Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2023 i SA RUGBY

A breakout 2022 season blurred the memory of a time when some were outspoken in questioning whether Damian Willemse was ever going to live up to the hype. On this matter, I'm chuffed to say I was one of the blokes outspoken in questioning why it was taking so long for Willemse to get his shot at the Springbok No 10 jersey. I'm told Willemse is happy to play wherever the coaches need him, for club or country, but it has always been my contention that he is far too valuable to join the long list of ‘versatile playmakers’ who inevitably get consigned to the scrapheap for ‘not being a specialist’. Having shrugged off a senous injury to help the Stormers clinch the inaugural United Rugby Championship title, Willemse on…

It's one thing to have the ability to kick the ball an incredible distance. And those who watch the United Rugby Championship will notice Lions flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse firing them over from well inside his own half. But motivation for when and why kickers take that on can be fascinating. And fun. ‘It's all about technique: keep your head down and follow through,’ says Hendrikse. ‘But it could also be like a technique to play mind games with the opposition. Maybe taking a kick from further than expected to let them think, “oh, I can't give penalties away in that area of the field”. ‘But for me it's about feeling confident, reaching back and striking the ball sweetly. With my kick against the Dragons [56m], there was nothing about showing…

Defending European Cup champions La Rochelle, more formally known as Stade Rochelais, have had a relatively low-key existence for most of a history dating back to 1898. From its small harbour-town base on the west coast of France, the club has historically struggled to achieve major successes, but is supported by fervent fans. La Rochelle had been throwing their weight around the Pro D2 and had never played in the Top 14, and when they did reach the peak of French rugby in 2010, they were almost immediately sent back down to the second division. This prompted club president Vincent Merling, a former flanker with La Rochelle in the 1970s, to draw up a five-year plan, called ‘Growing Together’, that convinced local businessmen to support the club. Part of the…

WHICH PLAYERS WOULD YOU TRADE BETWEEN TWO SA FRANCHISES? VS DYLAN JACK SAYS NEETHLING FOUCHÉ TO THE BULLS, WANDISILE SIMELANE TO THE STORMERS The major goal with making this trade is to improve the area in which each team is light on depth and quality. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that tighthead prop is a position with which the Bulls have struggled since Trevor Nyakane decided to cash in on a move to French giants Racing 92. Since then, the Bulls have promoted the underrated Mornay Smith, who has done an admirable job. However, after Smith, the Bulls have had to make do with shifting looseheads like Jacques van Rooyen and Dylan Smith across the scrum, or play inexperienced tightheads like Francois Klopper. It stands to reason…

DAMIAN WILLEMSE ‘Vamos Argentina!’ – The Stormers and Springbok utility back celebrated La Selección's Fifa World Cup final victory against France. BROK HARRIS ‘Playing for the Barbarians is a dream for any rugby player – it was a great privilege and honour to accept this invitation, and certainly one that I will treasure for many years to come.’ – The veteran Stormers prop after their match against the Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens. COURTNALLSKOSAN ‘This game can be beautiful and brutal at the same time, but what is always guaranteed, is the relationships we build along the way! So much wealth in these moments. Thanks for the chats, manne! And congrats on a good game.’ – The Northampton Saints wing with teammate Juarno Augustus and La Rochelle's Springbok duo Dillyn…

RICHARDO DUARTTEE ‘I want to be the best sevens player the world has ever seen,’ Ricardo Duarttee tells SA Rugby magazine, a couple of weeks after his epic debut for the Blitzboks. The 24-year-old has gained quite a following after his exploits in Dubai and Cape Town, his first two tournaments for the Springbok Sevens side. His performances in the UAE, particularly in South Africa's quarter-final and semi-final, led to him gaining the nickname ‘Tricky Ricky’, a moniker he happily accepted. In total, Duarttee played 12 matches across the two tournaments, scoring 53 points, including five tries, as the Blitzboks claimed their first tournament title of the season in the desert and finished in fourth place at home. ‘It has been a real journey and a dream come true. I'm…

One of the criticisms of the 1987 World Cup was that it was hosted by two nations, Australia and New Zealand. The general consensus afterwards was that the tournament should be staged in one country for logistical, concentration and management reasons. However, everyone in Europe wanted a share of the action in 1991, so the second World Cup was hosted jointly by the Five Nations unions. Once again, the Springboks were not welcome at the global showpiece, although they would return to international rugby the following year. Australia went into the World Cup as slight favourites, having beaten the All Blacks in Sydney earlier that year before suffering a narrow loss in Auckland. As far as the European nations were concerned, only England were given a realistic chance of winning…

Rob du Preez is just back from a team recovery day at a facility used by Man City. Saunas, hot and cold baths, one or two meetings. Sale's fine start to the season had been halted by losses to Harlequins and Saracens in which try-scoring opportunities were squandered. Opting for driving mauls when Sarries had wing Elliot Daly and centre Nick Tompkins in the sin-bin came under scrutiny. ‘It's easy to look at decisions in hindsight/ says 29-year-old Du Preez. In one maul when we were 15 to their 13, we mauled them all the way to the line but knocked on. If we'd scored we'd be saying “great call”. In another one. Tommy Taylor broke off and was deemed to have crawled. Again, if we'd scored there, it's a…

