Western Province’s in-form flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis has earned the ultimate compliment for his ability to dictate play.
No less a personality than Naas Botha, the former Springbok string-puller in the position, suggested at the weekend that the 24-year-old “might have the best tactical kicking game of all (South African) fly-halves”.
Sport24
Television pundit Botha also said Catrakilis’s confidence in wet-weather conditions would only enhance any possibility of a call-up to the Bok end-of-year tour.
It remains to be seen what national coach Heyneke Meyer’s plans are at No 10 for the three-game mission against Wales, Scotland and France respectively – Morne Steyn is the incumbent and Pat Lambie served the slot soundly on last year’s unbeaten European venture.
The young Cheetahs phenomenon Johan Goosen has also been back playing Currie Cup rugby over the last fortnight after a lengthy absence through injury, although he remains significantly undercooked in match-sharpness terms.
But multi-talented Lambie can also be deemed a utility player for the Bok party, so there may be a spot for a “third” flyhalf on tour and if Meyer decides to use the trip to have a look at a hitherto uncapped customer, Catrakilis is a worthy dark horse.
He may also have one last opportunity to tick some boxes in Meyer’s mind because the coach reportedly only intends naming the tour squad on Monday, two days after the Currie Cup final between WP (to whom Catrakilis recently re-committed for two years) and the Sharks at Newlands.
Both Catrakilis and Lambie, set to go tantalisingly head to head in the showpiece, were in fine general form and also major points contributors in their teams’ respective semi-final victories over the Lions and Cheetahs at the weekend.
Botha’s observations about Catrakilis’s tactical strengths are significant because “Nasty Booter”, as the SA legend became known in the outside world, is still considered one of the best dictators of play ever in wet and/or windy conditions.
The Boks can probably expect heavy, damp and cold conditions for much of their November assignment, even if the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, venue for the first clash against the Welsh, has the option of a retractable roof.
I agree with Naas Botha… and dare I say that if the Blue Bulls had Demetri Catrakilis at flyhalf, their Currie Cup season might have been quite different.
I do not think the Blue Bulls would have won the title, but I would say that the Blue Bulls would have won at least 2 more games and reached the semi-finals.
Demetri’s approach to the game is the closest of all the flyhalves to the type of game the Blue Bulls (and Bulls in Super Rugby) play, where the flyhalf keeps the ball in front of the forwards…. in opposition territory, keeping the machine going forward.
Whether we want to know or acknowledge it or not, this is the style which also suits the Springbok pattern at present.
I would pick Demetri as Springbok option for The End Of Year Tours!
@ grootblousmile:
Ek stem saam, hy in n ongelooflike speler en kan WP in die era in lei soos Derrick en Morne ons gelei het.
As die Stormers nie rondgeneuk het met Elton nie en Demetri gehou het, kon hul superrugby jaar selfs anders gewees het.
2 @ MacroBull:
Ja, dis ook waar… maar dink net wat sou met die Southern Kings gebeur het.
@ grootblousmile:
Die kings was downgrade 🙂
@ grootblousmile:
Watse tipe bots is op die site? is dit soos n virus? search engine? die NSA?
4 @ MacroBull:
Kyk, ek stamp nou nie Pollard te hard nie, hy is maar 19… maar by die Bloubulle sou Catrakilis nou kwaai gewerk het!
9 Users Online
Users: MacroBull, grootblousmile, 2 Guests, 5 Bots.
Ek verstaan die 2 guests is dalk ouens van Mordor wat hier lees, maar wat is die Bots wat altyd aanlyn is?
@ grootblousmile:
Definitief, niemand wou hom so vroeg geduk het nie, Louis Fouche se besering was massive.
Pollard en al ons scrumhalwe was in die diep kant gegooi… maar ek is oor rugby die jaar, ek support maar Orlando Pirates.
5 @ MacroBull:
Die Bots is Search Engines wat ons site Index… dis moer belangrik want dit affekteer mens Search Engine Ranking direk.
Sommige mense en hulle web sites betaal vir SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) rankings, ons doen dit self.
@ grootblousmile:
Ok cool, ek’t nog altyd gewonder. dit help nogals baie.
7 @ MacroBull:
Mater, dis nie net Voldy of Mordor se mense wat as guests lees hier nie…. ons kry tussen 9 000 to 15 000 Page impression clicks hier per dag!
Jy moet sien hoe impressive is ons global audience en footprint… ons word van oral af gelees… China, die OU USSR state, VSA, Canada, Suid-Amerika, UK, Europa, Australia, New Zealand… hel van oral, selfs van eilande af in die middel van die Stille Oseaan.
Die hemele het nou AMPTELIK oopgemaak hier in die “Panne”… dit reen katte en honde, soustannies en speenvarkies, emmers, pikke, grawe en houtwerkgereedskap…
Behalwe vir die feit dat ek willens en wetens die Search Engines kan aan- of afskakel, gebruik ons Tags om die Search Engines te help werk, ons gebruik ook die verskillende Search Engines se Webmaster Tools en 2 ander goed om SEO te stimuleer en bevorder.
12 @ grootblousmile:
Enjoy the rain GBS just mind if you go out in it the ‘soustannies’ don’t grab you
14 @ Bullscot:
Fark, we had hail here too, luckily not too big… big thunder and lightning…. and a wind… and the rain, one could see the garden smile after the rains…
15 @ grootblousmile:
Ag that sounds lekker man loved the thunder and lightning and at least the hail sounds like it wasn’t big to cause you damage.
Evening Sports Fans!
Been in a town called Bulwer last week, in the Natal interior. beautiful place, but no internet access.
Made it down to Kings Park for the game, nice to be there, one of the few!
Looking forward to a great week of banter and of course the WP winning the title this weekend!
@ Stormersboy:
Hello Stormersboy sounds like you were in a brilliant place… the part in the interior, nice to get away from it all sometimes.
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