Hougaard yearns for scrumhalf return
22 Nov 2012
Francois Hougaard says he is better suited to scrumhalf than wing and admits to feeling like he is stalling Lwazi Mvovo’s Test career.
In a refreshingly candid interview, Hougaard, who started the Test season as Heyneke Meyer’s first-choice scrumhalf but was later shifted to wing, spoke about his positional preference, his form and his feelings on Mvovo’s plight.
Hougaard shone for the Bulls in 2009 and 2010 on the wing, but struggled to make the transition back to scrumhalf (where he’d played most of his career) when Fourie du Preez moved on. This season was one of adjustment, painful at times, as Hougaard battled to come to terms with the tactical demands of the Bulls’ game plan, particularly the kicking disciplines.
Those struggles carried over into the Test arena, before he was finally replaced by Ruan Pienaar for the Rugby Championship. Yet Heyneke Meyer still placed high value on his game-breaking ability and accommodated him on the wing.
Asked to assess his season, Hougaard said: ‘I haven’t been happy with my form. I’m still learning a lot at scrumhalf, but I haven’t played much there. I still train there everyday, but you only get better if you play. I still think that’s my best position.
‘In the long run I’m a scrumhalf. I want to settle in one position or I run the risk of being an average wing and an average scrumhalf. I don’t want that to happen. I know I have so much to work on at scrumhalf, but I’d prefer to cover scrumhalf from the bench for the Springboks [in 2013] if it means I’m not thrown around positionally [scrumhalf at the Bulls and wing with the Springboks].’
With the reduced time and space on offer in Test rugby [compared to Super Rugby] and greater analysis available on him after his impressive cameos off the wood as a wing in 2011, Hougaard has yet to entrench himself in the position. There are mitigating factors, among them the Springboks’ inability to engineer opportunities for him. Hougaard, however, refused to look beyond himself for blame, and continued with a startling admission.
‘The coach plays me ahead of Lwazi on wing, but I feel for him. I would understand and support the decision to play him ahead of me,’ he said. ‘It feels unfair to me because I’m playing in his position and not doing that well. Its easy to tell the guys to keep themselves up on a three-week tour, where they sit on the bench or never play. It’s not nice and not easy, I’ve been there. But I’m here now and I have to take the chance. I’m working hard every day to improve.’
409 Comments
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23 Nov 2012, 18:47 pm
@mikeybrass-399: Hello Michael.
Is there an idiots guide to archaeology..Am getting old and need to keep
the beast at bay.
Looked in Wiki and saw “the wave theory” and felt totally ignorant.Fascinated by your conversation with Skop.A very bright man.
23 Nov 2012, 20:55 pm
@ryecatcher-401:
“Fascinated by your conversation with Skop.A very bright man.”
You know you’re setting yourself up? Some of Skop’s adversaries will no doubt start to doubt how bright YOU are.
23 Nov 2012, 21:07 pm
@nama1-402: Hello Nama,i ENJOY WHAT i CAN THESE DAYS.REITERATE.A VERY BRIGHT PERSON
23 Nov 2012, 22:13 pm
@ryecatcher-401: Rye,
Take a look at my website antiquityofman.com . If you go to the About tab and scroll down to the references section, and follow the link to my 2002 book The Antiquity of Man (which needed a better proof-reader and of course has much content which is now dated) which outlines what science & archaeology are and what defines pseudoscience.
There are also many articles and references throughout the site as well as links to the other main archaeology websites.
If you are looking to buy any books:
Martin Hall’s Archaeology Africa
Colin Renfrew & Paul Bahn’s Archaeology theory, method and practice
Hiliary & Janette Deacon’s book on the archaeology of South Africa written in very clear, easy language.
All three are available from Exclusive Books
There are more comprehensive books out there.
My e-mail is on my website. Drop me a line if you wish. I can point you to organisations which do lectures etc for the public.
24 Nov 2012, 00:35 am
@ryecatcher-403:
I AGREE.
MUCH TO LEARN FROM HIM.
I CERTAINLY DID THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT I’VE BEEN ON THIS BLOG.
FARK…sorry CAPS!!! :LOL:
24 Nov 2012, 01:35 am
@mikeybrass-404:
“Education is not a consumer product. It is an attitude, a philosophy, a way of life.”
Powerful introduction.
24 Nov 2012, 01:39 am
I hate this Khoikhoi and Khoi/San kak.
Can you please explain to me where that came from?
I prefer Nama and Bushman.
24 Nov 2012, 08:16 am
@mikeybrass-376: Nothing new to discover, it as always been there ?…oh and by the way
As “evidence” to support your theory, most books on evolution include a reference list (bibliography) of other books and articles that also support the theory of evolution. When you spend a great deal of time examining these sources and saw only a “circle of information,” with each document pointing to the next source as their “proof.” In university, I cynically called this procedure the “tower of babble.” (Yes, “babble” is the right word—this phrase is a pun.) To perform this procedure, the graduate student wrote their thesis based on the work and assumptions made by a previous graduate student. Of course that previous student did the same thing using the material of a still earlier student. By adding plenty of scientific terms and classifications, you not only sounded scholarly, but the thesis looked impressive to your family and friends!
24 Nov 2012, 11:13 am
@JL1-408: Yawn. Come back when you actually understand what you’re blithering about.
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