An era of unprecedented success – a ten-year period where they won five Currie Cup titles (one shared) and three Super Rugby crowns – now gives way to a time of rebuilding.
This is primarily (although not exclusively) due to the crippling effect of departures, mostly of senior players.
In a mass exodus, one that includes the loss of eight Springboks and a handful of extremely competent squad players who ensured strength in depth, the Bulls were significantly compromised. It is the experience of the departed they will miss the most. With Victor Matfield, Gary Botha, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Bakkies Botha retiring or seeking fresh challenges in Europe and Japan, they have lost 581 Super Rugby caps in addition to a wealth of Test experience (the sextet are all World Cup winners). Their absence will be felt most deeply in high-pressure situations.
Then there are those who still had much to offer, like Fourie du Preez (29), Steenkamp (30) and Rossouw, who despite being 32 has in recent years been a consistently good performer. Furthermore his positional versatility (he is able to cover lock, flank and No 8 with similarly high degrees of competence) is a rare and invaluable asset in a squad.
Following shoulder surgery in mid-2011, Du Preez struggled to impose his will on the opposition as readily as he had when at his best. Yet it is likely that he would have rediscovered the skill and tactical sharpness that for years marked him as the pre-eminent scrumhalf on the planet. But sushi will take precedence over prime steak at supper time, Du Preez opting to continue his career with the Suntory Sungoliath in Japan. He, above all others, is the loss the Bulls will lament most deeply, even though they have a prodigiously gifted successor in Francois Hougaard. In addition, from a leadership and tactical perspective, his and Matfield’s exit compounds their pain, as the twosome were heavily involved in the formulation and effective implementation of game plans. It is imperative that the players quickly progress beyond the psychological comfort Matfield and Du Preez elicited.
Certainly the Bulls’ position cannot be likened to the one they found themselves in in 2002, when the union was in turmoil and their ambition was being undermined by mediocrity on and off the field of play. Rectifying those flaws and steering the Bulls towards the success they subsequently achieved required a dramatic overhaul, primarily with regard to the playing structures, recruitment processes and culture. It is an area the Bulls’ director of rugby Heyneke Meyer, who is tasked with spearheading their drive into a new era of success, has put an intense focus on.
‘When I took over [as Bulls coach] in 2002 I was criticised for cutting 12 Springboks from our squad because I felt they didn’t fit into the team culture I wanted to foster,’ Meyer says. ‘This happened again recently, where some players had to go and be replaced by youngsters willing to embrace the culture I envisage – one of an unmatched work ethic and team above the individual. I felt that had gone away since I was last involved at the Bulls [Meyer was appointed to his current role after last coaching the Bulls to the Super 14 title in 2007]. That is something I’m ruthless about.’
‘Some of the players who were not granted contract extensions had gotten bigger than the union and I wouldn’t have that.’
Their recruiting has been purposeful and designed to ensure that there are successors of a high calibre when senior players succumb to the lure of foreign leagues, retire or endure torrid form. Hougaard is a prime example. It is a quality that will ensure they aren’t blown away in the holding years that lie before them, and the one that should make them title contenders in due course.
Recently some positional holes have been filled this way, the most notable being through the acquisition of the highly-rated midfielder Johann Sadie from Western Province. How Sadie responds in a new environment will be telling to the Bulls’ cause and his aptitude for Super Rugby will be tested in a way it never was as a bit-part player for the Cape union. It is certain that he will grow technically under the tutelage of the coaching staff, but the measure of the man will be how he negotiates the mental challenges that will mark his journey.
The famed Bulls’ junior structures will further supplement losses. The likes of centre Francois Venter and loose forward Arno Botha are treasured at the union and are seen as future Springboks. They will be blooded slowly but purposefully, with the intention of not compromising their ability to realise their immense potential.