FORWARDS 1. TENDAI MTAWARIRA the main guy. Tough and strong, but such a good man off the field. 2. TIAAN LIEBENBERG We had a good combination and understanding. I will always pick him to throw me the ball at lineout time. What a boytjie. 3. BEN FRANKS Strong in the scrum and defensively. Absolutely rocked me in a tackle in 2011. 4. EBEN ETZEBETH Such a good feeling to have seen this guy start off at the Stormers. Was lucky to have played with him for a few games. 5. BRODIE RETALLICK One of the best modern-day players. Tough and skilful and will end his career as one of the most capped All Blacks. 6. DAIKI HASHIMOTO He could have played lots of Super Rugby games had he not been…

LINEBREAKS Hlathi Dyantyi Eben must get it. Yes, Siya has played very well but he didn't reach the level of Eben and Am didn't finish what he started because of injuries. Alten du Plessis Pretty harsh to not even nominate Damian Willemse. He was arguably the Springboks’ most consistent backline player during the Test season and played every Test. The Stormers won the URC, largely inspired by his combination with Libbok and Gelant (and he played the back-end of the season with a seriously 6injured arm). Shawn Berry Etzebeth, hands down. Kurt-Lee for Newcomer of the Year. Anda Pretorius Give the award to Eben Etzebeth! He deserves it! Njabulo Wela Even though the Sharks have serious cash there's still a salary cap that's tiny compared to European clubs. Racing must…

What was the most challenging aspects of switching from sevens to fifteens? There's a lot less space than in sevens and the fifteens game is much more structured, but it was a good challenge and fun to adapt. What was your most memorable rugby moment as a youngster? The try I scored for the Pumas against Boland at the U18 Craven Week in Kimberley in 2011. Hardest field of my life, but a good one to score the first try on! Do you think you will ever cut your iconic blond locks? Um, no, I don't think so. Maybe one day, after my rugby career, but for me it's who I am and it's my look and I don't think I'll ever cut it off while I'm playing. My father…

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH DUANE VERMEULEN ‘It was probably the highlight of my career when I joined the Bulls and Duane was still there. Sharing the field with a legend like that, you can't place a value on what he taught me. You either learn that sort of stuff by experiencing it, or you try to absorb it through a guy who has experienced it. It was a massive honour for me to train and play with him and I have a lot of respect for him. It's funny; about a year before we met there was this Instagram thing where you fill in your favourite player and position, and I tagged Duane, and he didn't even respond! We're good friends now, though.’ HIS HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022 ‘Making my Springbok debut…

What ware the Blitzboks’ highs and lows of 2022? Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games was definitely the highlight of the year. It was also great to win the first four tournaments of the season in the World Rugby Sevens Series and set a few records along the way, including 36 consecutive wins. The lows, of course, were failing to win the Sevens Series and not reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup. Why were the Blitzboks so inconsistent last year? During lockdown, we didn't have a new intake of academy players. Our feeder system has been the reason for our success over the past eight or nine years, so we knew it would catch up with us at some stage. And it did when guys like Ronald Brown and…

MINIS & JUNIORS Learn to pick and support Develop your players’ ability to get into the best positions to support the ball-carrier. They have to react to the speed of the ball-carrier and their likely pass, so good communication is imperative. WHY USE IT The ball-carrier might be quick or slow. The support players must either race to get into position or hold their runs so they can take the ball at pace. SET-UP A 15m × 5m box, divided into three equal areas by cones, and one ball. HOW TO DO IT Putthreenumbered attackers at the side at one end of the first box and a ball in the middle of the corridor opposite the middle player. Whenyoushout a number, that player runs out and picks up the ball.…

Dillyn Leyds, who earned the last of his 10 Test caps for the Springboks in 2019, is a talented playmaker consistently fielded at fullback and wing by La Rochelle. A supremely skilful player with pace, vision and quick feet, the 30-year-old – alongside fellow Bok Raymond Rhule – has been a mainstay for the French outfit in the Top 14 and was key to a 2021-22 Champions Cupwinning campaign. An incisive attacking threat in a team that produced many a memorable try, Leyds can also be trusted under the high ball as well as to put the boot in and he works bravely on defence. Rhule, who like Leyds can play centre, wing and fullback, has similarly proved to be an invaluable asset, the Accra-born speedster clocked at 35km/h by…

Four wins from four Tests would have been fabulous for the Springboks in November, but it was the dismantling of England at Twickenham and the effort against France in Marseille that makes them so well placed a year out from defending the World Cup. True, they lost 30-26 to a French team that physically had not been hit so hard in a collision. The core of their pack were already heading for the showers at half-time, out of choice. Red cards also influenced the flow of the game but the Boks were stronger and should have closed out the game. The French won't want to play the Springboks in a World Cup playoff match. They would much prefer Ireland, who they dealt with comfortably in Paris in last year's Six…