Boks bolstered by northern collective
16 Nov 2012
Jean de Villiers says the Springboks’ Europe-based players have a level of maturity that has been invaluable on the year-end tour to date.
The Springboks named a starting side with five players who have played or currently play in Europe, with three more on the bench. This is pertinent because coach Heyneke Meyer initially had strong reservations about selecting those based in Europe, believing that the standard of play and conditioning was not on par with the southern hemisphere.
It appears that his view has been altered and he has suggested that the impressive performances of Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, Ireland) and Francois Louw (Bath, England) has been central to this.
De Villiers himself spent a season at Munster and returned extolling the value of the experience on a professional and personal level. He said the lessons learned from time spent living and playing abroad has had an undeniable and patent influence.
‘If you look at how outstanding Flo [Louw] has been for us, Heinke’s [van der Merwe] massive contribution in the couple of minutes he was on [against Ireland] where he earned two penalties that probably won the game for us, Schalk [Brits] has been good for Saracens and so has Gurthro [Steenkamp] for Toulouse. Those players were already quality before they left but it is clear they’ve learned a lot from playing overseas, particularly in these conditions,’ De Villiers said.
‘It is something a player needs to do at some stage in his career. It takes you out of your comfort zone and you have different experiences. In my case I travelled all around Europe, which is not something I would have had the opportunity to do without having gone to Munster. You earn good money, which is important, but the growth you take from it is more important. There’s also a payback for South African rugby because the younger guys learn from what you’ve learned.’
Pienaar in particular looks a player transformed and one growing in stature with every Test. De Villiers, who has played with him for a large part of his Test career, attributed his form to his Ulster stint but also noted the value of positional certainty.
‘In Ruan’s case you can see what a difference it has made with a coach who has backed him in one position and allowed him to settle,’ he said. ‘When he was playing in South Africa he was thrown around in different positions. Now that he is playing regularly at scrumhalf for Ulster and for us he has been outstanding.
‘I’m very happy for him. He has definitely matured, it’s clear. And with him being the third most capped player in the team, he now has a leadership role. It’s a similar thing with Frans Steyn – he is a totally different player, a far better one.’
There has been a determined air about the Springboks at training sessions this week, but they were also regularly to be seen out and about in Edinburgh, taking in the historical city’s sights and sounds. It is something Meyer has encouraged and De Villiers said it was a vital part of a player’s well-being.
‘Some of the youngsters are in Europe for the first time and others are out of South Africa for the first time. There is a lot of personal growth that happens with seeing the world, so for them to get out and live the city they’re in is something I really encourage. Rugby gives you the platform to travel the world and there’s no use in just coming here to train and play the game. You have to take a break, experience the culture and learn about the city you’re in. It is an important part of your preparation.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Edinburgh
12 Comments
16 Nov 2012, 14:19 pm
And the brains trust are only realising this now…??? Some of us have been extolling the virtues of using our European-based players in the June and November Test windows for years and years and years..
Pure logical sense – and crucially – it gives our local-based players a 3-week break in June – and the opportunity to have a full 10 week break at the end of the season.. Something Prof Tim Noakes has been calling for – since 1996…
Alas – will they ever actually fully utilise this option… Me doubts it given the average IQ of the current Bok management…
16 Nov 2012, 15:08 pm
Why is this not true in New Zealand???????????????????
16 Nov 2012, 15:14 pm
@mabu-2: NZ has European-like weather, especially the winters. Cold, wet, muddy.
Kiwis have no problem when they arrive in London, while the Saffas and Aussies are shivering and crying
16 Nov 2012, 15:16 pm
@Nick Armstrong-1: All the way from top level of SARU down.
I can understand the importance of the Bok coach’s message being that players should stay in South Africa, to try and keep our talent here. But then it is still important for the coach to still be pragmatic about it. Heyneke seems to have that realism on this subject (however deluded some of his other selections are).
PDiv was overboard on the issue, but that was also a by-product of his patriotism to South Africa – not a bad thing.
Im sure as SARU sees that players only go for 2 or 3 years and come back to SA even better, the attitude will change
16 Nov 2012, 15:33 pm
@bokfan1-3: On what you have just said, one wouldswear we a running rugby nation.
16 Nov 2012, 16:11 pm
Northern lights boost Boks, 14 Nov 2012 – Ryan Vrede
Boks bolstered by northern collective, 16 Nov 2012 – Ryan Vrede
struggling for ideas and material ryan…?
16 Nov 2012, 19:24 pm
I can’t take anything coming out of the Bok camp without dismissing it as pure PC PR.
They try so hard to tick every cliche box with every press conference.
I’m not saying I blame them, but I wish we could get some honest opinions without fear by the players or coach of backlash.
You can’t blame the scribes for scraping the bottom of the barrel when having to meet a deadline, as nothing new is being said week in and week out.
Every player loves and respects the coach, assistants and opposition and game plan etc.
16 Nov 2012, 23:55 pm
Brent Russell have been called up into the Bok team.
17 Nov 2012, 02:33 am
they’ve learned a lot from playing overseas, particularly in these conditions,’ De Villiers said.
What effing CONDITIONS?? A frigging slightly wetter pitch at a slightly colder temperature? OMFG how amazing. Gimme a friggin break. Under these conditions. F0kken grow some. And I have news for you Jean – you came back k@kker than you left. Drip.
17 Nov 2012, 02:34 am
@bokfan1-3: yeah exactly – bunch of pussies. They should go practice in Sutherland for a few months each year.
17 Nov 2012, 02:36 am
@Slumtown-9: (in reference to Saturdays match against Ireland that is – where it wasnt particularly cold nor was it raining)
17 Nov 2012, 05:30 am
Other than perhaps numbers 1 – 5, if they are improving their game by playing in a NH comp they must have been doing something pretty wrong when playing at home. Can’t see how playing amongst players from the ‘also ran’ rugby nations is going to teach you more than playing the guys that make up the top 3 nations. Almost everyone of the few AB’s who have gone overseas and then tried to return have noticeably gone backwards. I can’t see why it should be any different for Bok players unless it is more of a mental shift in getting away from the crazy environment rather than a real skills shift.
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