In the first week of discussion of Super Rugby squad contenders for 2015 (17 to 21 December), we will discuss 2 positions in 10 seperate Articles (Props & Hookers) – seperating the Articles of the 5 SA Super Rugby participating franchises.
That means 10 Super Rugby Articles every week from now on.
The basic idea is to discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for PROPS in the Vodacom Bulls 2015 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
Suggestions as to what to add to these Articles are welcome, but please hurry as the next Article will follow this one shortly!
The Contenders:
Name: Dean MacGyver Greyling “Wors”:
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Four years ago Greyling was a back-up prop to Gurthrö Steenkamp at the Bulls, but with the latter now in Toulouse, Greyling used that opportunity to cast his own shadow. Powerful with ball in hand but often with suspect technique on the loosehead side of the scrum, he impressed a lot of people in 2011 and 2012, even making the Springbok side. He made a lasting yet very dubious impression when called upon for Test match duty, specially when he cleared Richie McCaw illegally from a ruck earning him a deserved Yellow Card and then subsequently being dropped from Springbok contention.
Dean MacGyver Greyling was one of the stars of the 2004 Craven Week competition and if he could sort out his wayward scrumming technique and propensity for stupidity he could established himself as a powerhouse in South African rugby.
Greyling attended Affies, in Pretoria, and played for the Bulls age-group sides from 2005 to 2007. He was one of the standout players in the 2010 Currie Cup and was rewarded with a call up to the Springboks Preliminary training squad ahead of their end-of-year tour. He continued his good form during the 2011 Super Rugby and was selected to start at loosehead prop for the Springboks on their Tri- Nations tour against Australia and New Zealand in 2011.
Funny story – It seems that Greyling, whilst a youngster, was besotted with the television programme MacGyver and pestered his folks to the extent that they actually changed his name on his birth certificate. All grown up now, there was the idea to change it, but Greyling decided otherwise.
Dean managed to repair his reputation somewhat in 2014 but his scrumming technique is still suspect at times, though he is a devil in loose play. He still needs to work harder at his shortcomings and has serious competition for the loosehead spot in 2015, with the arrival of Trevor Nyakane at the Bulls.
Greyling is a very hard strike runner and is a very busy player in the loose and at ruck and maul time.
Rugby Career:
- 2004: Blue Bulls (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2005: Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Rounds), Blue Bulls (Under 21)
- 2006: Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (Under 19)
- 2007: Blue Bulls (Under 21), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2008: Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Bulls (Super 14)
- 2009: Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup)
- 2010: Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Bulls (Super 14)
- 2011: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby) & Springboks
- 2012: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby) & Springboks (Tri Nations)
- 2013: Vodacom Bulls & Blue Bulls (Super Rugby & Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Vodacom Bulls & Blue Bulls (Super Rugby & Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Werner Kruger:
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Kruger improved season upon season until 2011 when a call-up to the Springboks was no surprise. In 2012 and 2013 there was a bit of a slump in his form, with some improvement in 2014 but he still regularly made the Bulls Super Rugby side. Already a stalwart in previous Bulls packs, it will be expected of this durable prop to show the way as a senior member of the tight five. He has to re-generate the basics of scrumming and show a re-newed passion for rugby in 2015.
He made his debut for the Bulls during the 2008 season. Kruger was part of the Bulls team that won both the 2009 and 2010 Super 14 finals. He has represented South Africa at Under 21 level and in 2011 also the Springboks.
For the 2015 season, Werner Kruger has a serious rival for the starting Tighthead position, in Marcel van der Merwe, who became a Springbok in 2014. Frans Ludeke has always favoured Werner Kruger, despite calls by many (myself included) to relegate Kruger to the bench. I still expect Werner Krugerto playa vital role in the Bulls side in 2015.
Kruger’s contribution does not finish with scrumming, he was known to be solid on defense and often enough topped the stats with cleans at the ruck and his support play at line-out time was spot-on.
“I have tasted what it is like to play for the Springboks and I want more. I would like to be involved with the Springboks again and play tests for my country.”
