Northern lights boost Boks
14 Nov 2012
Scrum coach Pieter de Villiers says there have been significant benefits from the inclusion of Europe-based players in the Springbok squad.
The selection of players based abroad has been and continues to be a heated point of debate. Head coach Heyneke Meyer was initially reluctant to look beyond the borders of South Africa, but recently admitted to softening that stance, given the telling influence players like Ruan Pienaar and Francois Louw had.
Now the South African-born De Villiers, who enjoyed a successful career with Stade Francais and France, has added his voice to those endorsing the foreign legion.
‘Heyneke is best placed to answer questions about the impact of players that are based here [Europe],’ he began, ‘But I know he wants to select players who are in form first and foremost, and that has been the case with Gurthro Steenkamp, Ruan, Flo, Heinke van der Merwe and Schalk Brits.
‘They bring a certain maturity and balance from having been exposed to a different style and different conditions, which adds something new and valuable to the team.’
He added: ‘Heyneke involves all his coaches in discussing players. I follow the matches through Europe closely and have been able to see my views on the players based here with him.’
De Villiers has made a notable improvement to the Springboks’ scrummaging, elevating it from one that was at best capable of achieving parity against the game’s elite scrummaging units, to one that has troubled highly-rated eights this season. He attributes this to luck with injuries and the right balance of old and new, particularly in the front row.
‘Players have matured very well. We’ve had settled combinations in the front row and the experience we’ve got there has helped a lot to set a base for us. We’ve got a lot of young players in the team, and they’ve been introduced with a lot of experience around them, which has been good. Some of the front rankers have played some rugby in Europe, which is always a very different set-up. This has benefited our youngsters as well,’ De Villiers said.
Prior to the Ireland Test there were concerns about how the new scrum engagement sequence (crouch, touch, set) would affect the Springboks, who had never experienced them previously. They adapted well and De Villiers described himself as ‘happy’ with their performance there.
Speaking generally about the forwards, De Villiers said: ‘We want to build on our strengths. We’re in Europe with a lot of young players who’ve never played here before. That’s a good learning curve for them. On Saturday they’ll again be up against a very specific European game style and technique and that will be our focus.’
Steenkamp is expected to replace Beast Mtawarira in the front row, with forwards coach Johann van Graan letting slip a strong hint in this regard. This would see Van der Merwe, who had an immediate impact when introduced at Lansdowne Road, and CJ van der Linde competing for a spot on the bench.
With Jannie du Plessis expected to recover from an ankle injury, the remainder of the starting pack will be unchanged. The most notable alteration will come in the backline, with Juan de Jongh given an opportunity in midfield, probably at the expense of Jaco Taute.
53 Comments
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13 Nov 2012, 14:04 pm
Future Bok teams MUST ALWAYS include 2 or 3 Dragon props from up North.
13 Nov 2012, 14:05 pm
@Sasuke-1: Beast, Bismarck and Jannie must be the combo going forward but they must be supported by the likes of Gurthro, Heinke, Mujati, etc.
13 Nov 2012, 14:22 pm
@Sasuke-2:
Mujati is a Zimbabwean born now English citizen…
13 Nov 2012, 14:25 pm
Mujati will never, ever play for the Boks again.
Please understand this, people.
13 Nov 2012, 14:31 pm
@bryce_in_oz-3: @WP-Forever-4: Really? English Citizen? I saw last week Heyneke was trying to get special dispensation from the S.A government to allow Mujati to play.
@WP-Forever-4: Why not? He is really good.
13 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
Heinke, not CJ.
13 Nov 2012, 14:41 pm
@bryce_in_oz-3: since when?
13 Nov 2012, 14:42 pm
@bryce_in_oz-3: But he cant turn out for England anymore right?
13 Nov 2012, 14:52 pm
@Sasuke-8: As I understand the Mujati situation. Under IRB regulations he can play for the Boks, but an SA sporting body (can’t remember its name now) which governes all SA sport, stipluates you need to be and SA citizen. So that’s why they want to get his SA citizenship. That’s what happend to Beast too.
Makes sense, because he has already played for SA, he can’t play for Eng. So SA is holding him back, not the IRB.
13 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
@blik-9: Yes i remember Beast did the citizenship thing. Why doesnt Mujati do it? Personal Reasons perhaps?
13 Nov 2012, 15:01 pm
@Sasuke-10:
If you read his blog a few seasons back he stated he was 4 months out from getting his British citizenship in par with his English wife and child…
Simple really… case closed…
13 Nov 2012, 15:13 pm
@Sasuke-10: Not sure about his SA citizenship, could be personal, or because he is living in the UK.
@bryce_in_oz-11: His UK citizenship is irrelevant, because accoring to the IRB he can play for SA. SA is stopping him. Also, it is possible to have dual citizenship.
