Rhule gets last centre chance
26 Sep 2012
Free State Cheetahs speedster Raymond Rhule’s future at outside centre will depend on his performance against Griquas this weekend.
Rhule made his first senior appearance in the No 13 jersey during Free State’s 34-30 loss to the Blue Bulls in Pretoria last Saturday. The 19-year-old played in the midfield at schoolboy level and for the Free State U21s, but has featured predominantly at wing during the Currie Cup and the Baby Boks’ Junior World Championship-winning run in June.
While he scored a try during the loss at Loftus Versfeld, Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie wasn’t completely impressed with the player’s overall performance.
‘He did okay for his first run at outside centre for us, but his decision-making needs to be better,’ Fourie told keo.co.za. ‘There were times he needed to pass and spread the ball. He attacked the Bulls defensive line too much. He’ll get another run at 13 against Griquas this weekend.’
If things don’t improve, Rhule will return to wing, where he has impressed on the domestic scene. He’s currently tied as the top try-scorer in the Currie Cup.
Meanwhile, out-of-form flyhalf Sias Ebersohn could return to the Free State run-on side on Saturday.
Ebersohn, who dropped behind Johan Goosen (Springboks), Riaan Smit (injured) and scrumhalf specialist Tewis de Bruyn in the pivot pecking order this season, played a big role during the Cheetahs’ near second-half comeback against the Bulls.
De Bruyn has started in the No 10 jersey over the last two weeks.
‘We were happy with his performance off the bench. He did very well,’ said Fourie.
Free State Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Raymond Rhule, 12 Robert Ebersohn (c), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Andries Strauss, 22 Philip Snyman.
By Gareth Duncan
63 Comments
26 Sep 2012, 08:37 am
Doesnt pass, not even once…..to the wing
26 Sep 2012, 08:40 am
Looks a lot better at wing than at center as he seems keen to take on the defense rather than create opportunities for others.
Good prospect for the Cheetahs. The S15 backline could be potent next year:
9. Pretorius/Van Zyl
10. Goosen
11. Rhule
12. Eberson/Walter Venter
13. Bulls center
14. Griekwa Wing
15. Willie le Roux
26 Sep 2012, 08:47 am
@DumbSupporter-2:
14. Griekwa Wing = Rocco Jansen?
26 Sep 2012, 08:49 am
I believe cheetahs is becoming a strong unit as time past by…. Will b very competitive in super rugby next year
26 Sep 2012, 09:14 am
I don’t get it. He’s played wing all along, but after one match @ 13 his coach isn’t impressed? Time is a factor in adapting but these semi-professional people in the OFS don’t seem to get it. They were running scared from a forced merger with the lions S15 team
26 Sep 2012, 09:14 am
It’s good to see SA coaches willing to experiment… this will also help this young man to improve his overall ball skills…
I believe Habana’s short stint at centre for the Stormers reignited his desire to get more involved during the game and be quick to spot gaps rather than sit at wing and wait for the ball to come to him.
26 Sep 2012, 09:36 am
5…semi proffessional is the ec region.
Rhule ran straight at defenders all afternoon without even a thought of passing.
If he was an afrikaaner you would be highlighting that fact all day long
26 Sep 2012, 09:47 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-7: chip on the shoulder weighing heavy?
everyone that watched that game agreed he tried to do too much on his own, maybe too eager to impress but no doubt @ 19 he can refine the decision-making. his other attributes were a marvel to watch, his stepping is awesome, ended the game with 3 linebreaks, a try and made lots of metres…
he actually outplayed jj engelbrecht
26 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
@Sasuke-3: Jip.
Now they need a bit of experience in the forwards. I think the Griekwas have a number of players who could add lots of value to the S15 team (where did they suddenly come from?). Wilkens is a great player. As is Marnus Scoeman. Think they also have a few good locks – an area where the Cheetahs have historically struggled with.
26 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
@Transformation-8: Except for the fact that JJ is a Bok, there’s very little remarkable about him.
Just let the kid develop naturally… he’s suited to wing or outside center, but don’t expect too much from a 20 year old. We’re starting to expect ALL 20 year olds to be like Kolisi, Etzebeth and Goosen. Some (pretty much ALL) take a bit longer.
26 Sep 2012, 09:59 am
Pity they are loosing Marcel vd Merwe to the Bulls.
26 Sep 2012, 10:00 am
@DumbSupporter-9: Adriaanse should also get a shot at S15. Decent prop with a high workrate. Brummer should also deputise for Goosen.
26 Sep 2012, 10:00 am
Jano vermaark was man of the match according to most.
The kid will be good but needs to pass, at least once, just to feel what it is like.
My point is that you would be saying the same thing as i were he an afrikaaner…and well you know it.
26 Sep 2012, 10:02 am
@lepel-10: Lets hope Rhule is more level-headed than Mapo whose off the field actions has stifled his development.
