The 7th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.
In this Article we look at the contenders for CENTRES in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Contenders:
Name: Wynand Olivier
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Wynand “Meisiekind” Olivier was born in Welkom, attended the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunsskool (Affies) in Pretoria and made his provincial rugby debut for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup in a match against Boland in 2003. He made his debut in the Super 12 (now, Super Rugby) competition in 2005, playing for the Bulls in a game against the Otago-based Highlanders. He was included in Jake White’s 2006 Springboks 45 man training squad. Olivier made his test debut in the first test against Scotland in Durban in 2006 and was included in the Bok starting lineup for the tests against Scotland in Port Elizabeth and France in Cape Town. He was selected to tour with the Springboks as they started their Tri Nations quest in 2006.
Olivier has been an integral part of the Bull’s championship winning teams and although a lot of people will argue that he has not been an outstanding Springbok, he has been an excellent and outstanding game-breaking Blue Bulls and Bulls centre. Despite his match-winning qualities, he is second to Springbok veteran Adrian Jacobs in terms of consideration for the position of replacement center.
The very experienced midfielder has constantly shown himself to be one of the best in the competition and this year should be no different. Olivier is the defensive kingpin at the back, provides real thrust on attack and has developed a great understanding with Morné Steyn on his inside. Olivier will also be keen to use this platform to propel himself back into the Springbok team, having missed out on World Cup selection in 2011.
Career Honours:
- Young SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 2005
- ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year nominee , 2008
- In 2008 he was inducted into the University of Pretoria Sport Hall of fame.
Name: Johann Sadie
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Johann Sadie is yet another product of Paarl Gymnasium.
The exciting midfielder comes to the Bulls amid huge expectation and hype. Regarded as one of the brightest stars in backline play in South Africa, Bulls fans will be keen to see if the elusive playmaker can continue his rich vein of form shown in Stormers and Western Province colours in 2011. A massive attacking force and great distributor, Sadie could unlock the potential of the Bulls backline big time.
Career:
- 2005 – Western Province Under 16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2006 – Western Province Under 18 Coca Cola Craven Week and Under 18 Academy Week, South Africa Under 18 CAR
- 2007 – Western Province Under 18 Coca Cola Craven Week
- 2008 – Vodacom Western Province Under 19 ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2009 – Maties FNB Varsity Cup, South Africa IRB Junior World Championships, Western Province ABSa Under 21 Competition
- 2010 – Western Province Vodacom Cup, ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2011 – DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup, DHL Stormers Super Rugby, DHL Western Province ABSA Currie Cup
Name: Jacobus Francois (Francois) Venter
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This youngster hailing from Bloemfontein where he attended Grey College Primary School as well as Grey College at secondary school level, studies at the University of Pretoria and made his debut in Senior Professional Rugby, for the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup in 2010, when he was only 18. He has since gone on to represent the Blue Bulls in the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup, where he distinguished himself and where people started thinking, me included, that he might just take Wynand Olivier’s mantle over in the very near future, at inside centre.
He might be one of the youngest players in the competition, but the South African u.20 midfielder has already proved his worth in the senior ranks with a stellar debut year in the 2011 Currie Cup. Very quick off the mark, great running angles and sound distribution are core skills for the former SA Schools player, who will be pushing fellow midfielders Wynand Olivier and Johann Sadie for a starting berth all season.
Career:
- 2006 – Free State Under 16 – Under 16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2008 – Under 18 Elite Squad, SA Schools, Free State Under 18 Coca Cola Craven Week
- 2009 – Free State Under 19 ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2010 – Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup, South Africa IRB Junior World Championships, Vodacom Blue Bulls ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Blue Bulls ABSa Under 19 Competition
- 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup, South Africa IRB Junior World Championship, Vodacom Blue Bulls ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Blue Bulls ABSA Under 21 Competition
Name: William Small-Smith
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Schooled at the Rugby Factory, none other than Grey College in Bloemfontein.
