2012, 20:59 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-281: No, the cut off date was 1 April.
19 Jun 2012, 21:00 pm
Go the Ukraine!!!
19 Jun 2012, 21:00 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-276: yes frans can play the last 2 games but no playoffs!
19 Jun 2012, 21:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-279: Thanks.
19 Jun 2012, 21:04 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-277: Agree. The Juan de Jongh at 12, and Bryan Habana at 13 worked damn well, and our backline looked more threatening than it had all season, without sacrificing anything on the defensive side of things. Juan at 12, Jean at 13 will have the same effect. AND: it seems Jean Div has been rejuvenated in the 13 jersey.
Many people felt Jean should have moved into 13 after returning from his injury in the S15 after the Juan/Bryan experiment was pretty successful. Hopefully this is what Coetzee does now.
In fact, Juan at 12 might just open THE Meyer’s eyes, and put an end to the Oliver chronicles.
19 Jun 2012, 21:04 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-285:
Ukraine!
Wekraine!
We all crane
for Ukraine!
19 Jun 2012, 21:05 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-190:
now ain’t that the unadulterated TRUTH?
They can duck and hide and bullshit behind their multiple medal propaganda but that is the bottom line
Just imagine Wynand Olivier was as melanin enriched as Juan de Jongh.. godt fokkenverdompt .. you wouldn’t here the end of the ‘quota’ standard being sung around the braai bedonnered brigade
36 tests later he is STILL trying to prove to himself and his fanfare he is worthy of green and gold at no.12.. I mean is this bokbevok for REAL ??
This little saga got very little to do with cm and kg.. this has a lot to do with certain other ‘traits’ and they ain’t got all that much to do with player ability neither.
19 Jun 2012, 21:05 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-285:
Can i come with?
19 Jun 2012, 21:09 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-290: I have to agree with you. Wynand Olivier is like licking a bar of soap because you like the smell. The first time you do it as a kid, you quickly learn your lesson.
Its like each coach that comes along has to keep going back to the bar of soap for a lick.
Guys – its always going to taste like soap !!!! He sucks – and we have seen his best. I cannot believe that he is suddenly going to become another Jean De Villiers. Get over him already !
19 Jun 2012, 21:11 pm
@louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-290: Man, you see a racist conspiracy in your morning dump.
19 Jun 2012, 21:13 pm
My biggest observation of the day is…. Mention WO in a blog and all the gitery .hrny bloggers from the cape suddenly get very excited…………..
19 Jun 2012, 21:14 pm
@Stompie till I die!!!!(phil72)-294: Have you finished your homework for tomorrow ? Its a school night isn’t it ? Isn’t it 15 minutes past your bed time ?
19 Jun 2012, 21:14 pm
Stompie it aint on my list of must-do destinations!
19 Jun 2012, 21:15 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-296: Where did Stompie want to go ? To the playground ?
19 Jun 2012, 21:17 pm
Looks like mad eye has found another nic
19 Jun 2012, 21:18 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-288: Let’s hope so, but I’m not sure that AC will conform. It would be like admitting HM knows best. I don’t like HM, but that’s one thing he got right. Maybe AC will be big enough to accept that.
19 Jun 2012, 21:18 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-295:
cmon… that is nasty leave the school boys alone…….. do you have a wife?……must be a capie……….
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