Don’t kill a potentially golden Goose
17 Sep 2012
RYAN VREDE writes Johan Goosen is the brightest Test flyhalf prospect to emerge since Henry Honiball but he is still raw and must be judged accordingly.
I don’t share the same certainty about Johan Goosen that many others seem to. I simply haven’t seen enough of him at Test level to make such an absolute judgement. I have, however, been impressed with his cameos against Australia and New Zealand in the last fortnight and sense that he is a special player.
I wrote last week that I didn’t agree with Meyer’s faith in Morne Steyn, faith later proven to be misplaced as Steyn capitulated under the pressure to save his Test career in Dunedin. Yet I understood Meyer’s reservations about starting Goosen off the back of a lengthy injury and against the world champions in their back yard.
Now there can be no reason offered for Steyn’s retention that will satisfy sufficiently. Goosen must start in the remaining fixtures.
As South Africans our desperation to see a flyhalf that inspires has peaked. Honiball set an imposing standard, particularly during the Springboks’ period of dominance in the late 1990s. A punishing defender and an attacker with a broad repertoire, Honiball has for years been the benchmark for South African 10s. But we’ve expected a ready-made Honiball, this when the man was himself refined in the Test cauldron. Time was that refiner and time will be so for Goosen.
We must resist the poisonous habit of dismissing the aptitude of our best young talent if they struggle in their formative period. Test rugby is result-driven, of course, but the potential of some players demands our patience, with a view to a long term gain from them. Goosen is undoubtedly one such player.
He may well make the transition from Super Rugby to Tests with the ease that, say, Frans Steyn did. His temperament appears to be excellent, which is vital to success, while he has good all-round technique and an X-factor.
But he may not enjoy as comfortable a start as Steyn did. Furthermore, his success is not entirely in his control (much depends on the platform he is serviced with). He may struggle to meet the unique demands of the game and may yet be adversely affected by the pressure and expectation associated with steering the Springboks’ ship.
If we agree with the premise that Goosen shows immense promise, then it is important that we temper our expectations of him. I’m not suggesting that we tolerate mediocrity, only that we show an appreciation for the growing pains that accompany his elevation into the most high pressure position in the game.
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160 Comments
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17 Sep 2012, 12:03 pm
@thegreenman_sa-148: yeah I know they’re sensitive, but also arrogant grandstanders at times too
so it doesn’t hurt the odd time to let them know they’re not quite as good as they like to tell everyone.
Despite the result for SA, their last match was a step forward for Meyer, whatever anyone thinks about his gameplan a new coach always deserves some time to get it right.
17 Sep 2012, 12:11 pm
Details Played Won By NZ Won by England Drawn NZ points England points
In England 21 16 4 1 395 240
In NZ 12 10 2 0 370 155
Neutral venue 1 1 0 0 45 29
Overall 34 27 6 1 810 424
wasnt your best team on 27 occassions was it Big Hit?
17 Sep 2012, 12:15 pm
@Big Hit-151:
Dont do the poor ole Big Hit.
Only the people that have been on here for years know excatly what you are like.
You sure suckered The greenman into the ole tongue and cheek.
But we dont buy one bit of it.
For the record, if i thought we were all that good,why did i say on here the Boks were going to win on Saturday?
Once again you talk rubbish,plain and simple.
17 Sep 2012, 14:07 pm
@Hurricane-153: Nobody being suckered into anything
I could not care less whether or not it’s tongue in cheek. Either way my point stands.
17 Sep 2012, 16:28 pm
@NZINCHINA-96: Lighten up pal.
The whole of SA condemns what he did.JJ said in jest.
17 Sep 2012, 16:41 pm
@Big Hit-151: biggy don’t let these kiwis get you all the moer in – they are going down for the count at soccer city. Bet on it
18 Sep 2012, 02:33 am
I wouldnt call M Steyn useless, the guy has saved the Springboks on many occations. He is just not inform, overplayed. I am sure he would be happy to have the home leg with him spending time with his new child, any person would.
So to be left out for the home leg wouldnt be a bad thing for him.
Goosen, may be the “golden egg” and i agree, at test level we have seen diddly squot to make an assessment on him yet. I think Lambie should start on the home leg and let goosen warm the bench, as lambie has a wee bit more experience. The backline coach did say, a while back that lambie is a flyhalf.
Its amasing, reporters build these kids up to levels so high that when they dont reach these levels its a catastrophe. ONe thing I dont get is why we compare and group players with previous greats? Whats the point? Only to be disapointed. I mean why campare a kid to Honey balls when Goosen is a person who is uniquely different like everyone else?
Why say somebody is the next Matfield or Botha etc?
Does the person not want to be who they are than some chap in history?
Are they to stupid to be themselves…
18 Sep 2012, 02:59 am
@Greenies-157: The backline coach said Lambie should be regarded as a 10 but Heyneke said recently that he should play 15. Whichever is the case, I feel for Lambie. During the last 320 minutes of test rugby he was given 15 minutes in total !!! If HM does not want to pick him, send him to the Sharks to get some time on the park.
HM said on SABC2 last night that the criticism of Zane Kirchener was unfair. The interview was in Afrikaans and therefore he was not misqouted or misunderstood etc. According to HM, Zane had a few solid performances: this indicates to me that Lambie will not be picked in the starting line-up (once again !!)
18 Sep 2012, 09:28 am
@RL-156:
Well I wouldn’t recommend you or anyone betting their house on a win, but for sure, beating South Africa at home is a big ask for the AB’s.
Not as much as it is for the reverse, but pretty close.
18 Sep 2012, 15:49 pm
PETITION AGAINST MORNE
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