Os backs Coenie’s tighthead switch
19 Sep 2012
Os du Randt says Coenie Oosthuizen’s transition from loosehead to tighthead prop will be good for the player and the Springboks.
Oosthuizen will make his comeback from a serious neck injury when the Free State Cheetahs take on the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. He has been out of action since hurting himself during the Springboks’ June Test series against England.
His return will see him feature at tighthead prop, a position he has hardly played in during his professional career. He has predominantly been selected at loosehead since making his senior debut in 2008.
Bok head coach Heyneke Meyer sent an SOS to Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske to give the player an extended run in the No 3 jersey during the Currie Cup as it’s a position South Africa lacks depth in at Test level.
Following the departure of Cheetahs tighthead prop WP Nel to Scottish club Edinburgh after Super Rugby, Oosthuizen will have the opportunity to do so.
Cheetahs scrum coach Du Randt believes a successful positional switch will have major benefits.
‘Coenie’s transition from loosehead to tighthead prop was always on the cards,’ Du Randt told keo.co.za. ‘It’s a position he played in at school level. With WP Nel gone, the Cheetahs need a long-term replacement there too.
‘First of all, it will help prevent future neck injuries. At tighthead, you scrum with both shoulders and that offers you more support. At loosehead, you only scrum with your left shoulder. So if something goes wrong, it’s easier to get hurt.
‘If Coenie can can make a big impact during this switch, it will be a massive boon for the Springboks and Cheetahs,’ he continued. ‘It’s usually the loosehead prop that has a high work-rate. But with Coenie at tighthead, we will see both props all over the park.’
Du Randt added that Oosthuizen’s return to the Free State match-day squad is a much-needed boost following the Bloemfontein union’s poor start to the Currie Cup. Free State are currently in second-last place on the log after losing four of their six fixtures.
With the Bulls also struggling at the foot of the table with the same league record, this will be a must-win clash for both teams.
‘Coenie’s presence will lift the spirits in the squad. He’s the kind of character who always motivates his team-mates and leads from the front,’ said Du Randt. ‘With his strong ball-carrying ability and his solid defence, he’ll offer us a lot in the forwards battle.’
By Gareth Duncan
145 Comments
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19 Sep 2012, 09:42 am
@brains_trust-3: Brok Harris aaaag fok ou maat waar was jy die hele jaar. Brok is die hondkakste in die land. Verander jou nic onmiddelik
19 Sep 2012, 09:42 am
@goodstuff-37:
again I disagree…..
until the sharks game at the tank, the bulls didn’t lose a game by more than 7 points. Werner Kruger has played nearly 80 superrugby games on the bounce without injury. And picked up 2 winners medals in that time. He’s had to scrum against everyone.
Whilst I do not believe he should be a starting bok 3 I do not believe he is as bad as everyone makes out.
In fact, the much vaunted cheetahs frontrow as well as brussow got drilled a proper newarsehole by the bulls pack in bloemfontein.
and that was greyling vs nel and kruger vs coenie and straaus vs chilli.
All 3 cheetahs you would have no problem with starting for the boks but the bulls you would?
and then throw in brussow and goosen….? Willie le roux,etc
Seriously? how can all those “must be boks” get drilled by 50 odd points by the superkak bulls?
Personally, a lot of Bulls players are way off form at the moment, no doubt about it.
But to suddenly label them all rubbish forever is superstupid.
19 Sep 2012, 09:42 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-40: Greyling shoild start scrumming properly – once he struggles against his opponent, his head goes to the side of the opposing tighthead: all the power from the lock behind him is therefore going “outwards” of the scrum in stead of forward
19 Sep 2012, 09:44 am
@CharlesM-53: should
19 Sep 2012, 09:45 am
@CharlesM-53: Finally someone who pays attention at scrum time. You play in the front row?
19 Sep 2012, 09:48 am
Heyneke said before the overseas leg of the competition that he will decide whether the players have the mental capabilities and BMT after this tour. By this criteria Greyling should not feature for the Boks in the future.