He is a young Springbok Sevens star and is currently a member of the Blitzbokke. William is a regular captain of the Blue Bulls U19 team and did very well in the first two legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series, including scoring the winning try in the Blitzbokke’s memorable win over New Zealand early December 2011.
He captained both the SA Schools & SARU High Performance Under 18 sides in 2010.
There was massive expectation when William Small-Smith arrived in Blue Bulls country at the start of 2011. He also jumped straight into senior rugby in 2011 by playing Vodacom Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls.
It is his performances in the Vodacom Cup for the Blue Bulls that has really had the tongues wagging. Small-Smith’s leadership with the side catches the eye, his tactical acumen is a joy to behold and he leads with his play on the field as well.
Not only is his attacking play great to see when he is carrying the ball, his distribution skills is top class. He is also a very strong defender.
Name: Ulrich Beyers
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Ulrich represented the Pumas from Under 16 level (2007) and for 2 consecutive years at the Under 18 Coca Cola Craven Week (2008 & 2009), then moved to the Cape where he represented Western Province in the ABSA Under 19 Competition.
In 2011 he moved to the Blue Bulls and has represented the Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup team with distinction.
In 2011 Ulrich also represented South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championships.
He is a free-flowing player with great tactical kicking ability and can be utilised at fullback and center. Ulrich has been chosen to run out for the Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby warm-up side to face the Kings this weekend.
Starters:
With Wynand Olivier still in rehabilitation since his operation at the end of last year and a broken wrist bone early this year, I expect that Francois Venter will start at No 12 and Johann Sadie will start at No 13.
No doubt we will see Vice Captain Wynand Olivier back in the mix soon enough, seeing as it is not expected that he’ll miss all that much of the competition. William Small-Smith and Ulrich Beyers is really only cover for the above 3, but what cover to have in the circumstances.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Bulls Back Three, which will include the Wings and Fullbacks.
Here i feel we have a few great prospects and possible future Springboks. What we lost is Pretoruis maybe only Frans Ludeke really believed in him.
If WO comes back i would love to see him play at number 13.
Good players all round. And the Bulls also have rising stars Jan Serfontein, and Dries Swanepoel(Also ex Grey Bloem lads)signed up. As I have posted before, the Bulls backline is potent. My concern is wether the back up props can deliver should Kruger or Greyling go down. I believe Ryno Gerber is back at the Bulls too.
C4E i see you are very confident in your front rows. Funny Front row play is impotent nowadays with all the Crouch touch pause stront, or in English inconsistencies.Very seldom will a team get less than 45% of their scrum ball. I know quality of ball might be poor. But with the trigger happy whistlers it will mean another scrum or free kick and a 80% chance for a reset scrum witch can then easily go the other way.
Sadly scrums are a mess, no matter how strong you are some little timing problem will eventually turn the ball around. Scrums are a dying art. Good running props are the in thing. I hate this but that is the reality.
Look at last years most penalized player and one of the States props are way up there.
Alan Zondagh tells a super story about Frans Erasmus, the Springbok and Eastern Province prop, about whom there are many stories.
In his later years he managed to get to a line-out last and in gratitude put his heavy hands on his knees, head down. But it was the opponents’ ball and they had called a short line-out.
Managing the situation, the referee said to Frans: “Number three you must leave.”
Pained Erasmus looked up and said: “Oh no. Just leave me here. I promise I’ll do nothing.”
@ Supa,
you have a valid point regarding the scrums, to be fair though, many of Coenie’s penalties were for contesting ruck ball. That said, the scrums are a mess. But good solid scrums do still lay a platform.
Yes, I do rate our front row, they are right up there with the Bulls and Sharks front rows in quality. The Cheetahs (as GBS pointed out) need a solid 4 enforcer lock, and maybe young Andries Ferreira can do this.
Kruger, Chilli, Greyling vs Beast, Bissy, and Jannie vs Coenie, Strauss, WP Nel. Not much seperates them in terms of size, power and technique, but the Bulls have had superior locks till now. This year we will see if Flippie and Kruger can do the same.
Ryno Gerber is on his way to the Bills from France.
6@ Loosehead:
From Stade Francais.
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