I do not think Werner is in contention for the Springboks and has certainly been usurped by Marcel van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe at the Stormers, Julian Redelinghuys & Ruan Dreyer at the Lions and Lourens Adriaanse at the Sharks.
Rugby Career:
- 2002: Falcons (Bankin Under 21)
- 2003: Falcons (ABSA Under 20 Section B), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup)
- 2004: Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 20 Competition Section A)
- 2005: Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championships)
- 2006: Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championship)
- 2007: Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Blue Bulls XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies)
- 2008: Vodacom Bulls (Super 14), Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2009: Bulls (MTN test), Vodacom Bulls (Super 14), Emerging Springboks (British & Irish Lions Tour), Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010: Vodacom Bulls (Super 14), Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tours)
- 2011: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Tri Nations)
- 2012: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Incoming Tours), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Vodacom Bulls (Super Rugby), Blue Bulls (Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Trevor Ntando Nyakane:
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Trevor Ntondo Nyakane plays both Tighthead and Loosehead prop.
Trevor played his Junior Rugby for the Limpopo Blue Bulls from 2005 (Under 16), and took part in the Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007 he was selected for the SA Schools Academy side.
In 2009 he moved to the Free State where he played Under 19 (2008) and thereafter Under 21 rugby (from 2009). Trevor layed in the Vodacom Cup for the Free State Cheetahs from 2010.
Trevor also played Varsity Shield rugby for CUT in 2011 and 2012.
In 2011 Trevor was on loan to the Griffons where he also played in 1 Currie Cup First Division match., before making his big break into the big leagues by playing for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2012 Trevor became a regular in the Toyota Cheetahs Super Rugby squad and Currie Cup Premier Division squad.
2013 Was his breaktrough year as he was picked for the Springboks after a stellar Super Rugby season, to play in the June Internationals against Italy, Samoa & Scotland and then also for the Springboks during The Rugby Championship.
In 2014 Nyakane did everything, from Super Rugby, to June Internationals, to The Rugby Championship, Currie Cup Premier Divisionand then finally on the End Of Year Tour. At the end of 2014 Trevor signed for the Vodacom Blue Bulls and his first games for the Bulls will therefor be in 2015.
Trevor is a strong scrummager and what counts heavily in his favour is that he is able to play both at Tighthead and at Loosehead prop. He is very busy in the tight loose and also has very good ball skills for a prop.
If I was Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, Trevor would be my starting Loosehead prop (over Dean Greyling), next to Adriaan Strauss at hooker and erswhile Free State prop Marcel van der Merwe (who has already spent a season at the Bulls). The Bulls 2nd choice front row could be their erswhile 1st choice front row of Dean Greyling, Bandise Maku and Werner Kruger.
Big things are expected of Trevor in 2015.
Rugby Career:
- 2005: Limpopo Blue Bulls (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
- 2006: Limpopo (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2007: Limpopo (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), SA Schools Academy
- 2008: Free State (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2009: Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010: Free State (Vodacom Cup), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2011: CUT (FNB Varsity Shield), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Emerging Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies), Tasol Solar Griffons (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: CUT (FNB Varsity Shield), 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), Springboks (The Rugby Championship)
- 2014: Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
Name: Marcel van der Merwe:
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This hardy tighthead prop moved from the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to join the Bulls for the 2013 season and beyond but 2013 was a nightmare season with a long term injury keeping him out of the side.
In 2004 he really came to the foreground and was rewarded with Springok honours as a result.
Marcel would undoubtedly be my 1st choice Tighthead prop for the Bulls and if I was Frans Ludeke he would fit in as starter next to Adriaan Strauss and Trevor Nyakane. The fact that Frik Kirsten has retired also enhances his chances to always featuire in the match-day 23 during Super Rugby in 2015.
He represented Western Province in the Grant Khomo Week in 2006 and graduated to the Western Province Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week side in 2008, then moved to the Free State where he played in the ABSA Under 19 Competition in 2009. In 2010 He played for Shimlas in the FNB Varsity Cup, for the Free State Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup and for the Junior springboks in the IRB Junior World Championships. 2010 Was a good year for Marcel because he also played for the Free State Cheetahs in some Currie Cup friendlies, the ABSA Under 21 Competition and the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2011 he played for the Free State Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup and in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.