13 Nov 2012, 15:16 pm
Mujati does not want to play for the Springboks.
Even if we offered him a Bok jersey on a silver platter, he does not want it.
He burnt his bridges with the Republic.
13 Nov 2012, 15:25 pm
@blik-12:
So you’re telling me that he is going to move back to RSA and get his residency and then his citizenship?
Rubbish… he’s settled in the UK and his brewery business is taking off… not to mention he now has an English wife and child… dream on pal!
13 Nov 2012, 15:31 pm
@bryce_in_oz-14: You are coming accross as a bit slow. I did not say he will play for SA again. What I said is the IRB are fine with him playing for the Boks, it’s the SA admin that are preventing it. Who knows if he personally would like to play, have you spoken to him? The UK citizenship is irrelevant, not to mention the brewery, not sure why you keep bringing it up.
13 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
1. Gurthro
3. Jannie duP
17. Heinke
18. Cilliers
13 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
@blik-15:
It’s not the SA admin. It’s the legislature (i.e. Parliament).
National legislation now states that only SA citizens are allowed to obtain national colours for sport in this country.
13 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
@WP-Forever-17: Okay, yes thanks, I could not recall the exact body controlling it, I just knew it was some political regulation.
13 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
@blik-18:
Cool. The regulations to the Act were only passed in 2011, so up until that time Beast and Mujati could both play for the Boks without a passport.
Once the regulations were passed, however, they had to fast-track Beast’s passport (in time for the RWC). By then Mujati had already left SA for the UK.
13 Nov 2012, 15:51 pm
@WP-Forever-19: A little harsh on Mujati (asuming he would want to play for the Boks again), because it is retrospective in that he has played for the Boks, and would not be allowed to play for England now according to IRB regulation.
13 Nov 2012, 15:52 pm
@blik-20: Was meant to say, so now he in not elgible to play for any country.
13 Nov 2012, 15:53 pm
@blik-20:
We have to sleep in the beds we make for ourselves.
13 Nov 2012, 15:56 pm
northern lights..?..
havn’t i heard of a strain of hash or marijuana which goes by the same name..?..
13 Nov 2012, 15:58 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-23: Bakkies, this made me laugh, coming from a kiwi:
“France were good, although they got their first try courtesy of a very blatant/clever piece of cheating by their flanker who held on to the jersey of Dave Dennis and cleared a path for their impressive number 8 Louis Picamoles.”
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/blogs/tony-johnson/Where_to_from_here
13 Nov 2012, 16:06 pm
@blik-24:
hehehe
tony johnson must be one of the biggest kiwi one-eyed dooses in the history of kiwi one-eyed dooses. seriously, i dont read anything he has to write or watch that show of his, at all.
i was tempted to watch it recently in light of some controversy or other regarding one of their recent games but in the end just thought… ***** it and ***** him.
nothing he says is barely objective with regard to any other rugby nation (especially the boks) and everything he says is wholly subjective with regard to the all blacks.
‘blatant/clever piece of cheating’… pffft.. he’s one to talk.
13 Nov 2012, 16:20 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-25: I lived in NZ for just over 2 years, not out of choice, and their rugby coverage is so biased and one eyed it funny.
One example is when Matfield flattend Kellher with his forarm, they bitched and moaned and didicated a whole news suplliment to it. Then the next news article comes up, and it’s Ali Williams punching a SA player multiple times, and Hansen comes on tv saying it’s a non issue.
Very insular place that little island.
13 Nov 2012, 16:21 pm
@Sasuke-10: Is he entitled to citizenship? I don’t know the exact dates but I get the feeling he was in SA less than five years so he wouldn’t qualify in many countries that quickly. What are the requirements for SA citizenship?
@blik-24: I’m sure the ABs are working on that move as we speak
Was impressive and damn blatant!
13 Nov 2012, 16:22 pm
@blik-26: Come on, don’t be like that. Do we have to find the PdV line about the ballet shop?
13 Nov 2012, 16:26 pm
@gonzo-28: Your coaches may beat our coaches on the field, but cur coaches beat your coaches at humour that’s for sure.
13 Nov 2012, 16:32 pm
@blik-29: When it comes to making people laugh, PdV was without equal in the rugby world that’s for sure
13 Nov 2012, 16:34 pm
@gonzo-30: The Richard Prior of rugby
13 Nov 2012, 16:37 pm
@gonzo-30: I read his book, and in the photo section, each picture of him laughing and the person next to him in hysterics. In the book, he actually came accross as a really nice guy. Got shafted by the SA administraters though. That’s where NZ are miles ahead of SA. You guys have proffessional administrators who have a common goal of making NZ rugby strong. In SA it is so political, back stabbing and hidden agendas.
