Ready for responsibility
17 Jul 2012
Jean de Villiers has been given the Springbok captaincy until the end of the year and shifted to outside centre. He insists he is up for the challenge.
De Villiers passed his entry exam against England as a No 13 and more pertinently, a captain, but significantly harder tests await. His tenure has started superbly but he will, at some stage, face self-doubt, an intruder he never seemed to be afflicted by before captaincy.
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Complicating his plight is the knowledge that he wasn’t Heyneke Meyer’s first choice for the role. He probably wasn’t even his second or third.
No Springbok captain has operated in these circumstances before – a finite tenure with a coach whose hand has been forced through circumstance. But none have been as equipped to as De Villiers is at this stage of his life.
‘That’s life,’ he shrugs. ‘Maybe things didn’t work out as he planned, but they worked out in my favour. I plan to make my chance count.’
De Villiers goes on to explain why the Bok captaincy has come at the perfect time in his life and why his rugby philosophy doesn’t differ much from the ‘serious thinkers’ of the game like Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez. He also talks about his move to outside centre, what his time for Munster did for him as a player, the Rugby Championship, and his future.
Also in the new issue:
– Willem Alberts‘ physicality is perfectly suited to the Springboks’ game
– While the Test series was won, the Springboks need to focus on what didn’t work against England
– Heyneke Meyer on the England series, Morné Steyn’s struggles, why the All Blacks and Wallabies have an advantage going into the Rugby Championship, and the Baby Boks who excite him
– The All Blacks showed against Ireland why they are the favourites to win the Rugby Championship
– Julian Savea is the latest wing off the Kiwi production line to get his Test career away to a flyer
– The Wallabies go into the Rugby Championship having learned valuable lessons against Wales
– Will Genia has been given the freedom to play his own game for the Wallabies
– In his regular column, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie looks at each Rugby Championship side’s unique approach to the game
– Argentina hope to be competitive, and perhaps sneak a win, in their first Rugby Championship campaign
– Juan Martín Hernández is back in the Pumas squad after a three-year absence
– The Baby Boks dethroned New Zealand to claim their first U20 title
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59 Comments
17 Jul 2012, 06:14 am
JDV dragon.
Will the likes of Coenie Oosthuizen, Burger, Vermeulen, Goosen and Taute be injury-free in time for the Rugby Championship?
And what is happening with Juan Smith? Any news?
17 Jul 2012, 06:17 am
@puff(puff)-1:
i understand Juan’s parole hearing is next month some time…
17 Jul 2012, 06:21 am
Without Coenie, Boks have a problem.
Beast and Jannie are the starting props but Coenie can cover both sides of the scrum off the bench.
Who else can do that effectively and is ready to step up to test level?
People seem to have forgotten about Taute, maybe because he is injured and he has been playing for an underwhelming Lions side.
But the kid is talented and he can cover centre, wing and fullback.
His attacking prowess are admirable and his field kicking is impressive.
His goal kicking isn’t too bad either.
A good utility back option for the Boks moving forward.
17 Jul 2012, 06:24 am
1. Mtawarira 2. Du Plessis 3. Du Plessis 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Kolisi 7. Burger 8. Vermeulen 9. Du Preez 10. Goosen 11. Habana 12. Steyn 13. De Villiers 14. Pieterson 15. Lambie
16. Strauss 17. Oosthuizen 18. Kruger 19. Alberts 20. Hougaard 21. Taute 22. Aplon
The Bok 22 I’d like to see.
17 Jul 2012, 06:27 am
With Greyling, Ralepelle, Van Der Merwe, Brussow, Coetzee, Pienaar, De Jongh, Mvovo, Engelbrecht and Basson also in the mix.
17 Jul 2012, 06:50 am
Jean has a lot of caps. He looked good as a wing playing in JW’s early teams but in my books the best 12 during Jean’s time was Aaron Mauger.
17 Jul 2012, 06:54 am
Jean De Villiers, an unassuming man, humble in many respects, to top it off a gentlemen, these qualities in any person are the cornerstone of a good leader. Now for his players and coaches to get in behind him to make him a great one.