Luck, science, timing and instinct combined in equal measure in uncovering Matfield, Du Preez, Botha and Bryan Habana and to a lesser degree Morné Steyn, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies. The plan is to have those characteristics conspire again to unveil an equally potent generation and in so doing lay the foundation for another era of dominance.
That said, Meyer has little time for talk of hope in this regard.
‘We can’t hope that the players we have brought in and will bring in will succeed. We have to have some degree of certainty. I’ve been trying to improve our ability to achieve this by travelling to the USA to meet with top gridiron scouts and see what methods they have of identifying players who’ll make the cut. Obviously technical ability still ranks highest as a criterion, but there is also a huge emphasis on mental toughness. There are tests designed to measure that trait in a young player that I want to adapt for our purposes.
‘I also visited the US Military Academy at West Point [the world’s leading military university] where I interviewed soldiers and leaders who have been on the frontline in Iraq and Afghanistan to see how they deal with the huge mental pressure associated with being in battle situations. It’s mental toughness that will win you the close games and that’s what I want to define my players.’
Bulls high-performance manager Ian Schwartz has worked closely with Meyer and the coaching staff on the recruitment of players for the bulk of his 11 years at the union, brokering the deals that have brought some of the country’s best talents (established and schoolboy) to Pretoria and indeed negotiated the retention of the region’s best young talent. He is optimistic about the future.
‘Firstly, when we recruit players for our Super Rugby squad from other unions we do so only if we believe they have the capacity to become Springboks,’ he says. ‘Johann Sadie and [former WP wing] JJ Engelbrecht are prime examples of that criteria. It has worked for us in the past if you look at Zane Kirchner, Bjorn Basson, Flip van der Merwe and others. It is important that players who come here have Test potential because that ensures we compete at a high level and don’t fall away like we would have in a situation like we just went through with so many senior players leaving.’
‘We also believe we sign the best schoolboy talent every year. We look for four primary criteria when signing a schoolboy – he must have exceptional talent, that is, an ability that surpasses his piers in his position, and be big, strong and quick. The fifth criteria can only be established once the player is with us – mental toughness.’
‘Some of those types of signings are coming through now. They may not be ready for Super Rugby just yet, but the fact that our U19 and U21 sides made the finals of their domestic competitions [the U21s won] indicates there is a wealth of talent at our disposal. Not all of those players will contest for Super Rugby places, but we only need three or four outstanding ones and we’re in a position of strength. Arno Botha and Francois Venter are the first of those to come through of the new crop. There will be others in the near future.’
Meyer adds that they have to resist the temptation to speak longingly of the past.
‘People said there would never be another Joost [van der Westhuizen] and then Fourie came along. I hear people saying similar things about Victor now. I don’t believe that.
‘It is our goal to continue to deliver players of that calibre consistently. With all due respect to the greats who have moved on, I’ve already seen things in some of our young players here that surpass what they had at a similar age. I’m excited by players like Francois, Arno and [flank] Jean Cook. There are others with the ability to go all the way.’
One of the challenges will be to ensure that the core group of players identified to take the team back to the summit of the southern hemisphere and recapture national dominance are retained in the rebuilding phase.
Meyer sold Matfield, Du Preez and co on his vision in the early 2000s and that vision was enticing enough for those players to resist the advances of local rivals and big-spending foreign outfits. Meyer has again cast that vision and he and Schwartz will endeavour to secure the short-term futures of the likes of Hougaard, Sadie, Venter, Botha, Morné Steyn and Pierre Spies in the face of what is sure to be stern competition for their services in the coming years.
‘The players, coaches and management are fully aware of what we’re looking to achieve here. We want to be the best domestic team in world rugby again. We don’t want to be reflecting on the success of past teams. We aim to create new memories across all our sides, not just the Super Rugby and Currie Cup ones. That is the vision, but the outworking will be difficult as we need to evolve.’