Regarding the penalty stats, Greyling and Kruger was penalised in the scrums more than anything. Coenie is penalised on the ground and a front row with Bismark, Coenie and then also Louw on openside will be exceptional. The only problem with Coenie moving to tighthead is his overall workrate will suffer because of it, but he will make one hell of an impact player.
19 Sep 2012, 09:50 am
@Horings-56: Well put. 100% agree.
19 Sep 2012, 10:03 am
@Transformation-50:
we’ll see……
withregards to Freuen, his name does come up for debate though come selection time does it not.
Withregards to the Bulls, I just wonder how how all the test quality players get beaten by the non test quality players at superrugby level. Particularly by the Bulls whom nobody rates.
Hell, until last weekend nobody rated Flip as a test quality player but he turned in a tiptop performance against the toughest opposition at the toughest test venue.
For me, a prerequisite to be “test quality” in almost every instance…..is size and strengh. Beyond that, then a player has to show off his specific skills.
Of course there are exceptions to the rule but those are few and far between.
so basically, a big strong bloke is always in with a shot but he has to turn in performances and show his skills.
19 Sep 2012, 10:09 am
@CharlesM-53: Interesting stuff .. so whom do you rate in SA or UK for the Boks ?
19 Sep 2012, 10:10 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-52: whoaaaa hold your horse brigs
“In fact, the much vaunted cheetahs frontrow as well as brussow got drilled a proper newarsehole by the bulls pack in bloemfontein.
and that was greyling vs nel and kruger vs coenie and straaus vs chilli”
1stly coenie didn’t play in that game, trevor nyakane was the loosehead prop for cheetahs with lourens aadrianse as reserve prop.
2ndly the fact that the bulls won by a moerse score doesn’t mean the cheetahs pack got drukked by the bulls.
3rdly dean greyling finished the match with 4 penalties against him, made 7 tackles missed 3
heyneke shouldn’t have picked the man!
19 Sep 2012, 10:12 am
@Doughnut-59: as Prop
19 Sep 2012, 10:18 am
@CharlesM-53:
look, I agree that both bulls props aren’t particularly great scrummagers. But they do have great work rates around the park and until this season the bulls frontrow unit has always been good enough to secure setpiece ball. Basically that is all the ozziesever offer frontrow wise internationally and we’ve lost 6 on the bounce against them.
For the record, the sharks frontrow combo is the best we have to offer at the minute with coenie playing from the bench and in hindsite it would have been good to get steenkamp back.
19 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
@Transformation-60: Who should he have picked? The only one I can think of is Kitchoff, but he is also only 20 years old. Big future, but not ready yet. Greyling also have not played a 30min for the Bulls like he did against the All Blacks. Meyer now knows his mental strength and going forward he should not be picked, but he deserved his call up as the 4th best loosehead in the country.
19 Sep 2012, 10:25 am
@stormersboy-55: Yes at hooker@Doughnut-59: At the moment we’re quite “thin”: I know the Beast hasn’t produced the goods as we got used to him in the past, but I’ll still pick him. Next best is Gurthro IMO. I’ll pick Kitshoff in the extended squad as loosehead cover. At this stage HM probably thinks he (Kitshoff) should play CC because Jannie DuP can cover loosehead as well. Kitshoff will get his opportunity – maybe at the end of year tour. Everybody complained about Malherbe being inexperienced but he’ll be a valuable player within a year or 2. I rate Coenie quite highly but I’m concerned about his neck: if HM pushes him too soon, he might get injured again. Why not let him progress in the Currie Cup and take him to Europe at the end of the year. Pat Cilliers is not the total product yet but he is getting there. JC Janse v R has impressed me quite a lot as well. Overseas I’ve mentioned Gurthro but Mujati can add some real value. It seems however that he doesn’t want to come back to SA. Werner Kruger’s form is really disappointing IMO and I’ll never pick him
19 Sep 2012, 10:25 am
@Horings-63: hey, he picked marcell who is also 20 over brussow who is even LESS of a penalty machine than greyling!
so kitshoff i say, the all blacks had charlie famuina on the bench and he is young
what is good for the goose…
19 Sep 2012, 10:27 am
@Horings-63: as i just said to brigz, greyling left the match against the cheetahs with 4 penalties, the guy is HUGE liability!
