De Jongh’s small problem
15 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, writes because of his size Juan de Jongh has to be exceptional to force Heyneke Meyer to consider him as a real solution to his outside centre problem.
I wrote at the start of Meyer’s tenure that he is a disciple of size and strength, firm in his belief that a player must have this attribute to be successful in Test rugby.
At the time I cited De Jongh among the players who would struggle to push for a regular starting berth, with Meyer appreciative of his attacking capacity in Super Rugby, but unconvinced that he could replicate his hot-stepping in reduced space and time and consistently dominate the tackle fight on attack and defence in Tests.
De Jongh has, however, got an opportunity to alter his coach’s fairly rigid view, and bid to convince him that he can fill a void Meyer is concerned about going forward. His problem is that he’ll get one shot. As it stands Jaco Taute will be reinstated for the final Test of the tour against England at Twickenham. That is unless De Jongh produces something special against Scotland.
There has been no shortage of suggestions and, at times, accusations that Meyer is a racist for what is perceived to be the sidelining of black players. I’ve worked professionally with him for years, and have never got that impression. That he has a prejudice against smaller players of average ability (in a Test context) is undoubted. De Jongh is one such player. He is capable of feats of brilliance (his try in the Currie Cup final an example) but has not replicated these feats often enough to be considered a must for the Springboks.
In his favour is that he is 24 years old and still has time to grow. Also, Meyer has shown a willingness to have some of his views challenged. By way of example, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Louw have, on the strength of their performances and maturity they’ve exhibited, paved the way for a steadily increasing number of overseas-based players to be involved with the Springboks. Meyer had previously been adamant that he would select his squads from players based in South Africa, unless his hand was forced through injury.
Similarly De Jongh can advance the cause of the smaller backs. He refused to make soaring statements about size, but came across as confident in his ability.
‘I know where I’ve stood with Heyneke from the start. I know what attributes he is looking for from me, but I also know what I need for my game,’ De Jongh said. ‘Everyone has their opinion [on size] but I have an opportunity this weekend to prove people who think I’m too small wrong.’
510 Comments
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15 Nov 2012, 22:01 pm
yeah… Teach Your Children was not played at Woodstock came out on Deja Vu the next year…
great band… four strong characters…
“Andrews was twice the player Etsebeth is at the same stage of his development, plain and simple…”
oh yeah…?
(Figures barring injury and including world cup games…)
Player Eben Etzebeth Mark Andrews
International debut 20years225days 22years111days
Caps at 21years20days 10 0
Caps at 22years111days 20 (possible) 1
Caps at 29years old 104 (possible) 77
Caps at 32years old 151 (possible) 77
Mark was a good player… but twice the player Eben is…??
hmmmm…
plainly simple…
15 Nov 2012, 22:04 pm
damn formattting…
try again
Player………………………………Eben Etzebeth…….Mark Andrews
International debut…………..20years225days….22years111days
Caps at 21years20days….10………………………….0
Caps at 22years111days..20 (possible)…………1
Caps at 29years old………. 104 (possible)……….77
Caps at 32years old………..151 (possible)……….77
15 Nov 2012, 22:06 pm
@skopdiekan-500: you are so far out there dude, so much knowledge on so many different levels, where does it all come from & what are you?
15 Nov 2012, 22:14 pm
eish…scotland might see gangnam style is lambie puts jdj into space…
15 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
Using smaller players just means that they must change tactics a bit. Instead o hanging back and tackling high, smaller players must move up quickly and tackle low. BUT the whole line must do so together. And the whole line should be moving up quickly in defnce anyway. Only thing is: the quicker they move up in defence, the further they have to get back onside, the fitter they have to be. this is why fitness and conditioning must be the best in the world.
16 Nov 2012, 01:36 am
Not racist….but sizeist
Size discrimination or sizeism is a form of discrimination based upon a person’s physical size, including but not limited to height and/or weight
In some regions, anti-discrimination laws are in place to prohibit sizeism
—-
No, I’m just kidding….you’re alright Meyer!
16 Nov 2012, 02:19 am
@willievz-331: 100% agree – especially re the lower centre of gravity
16 Nov 2012, 07:26 am
I think Meyer is being overly cautious. He’s scared of leaking tries on defence and I suspect he knows his coaching team cannot teach defence and attack to Test standard. So he has to resort to what he knows; Gooot ou’s and stampkar rugby. Size has its place but needs to be tempered with skill when evaluating a player.
I would pick de Jongh to start and maybe pull JdV off early if the Boks can build a lead against the Scottie’s. We’ll need a healthy JdV against the not so pasty Poms and their imports.
Hmmm, there’s a thought; maybe Meyer should import some PI’s; Nackerlesslavuvuzela anyone.
16 Nov 2012, 08:33 am
Interesting to note that JDJ and Taute are same weight in terms of kg/ cm height.
For every cm of height both players are 0.5kg heavy per cm.
That would indicate that both players have the same body density. (I think)
By the way.
J Fourie is 0.55kg per cm
SBW is 0.56kg per cm
“A low weight-to-strength ratio is not only desirable in the gym. The weight-to-strength ratio, when descriptive of a material, relates the density of the material to its ability to withstand permanent deformation or fracture under pressure. Low-ratio values indicate that the material is light-weight but can bear significant load. High values describe heavy materials that deform or break easily. The weight-to-strength ratio is typically used in an inverse form as the strength-to-weight ratio; it is then termed the specific strength of the material.”
16 Nov 2012, 08:41 am
@goodstuff-509: that means screwall chum.
Seen some sinewy dutchies with some serious strength, and equally some big okes who are nothing more than heavy puff pastry.
What you don’t want is the small scraggly puff pastry……geez, think I just describe Skop
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