This is the 6th article in the series of Bulls Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.
We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Vodacom Bulls 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Francois Hougaard:
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Francois Hougaard is a product of Robertson Primary School and Paul Roos Gymnasium.
He Played for WP in the Under 18 Academy Week in 2005. In 2007 he represented South Africa atthe IRB Under 19 World Championship and represented WP in the Currie Cup Premier Division, ABSA Under 19 and Under 21 Competitions.
In 2008 he moved to the Bulls, where he still aplies his trade and where he has represented them in Super Rugby, Vodacom Cup, ABSA Under 21 Competition, ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division and represented South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championship.
His primary position is scrumhalf, but in recent years his pace has seen him being deployed on the left wing as well for the Bulls. He was born in Paarl, South Africa and his first tour with the Springboks was to France, Italy, Ireland and England in late 2009 where he played in one test against Italy on 21 November 2009 and two touring matches. Hougaard won the Currie Cup in 2009, and the Super Rugby title in 2010, scoring tries in both finals.
In 2010 he scored a try in the Currie Cup final win 36-24 against the Free State Cheetahs (3rd min) following a superb crosskick from Fourie du Preez for his first final at 21 (the youngest player in the starting line) wearing the number 14 jersey.
In the 2011 Super Rugby season, he showed great promise adapting to his self-proclaimed preferred position of scrumhalf in the absence of Fourie Du Preez, did very well and as a result landed a position in the Springbok World Cup Squad for the 2011 tournament.
Hougaard was selected for the Springboks for the 2011 World Cup and joined off the bench for South Africa’s opening match scoring in the 65th minute in a 17-16 win over Wales. He was however dropped for the second game against Fiji which South Africa won 49-3 but started against Namibia in which he scored two tries and came off the bench against Samoa. South Africa was however knocked out of the cup, losing 11-9 to Australia. Hougaard came on in the 50th minute during that match.
In 2012 Hougaard started all five games at scrumhalf against England and Argentina and scored one try against England. However, he was moved to the wing and his place at scrumhalf taken by Ruan Pienaar in the first Championship Test against Australia on 8 September 2012.
Francois Hougaard was named man-of-the-match in his first start at scrumhalf for the Boks, against the All Blacks in Soweto in 2010. This skilful and nuggety player played for the Bulls in Super Rugby 2013 but was injured for the whole of the Currie Cup Premier Divison season.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2005 – Investec WP – U18 Academy Week
- 2007 – South Africa – IRB Under 19 World Championship, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom WP – ABSA Under 19 Competition, Vodacom WP – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2008 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2009 – Bulls – MTN test, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Southern Kings – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
- 2010 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
- 2011 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup
- 2012 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Tours, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship, Springboks – Castle Outgoing Tours
- 2013 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series
When fit, Francois Hougaard is almost a MUST as a starter in the Vodacom Bulls side, as scrumhalf. He will face stiff opposition from Piet van Zyl for the starting berth but my money is on Hougaard to hold that job down for most of the games.
Name: Petrus Erasmus “Piet” van Zyl:
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Piet van Zyl is a product of Vrede Primary School, Grey College and the University of the Free State (Shimlas).
He made his Free State Cheetahs senior debut in 2010 and his impressive domestic performances saw him promoted to the Cheetahs side for the 2012 Super Rugby season. To date he has played 62 times in all competitions for the Cheetahs.
On 30 July 2013, the Blue Bulls announced that he would join them after the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.
Van Zyl earned his first international call-up ahead of South Africa’s second match in the 2013 June Internationals, taking the place of the injured Jano Vermaak in the squad. He made his Springbok debut against Scotland on 15 June 2013 replacing Ruan Pienaar in the 69th minute of the match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit in a 30-17 win for the home side. He earned his second cap a week later in South Africa’s 56-23 drubbing of Samoa.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2008 – Shimlas – Varsity Cup, Free State – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2009 – Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2010 – Free State – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Free State – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2011 – Emerging Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Toyota Cheetahs – Lions Challenge, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series, Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springbok squad member – The Rugby Championship
His meteoric rise sees a terrific battle between him and Francois Hougaard for the starting berth at scrumhalf for the Vodacom Bulls.
Name: Rudy Paige:
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Rudy Paige is a product of Saturnus Primary School in Oudtshoorn, Basion High School and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
He played for SWD Eagles at various youth tournaments, but moved to the Golden Lions in 2007.
At the Golden Lions he was included in a senior squad for the first time when he was named in the 2010 Vodacom Cup squad. He made his debut for the Golden Lions in that competition against the Blue Bulls. His first start came a few weeks later in the same competition against the Welwitschias.
After just 12 appearances for the Golden Lions, he joined the Blue Bulls at the start of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season.
He was captain of the SA Schools side in 2007 and took part in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship for the South Africa Under 20 team.
