The 4th Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.

In this Article we look at the contenders for LOOSEFORWARDS in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.

The Contenders:

Name: Gideon Johannes (Deon) Stegmann

Position Flanker Height 1.81 Weight 101 Date of Birth March 23 1986 Place of Birth Cradock Provincial Debut 2007 v Griffons Provincial Caps 49 Provincial Points 40 Super 14 Debut 2008 v Stormers Super 14 Caps 55 Super 14 Points 5 Test Debut 2010 v Ireland Test Caps 6 Test Points 0

Quietly going about his business at the breakdown, Stegmann has grown into one of the most effective opensiders in the game today. He will again be to the fore in turning over opposition ball and his stats will show a consistent ability to carry ball, hit rucks and made a massive amount of tackles. The added experience of test match rugby makes him one of the key players in the Bulls pack.

Stegmann attended South Africa’s top-ranked rugby school, Grey College, Bloemfontein, where he was selected for the SA schools team. During high school he was a track and field athlete and played number 8 (as well as flank) in Grey College’s First XV loose trio, alongside Springbok and Cheetahs flank Heinrich Brussow, and Cheetahs flank Richardt Strauss.

He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at the age of 21.

Stegmann is a classic fetcher with a low centre of gravity who is thriving under the new law interpretations- and his anticipation, together with his toughness, is a huge asset for the Bulls.He made the number 6 jersey his own in 2008 after playing in every Super 14 match and being awarded Bulls Forward of the Year in 2008.

He has been one of the Super Rugby’s best openside flankers from 2008 to 2011. He is one of the hardest working players in the Bulls’ squad, as well as a superb team player with a very high work rate, regularly leading the tackle count, turnover and work rate stats for the Bulls.He has a time of 10.8 seconds in the 100 metre sprint.

In November 2010, Stegmann was called up to the Springbok squad (outgoing tours) as a replacement to injured Springbok flank and former IRB player of the year Schalk Burger, and was handed his first cap as a Springbok debutant in the starting lineup named to face Ireland on November 6, 2010. The Springboks won and Stegmann subsequently started every match on tour. South Africa obtained a result of 3-1 over the Isles, beating England and Wales and losing to Scotland.

Career:

• Free State (U/18 Craven Week) – 2004
• Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup, SA Under 19) – 2005
• Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21) – 2006
• Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup, ABSA Currie Cup) – 2007
• Vodacom Bulls (Super 14) & Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup) – 2008
• Vodacom Bulls (Super 14) & Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup) – 2009
• Vodacom Bulls (Super 14) & Springboks (Outgoing Tours) – 2010
• Vodacom Bulls (Super 15) & Springboks & Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup) – 2011

Name: Dewald Johan (Dewald) Potgieter

Position Loose forward Height 1.94 Weight 108 kg Date of Birth February 22 1987 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2007 v Griffons Provincial Caps 47 Provincial Points 45 Super 14 Debut 2008 v Stormers Super 14 Caps 46 Super 14 Points 15 Test Debut 2009 v Ireland Test Caps 6 Test Points 5

The blonde tearaway will be the first to admit that 2011 was not his best season since becoming a professional rugby player and Potgieter will be very keen to rectify that in 2012. Injuries and a loss of form resulted in him losing his spot on the Springbok roster and the hurt of that should manifest itself in his performances this time around. His versatility as a loose forward will also boost the Bulls.

His first tour with the Springboks was to France, Italy, Ireland & England in late 2009.

He has an exceptional work rate and fast became a crowd favourite when playing at his home ground, the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, in Pretoria, South Africa. Potgieter has won 2 Super rugby titles and a Currie Cup.