19 Sep 2012, 10:28 am
@Transformation-60:
okay Transie…now you are just nuts.
this is the Bulls we are talking about, they only EVER druk sides off the back of powerful forward displays which leads to a varied backline display. Everyone know s this.
The Cheethahs taking 60 upthchoogter was not off the back of a mesmerizing backline display by the bulls.
19 Sep 2012, 10:29 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-62: I think the value of Chilliboy has been overlooked. He does his basics quite well. He was not manged well as a youngster but he is slowly getting back to his best. Any idea when he’ll be available again ? Liebenberg IMO is not of international quality. With Adiaan S and Chilliboy we still have 2 good hookers but then there is a gap, quality wise, between them and the rest like Liebenberg and Burden. I would have liked to see a bit of Burden against the Aussies
19 Sep 2012, 10:29 am
@Transformation-60:
Don’t mess with the fetcher!!!
19 Sep 2012, 10:30 am
@CharlesM-68: managed; Adriaan (my spelling !!)
19 Sep 2012, 10:30 am
Foreign commentators have had no problem in picking up on the “Beast” nickname. Do you think they’ll also warm to “Doodpoes”?
19 Sep 2012, 10:31 am
@Transformation-66:
this I would say is an excellent example of stats distorting the fact that Greyling played a great game bulling the cheetahs off the ball.
19 Sep 2012, 10:35 am
@CharlesM-68:
chilli needs to become more “hardnosed’ but he had his best season to date.
not sure when he’ll be back.
Gary Botha is still sorely missed with the bulls and along with guthro bought a no nonse hard edge to our previous packs.
19 Sep 2012, 10:35 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-62: Yeah that will look a lot healthier, Beast/Gurthro as loosehead options and Jannie/Coenie as TH options. It’s just a really big ask of Coenie, making the switch is probably the hardest positional switch in rugby…I hope he can do it.
19 Sep 2012, 10:36 am
@Transformation-66: Sort of agree with you, but like I said it is not as if Greyling is 1st choice. I like Kitchoff, but prop is a bit different than loose forward. Some loosies I believe peak before they turn 25 and Goosen is a rare case, but then again if the ABs pick someone that young at prop why should we hesitate. Other side of the argument is that the Boks are full of youngster, while Famuina is one youngster in a pack full of experience. Then again Greyling is not that much more experienced that Kitchoff.
Point is not a clear cut selection error by Heyneke!
19 Sep 2012, 10:39 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-73: The Gary Botha of 2007. He was a Loftus legend (in my opinion), but he was very poor in his last season or so.
19 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
and none make issue of that pie-chucker Liebenberg who just watched the game go by for a few minutes.
Give me Greylings attitude over his anyday, at least he tried to get involved and get his hands on the ball.
19 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
@Skeppie-74: I take your point but Coenie actually switched from TH to LH after under 19 level. At least he played a lot of his rugby (albeit at junior level) at TH
19 Sep 2012, 10:42 am
@Horings-75: HM was correct not to select Kitshoff, throwing a 20 year old into his first test in an already struggling pack in Dunedin is silly. Goosen is maybe one thing but asking a 20 year old in the conditions above to make his test debut is irresponsible. I agree Greyling was a bad call but not Kitshoff either. IMO Janse van Rensburg should have played that test. Kitshoff is one we need to groom to take over from Beast and when he does we need 10 years from him.
19 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
@CharlesM-78: I guess I have just seen too many looseheads fail when they have tried, I really hope he can do it as he is a quality player. Like you say at least he has some junior experience at TH.
19 Sep 2012, 10:47 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-77: I could hear in the one lineout, Bekker told the rest of the forwards in the shortened lineout (in Afrikaans) very loudly, that they should walk back a long way (“vêr”). Liebenberg’s throw was taken easily by Whitelock because the throw was way too short: one of the reasons I don’t rate Liebenberg as an international player.