He also played Varsity Cup rugby for UJ in 2011 and 2012.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2005 – SWD – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2006 – SWD – U18 Academy Week
- 2007 – Lions – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – SA Schools (Captain), Golden Lions – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2008 – Golden Lions – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2009 – Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships
- 2010 – Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, Xerox Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2011 – MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, UJ – Varsity Cup, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – UJ – Varsity Cup, MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, SA Students, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Rudy is some distance behind Francois Hougaard & Piet van Zyl in the pecking order at the Bulls and should only see game time if one of the 2 prime scrumhalves are injured, as was the case in the Currie Cup of 2013.
Starters:
The Bulls should start with Francois Hougaard, with Piet van Zyl on the bench but the season is long and we should see Piet van Zyl start a number of matches. The depth after Hougaard and Van Zyl is iffy with those scrumhalves proving in the Currie Cup season of 2013 why they have serious limitations.
Rudy Paige should only see game time off the bench in case of injury.
In addition the Bulls could also call on Lohan Jacobs as scrumhalf.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Bulls flyhalves.
I hope that Francois Hougaard is fit and ready for the season, with re-newed passion for the game and I hope Piet van Zyl also has a stellar season.
I hope the injury curse stays away for Bulls scrummies, because after Hougie and Van Zyl, the barrell is empty.
Wow, this is article 50 already here on Rugby-Talk for January 2014 and it’s only 8 January.
Really hope something has changed in Hougie’s approach and he doesn’t hold those potent centers back will slow delivery.
Piet is a little gem, hope he gets playing chance as well
Am I missing something, or maybe he has a doppelganger? Did Hougie not have a short stint at the Pumas?
4 @ Lion4ever:
I think you’re missing something… hehehe
Piet van Zyl must work on his kicking game. Rudy Page is to slow. He will have to work very hard just to get up to cc level, not even talking about super rugby level. I still cannot believe they let Ruan Snyman and Jano Vermaak go.
I have confidence in Francois Hougaard. I believe he will be great this year.
Piet should start.
Looks good with Francois Hougaard back to full fitness should be a good season at scrumhalf in tandem with Piet v Zyl who has come over from Free State as a highly rated player also so was Marcel vd Merwe…
I don’t think we as non playing fans always fully appreciated the effect injuries can have on a players form, it can take time even after they are declared ‘fit’ to get back to their best, especially for a player like Hougaard whose strength is his tremendous acceleration into the gap one would expect the kind of injury he had would have hampered this in the initial come back stage which in turn may have affected his confidence which probably then has a knock on effect on the rest of his scrumhalf play – passing etc. He is a very good player and if he has completely recovered from injury will light up Super rugby for the Bulls this year!
8 @ Bullscot:
Meant to say although instead of also, ie Marcel vd Merwe was another Free Stater who we were told had huge potential…
6 @ leon:
Leon you would have seen Ruan Snyman play so are a better judge of his ability but I would not think he was a really top player, although I guess he couldn’t have been to shabby to pick up a contract to play in France. Vermaak was a big loss. The thing is for these players its their job so it’s not a case of Bulls ‘letting them go’, they think they are better of elsewhere and so move on, other than getting their future employers to pay a lot of money in compensation if they are still in contract there is not much to do, if someone wants to go what’s the point of keeping them against their will even if you could?
Didn’t the Bulls offer Vermaak 50% initially for a new contract term?
Also situations like Juandre Kruger that left midway though a competition.
Hope the back room admin have their ducks in a row this year.
@ Gena_ZA:
The Bulls ran out of money after they had contracted a whole of youngsters, so offered a bunch of senior players 50% off on their existing contracts. That’s why the Bulls had to let a bunch of them go.
@ Bullscot:
Ruan Snyman got the ball away very fast. With the type of game plan the Bulls play, they need a scrumhalf that clears the ball very fast. Snyman did this. Page doesn’t.
I think Jano Vermaak would have stayed if he was offered a decent contract. He just made the Springbok team and I thought that he would have wanted to play a few more games. But according to media speculation the Bulls only offered him half of his previous contract, and they couldn’t reach agreement.
The Bulls must rethink their contracting policy. It’s not working at the moment.
14 @ leon:
Thanks for the insight into Snyman as had said had not watched him play so wasn’t sure how good he was, clearing the ball fast and having a strong pass is really what a scrumhalf needs especially if you are mainly using him as merely a link man, I prefer a bit of unpredictability as well from the scrummie to make it harder for the opposition defence so a good balance of passing, breaking and kicking well from the scrumhalf so guess prefer scrummie to be a decision maker at times as well.
We can only speculate about Vermaak as we have no idea about the sums involved, maybe he was at a stage in his career with time running out and he wanted a change of scenery and chance to build pension fund, these French clubs have so much to spend doubt even a big Bulls contract for him could match what he gets now. Rumour is Habana is on 50 000 Euro a month at Toulon – more than half a million rand a month if my mental exchange conversions are correct!
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