‘Andries must make his mark’
14 Aug 2012
Springbok forwards coach Johann van Graan says the time has come for Andries Bekker to establish himself as the world-class lock he has the potential to be.
Bekker debuted for the Springboks in 2008 and was soon being touted as the natural successor to the mercurial Victor Matfield. Indeed he pushed Matfield hard in 2009 and 2010, but was never able to consistently dominate him, the veteran schooling his student in their most high-profile encounters.
Matfield would always speak of Bekker’s technical ability in glowing terms, but privately he always felt he had an advantage over him mentally. Matfield would seldom be found wanting under the sternest examination. Bekker, it is felt within Springbok coaching circles, lacks the mental toughness to match his appreciable technical skill.
Certainly a now chronic back injury and an all too public breakdown of his marriage have contributed to his stuttering ascent, but his capacity to deal with the highest pressure situations remains the biggest stumbling block to him moving out of the shadow the retired Matfield still casts.
Van Graan worked closely with Matfield at the Bulls for nearly a decade and was his right-hand man in many of the late nights spent dissecting the opposition’s lineouts and formulating plans to engineer their demise in this facet of play. He is among those best placed to make the comparison between the two. He intimated that Bekker still has some way to travel in his journey to Matfield’s standard and suggested that this is a defining period in his Test career.
‘Victor was a once in a lifetime player. He brought new things to the lineout and his record speaks for itself,’ Van Graan told keo.co.za. ‘I think the 2010 Super Rugby final in Orlando at that stage pitted the two best lineout jumpers in the game against each other. Andries has had some injuries since. Now it’s time for him to make his mark.’
He did, however, make no secret of his admiration for Bekker, who is likely to start against Argentina at Newlands on Saturday and, fitness permitting, retain the jersey for the remainder of the tournament.
‘Andries brings experience and stability. Credit must got to Juandré Kruger who ran the lineout well against England in a short time. Andries in 2010 and 2011 showed his potential to become one of the great locks of all time. I haven’t worked with him a lot but I’ve been very impressed. He is extremely tall which is a self-evident benefit, he understands the workings of lineouts and as a technical decision maker he has come to the fore. There’s good competition between him and Juandré which is a good thing, as is the fact that they’ve both been under Victor’s wing at different stages of their careers.’
Bekker alone can shape his Test career. Keo.co.za understands that he continues to be hampered by his back ailment and is far from confident in his ability to stay injury-free for an extended period. This has seen him consider cashing in on the limited time he may have left before the injury worsens to the point of forcing his retirement, by taking up one of a number of lucrative offers available to him to play abroad.
The Stormers and Springboks’ medical staff have tailored a programme that seeks to circumvent the triggers for his breakdowns. This, they hope, will give him longevity. They’ve panelbeated his body and I suspect the success or failure thereof will have a telling effect on his mental strength.
As a starting point he needs an extended run of games without suffering a recurrence of the injury. From there he will be better placed to make the mark Van Graan hopes he will.
By Ryan Vrede, in Cape Town
88 Comments
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14 Aug 2012, 14:12 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-29: I assume Deans was the NSW coach as he is so biased. I mean they finished well below the Bulls on the log.7 Waratahs in that team.
14 Aug 2012, 14:12 pm
@xtremebull-49:
Plum has confirmed he will be the Sharks long term 10.
14 Aug 2012, 14:13 pm
Stormers team announced.
Six changes
14 Aug 2012, 14:14 pm
@Horings-51: Yes interesting selections.
14 Aug 2012, 14:15 pm
The DHL Western Province team to take on GWK Griquas is as follows:
15. Gio Aplon; 14. Gerhard van den Heever; 13. JP du Plessis; 12. Marcel Brache (vice-captain); 11. Ederies Arendse*; 10. Demetri Catrakilis; 9. Louis Schreuder; 8. Duane Vermeulen; 7. Tyrone Holmes; 6. Deon Fourie (captain); 5. De Kock Steenkamp; 4. Don Armand; 3. Frans Malherbe; 2. Tiaan Liebenberg; 1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16. Siyabonga Ntubeni; 17. Brok Harris; 18. Wilhelm van der Sluys*; 19. Jebb Sinclair; 20. Nic Groom; 21. Kurt Coleman*; 22. Damian de Allende*
* On Absa Currie Cup debut for DHL Western Province.