17 Jul 2012, 06:56 am
@3 If I was a sharks supporter I’d be calling for Plumtree to be axed just for shifting Jannie to loosehead vs the cheetahs. Never mind that he didn’t dominate rookie trevor nyakane whilst he was at tighthead. They shift him & he gives away a series of penalties for not binding.
17 Jul 2012, 07:03 am
@puff(puff)-4:
You have forgotten Coetzee?
17 Jul 2012, 07:04 am
heyneke meyer on “and the Baby Boks who excite him”
here we go, more boys will believe the hype & head straight to pretoria for the dosh. heyneke is no longer bulls DoR but he is still doing scouting work for them from SARU towers.
17 Jul 2012, 07:11 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-9:
See post 5.
17 Jul 2012, 07:13 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-10:
Kitshoff
Willemse
Botha
Steph Du Toit
Adendorf
Pollard
Goosen
Serfontein
17 Jul 2012, 07:14 am
3s and 9s, 3s and 9s… Boks need 3s and 9s.
17 Jul 2012, 07:29 am
@puff(puff)-13:
no.4 locks with a deep interest in metaphysics…?…
and no.8′s with gregarious personalities…
17 Jul 2012, 07:34 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-2: what’s that about parole? what happened?
17 Jul 2012, 07:35 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-10:
its a free market for everyone transie, nothing stops the other unions from pursuing players…?..
oh.. thats right.. most of their money goes towards paying their gravy train’ers… so they dont have any…
17 Jul 2012, 07:39 am
@puff(puff)-11:
ok
17 Jul 2012, 07:44 am
@viewer(viewer)-8:
problem with plumtree is he’s a kiwi who’s crossed over and become ‘one of us’ to the durban folk. which is all well and good except it creates an emotional conflict when having to confront a fact about him as a coach…
that he lacks those all important ‘top two inches’… is a medium to average coach who has had mixed results for all of his time at the sharks (cant really call it success, as such) and though the sharks may have squeky bum’ed into a quarter final, a full review of his tenure would/should see him out of contract after all this time.
a squad as strong as the sharks have been for the last few years should never be sliding into finals rugby by their chinny chin chins.
but then it come backs to the emotional conflict…
17 Jul 2012, 07:57 am
Another JDV cover? Schalla will be pissed…..
17 Jul 2012, 08:00 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14:
Nope. 3s and 9s.
17 Jul 2012, 08:06 am
@puff(puff)-20:
disagree
our 4′s need a lot more bite
just doing enough in a game is never enough for a 4, but i do hope etzebeth grows with time as well the other contenders.
and i really would like to see a little more from our 8
17 Jul 2012, 08:13 am
@Galileo 18, so who would you replace Plum with? Agreed he is overrated and only now through your explanation do I understand why he still has a job.
Look@the solid work and results AC has managed to produce depite losing a host of individuals that would’ve caused the Sharks to be fighting for 10th spot!
17 Jul 2012, 08:16 am
@Puff 4: this Love affair people have with starting Lambie@15 bemuses me. He has consistently shown, when playing@15 for Sharks that he doesn’t offer much. So why start with him. He should be back up 10 and we move on with the rest of our lives
17 Jul 2012, 08:19 am
@Papoose(papaown)-22:
i honestly cant say.
venter..?..
or if they have the money, mallet.
17 Jul 2012, 08:20 am
@Papoose(papaown)-22:
ac needs to fix his attack.
super rugby is not test rugby.
17 Jul 2012, 08:32 am
@Galileo 25: as a Bulls supporter I can honestly say no team currently plays the complete game, and no1 else can give the Stormers advice as 1 only has to look@the scoreboard and the Log
17 Jul 2012, 08:33 am
I see there is a free Barney’s Army poster.
That won’t go down well.
17 Jul 2012, 08:35 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-25: No it isn’t but it seems to work just as well, doesn’t it?
17 Jul 2012, 08:36 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-27: Barney for SARU president??
17 Jul 2012, 08:39 am
The Rugby365 team of the week: (Note the 8th man selection)
Team of the Week – Round 18:
15 – Charles Piutau (Blues):
His team may have struggled this season, but this a fast, elusive runner is going to be a menace to opposition teams for many years come.
Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (Crusaders)
14 – JP Pietersen (Sharks):
He was a key element in the Sharks’ second-half revival, especially his high workrate.
Bubbling under: Gio Aplon (Stormers)
13 – Conrad Smith (Hurricanes):
The All Black stalwart again showed his class … a cut above the rest.
Bubbling under: Juan de Jongh (Stormers)
12 – Sonny Bill Williams (Chiefs):
He has always had special skills and has matured as a Rugby Union player this season. He’ll be a big hit in Japan now that the circus moves on.
Bubbling under: Mike Harris (Reds)
11 – Julian Savea (Hurricanes):
You can see why some pundits like to compare him to the great Jonah Lomu. And he will get better with time.
Bubbling under: Napolioni Nalaga (Western Force)
10 – Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes):
Showed why he was part of the All Black squad this year and even though his debut was off the bench, he is likely to start pushing for a starting spot if he continues with his current form.
Bubbling under: Dan Carter (Crusaders)
9 – Francois Hougaard (Bulls):
He is beginning to regain the form that made him such a hit at the World Cup last year, while those box kicks are also far more effective.
Bubbling under: Will Genia (Reds)
8 – Deon Fourie (Stormers):
A hooker, playing at No.8 and performing like and openside flank. Don’t forget his line-out take…
Bubbling under: Scott Higginbotham (Reds)
7 – Marcell Coetzee (Sharks):
His rapid rise up the loose forward rankings is continuing.
Bubbling under: Matt Todd (Crusaders)
6 – Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs):
His influence in the first half, before being replaced by injury at half-time, was why the Cheetahs held a nine-point lead. His absence gave the Sharks the freedom they required and showed exactly how important he is to the Cheetahs’ cause.
Bubbling under: Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
5 – Juandre Kruger (Bulls):
He provides so much more than just being a line-out leader – with ball in hand and at the breakdown he is a key factor for the Bulls.
Bubbling under: Andries Bekker (Stormers)
4 – Luke Romano (Crusaders):
He is going to be an establishment in New Zealand’s black for years to come – the new rock of the pack.
Bubbling under: Liaki Moli (Blues)
3 – Jacobie Adriaanse (Lions):
He has grown in stature this year, one of several former Stellenbosch players in a Lions team that made the Bulls work hard for their money.
Bubbling under: Ben Tameifuna (Chiefs)
2 – Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
The livewire hooker is probably not as abrasive as some of his rivals, but his workrate more than makes up for whatever he may lack in the physical exchanges.
Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1 – JC Janse van Rensburg (Lions):
He seriously dented a Springbok’s reputation and enhanced his own. He certainly won’t disgrace the national team.
Bubbling under: Reg Goodes (Hurricanes)
17 Jul 2012, 08:39 am
@Papoose(papaown)-26:
all will be revealed soon.
but sure, i give them their due.
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-29:
he might make a good coach, who knows..?..
17 Jul 2012, 08:41 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-29:
He has the gravitas certainly.
Unfortunately for the Camps Bay Speedo Appreciation Society I don’t think the Namibian issue has the poster.
17 Jul 2012, 08:43 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-32:
17 Jul 2012, 08:49 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-16:
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-28: every time the show ac and fleckie they seem to be kakking themselves in that coaching box meanwhile it is them that coach the team to play with a defensive mindset.
17 Jul 2012, 08:50 am
@galileo, roundness, union, coach…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-16: what are gravy train’ers?
you must have it in your mind that the bulls president “works” for free
17 Jul 2012, 08:52 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-34: They are just effusive people.
Do you remember Ian Mac with his crazy eyes? If anyone could looked freaked out it was him.
17 Jul 2012, 08:52 am
@puff(puff)-1: Man I hope Taute is fit, with Fransie slotting in nicely at 12 i would play Lambie at 10 and Taute at 15.
17 Jul 2012, 09:01 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-35:
He is talking about Thelo.