‘The leading franchises are all on a similar level in terms of their professionalism, so you aren’t going to gain an edge by having a better game plan, for example. That edge will come in the players knowing exactly why they’re doing what they’re doing, the culture I spoke about already and improving our structures by first identifying the best people for those structures, then improving the people within those structures.’
So what are realistic expectations and acceptable standards, given where they stand at present?
‘Look, not qualifying for the Currie Cup semi-finals wasn’t acceptable, even though we fielded a young side with a view to getting some of them ready for Super Rugby,’ Meyer says. ‘We will never tolerate mediocrity and there’s enough talent in our group to ensure that we are very competitive. But even though I have a clear idea in my mind about the time frame I expect to see results in, I never share that with players and coaches. That limits their thinking. For example, when I first started coaching the senior side, I expected to win the Currie Cup in year three of my plan. We won it in year two. I guarantee you that if I’d told my players and coaches that plan they wouldn’t have been as urgent as they were. That said, in a results-driven game you don’t have a lot of breathing space. We have to get it right as quickly as possible and I believe it won’t be long before we start achieving our goals.’
– This article first appeared in the December issue of SA Rugby magazine
Great read. Gives insight into the utter professionalism that envelopes the Bulls as a Union.
I should e-mail this article to a few administrators I know.
Oh sh1t, I don’t think they can read.
The head line of this Article is a crock of SHIT, to put it mildly!
Yeah, we all expect the Bulls to rebuild in 2012… and we do not expect to win the Super Rugby Competition in 2012, but the signings to replace those who left have been very astute.
The Bulls should still field about 12 Springboks in their starting lineup, with 3 more players who will run hard for Springbok positions in the remaining 3 positions.
Have a look at this run-on side, and tell me it’s weak!
15. Zane Kirchner (Springbok)
14. JJ Engelbrecht
13. Johann Sadie
12. Wynand Olivier (Springbok)
11. Bjorn Basson (Springbok)
10. Morné Steyn (Springbok)
9. Francois Hougard (Springbok)
8. Pierre Spies (Springbok)
7. Dewald Potgieter (Springbok)
6. Deon Stegmann (Springbok)
5. Juandre Kruger
4. Flip van der Merwe (Springbok)
3. Werner Kruger (Springbok)
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle (Springbok)
1. Dean Greyling (Springbok)
Add to this possible future stars like Francois Venter, Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Daniel Adongo, CJ Stander, Lionel Cronje, Louis Fouche….
Then add old Super Rugby stalwarts like Wilhelm Steenkamp, Akona Ndungane, Jano Vermaak…
Suddenly you have 25 very seasoned / talented Super Rugby Players….
Now add another bunch of acceptable Super Rugby players like Willie Wepener, Rossouw de Klerk, Frik Kirsten, Dawie Steyn (acquired from the Pumas) PLUS more yougsters like William Small-Smith, Bongi Mbonambi, Ruan Snyman, Jurgen Visser…. and suddenly you have 33 players, with cover in depth for every position!
The departure of senior players will hamper the side… or will it…. with these hungry youngsters chomping at the bit to be let loose under the guidance of astute coaches like Frans Ludeke & Heyneke Meyer!
Let’s look at the SIX prime departing players, and see who replaces them…
Gurthro is replaced by Dean Greylng – Gurthro was injured a lot last season, so the impact won’t be felt as much.
Gary Botha is finally superceded by Chiliboy Ralepelle – About bloody time, is’nt it!
Bakkies Botha is replaced by Flip van der Merwe – Not too bad hey, Nige…. Springbok for Springbok.
Victor Matfield is replaced by the talented Juandre Kruger – Juandre will step up, he has already started doing that in the Currie Cup and together with Andries Bekker will be the leading contenders to replace Victor Matfield at the Bokke as well.
Danie Rossouw is replaced by Wilhelm Steenkamp and / or Daniel Adongo – We will miss old Pakslae, but depth in locks is very good still.