Rhule is an obvious target for the bigger unions.
26 Sep 2012, 10:03 am
Potgieter outplayed brussow.
Just by the way.
26 Sep 2012, 10:05 am
@DumbSupporter-11: he was pap on saturday, any prop that gets chowed by werner kruger needs to up his game…
26 Sep 2012, 10:06 am
lets be honest, his passing is poor but i believe he could improve immensely if given more opportunities and with the right coaching.
26 Sep 2012, 10:06 am
16…in 2009 and 2010 werner chowed everyone, remember?
26 Sep 2012, 10:08 am
@DumbSupporter-9: Marnus Schoeman is a Bulls throwaway, along with Brummer and quite a few others.
They were ‘surplus’ to Meyer’s requirements and his new vision for the Bulls, as described in great detail by him just before he took up the Bok job.
That Schoeman fellow is one the Bulls must spend a few hours a day wailing over….
26 Sep 2012, 10:09 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-15:
A 7 outplayed a 6. In what way, considering they have totally different roles?
26 Sep 2012, 10:10 am
@Transformation-16:
Maybe, but he is still young for a prop. Still think Bulls made a good buy.
Difficult to judge props in the scrums these days. I’m no scrum expert, but it seems like the Lions props are outscrumming most teams. They might not even see S15 action next year.
26 Sep 2012, 10:12 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-15:
Please show me a single test in which Brussow had a bad game.
26 Sep 2012, 10:13 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-19: Brummer is consistent but very average. Without Le Roux, the Griekwas’ backs would be very impotent. He runs the show on attack.
Brummer is very much in the Steyn/Van Straaten mould in that he lacks the distribution skills of a good Nr 10.
26 Sep 2012, 10:13 am
@lepel-12: yip, i said the same to brig.van zyl last week, brummer is flourishing under pote and deleting all the brainwashing done by heyneke meyer at the bulls.
26 Sep 2012, 10:18 am
@Transformation-24: I just do not see him being more than average.
Maybe I am wrong.
26 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
@DumbSupporter-23: Brummer ain’t no messiah at 10, that’s for sure, BUT he is doing a great job for Griquas. (All 10′s who have any, or have HAD any affiliation with the Bulls are all in the same mould
He is looking better in a Griquas jersey than what he ever did in his limited times in the Bulls jersey.
Le Roux is a gifted playmaker….
26 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
20, dude, in what way does logic dictate anything on this site.
because aparently kolisi should be covering 7 for the boks ahead of potgieter. But then ther are those that see kolisi as a 7 or 8. Personally i see him as an opensider with a very high workrate. He is fighting it out with marcel and now louw. Potgieter is fighting it out with alberts.
But i would definately say the bulls backrow combo outplayed the cheetahs
26 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
Quick question – are there any ENGLISH speaking white players currently contracted by the Bulls?
Or don’t they fit the “culture” ?
26 Sep 2012, 10:25 am
22, oh please willie, didnt you yourself post text from naka yesterday defending brussouw?
Coaches do not defend players after good games.
Brussouw has never regained his performances of 2009 and well you know it. Good player but not as good for a while now, louw looks a better pick for the boks at 6.
26 Sep 2012, 10:26 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-13: Hay-sus!!
talk about a hobbyhorse! “The kid will be good but needs to pass, at least once, just to feel what it is like.”
http://www.verusco.com/verusco_stats_portal_g.php?compid=3&yearid=15&weekid=7&gameid=2&team=2
3 passes 1 offload, 101 metres made
IN COMPARISON
jj engelbrecht made ZERO passes, ZERO offloads, 33 metres made
http://www.verusco.com/verusco_stats_portal_g.php?compid=3&yearid=15&weekid=7&gameid=2&team=1
if rhule was afrikaner, please
26 Sep 2012, 10:26 am
@willievz-28: You just have to read a few posts from bloggers on the the Bulls website mate
A few brave Bullsbloggers are calling for Mallet to take over Heyneke’s post in Pretoria. The majority believe Mallet will never be appointed because he doesn’t fit into the Bulls culture.
26 Sep 2012, 10:27 am
28, are there any at the lions? Or the cheetahs? Its frikken pretoria we are talking about.
26 Sep 2012, 10:29 am
30…wow, with stats like that as well as brussouw and coenie in the team, how on earth did these bulls win.
26 Sep 2012, 10:30 am
@willievz-28: Lance Sherrel? Back in the day? He counts.
26 Sep 2012, 10:31 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-29: Since when does form dictate who gets called up for national duty…
26 Sep 2012, 10:34 am
We had brian habana. ?.an english speaking non white nogal
Apparently….akona fits our profile fine.
Oh and chilli boy
26 Sep 2012, 10:35 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-32: Michael Rhodes, Butch James
Cheetahs might not have any, but Justin Downey played in the S15.
