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, 12:49 pm
@goodstuff-150: Japie was in the 90kgs. No question.
15 Nov 2012, 12:50 pm
@Finfan-148:
Of course he wont retain his spot when the whites get back.
Duh!
15 Nov 2012, 12:50 pm
@ryecatcher-149:
Good day sir
15 Nov 2012, 12:51 pm
Wonder how many more token blazers Meyer has in his suitcase
15 Nov 2012, 12:52 pm
@Dawn-152: Don’t get racist with me now.
15 Nov 2012, 12:52 pm
@Dawn-152: The great white always gonna klap the bronzie
15 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-141: to my mind Rhule played well in the CC at least…. but probably got selected as window dressing for the qouta system.
What has Hougaard done on WING for the bulls to warrant inclusion?
What has Bekker done for the Stormers to be included?
What has Chilliboy done this season to be included in the squad?
Is Currie Cup less of a bench mark than European leagues? If not, how is Ruan and Schalk Brits selected?
Is it ok to say JDJ only performed well in CC so not good enough of a yardstick for Test level,
But ruan playing in Europe is enough of a yeardstick?
the more things I mention the more stupid HM looks
15 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
@trupisero-156:
Indeed
15 Nov 2012, 12:54 pm
@Dawn-146:
why, are you able to predict the future?
Rhule will play if he keeps developing….he is the right size.
Kolisi will fight it out with Coetzee for a spot in my opinion. There is only 1 winner in that matchoff as far as I am concerned.
15 Nov 2012, 12:54 pm
what a morning.
got the jumpseat on saexpress to PE.
last seat on the plane, in the cockpit and what a view coming into PE.
beautiful day here but i wont be watching the test sadly.
hope JdJ does well and meyer is hailed as a genius and all saffas fall about swooning over the boks like 1995.
15 Nov 2012, 12:55 pm
@Provvas-147: That is ridiculous! He may not like the guy as much as others, but hoping he fails isn’t on his agenda either. HM would love JDJ to succeed, but he probably has doubts as to whether he will or wont, due to his size (lack) of it, because HM doesn’t really look for much else.
15 Nov 2012, 12:57 pm
@trupisero-156: bronzie is good eating, klap a few from time to time myself.
@Provvas-157: you look pretty stupid yourself pal haha.
rhule is the biz buddy, this kid is fire and lightning, what a talent.
now he is picked for a bok tour and its window dressing?
GTFOH
15 Nov 2012, 12:57 pm
small players that will be very unfortunate under hm
6 brussow
7 kolisi
8 daniels
12 de jong
13 ebersohn
14 jordaan
15 aplon
15 Nov 2012, 12:58 pm
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, writes because of his size Juan de Jongh has to be exceptional ……………………………………………..
Well Mrs cane has always told me size does not matter…………………………………………..so there.
15 Nov 2012, 12:58 pm
@Provvas-157:
you sound stupid as far as I am concerned.
I can’t be bothered even discussing it.
15 Nov 2012, 12:59 pm
@Provvas-157: Schalk Brits has been on fire for ages. Probably the best hooker playing in the Northern Hemisphere. He’s used to the conditions and style of the opposition. The hookers in the Bok squad haven’t been performing. A very obvious selection, provided the coach is allowed to select overseas based players.
15 Nov 2012, 12:59 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-135: Darn right. Ettiene wouldn’t have been fit to lick JdJ’s shoes.
15 Nov 2012, 13:00 pm
@cane-164:
Reyhan should check under his kilt from time to time
15 Nov 2012, 13:01 pm
@cane-164: sounds like she boolshits as much as HM
15 Nov 2012, 13:01 pm
@The Rangerman-160: Whatever you do don’t walk past the stadium with your togbag in your hand, they might rope you in to play for them.
15 Nov 2012, 13:02 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-159: Because she is wiser than most here.PRESCIENT.And that is why I like this site.It allows me to use words. which I normally would not.Like prescient,like kak
15 Nov 2012, 13:02 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-165: Back to the larger
15 Nov 2012, 13:03 pm
@mikeybrass-167:
The Bulle supporters is not gonna like that comment.
15 Nov 2012, 13:04 pm
@The Rangerman-162: You are not reading it in context with the conversation!
I too think Rhule is a great Talent for the future!! Love his attacking abilities!! But his selection has nothing to do with form for the year end tour! I was talking about the selection criteria of Meyer.. some players have an easy ride and others not….
@Brigadier Van Zyl-165: HM doenst know if he is coming or going!! Hy is so deurmekaar soos katkots in n tuimeldroer! Every week he has a different tune…
15 Nov 2012, 13:05 pm
hmmm
so HM seemingly looking for a reincarnation of that fearsome EP centre of the 70s – 80s, the late Dennis (the Menace) Campher?
that dude was BIG, & strong, & dangerous (a crashball runner & lethal tackler) … nothing approaching that physical presence amongst the centres in present day SA Rugby…
15 Nov 2012, 13:06 pm
Go JDJ!!!, I posted something that disappeared about most guys here know very little about the game
15 Nov 2012, 13:08 pm
The problem for me about HM is that he talks about player development but doesn’t develop the players correctly.
Taute – HM talks about him as a future FB option, why play him at 13?