Fourie du Preez is replaced by the fantastic Francois Hougaard and also by Jano Vermaak – Fourie du Preez in my mind is now behind Hougie anyway in MY picking order.
So, what have the Bulls really lost??
@ grootblousmile:
“So, what have the Bulls really lost??”
Only really experience as a TEAM.
I’m sure they’ll be no worse than last season, and may even be better and more consistent.
3 @ Scrumdown:
Maybe not even that, meaning the TEAM thing… maybe only massively experienced players…
Most of the incumbants got a fair chance to gel in the TEAM during the Currie Cup (without the World Cup Springboks).
… and I know for a fact that the pre-season preparations so far has been extensive, hard, proper…
We will only know I suppose after the 1st Super Rugby game, what the TEAM dynamics are and will be like.
@ grootblousmile:
2
All the players above MIGHT have it, but this year showed they are not all mentally strong enough, like HM said “The fifth criteria can only be established once the player is with us – mental toughness.’ I dont think the Bulls will fall down to the bottom but for the first time in years the other teams do have the same type of players have enough experience, if not more experience.
I found this article GREAT. GBS I know you rub shoulders with Heynecke but be honest this is a great informative article that highlights the difficulties the Bulls will have. Other teams are practicing just as hard will be just as fit and this year we wont have those incredible reliable game breakers.I wont feel as confident as the Lions supporters on WTR was last year, but dammit i will hope and cling to my team.
5 @ superBul:
I don’t have a problem with the Article as such, I have a problem with the HEADING, as I clearly stated above. The HEADING is absolute kak, twaddle, hogwash, bog, snert, a thumb suck!
It is pure conjecture to describe the Bulls dynasty to be a thing of the past, and mostly a wish by non-Bulls.
Like I said, show me a Team that will still field 12 Springboks as starters… PLUS 1 Springbok on the bench (Akona).
PLUS maybe some new 2012 future Bokke (Sadie, Engelbreght, Juandre Kruger – soon) PLUS possible future Springboks, after 2012, in Arno Botha, CJ Stander, Jacques Potgieter, Francois Venter….
You don’t think the Bulls have game breakers to replace the lost players?
I beg to differ… there’s the prodigious Hougie, Morné Steyn, Sadie, Basson, Engelbrecght, Francois Venter, Juandre Kruger, Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, CJ Stander, Jano Vermaak…. just watch these guys in particular and watch them prove you doubters wrong as they break a few games wide open!
The Bulls tight 5 WILL be strong, the loosies have massive quality AND depth. From scrummie right through to the wings the Bulls have some of the best anywhere, fullback is solid without being spectacular.
You easily forget about the player losses after the World Cup for other Super Rugby sides – the Sharks have lost a few too, so too the Stormers, the Cheetahs have a depth problem and so too the Lions…. and that is just the South African lot.
All the New Zealand sides have lost players overseas and due to retirement too, so too most of the Australian sides with the exception of the Reds, maybe.
The playing field is definately more level than before, but only time will tell who steps up to the mark and who will flatter to deceive…. to assume the Bulls are the only ones and to assume therefore the dynasty is at an end, is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Assumption is the mother of all fark-ups!
grootblousmile wrote:
ek wil nie met my mede Bul stry nie maar dink jy dat van daai 12 dat hulle die manne in die saal is. Kyk baie het die titel Bok maar is hulle werklik Bok materiaal. Sal Jy hulle more as eerste keuses in n Bokspan he?
grootblousmile wrote:
aai ou ek wens ook hulle breek nie net die game oop nie maar breek sommer n paar teenstanders se hoop. Maar hulle het nog niks bewys nie, ek sal eerder n lae profiel hou en hul voluit ondersteun maar ek gaan nie soos my Leeu maatjies blindelings verkondig hoe goed hulle is nie. HULLE sal maar ook vir my op die veld moet bewys wat werklik in hul steek.
Ons sal maar kyk.