2012 Was his break-through year and he represented the Toyota Cheetahs in Super Rugby, the Vodacom Cup, the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division and also in the Promotion / Relegation games against the EP Kings.
I was wrong at the start of 2014 when I predited he was not a reasonable prospect for Springbok honours in 2014… and I am very glad I was wrong!
The year 2015 could define Marcel, as there is also the prospect of being chosen to represent the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup from mid September.
Marcel has proven that he is a strong Tighthead but also that he is very busy in the looseand an excellent tackler, who carries the ball up strongly, whilst possessing good ball skills for a prop.
Rugby Career:
- 2006: Western Province (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
- 2008: Western Province (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), Elite Squads (Under 18 Elite Squads)
- 2009: Free State (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2010: Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup), Free State (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championships), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2011: Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Emerging Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: Toyota Free State XV (Vodacom Cup), Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
- 2013: Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Morné Melvin Mellett:
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Morné is a loosehead prop who has battled injuries in the last couple of seasons. He was drafted into the Vodacom Bulls 2012 touring squad to Australasia, although he did not play and made his Super Rugby debut against the Stormers in 2013 but only played about half the regular season before injury struck, leaving him to only return during the Currie Cup in 2013.
He joined the Blue Bulls out of school and came through the structures well. Former Valke Craven Week and Vodacom Cup for Blue Bulls.
After representing the Falcons at several youth tournaments, he joined the Blue Bulls in 2010.
He made his first team debut for the Blue Bulls in the 2010 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a substitute in their game against his former team, the Falcons. He made several appearances in this competition over the next three seasons and finally made his Currie Cup debut in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division against the Free State Cheetahs. He now has 10 Blue Bulls senior caps and 24 Super Rugby caps for the Bulls.
He also played for Tuks in the 2010 and 2011 Varsity Cup competitions.
He was plagued with injury for a long time in 2014.
I rate Morné Mellett highy and have often lamented the fact that Frans Ludeke has preferred Dean Greyling over Mellett, of course now he is up against Trevor Nyakane too for a position.
Rugby Career:
- 2006: Falcons (Under 18 Academy Week)
- 2007: Valke (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2008: Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2009: Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championships)
- 2010: TUKS (FNB Varsity Cup), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2011: TUKS (FNB Varsity Cup), Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup)
- 2012: Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Starters:
The Bulls have quite a bit more choice in 2015 as to who will be their starting props, with both Trevor Nyakane and Marcel van der Merwe more recent Springbok props than the previously favoured Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, who seemed to hog the prop positions whilst not always performing up to par. Morné Mellet seems to be over his injury worries and could also make a strong claim for the match-day 23. Frik Kirsten has of course in the meantime retired due to ongoing neck injury problems.
There is no reason why the Bulls scrum, with these props anchoring their scrum, should not be right up there in the quality stakes!
The players who will play at prop for the Bulls are all seasoned campaigners, and will want to prove that the Bulls traditional strenghts at scrumtime will relive in 2015.
In addition, the Bulls also have upcoming youngsters like Hencus van Wyk to fall back on.
The next Article in the Bulls range will deal with the Bulls hookers.
28 @ charlesm:
A comprehensive Power Of Attorney is an excellent idea… sommer sign a number of original ones, because places like the Bank will want an Original to cover themselves!!
– Make sure you detail the Powers in terms of the POA broadly and point by point describe specific actions authorised (eg. Bank Account operation by Account name, number and types of authority) and in the last point give a general all-encompassing Power to the designee.
– If anybody wants an example of such a Power Of Attorney, I could attach one here… no problem.
