Pietersen: I can only get better
6 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Dublin, writes JP Pietersen believes he has yet to touch the ceiling of his potential.
Pietersen initially struggled to impose himself as a midfielder for the Sharks in Super Rugby but burned white hot when shifted back to wing. Cruelly a fractured thumb sidelined him for the entire Rugby Championship, just as head coach Heyneke Meyer was preparing to assemble a backline he felt could provide stern examinations of the southern hemisphere’s best.
The Springboks sorely missed Pietersen’s experience game-breaking ability, with Bryan Habana emerging as the only standout performer in a decidedly impotent back division.
The Habana-Pietersen reunion must wait, the former absent from the tour due to a knee injury sustained in the Currie Cup final. However, the Springboks will benefit from Pietersen’s drive and physicality as well as his mental refreshment that was a by-product of his layoff. He offered an ominous warning to future opponents.
‘I had a good 2007, but this was one of my best years. As I mature I think I can only get better from here,’ Pietersen said. ‘By maturity I mean the ability to think on my feet, where as a youngster I expected things to come my way. I’ve learned what my strong and weak points are. My work rate has improved, that’s the main thing.’
In saying that Pietersen addressed criticism he faced for his seeming unwillingness to engineer opportunities for himself. Habana, even in his biggest slumps in form, could never be accused of a lack of industry. Pietersen, conversely, grew in anonymity the deeper his struggles became.
‘I’ve heard that a lot over the last few years – I can’t concentrate for 80 minutes. But I’m older now and probably a little wiser. It’s been the case in the past but I’ve overcome that challenge,’ he said.
Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher praised Pietersen for an attitude of professionalism, a quality that he hasn’t always possessed, and one that came through again when asked if he considered himself a midfielder or wing.
‘I’m a team man and wherever the coach plays me I’m happy. We all know that my preferred position is wing. But whatever he decides I’m happy with.’
The question was a pertinent one because this website has it on excellent authority that Meyer would have played Pietersen at outside centre had Habana not been injured. He still sees a future for Pietersen in the position and indeed has already cast his mind to utilising him there in 2013, should his attempts to secure the services of Jaque Fourie prove fruitless.
It is hard to believe that Pietersen, 26, is just short of a decade of Springbok duty. He has turned mentor to the likes of Raymond Rhule, whom he said has ‘a very bright future’. His generosity will, however, not extend to opening the door for the youngster through sub-standard performances. An unplanned period of rest has inadvertently galavanised him.
‘It was frustrating not to be in the Bok setup. I was saying to a friend that when I came back in the squad, seeing the guys, putting on that Bok gear again, I never thought I’d miss it this much because I’ve always been in the squad. I feel like a little boy back in the mix.’
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43 Comments
6 Nov 2012, 13:18 pm
Best back in the world by faaaaaar
6 Nov 2012, 13:28 pm
Why on earth is Meyer toying with the number 13 position?
It is a key position in terms of organising defence.
You need a specialist there.
De Villiers
Engelbrecht
Taute
Pieterson
None of them ply their trade at 13 on a regular basis.
Jacques Fourie
Juan De Jongh
Paul Jordaan
and possibly Lionel Mapoe
JDV must play at 12.
Pieterson must play on the wing.
Taute must play at 15.
Engelbrecht must settle in a position.
6 Nov 2012, 13:32 pm
Still one of my favourite players!!
6 Nov 2012, 13:33 pm
I think we should just stop messing around at 13. Taute had a shocker in the Championship and JDJ never gets a chance. Bring back Jacques Fourie… Maybe the 40 million that the Kings got from saru can be used to buy him out of his contract.
6 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@patch-4: LOL.
All I want is for Ricardo Laubcscher to do as little coaching as possible, that man is a big reason why the bok backs are ****! IMO.
6 Nov 2012, 13:47 pm
Only a matter of time before he declares to the world that he’s the best a.k.a Spies and Jacky Fourie.
6 Nov 2012, 13:48 pm
@goodstuff-5: Given that the forwards coach is also the attack coach, and that there is also a specialist defense coach, I can guarantee you that Ricardo does not have a lot to do at the moment.
6 Nov 2012, 13:49 pm
@NZINCHINA-6: China you don’t rate Jacque Fourie?
6 Nov 2012, 13:50 pm
@puff-2: 13 does not have to be your defensive organiser.
A 13 does, however, require very particular running lines on attack.
6 Nov 2012, 13:52 pm
@Skeppie-8:
Very good player, I just don’t get the part where they have to tell everyone how good they are.
6 Nov 2012, 13:53 pm
@willievz-9: Depends on the defensive pattern, if you are using an umbrella pattern then 13 absolutley has to organise your defence, he becomes the pivot of the umbrella.
6 Nov 2012, 13:56 pm
@willievz-9:
What I should have said is it is essential to understand the positioning of 13 to execute tackles in your channel.
But you’re right, it’s just as essential to understand what running lines are required/possible for attack too.
6 Nov 2012, 14:03 pm
NO, JPP was white hot playing fullback in 2005, since then he has never been able to replicate that season. but his defensive game has gotten better each year.
6 Nov 2012, 14:04 pm
He was incredible when shifted back to wing during this year’s S15.
6 Nov 2012, 14:05 pm
@NZINCHINA-10: Yeah but aren’t most great sportsmen like that?
6 Nov 2012, 14:05 pm
@mabu-13: I think JPP is a very good defender, the odd high tackle but solid all in all.
6 Nov 2012, 14:10 pm
I like JPP, excellent player and true asset to the Bok…..Meyer should be constructing plays based around him,,,,,,when he has a high involvement, work rate and goes looking for the ball, very difficult to contain….on his day the best winger in the world.