26 Sep 2012, 10:37 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-36: I’ve read reports that Chilli, Akona and Tim Dlulane always sat at a different table at post-match functions than their teammates…
Is that true?
26 Sep 2012, 10:37 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-34:
26 Sep 2012, 10:37 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-33: point is you’re talking kak about rhule not passing “even once” meanwhile engelbreacht finishes a whole game without a single pass but tjoep stil from you?
hehehe, if rhule was afrikaners
26 Sep 2012, 10:38 am
@willievz-28:
what culture do the english speaking black players fit into Einstein?
26 Sep 2012, 10:38 am
31….and i would agree with that. If there is a culture at the bulls it would be that everyone becomes part of the family and commits to a purpose greater than themselves.
And it has served them well.
Mallet would not do well at the bulls, he,s the hire and fire sort.
In fact, doubt any franchise would want him. Wouldnt exactly see players queing up to come to your union
26 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
@gunther-41: It is different.
You have to contract some.
26 Sep 2012, 10:41 am
38
I dont know i was never at a post match function. Sounds to me like you are **** stirring.
I guess you,ll be miffed if the bulls somehow win this cc.
26 Sep 2012, 10:42 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-44: I don’t care who wins the CC, as long as BOK rugby is strong.
Hang on, for that very reason, maybe it is a good thing if the Bulls do not win the CC…
26 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
40…please, where did i praise engelbrechts performance.
So i got it wrong…Rhule passed once.
I stand corrected.
26 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
41. Or english speaking bulls supporters like myself…from newlands nogal.
26 Sep 2012, 10:47 am
45…bok rugby will be very strong. We hve an awesome coach.
To bad he doesnt select all your favorite players.
Do you wear heinrich brussow undies.
26 Sep 2012, 10:50 am
A 47% winning ratio is not my idea of awesome.
26 Sep 2012, 10:51 am
66% winning ratio against England
50% winning ratio against Argentina
0% winning ratio against Australia
0% winning ratio against NZ
26 Sep 2012, 10:53 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-46: where did i say you “praised” jj? apparently you missed the fact that he never made not one pass because you were watching rhule make 3 passes and 1 offload
why aren’t you on your hobbyhorse about jj?
you’re usually bleating about de jongh not passing but engelbrecht gets a pass?
:mgreen:
de jongh is also not afrikaner, we get it
26 Sep 2012, 11:08 am
Look, dejong is kak. Rhule will in all likelyhood be awesome but needs to pass if he wants to stay 13, which apparently is his prefferred position.
Until recently, i was only aware of engelbrecht playing on the wing. Get it. Also who is calling for engelbrecht to be in the bok squad, not me currently anyway.
26 Sep 2012, 11:10 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-52: “Look, dejong (sic) is kak.”
This is the same player who won 2 games against the Bulls in the S15 this year, and who was part of the victorious WP team who beat the Bulls 42-6 in the CC this year.
26 Sep 2012, 11:10 am
50.
0 %losing ratio to england and argentina
100% away losing ratio to oz and nz. Which will be rectified later on in the week.
Do not panic just yet.
26 Sep 2012, 11:11 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-54: I hope so.
26 Sep 2012, 11:16 am
53….pierre spies has 3 superrugby medals.
Oh, and so does morne the legend steyn…..as well as every south african flyhalf record in superrugby and international.
Go figure
26 Sep 2012, 11:43 am
@DumbSupporter-14: Dude, Mapoe is playing great rugby at 13. Great step off both feet! Great ball handling skills, go and look again at some of the passes he received from Jantjies running at full pace, not 1 knockon. Not to mention the offloads which some led to tries (in soccer they are called assists). Strong defence. To sum it up, he plays smart rugby… just saying.
After his knee injury he has lost some pace but still has enough for a 13.
26 Sep 2012, 11:52 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-56: Do you wear heyneke’s undies?
lol
26 Sep 2012, 12:18 pm
Brigadier
From my “time is a factor in adapting”, you brought race & culture into it?
26 Sep 2012, 12:44 pm
@theOracle-57: I agree. I do however think that the controversy with his move to the Sharks and then the Lions put him back. He was where Goosen and Taute before all of that happened.
Obviously the injury compounded the whole lot.
26 Sep 2012, 13:29 pm
@theOracle-57: He is the most complete 13 we have in SA at the moment and had he not had controversy as his constant companion he would’ve been playing for the Boks.
He’s going to have to work ridiculously hard for any Bok coach to seriously consider him now.
It’s very unfortunate that the best thing for him now would be to jump ship, AGAIN! Which makes things look even worse!
26 Sep 2012, 18:51 pm
one average game and his heads on the bloke, wow
give the boy a chance
27 Sep 2012, 10:43 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-26: Yup, watch them turn Pollard into a one-trick pony!
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