13 Nov 2012, 16:38 pm
@blik-26:
yip, that them pretty much summed up.
13 Nov 2012, 16:41 pm
@blik-32: So you recommend the book? I was considering reading it because of his “unique” style. I enjoyed Jake White’s book and considering how much sh*t he put up with, knowing he eventually succeeded, almost softened the blow of us losing in 2007. Almost.
I’m curious how much longer we’ll have an advantage in terms of administrators. The AIG sponsorship I’m fine with, the hard negotiating with IRB and English rugby I’m fine with. But selling the super rugby franchises is a dangerous game if we’re not smart about it.
13 Nov 2012, 16:48 pm
Folks:
1) Mujati is not a SA citizen, I think he may even be English now and will never ever ever ever play for the Boks again.
2) Hallelujah, he was one of the most sh!^est players ever to don the green and gold though admitedly not in line with that plonker Helgaard Muller who was the worst player ever in the history of the game to be awarded a test cap.
13 Nov 2012, 16:48 pm
@gonzo-34: The book was okay, there was not really anything in it you would not already know if you were an avid rugby fan. One thing that did come accross though, was that the players liked him and he was put in awkward positions by the administration. He grew up in apartheid, but did not seem bitter or angry. He obviously objected to the injustices, but is really a man who loves rugby. I would say it’s was on a par with Jake Whites book. I am thinking of reading The Open Side about Richie McCaw, but have seen mixed reviews. Have you read it?
13 Nov 2012, 16:52 pm
@guangzhoupoes-35: You are so clueless.
1. It’s a moot point because we don’t know what he wants, but technically he could play for SA again, if he moves back to SA and gets his SA citizenship. His English citizenship is irrelevant.
2. He is one of the best tightheads around. He is respected in the NH and has many fans in the SH. Why do you think the SA rugby management were enquiring about getting him to play for them.
13 Nov 2012, 16:55 pm
@blik-36: I’ve only read a few pages online of McCaw’s book but it seems like a good read. I’ll probably get it anyway but having just read Henry’s book, where there was nothing new, I’m not expecting anything too surprising. Especially because he’s the captain and is still playing, it’ll be the polite version of events
13 Nov 2012, 17:01 pm
@gonzo-38: Yes, that’s what I read, McCaws book is very measured and does not give too much away. Was Henrys book the same? Or is it maybe that they work in a professional environment, and things are run correctly with not too many surprises?
13 Nov 2012, 17:15 pm
@blik-39: There just didn’t seem to be any surprises to give away. He had a bit of a stab at the NZRFU about the way they handled his move to Wales – they took away his lifetime car park and tickets at Eden Park when he left. And a little dig at Robbie Deans because the ABs/Boks always have a beer after the game but the Aussies refused. But other than that, it just seemed like there wasn’t much to give away. I enjoyed reading it but didn’t feel like I learnt anything I didn’t already know
13 Nov 2012, 17:54 pm
WP are CC 2012 champs !!!
13 Nov 2012, 18:45 pm
41 Brains Trust…
Seriously???
13 Nov 2012, 20:26 pm
All this talk of overseas players what about the King himself – Bakkies? Bakkies Botha – king lock destroyer of the enemy, nightmare for Richie McCaw and adored by the Toulonese for good reason? Please bring that man back somebody …
13 Nov 2012, 21:42 pm
i see bryce in Oz still thinks of himself as an authority on everything Mujati related
13 Nov 2012, 21:50 pm
@WP-Forever-4: “will never, ever”?
http://ewn.mobi/news/Sport/saru-makes-bid-for-mujati/16723
SARU are to furnish the ministry with motivation for special dispensation, if fikile is satisfied mujati is back in the mix, not so?
13 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
@Transformation-45:
Eish…….”motivation that there are no better props” ………this must be proved before the Govt Dept will approve his playing again!! I would have thought the mere fact he is a brown brother would have been good enough ?
The AB’s often have players with other passports playing for them, Sitiveni Sitivatu being a recent one. Whatever is best for the Boks is certainly not a Saffa catchphrase unfortunately………sad really
13 Nov 2012, 23:13 pm
Keo, Symantec and now Chrome keep telling me your site is a known distributor of malware. What’s up with that sh*t?
13 Nov 2012, 23:59 pm
Sorry to say so people but I think there seems to be some bad blood and looks like this might be why Mujati turned his back on the Boks…And I’m not trying to stoke things up
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/provincial/2011/0827/284023-mujati/
14 Nov 2012, 06:13 am
@umfolozi-48: that is a non-event.
14 Nov 2012, 10:23 am
@bryce_in_oz-3: are you kiwi or aussie?
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