6 Nov 2012, 14:12 pm
The Best defensive winger in the business.
6 Nov 2012, 14:17 pm
@Te Rangatira-17:
one could easily say the same for habana.
6 Nov 2012, 14:18 pm
@Skeppie-11: Certainly, on first phase, that holds true.
In the umbrella, a defensive line is particularly vulnerable on the edges around the wings.
Prevention is the best measure. That is, one should prevent the attacking team from going to the wings or disrupt any passes towards the edge of the field. This requires that defensive players (wingers or centres) on the edge of the defensive line move up faster than those in the middle of the line. This becomes even more important if your opposition gets quick ruck ball on the offense, as phase play progresses.
This brings me to Bryan Habana.
Habana creates the umbrella by shooting on mature phases – this is why you will see him shooting and often choke on your brandy and coke in the process, as he will overshoot from time to time.
He does not go for the intercept, as advocated so popularly. He creates the umbrella.
So, the 13 and the wings are keystones in the umbrella system. Not the 13 per se.
6 Nov 2012, 14:19 pm
9. Du Preez
10. Goosen
11. Habana
12. JDV
13. Fourie
14. Pieterson
15. F. Steyn
with Pienaar (or Hougaard), Lambie (or Jantjies) and De Jongh (or Taute)on the bench.
Haters gonna hate.
6 Nov 2012, 14:29 pm
@NZINCHINA-10:
So you dont rate Muhamed Ali then ????
6 Nov 2012, 14:30 pm
@puff-21:
That is a solid team, but will expire soon enough
6 Nov 2012, 14:30 pm
@Rockn Rolla-23:
well backline not team really
6 Nov 2012, 14:32 pm
@Rockn Rolla-23:
I would wager on only JDV not making the next RWC.
And possibly Du Preez.
But given how highly Meyer rates Du Preez, how often he has been out of action over the last two-three years, and how much of an easier time of it his body is having in the Japanese league – I would say he has a good chance of being integral to Boks come 2015 – if he’s hungry enough.
6 Nov 2012, 14:33 pm
@willievz-20: I agree different players in the backline need to be able to fulfill this role and they train as such but usually the job falls onto one player who most of the time will fulfill the role. 13 is almost always this key man so he ends up being crucial to the defensive system and must be a very good tackler. Conrad Smith is the perfect example.
6 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
@Skeppie-15:
yer maybe but JPP had 3 or 4 good games this year and suddenly hes the best in the world
@puff-21:
du preez and Fourie dont play for the Bokke, the Goose is made of glass
@Rockn Rolla-22:
lets not compare Jacky and Petersion to Cassius as there is no comparison
6 Nov 2012, 14:43 pm
@NZINCHINA-27:
Oh well, in that case:
9) Pienaar
10) Goosen
11) Habana
12) De Villiers
13) De Jongh
14) Pieterson
15) Frans Steyn
with Hougaard, Lambie (or Jantjies) and Aplon (or Taute) on the bench.
6 Nov 2012, 14:49 pm
@puff-28:
good choice at 15 Steyn is far better suited there, my personal feeling is that Goosen isn’t going to go the distance because of injuries, if he’s breaking down this early in his career he’s goosed
6 Nov 2012, 15:02 pm
@puff-2: Why are you even mentioning JJ Engelbrecht, why not Whitehead, Hollenbach, Strauss or any other centre that plays rugby professionally?
6 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@puff-28: Switch the midfielders, for now, and that is a competent backline to take on the powerhouses. ie, 12-JDJ and 13-JDV
We need to find a replacement for JDV, fast.
In the long run, I would like to see 12-F.Steyn 13-JDJ ,with 15-A.Coetzee.
6 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@XhosaKid-31:
They’re not Springboks…
6 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@NZINCHINA-27:
Not a comparison, mearly a question thats all
6 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@NZINCHINA-29:
To be honest Mate, it would be refreshing to see the same kind of arogance talk befor a rugby game as there is in boxing
Karl Hayman saying he gonna have his opposition prop for dinner
One coach saying the other team is usless and is gonna a hiding second to none
….ect ect
Ever seen boxers talk each other up with the fake *** “respect” you see in Rugby
Every Coach would have a field day with our setup
6 Nov 2012, 15:31 pm
@NZINCHINA-27: for your sake i hope he doesnt log in here and see u calling him cassius
6 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@mxhosa-32: Now, nothing players like JJ Engelbrecht are called Boks, FFS!!!, speak about cheapening the jersey
6 Nov 2012, 17:07 pm
I have yet to see a player who says “why yes, I have peaked”.
6 Nov 2012, 19:09 pm
@Rockn Rolla-34:
I am so completely and utterly into this
But it could be because I’m completely addicted to Blue Mountain State atm…
6 Nov 2012, 19:50 pm
@Gtown-38:
Picture the scene………a captain speaks his mind post match
Reporter – What did you think of the All Blacks
John Smit – That Richie McKaw is an annoying pR ! ck……IRB’s blue eyed boy himself
And while we at it let the players dope it up to thier hearts content………Seeing Backies Botha or Brad Thorn bigger then they are now running into each other…….now thats entertainment
6 Nov 2012, 21:14 pm
Frans steyn gets crocked very quickly at inside center, last year at world cup only had a few games at 12 and cocked himself, this year its rinse and repeat.
7 Nov 2012, 08:41 am
@XhosaKid-36:
agreed. becoming a springbok is as easy as signing on with the bulls.
total farce
7 Nov 2012, 09:58 am
@NZINCHINA-6: He never said he was the best, only that he wanted to be rated the best. What’s wrong with that?
7 Nov 2012, 13:35 pm
How is 6 years in the Springbok setup “just short of a decade of Springbok duty”
Facts-man Vrede does it again.
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