– I could also attach the formal requirements for a Legal Will in a document… as well as a sample Will or 2… just shout. Eg. A will has to be signed in full by a Competant Testator / Testatrix over the age of 16 – not just initialled – on every page of the Will, by the Testator / Testatrix and by the 2 Competant Witnesses (over the age of 14 [see that they are at least 18 for safety sakes] and NOT BENEFICIARIES nor EXECUTOR in terms of the Will), without undue space between the last paragraph on the page and the Signature placings AND in each other’s presence, more or less at the same time. A Will MUST be dated (date when the Will is signed and attested to) and must indicate the place (Town / City) of signature. Not dating a Will or not indicating the Place does not invalidate the Will but it makes it difficult to prove exactly when in the sequence of time that Will was made and executed… so just see to it that is dated and also make sure you sign the Will in black indellible ink.
This time of year, when one has a bit more time, due to holidays and leave ect, is always a good time to do these things, because one normally do not get time for these things in a busy year.
Another thing to remember, and this adds into not leaving your family destitute after your death, is that a regular appointment of an Executor these days takes about 8 weeks to effect at the Master Of The Supreme Court (the government body which is in charge of the winding up of Estates… and take note it is not the Court itself, do not get confused with the name).
A very easy way to not leave your family destitute, is to take out a simple LIFE POLICY on your life, of which your surviving dependants are the OWNERS / BENEFICIARIES (and not for that Policy to pay out to your Estate). When you die that policy very quickly pays out in their name(s) and the proceeds do not form part of your Estate.
Simple Estates may take years to wind up… for example my late Dad’s Estate (which did not have a cent’s worth of debt, even Credit Cards had a positive balance and the properties were all unbonded, cars all paid in full), took almost 5 years to wind up… partly due to how slow Government processes are and partly because the Executor was bloody slow.
28 @ charlesm:
30 @ grootblousmile:
Hi guys, ok I get now by what you mean ruling from the grave, I won’t rule from the grave will just haunt those I see not doing what they should
29 @ MacroBok:
Interesting you mentioned Pierre Schoeman as I see he is the news this morning for helping someone:
“Die Jong Bok Pierre Schoeman is nie net ’n man wat sy teenstanders in die skrum opkeil en soos ’n wafferse Os du Randt met die bal op loop kan gaan nie.
Hy kan sy lyf ook lewensredder hou wanneer dit nodig is.
Die 20-jarige Blou Bul, wat die Jong Bokke vroeër vanjaar in die Junior Wêreldbeker-toernooi in Nieu-Seeland verteenwoordig het, het vandeesweek ’n man se lewe gered toe sy kajak naby die Munster-hoofstrand aan die KwaZulu-Natalse suidkus omgeslaan en hy byna verdrink het.
Schoeman het gesê hy en sy pa, Johan, en jonger broer, Ruben, het Dinsdag laatmiddag gaan swem en met ’n rugbybal op die strand gespeel toe hulle ’n kajak sien uitspoel.
“Ons gesin het nog altyd hier vakansie gehou en ek weet hoe sterk die seestrome kan wees.
“My pa het gesien daar is ’n man wat erg spartel ’n ent agter die branders. Ek het dadelik geweet ek sal hom moet red.”
Dié fris loskopstut, wat verlede maand in die Bulle se Superrugby-oefengroep ingesluit is, het as seun lewensreddingskursusse gedoen en waterpolo gespeel.
“Ons swem ná wedstryde ook baie by die Bulle en ek het geweet ek is fiks genoeg om die oom te red.
“Toe ek naby hom kom, kon ek hoor hy bid hardop.
“Nadat ek hom op my rug gekry het, het ek self begin bekommerd raak oor die sterk seestrome. Ek het nooit regtig daaraan gedink voordat ek diep die see in was nie.
“Ek het self toe be-gin bid.”
Schoeman het gesê die man, van in die 40, was baie geskok en het kwaai gehoes toe hy hom veilig op die strand uittrek.
Schoeman sr. het mond-tot-mond-asemhaling toegepas net om seker te maak die man is buite gevaar.
“Hy het my bedank, maar ons het nie eens mekaar se name gevra nie. Alles het so vinnig gebeur.
“Ek sal dit beslis weer doen as die situasie dit vereis.” “
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