In his defence I have to say this: in the previous test when Liebenberg has just come onto the park, Kruger made a call to the back of the lineout, which was thrown too short: we have to bear in mind that he was on the bench for about an hour and a half (if you add the break) and to expect a hooker to be spot on at the back of the lineout is a tall order. Make the call in front and let the hooker settle. Bekker was often guitly of doing that in the S15 as well. The first lineout was called to the back of the lineout – I know they are professionals but let them settle first IMO
19 Sep 2012, 10:48 am
@Skeppie-80: Fair point – HM should manage him carefully
19 Sep 2012, 10:52 am
I have to go – talk soon
19 Sep 2012, 10:58 am
I dream of the day the springbok front row will be, 1 Beast, 2 Chilliboy and Mujati at 3. I know it will never happen but if it did it would be awesome for the game of rugga in our country
19 Sep 2012, 11:06 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-72: hehehehe in the the famous words of Barry “the Baptist” mcguyver greyling “is fookin liability”
deal with it.
19 Sep 2012, 11:08 am
@Horings-75: then the case of scrum penalties conceded BLOWS the greyling argument out of the water, as kitshoff is a better scrummager than mcguyver!
19 Sep 2012, 11:09 am
Brigadier
Still waiting your opinion on Morne.
Thanks.
19 Sep 2012, 11:21 am
@Masa Govile 7-84:
Why would it be great for the game of rugga in SA?
And you do know that mujati is not eligible to play for SA?
19 Sep 2012, 11:26 am
@Transformation-86:
Kitshoff didn’t scrum that good against the Juniors in the WC.
19 Sep 2012, 11:27 am
@Transformation-86: I think long term Kitshoff will be the man, I mean the Bulls were throwing money at him when he was still in school, they rated him so highly. Province were paying him a salary just to keep him here, and he hadn’t even finished Matric yet.
If he’d taken their offer Greyling would be carrying tackle bags for the season.
19 Sep 2012, 11:30 am
@Mr Black-89: He wasn’t bad, we battled more on the right hand side of the scrum during the JWC
19 Sep 2012, 11:32 am
@Mr Black-89: @stormersboy-90: look i agree stephen is a boytjie, that said, the plonker greyling shouldn’t have been there. he is a kak scrummager plus a useless plonker on the field who still think being a dom hardegat doos is the way to be on the field…
19 Sep 2012, 11:44 am
Funny how all discussions about looseheads exclude mentioning JC Janse Van Rensburg….
19 Sep 2012, 11:49 am
@Transformation-92: Agreed. Plonker he is.
@willievz-93: Not true, he’s been mentioned several times this morning. I’d have him in a heartbeat ahead of Greyling.
19 Sep 2012, 11:52 am
@Transformation-92: forget the fact that he cannot scrum or does zero but run around crashing into bodies doing jackshit – he has mental strenght just like Potgieter and Morne.
MENTAL STRENGTH.
19 Sep 2012, 11:52 am
I am worried about starting Johan Goosen so soon… I believe he is one of the brightest flyhalf prospects we have produced for ages, but starting him too soon, could be too much too soon. The pressure that is already mounting is tangible. I would hate that burden to be placed directly on his shoulders so soon.
Instead, let Lambie have a go at flyhalf (his best position), and bring Goosen into the mix slowly and steadily…. Lambie is a decent flyhalf and giving him a shot would motivate him to play out of his skin and prove a point.
Starting Goosen too soon with all this public expectation could cause an implosion. Let’s not do this to one of our brightest prospects. He is too valuable.
19 Sep 2012, 11:54 am
@RL-95: “mental toughness”
19 Sep 2012, 12:01 pm
@Transformation-97: can you imagine roasting Divvy would have received if he talked about a players mental strength.
19 Sep 2012, 12:01 pm
@Kaizan-96: I agree but be careful…..some people on this site may rip you a new one for having this view.
19 Sep 2012, 12:04 pm
@RL-98: ja but heyneke has a psychology degree (even though you wouldn’t say if you watched him nearly kak his pants in the coaches box every match day) and divvy is just a school teacher!
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