Vir my sal dit lekker wees om van die oorblywende ervare Bulle n groot seisoen te sien. MAW ek hoop, Pierre , Werner, Dean, Dewalt, Chillie, Stegies, Flip en Juandre/Steenkamp speel 100% beter as laasjaar, dan ja dan gaan die Bulle beslis nie sukkel nie.
grootblousmile wrote:
maar jy weet mos n heading is daar vir sensasie , om aandag te trek. En kom ek se jou die heading was great in DAAI opsig. Kyk selfs n kalm prokurower het sommer sy moer daarvoor gestrip
Let me re-phrase…
Let’s look at the other SA sides:
Stormers:
1. Blaauw (not near Springbok material)
2. Tiaan Liebenberg & Deon Fourie (not even in the top 4 SA hookers)
3. Brok Harris (not near Springbok material)
4. Rynhardt Elstadt (not a Bok yet)
5. Andries Bekker (Springbok – most likely to replace Victor Matfield at the Bokke)
6. Schalk Burger (Springbok)
7. Siya Kolisi (not a Bok yet)
8. Duane Vermeulen (not a Bok yet)
9. Dewaldt Duvenage (not a Bok)
10. Demetri Catrakilis (not a Bok yet) / Peter Grant (not in the top 4 for Bok flyhalf)
11. Bryan Habana (Springbok at the end of his Bok career)
12. Jean de Villiers (Springbok at the end of his Bok career)
13. Juan de Jongh (Springbok)
14. Gio Aplon (Springbok) / Gerhard van den Heever (not near Bokke quality) / Danie Poolman (not near Bokke quality)
15. Joe Pietersen (not a Springbok)
Lions:
15. Jaco Taute (future Bok)
14. Michael Killian (not a Bok)
13. Doppies la Grange (not a Bok)
12. Alwyn Hollenbach (not a Bok)
11. Van Rensburg (not near Bokke material)
10. Elton Jantjies (might be a full-blooded Bok in 2012)
9. Michael Bondesio (not nearly a Bok)
8. Josh Strauss (future Bok)
7. Rhodes (not a Bok)
6. Derick Minnie (not a Bok)
5. Franco van der Merwe (not nearly Bokke material)
4. Wikus van Heerden (Springbok)
3. CJ van der Linde (Springbok)
2. Bandise Maku (Blygemaakte Bok)
1. Pat Celliers (might become a Bok)
Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller (not a Bok)
14. Ryno Benjamin (not nearly Bok material)
13. Robert Ebersohn (not a Bok)
12. Andries Strauss (1 Springbok cap?)
11. Jonghi Nokwe (not a Bok candidate at present)
10 Johan Goosen (future Springbok)
9. Piet van Zyl (not a Bok)
8. Ashley Johnson (Springbok)
7. Juan Smith (Springbok)
6. Heinrich Brussow (Springbok)
5. Isak van der Westhuizen (not nearly Bok material)
4. Waltie Vermeulen (not nearly Bok material)
3. WP Nel (not a Bok)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Springbok)
1. Coenie Ooshuizen (should become a Bok… after he gets over his injury)
Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik (not a Bok) / Riaan Viljoen (Springbok… just barely)
14. J P Pietersen (Springbok)
13. Marius Joubert (Ex-Springbok… not good enough now to be called a Springbok)
12. Tim Whitehead (not a Bok)
11. Lwazi Mvovo (Springbok)
10. Patrick Lambie (Springbok)
9. Charl McLeod (not Bok material… debatable)
8. Ryan Kankowski (Springbok)
7. Willem Alberts (Springbok)
6. Jean Deysel (Springbok) / Keegan Daniel (could become a Bok)
5. Alistair Hargreaves (Springbok – should never have been one)
4. Ross Skeate (not nearly Bokke material)
3. Jannie du Plessis (Springbok)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Springbok)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Springbok)
There you have the possible SA Super Rugby run-on squads, bar a few mistakes maybe…. compare those squads to the Bulls squad I penned down earlier, then consider depth in that Franchise compared to the Bulls….