Hougard – Why is he playing wing? 5 wings on tour but the starting wing is a SH?
M Steyn – The guy is developed, he will not get better.
Kirchner – Has reached his performance peak, will not improve.
Mvovo – Has only started his bok career, why not starting?
15 Nov 2012, 13:12 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-135: E Botha had a great season, but never got selected by White because he also believed in size over everything else.
But the difference between JW and HM is that White knew WTF his was doing!
15 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@XhosaKid-176: I did read your comment. Being the best dancer in the team doesn’t make you the best player in the team. Brilliant knowledge of the game indeed, Xhosakiddie.
15 Nov 2012, 13:18 pm
@XhosaKid-76:
Don’t be silly homie.
They all racist innit?
15 Nov 2012, 13:20 pm
@Jeraldjay-173: Reality outside of Loftus sucks
15 Nov 2012, 13:22 pm
@goodstuff-178: White also thought Ettiene could not tackle and added nothing not already provided by JdV. He was right.
15 Nov 2012, 13:26 pm
Maybe Juan can dance for all the tries we score? I know that Strauss and Alberts and Jannie definitely don’t want to dance, so he can have theirs. But maybe he can stand in for others too? Just a thought.
15 Nov 2012, 13:33 pm
But what happened to the post ?
15 Nov 2012, 13:33 pm
New day, same sh y te.
Talk of ghosts.
Lot’s of talk about size.
Gnashing of teeth.
Chest beating.
Wailing.
Wrist slitting.
And that’s just the Bulls groupies…..
15 Nov 2012, 13:35 pm
@goodstuff-150:
Seriously how old are you. Do you even remember Japie playing?
James Small is listed as being 89kgs.
Do you honestlty believe that Japie ‘thighs’ Mulder was a full 12 kgs LIGHTER than small.
Fk me. Some folks are gullible.
15 Nov 2012, 13:35 pm
@XhosaKid-184: I had the grammar police lock it up for the weekend. It’s for your own good.
15 Nov 2012, 13:36 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-185:
Ill take a Bulls chest beating over a Stormers fistoff anyday of the week.
15 Nov 2012, 13:39 pm
@John Galt-188: Must be honest, my personal fave, is the WP handoff, not the Stormer fistoff…..
It’s wonderful to behold actually.
Youtube it – Juan de Jongh try CC final. (He got 3 for the price of one. Reinach, Coetzee and K-Dawg the fearless….)
Handoffs rule. Fistoffs – not cool.
15 Nov 2012, 13:40 pm
15. Jaco Taute
14. JPP
13. JDJ
12. Frans Steyn
11. Habana
10. Goosen
9. Francois Hougaard
8. Vermeulen
7. Siya Kolisi
6. Francois Louw
5. Bekker
4. Etzebeth
3. Kitshoff
2. Bissy (C)
1. Beast
16. Pat Cilliers
17. Burden
18. Kruger
19. Willem Alberts
20. Paul Jordaan
21. Reinach / Groom
22. Rhule / Aplon
Team for the world cup 2015!!
15 Nov 2012, 13:44 pm
@Provvas-190:
If it wasnt for your nickname, I would never have guessed you were a province supporter.
15 Nov 2012, 13:44 pm
Stormers is such a weak name – like someone said what is a Stormer really… I suggest for easier recognition and appropriate identity SARU change their name to VICTIMS next year.
For instance, the Victims vs the Cheetahs. Sounds about right.
15 Nov 2012, 13:45 pm
Most guys are here only because they have Internet access and watch rugby with nothing more than a casual interest, they wouldn’t tell you the difference between a right/left flank combo as opposed to open/blind combo, have no knowledge about nothing technical about the game, all the they do is continuously mistake cheap insults with wit, how sad?.
7or 8 years ago, Keo used to organize Muppit evenings, Nick Mallet would do the rugby analysis followed by a Q&A session, herein was the best way to expose the cheap fringe for what they really were, no room to divert stupidity via a buddy joke & thereby diffuse the situation as the guys do over the Internet, in fact most of the racist trolls never pitched, showing its easy to call people racist or be racist when you are anonymous, it’s rather different in person.
Most of the racist okes where exposed how little they actually knew about the game, maybe Keo should start those Muppit Evenings
15 Nov 2012, 13:45 pm
@John Galt-191: Hehehe who would you change?
15 Nov 2012, 13:45 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-135: Who is Ettienne Botha??I really don’t have time to check Wikepedia.
15 Nov 2012, 13:45 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-189:
Nah I prefer the JP try vs Stormers S15 semi.
And only because that loss hurt the Stormers way more than the Currie Cup loss hurt the Sharks.
Factoid.
15 Nov 2012, 13:46 pm
@Provvas-190: I think there should be a petition to make you the Bok coach. Why didn’t you just select the whole Stormers side? It can be copied and pasted from quite a few websites and saves you from typing out all their names.
15 Nov 2012, 13:47 pm
@XhosaKid-193: Don’t be so harsh on Gunther Kleinhans.
15 Nov 2012, 13:48 pm
The JDJ hype is over as far as I am concerned. Let the guy play.
The word pollute was once used here.
We may have another Silence of the Lambie’s walk-out then.
15 Nov 2012, 13:48 pm
@katman-187:
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