Who fell into the gravy cauldron when he was a baby.
17 Jul 2012, 09:09 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-38:
Administritive Ineptanix?
17 Jul 2012, 09:12 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-35:
please give me one of those ‘rolling eyes in disbelief smileys’ transie.
i would like to use it on you…
right about now…
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-38:
he knows well what i am talking about.
compared to the bbc the wprugby pty ltd/marc group is as gravy trainish as the western province rugby union… which incidentally is very, very gravy trainish…
17 Jul 2012, 09:16 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-39:
No.
Transformationtrix.
17 Jul 2012, 09:17 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-39:
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-38:
special powers are the ability to eat his way through multiple course meals, just like the gaul.
only he doesn’t fight as well, rather is very handy with a chequebook when paying for weekend stays at sun international.
17 Jul 2012, 09:23 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-41:
Oh dear thats funny.
17 Jul 2012, 09:36 am
Thelo Wakefield is at least an improvement on Tobie Titus.
At least Thelo has passion for Western Province rugby and seems to (mostly) place rugby interests before political ambitions.
17 Jul 2012, 09:39 am
But surely HG knows better than Meyer, and ALL the other super rugby coaches, plus international coaches, who all rate JDV very highly?
Wait, no he doesnt.
He is someone who has been wrong in his predictions every single week of the super comp, except for the one game where the Shraks held out in Durbs for a victory.
And now it seems he is wrong about JDV as well?
Oh well, I’m sure a few HOOHAs and BOOM’s will fix things up. Barring that, maybe a few explanations of how he likes to be pleasured by women, because you just wouldnt believe how relevant that info is to a rugby blog.
17 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
@Papoose(papaown)-23:
Ja, Lambie is a 10 (and probs the best 10 in SA until Goosen comes back).
People must deal with it.
17 Jul 2012, 13:02 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-46:
agree and have been saying that since pre-season…
17 Jul 2012, 13:04 pm
It’s funny how some of us have just conveniently forgotten the farce of the third test against England.
I would not say JDV’s “tenure has started superbly”. It has started OK, but that’s it.
Or are we satisfied with mediocrity, again?
17 Jul 2012, 13:18 pm
@willievz(willievz)-48:
true…
17 Jul 2012, 14:14 pm
@willievz(willievz)-48: i don’t care if He-Man or Chris Hani was captaining the Boks in PE, when the coach picks boneheads like jaque potgieter the result will be mediocre!
17 Jul 2012, 14:16 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-50: And Bjorn Basson on the bench.
How many minutes did he play? And Jantjies?
We effectively played the PE test with 20 players rather than 22.
17 Jul 2012, 15:08 pm
@willievz(willievz)-51: none of those are jdv’s calls to make, by the way
17 Jul 2012, 15:58 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-52: I didn’t say they were.
17 Jul 2012, 16:31 pm
When JDVs Bokke get pumped twice by the black machine this year they’ll be calling for his head.
17 Jul 2012, 16:46 pm
My biggest worry is that JDV is already 31.
How many years does he have left?
Who is next in line?
I guess Jaque Fourie will still be young enuff when he finished in Japan, but still, outside of JDV/JF i can’t see anyone who can make the step up to 13!!
12 is ok with F Steyn and Wynand Olivier. JDJongh will be next in line
17 Jul 2012, 16:51 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-55: Britney Spies.
17 Jul 2012, 17:01 pm
trans – I wouldn’t mind seeing SPies back on the wing where he started, would make a strong runner. Not too sure about 13.
17 Jul 2012, 17:11 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-57: I often wonder if he should move back to winger.
If anything, his experience as a nr8 would assist his wing play, just like his wing play would have assited his nr8 play in his formative years.
The running lines for the two positions are not that different, particularly on cover defense.
Is he any good under the high ball?
18 Jul 2012, 00:43 am
1.Beast
2.Bismark
3.Jannie
4.Etzebeth
5.Kruger
6.Brussow
7.Burger(c)
8.Alberts
9.Hougaard
10.Goosen
11.Habana
12.Steyn
13.De Jongh
14.JPP
15.Aplon
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