Still think the Bulls are worse off, considering who is there for 2012?
If so, it can only be because you are a pessimist!
Is the Bulls dynasty really over?
O dan moet ek ook by se dat GBS die volste reg het om sy se te se oor so n heading. Vat hulle siebie, sa vat hulle.
@ grootblousmile:
As ek daai spanne daarbo kyk sien ek heelwat samespel en ervaring wat gaan deurkom, so ek lag hulle beslis nie af nie. Ek glo vas aan kombinasies en samespel en dit, gaan die Bulle mis sonder hul ou strydrosse. Maar nou ja daar is baie dele van die Bul span wat lekker bymekaar gebly het.
Wie sal jy as nr 1 lostrio kies, seker Spies, Stegies en Potgieter. As hulle goed vaar die jaar gaan dit maklik wees om Stander en die ander nuwelinge in te faseer, maar sukkel Steggies weer met beserings en vorm en dieselfde vir die ander twee dan gaan die jong manne in die diepkant ingegooi word. Anyway gaan baie intresant wees om die Bulle se tog dop te hou.
11 @ superBul:
Lostrio is moeilik, die jong manne gaan vir Stegmann & Dewald Potgieter al hulle hel gee…. daar is nog daai woelwater Tecklenburg ook, benewens Arno Botha, CJ Stander en Jacques Potgieter.
Ek sou begin met Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter & Spies, maar ek sal van die begin af vir Jacques Potgieter en Arno Botha op die bench hê en vir hulle genoeg game time gee. Die laasgenoemde 2 gaan nog groot spore trap… en mynsinsiens is Dewald Potgieter reeds in gevaar om nie te begin nie. Stegmann se kop hoop ek is hierdie jaar reg, jy weet ek hou van ‘n out-and-out fetcher op oopkant.
Om op te som…. soos ek in my eerste comment gesê het…. ek weet dis ‘n herbou fase en ek verwag nie die Bulls gaan in 2012 die Super Rugby kompetisie wen nie.
Wat ek egter bysê is dat mens nie voortydig die Bulls moet afskrywe nie… bloot omdat ‘n klompie groot geeste weg is nie.
As ek na die Stormers kyk, dink ek hulle het probleme.
As ek na die Lions kyk, dink ek hulle diepte is ‘n geweldige probleem.
As ek na die Cheetahs kyk, selfde storie, diepte en paar klempossies is ‘n probleem.
As ek na die Sharks kyk, slotte is ‘n probleem, so ook die middeveld.
He He, love it when the “pink Bulls” clash heads before hostilities even commence. My 2cents worth.. I think the Bulls will be strong, and in a way better off now that the new players come through. Funnily enough, the Bulls look stronger in the backline. I would also rather play guys like Stander, Jacques potgieter, Tecklenburg, and Botha. Dunno if Spies will ever realise his potential. Werner Kruger, Chillipop, and greylin haven’t inspired confidence since there poor showing overseas.
The Cheetahs, Sharks, and Bulls seem to be well served. stormers are short on grunt in the pack, and Lions will battle when the inevitable injuries mount.
Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Vogt
14. Ryno Benjamin, Rocco Jansen
13. Robert Ebersohn, Jean stemmet, Matt Rosslee
12. Andries Strauss, Wilmaure Louw, Geel, Phillip Snyman
11. Cameron jacobs, Dusty Noble, Phillip Burger
10 Johan Goosen, Sias Ebersohn,
9. Piet van Zyl, Marnus Hugo
8. Ashley Johnson, Karemaker, Raubenheimer
7. Juan Smith, Phillip vd Walt
6. Heinrich Brussow, Johan Wessels, Justin Downey
5. Andries Ferreira, Martin Muller, I van der Westhuizen
4. Uys, Waltie Vermeule, maybe Landman
3. WP Nel, Lourens Adriaanse, Butterworth
2. Adriaan Strauss, PW van Vuuren, Liebenberg
1. Coenie Ooshuizen, Marcel vd Merwe
Cheetahs don’t have many stars, but they have good combinations, and are very versatile. The combo of van zyl, and goosen is exciting, and both are good defenders. The Cheetahs pack might not dominate some of the top sides, but as they showed vs the Crusaders, they will hold their own, and with enough ball, can hurt many teams. My gut feel is that the Stormers have had their run in 2010/2011. They will struggle, and the Lions will also be found wanting. The SA and NZ conference are going to be brutal!!