14 Aug 2012, 14:17 pm
@Sasuke-53: Tough one against Griquas! After that it is Lions in Johannesburg. WP will probably go 0 from 3.
14 Aug 2012, 14:19 pm
@Horings-51: Huh!@Sasuke-53: Huh!
14 Aug 2012, 14:20 pm
@Horings-56: Will be tough but i think we will pull through. After last weekend the guys got a wake up. Alister dropped the players who didnt perform Joe and Dewaldt. JP Du Plessis should also be dropped. He was poor.
14 Aug 2012, 14:24 pm
@Sasuke-58: I should change “probably” with “hopefully” in “WP will probably go 0 from 3″
14 Aug 2012, 14:26 pm
@Horings-59: lol
14 Aug 2012, 14:26 pm
@Sasuke-55:
yeah…
that now looks a helluva lot better… though still gonna be a helluva tough game in kimberley…
pleased to see ederies getting an opportunity… like the guy…
also good to see nic on the bench…
pity that rynhardt’s still not fit… we need him against these tough kimberlites…
14 Aug 2012, 14:30 pm
@ufo-61: Havent seen much of Ederies? What did you think of JP du Plessis?
Yes we need Elstadt desperately.
14 Aug 2012, 14:36 pm
@cane-41: No. It’s just implied now.
14 Aug 2012, 14:39 pm
@Sasuke-62:
ederies quite quick and runs ‘hard’… very enthusiastic… doesn’t just fall over on contact and will have to be tackled with intent every time… so will keep defense committed… is also quite good defensively too…
(now i hope he doesn’t let me down…)
i like jp… but decided not to comment on individuals too much after saturdays game… no one really shone so unfair to pick out any individual for criticism… hopefully was just a bad hangover from the bad loss to the sharks… we shall see…
but will still be surprised if we win in kimberley… these guys are gonna have to come together as a cohesive unit from the whistle otherwise we will definitely lose…
would have preferred to start with the more gritty groom for this game…
will back the guys 100s… but won’t expect too much…
14 Aug 2012, 14:48 pm
@Sasuke-55: Feel sorry for Dobson in all this again. As usual our injuries in the senior team mean our U/21′s lose a few of their key players (vd Sluys in particular). Not an ideal situation as per usual for us.
@Sasuke-62: Ederies is the chap who played in one of the Stormers pre season warm ups. If I’m not mistaken he is the fellow who travelled for 3 hours using taxis etc to get to practice. As I said when I heard this at the time, ANYONE who is prepared to go to such lengths to do what he loves – already has the mental strength and heart to succeed. If it is him (Ederies, from SK Walmers who trained with the Stormers squad pre season) I wish him all the best, and then some.
14 Aug 2012, 14:53 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-65: This to me is one of the biggest gripes with some players!
Joe Pietersen did not look commited at all last week.. neither did some of the forwards… But not being able to reclaim a kick off or kicking out directly is to my mind a coaching thing… there should be hell come Monday should you kick out directly or misfield a kick off!! Simple!!
14 Aug 2012, 14:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-65:
great story pedigree… thanks… didn’t know that…
which would explain his enthusiasm… obviously doesn’t take anything for granted…
very likable guy as i said… but just jumped up 10 rungs on my respect ladder…
will root for him even more now…
14 Aug 2012, 15:23 pm
“Springbok forwards coach Johann van Graan…”
What is this man’s credentials? Is there any relation to Barend van Graan?
14 Aug 2012, 15:33 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-65: Great committment from him. Eager to see him play. Jongi Nokwe also use to travel by taxi to practice when he played for Boland.
14 Aug 2012, 15:40 pm
@nama1-68: He is quite young but is a whizz with analysis programmes and he is an innovative coach who thinks outside the box. Not sure if he is related to Barend.
14 Aug 2012, 15:46 pm
@Sasuke-70:
OK, thanks.
14 Aug 2012, 15:48 pm
@Provvas-66: Agree. I can understand players are gutted when they don’t make the Bok squad, or they lose a home semi final etc etc, but when they start showing ZERO heart for the game, time for them to take a royal tumble IMHO.
@ufo-67: Indeed. A player like this is always worth 10 of any other. I will be rooting for him as well.
14 Aug 2012, 15:52 pm
Outstanding player. Contrary to the opinions expressed here he is in fact an 80 minute player. The issue is he is overplayed by the Stormers.
With Bismarck throwing in there will be no problems at lineout. I’m looking forward to seeing this overdue partnership.
14 Aug 2012, 15:53 pm
@Sasuke-70: @nama1-71:
Barend van Graan is Johan’s FATHER
14 Aug 2012, 16:00 pm
@Provvas-66:
AC is scared if hell comes on a Monday the players will fire him ala John Mitchel!
14 Aug 2012, 16:00 pm
@mshiniwami-74: So my perception that the Bulls + Meyer = The Illuminati is correct
From what most heard, Victor coached the forwards, not van Graan. And I await the entrance, stage left, of soprano Taccy to tell me otherwise.
14 Aug 2012, 16:14 pm
@mshiniwami-74:
Oh really?
Thanks.
What is his rugby pedigree? Did he play at any level?
14 Aug 2012, 16:27 pm
@Sasuke-55: The most painful part is that for as long as Duvenage is first choice scrummy for Stormers/WP, will not win anything, this is not a fresh opinion, I have been saying it see the anti-Januarie brigade won and Duvenage literally lost us the 2 finals in 2010.
14 Aug 2012, 16:27 pm
Bekker – when on song – is easily the best lock in world rugby. Two seasons ago nobody could live with him. Supreme athlete. Whereas Matfield was a good lineout jumper who stayed clear of the rough stuff – Bekker possesses all the qualities. Pity about his injury woes. Hope he stays injury free now.
14 Aug 2012, 16:57 pm
Started to have reservations about Bekker in semi final.
Brok harris had no shove behind him from Bekkker.Monstered by
Beast .Is he still injured or gunshy of a recurrence.?
Good post by the Brig.What a luxury to have Bakkies,Victor,Danie,Juan.
See nobody on immediate horizon who compares.Oh,and Schalk and
the now out of favour Heinrich.
14 Aug 2012, 17:33 pm
A Heyneke 101 – the boy van graan is his ticket back into the Bulls, if things go wrong at the boks.
14 Aug 2012, 17:48 pm
Bekker needs to get his *** into gear no doubt. He has been disappointing.
14 Aug 2012, 17:55 pm
If Bekker can overcome his injury problems he will definitely become a better player than Matfield.Matfield was in all essence a lazy player and doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as all the great locks of world rugby.
14 Aug 2012, 18:18 pm
I wouldn’t say Matfield wasn’t great but lots of players in the Bulls pack carried him by sharing the workload, allowing him to “hang gat”. Bakkies work ethic was amazing and he allowed Matfield lots of scope on field. He is the greatest lineout jumper ever to grace a rugby field though.
14 Aug 2012, 23:48 pm
W.P
That’s why it is a team sport. Players compliment each other and hopefully allows each member of the team to shine.
Vic is a legend.
14 Aug 2012, 23:51 pm
Bekker must just get his attitude right and realize that he can’t bully others just because he is big. HM won’t take that and neither will a couple of guys in the squad.
15 Aug 2012, 06:30 am
In what way was Matfield ever ‘mercurial’?
15 Aug 2012, 07:10 am
Victor has no peer as tactician in the lineout. Great sense of anticipation. His general play was average though.
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