15 @ Cheetah4eva:
I still think the Cheetahs are light in a few positions and in QUALITY depth.
Loosehead – Coenie is injured at the moment and will be out for a while in Super Rugby…. Marcel is average at best.
Hooker – After Adriaan Strauss the cupboard looks a bit bare.
Locks – Both No 4 and No 5 lock is a massive problem with average written all over all the locks.
Loosies – Looking damn good.
Scrumhalf – Afraid the cubboard is very bare, they’ll miss Super Sareltjie.
Flyhalves – Well covered, excellent players.
Centers – Good starters in Andries Strauss & Robert Ebersohn… OK’ish backup.
Wings – Not the best wingers around, none of them the best defenders either, but somehow the Cheetahs always make it work in this department.
Fullbacks – Hennie Daniller & Rudi Vogt are fine, no problem.
One positive that the Cheetahs have this year is that they hardly lost players… apart from Sarel Pretorius (big loss), Tewis de Bruin (no loss), Wilhelm Steenkamp (big loss) & Riaan Viljoen (big loss), so there should for once be better continuity than before.
I agree with you that the SA & NZ conferences are going to be brutal. I am totally hesitant to make predictions about who ends where in the SA Conference.
My main aim for my above comments was to knock the silly HEADLINE in it’s moer.
I think every SA Franchise has their own unique problems or weak points…
– Sharks (average locks & suspect midfield)
– Stormers (tight 5 still a very light 5, no quality depth after Dewaldt Duvenage at scrumhalf, flyhalf uncertainty, the loss of quality players – Jaque Fourie, Johann Sadie, JJ Engelbrecht, Lionel Cronje, Francois Louw, Adriaan Fondse)
– Lions (short 1 great starting lock, scrumhalf depth and overall depth a problem, short one quality wing as a starter – Van Rensburg is average)
– Cheetahs (average locks, overall depth is a problem, no quality scrumhalves, suspect defenders on both wings)
– Bulls (lost key players & lost experience, bit thin at fullback)
@ GBS
Agree with you on the Bulls dynasty. They are too powerful a Union, and also astute to have a repeat of the lean ’90’s.
To answer you last post, as a biased cheetah supporter the following:
Loosehead – Coenie should be back mid season,but we should be ok with the signed boland props. Marcel is still very young, but will be monster in a years time. He is only 20.
Hooker – Adriaan Strauss is class, but PW van vuuren is showing great promise.
Locks – Andries Ferreire, is a ex BB u20 Bok, and I think he will do well. uys is a solid grafter, but the Cheetahs seem to work around that. Muller, is useful.
Scrumhalf – van Zyl is going to be the surprise package this year. We will miss sarel’s sniping breaks, but his defence also let us down. this kid does both.
Fullbacks – Keen to see how Willie le Roux from the Boland performs.
In a nutshell. The Cheetahs haven’t had a class lock in years. They have a very young group of players, that have come through the Cheetah ranks. I counted in the semi vs the Sharks they had something loke 13 of the match 22, that started their rugby in the Cheetah camp at u19. So yes, they haven’t lost many players, but have blooded quite a few, which will help, when the injuries mount.
I will be brave and reckon the SA Conference will be between the Bulls and Cheetahs
“Firstly, when we recruit players for our Super Rugby squad from other unions we do so only if we believe they have the capacity to become Springboks”
..
i’ve read this article in sarugby mag a while ago (dont tell keo i’ve started reading it again, lol) and have been impressed by meyer and how he approach things, none more than by what he says about their recruitment policy.
sigh … i can only hope toetie en dj discolights also read it!!
gbs @ 14
maar ons het meer losskakels as julle, so there!!
19 @ Ashley:
Meer ja, meer kakkes ook, ja!
He He, die losskakel fabriek loop klopdisselboom.
Stormers: van Aswegen, Catrakiliis, Coleman
Cheetahs: Ebersohn, Goosen, Boshoff
Lions: Jantjies
Pink Bulls: Steyn, Tony Jantjies
Sharks: Lambie
At least the Cheetahs have two quality generals!
So many players that can step up this year and make the Boks stronger. Players that haven’t made Bok debut’s, but that can make it sooner rather than later.
1. Coenie, Kitshoff, Marcel vd Merwe
2. Mbonambi, van Vuuren
3. Pat Cilliers, Lourens Adriaanse, Malherbe
4. Eztebeth, Roodt
5. Kruger, Ferreira, Jan andre Marais, Bressler
6. Tecklenburg, Jacques Potgieter, Minnie
7. van der Walt, Marcel Coetzee
8. Arno Botha, Duanne Vermeulen, Koster
9. van Zyl
10. Goosen, Ebersohn, Jantjies
11. Sithole, JJ Engelbrecht
12. Frans Venter, Phillip Snyman, Alwyn Hollenbach, Dries Serfontein
13. Dries Swanepoel, Ebersohn, Sadie
14. Mbhovane, Poolman
15. Taute, Visser, Beyers
There is such talent available
brumbies facing financial crisis – rugby 365
CLOSE THE AIRPORTS!! dont let him back in!!
#22
just had a thought … i hope he doesnt think of coming back home disguised as pdv …. 😯 that would be the perfect disguise … he could say any old thing and not arise the least bit of suspicion!!
#22
happy new year everyone
best wishes for the year ahead
will be back on tuesday again
cheers!!
enjoy!!
…
soos my ma altyd gesê het: “hou matigheid voor oë”
ekt altyd sterk daaraan gedink om vir my ñ glas te kry met “matigheid” daarop gegraveer.
ekt daarteen besluit, want ek was seker sy sou my doodgemoer het!! 😆
I don’t know, I leave you bully boys for five minutes, you go pink, and the cat fights start. Well next year is Nog ‘n jaar, and the winds of change are blowing in. The Stormers are coming boys, so watch out. We’re that confident we haven’t had to change the colour of our tops to try to confuse the enemy – sad thing is that if we do have to, I think the only colour left is baby blue, and that would look pretty stupid on our OAP’s! Alls fair in love and war, and it’s the Stormers too take it this year. What ‘it’ is, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Happy new year lads, I hope you have a great celebration, and here’s to a great 2012’s rugby season. Speak to you all in the new year
Hello to all, Happy New Year to all fellow rugy-talkers may you and your families have a wonderful 2012!
We won’t be greedy so all will put on the wish list for 2012 are 6 nations, Super 15, Trinations and World Junior titles.. ag well maybe Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and domestic under 19 and under 21 champs will be nice too
Happy New Year All –
May 2012 bring health and happy times to all.
Best Wishes from Britain.
See you in 2012
Happy new year fellow bloggers may some of your dreams come trough
May your New Years resolutions last at least 2 weeks
and may my Bulls team go mad and build their trophy winning history
Go well and whatever happens enjoy the ride.
29@ superBul:
Hi there superBul hope you had a good New Year and all the best for you and your family this year, we had a quiet one, been a busy old time of late so lekker moeg now, need to get some sleep, hopefully should get to follow a bit of the cricket here from day 2 of Newlands test, stay well!
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