Career:

• Cravenweek – 1999–2003
• Border U18 Cravenweek, Green Squad  – 2004
• Blue Bulls U19 & Blue Bulls U21 – 2005
• Vodacom Blue Bulls 2006–2009
• SA U21 – 2006
• Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 Absa Competition – 2007
• Emerging Springboks – 2007–09
• Springboks – 2009 to 2010

Name: Pierre Johan (Pierre) Spies

Position Eighth man Height 1.94 Weight 110 Date of Birth June 08 1985 Place of Birth Pretoria Provincial Debut 2005 v Griquas Provincial Caps 17 Provincial Points 20 Super 14 Debut 2005 v Highlanders Super 14 Caps 72 Super 14 Points 105 Test Debut 2006 v Australia Test Caps 47 Test Points 35

Spies attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies). After school he completed his first year in B.Sc Construction Management at the University of Pretoria, but did not continue his studies due to te tragedy of his dad, Pierre Spies Snr’s passing (Pierre Snr played Wing for Northern Transvaal in the 1970’s).

He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas and made his Super 12 debut against the Brumbies, becoming the youngest player ever to represent the Bulls. After being injured in his first ever Super 12 match, he made his comeback through the national under-21 league, where he scored nine tries in just six games.

He has represented the Springboks since 2006.

Although he plays as a loose forward, he has considerable pace, having been timed at 10.7 seconds over 100m. This is especially impressive considering his size (194 cm tall and 111 kg); he has played wing for the Bulls and Springboks when they experienced an injury crisis. He power cleans 135kg. He dead lifts 240kg. He bench presses 165kg. Only mildly impressed? Wait, here are some more. He is able to do pull-ups with a 50kg weight between his legs. He can launch his 108kg body 1.4m onto a raised platform, sprints for 835m before slowing on a repeated sprint-ability test and has a body-fat percentage of 6.5.

Pierre is now saddled with the Bulls captaincy for the Super Rugby competition and is now accepted amongst his peers as one of the great loose forwards in the international game and will be keen to remind all his opponents of that with his powerful play off the base, great pace in open space and anticipation in broken play. Captaincy at this level will be another challenge the extremely religious player embrace with open arms.

Pierre has been critisized widely for ‘disapearing’ in tight games and has not exactly set the world alight in the last 2 seasons for the Springboks, but was still the preferred No 8 for the Springboks till the end of last year. Pierre needs to convert his massive power and explosive abilities better, by adopting better body positions going into contact and working on his defence and his handling behind the pack at the scrum.

If you love to hate Pierre because he does not play for your team, at the same time you have to admit that you also fear his abilities… come on, just admit it!

Career:

Name: Arnoldus Francois (Arno) Botha

Position Loose Forward Height 1.90 Weight 102 Date of Birth October 26 1991 Place of Birth Modimolle Provincial Debut 2011 v Pumas Provincial Caps 10 Provincial Points 10 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

He is not 20 years old yet, but showed why he was drafted into a starting position in the Currie Cup competition already. For the young tearaway it is clearly a case of – if he is good enough, he is old enough.

Botha made his first run-on start a week after debutting off the bench against the Pumas in 2011 and immediately showed against Griquas why he is rated amongst the top young players in the country.

The impressive youngster has all the qualities you expect from a product of the Bulls loose forward factory. He is extremely fit and strong, huge and don’t know how to quit. He is a destructive defender and a great ball carrier and was rated as one of the standouts at the u.20 World Cup tournament in 2011, where he captained South Africa. Botha represents the next generation of Bulls players.

I tout Arno to become a Springbok and a bloody good one too! This boykie is going places.

Career:

2011 – Tuks FNB Varsity Cup,  South Africa u.20 IRB Junior World Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls u.21 competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup
2010 – Blue Bulls u.19 – Absa provincial competition
2009 – Limpopo Blue Bulls Craven Week u.18

Name: Ulrich Jacques (Jacques) Potgieter

Position Loose Forward Height 1.94 Weight 115 Date of Birth April 24 1986 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2009 v Border (EP) Provincial Caps 25 Provincial Points 45 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

He represented Eastern Province at the annual Craven Week rugby tournament in 2004 and then clinched a move to the Natal Sharks, whom he represented at various youth levels before playing in the Vodacom Cup for two seasons before moving back to the Eastern Province Kings for the 2009 Currie Cup First Division season.

In August 2011, the Blue Bulls announced that they had signed Potgieter for the 2012 season on a two-year contract. An early release of his contract was secured and he joined the Bulls on 1 September 2011.

Jacques has now played Currie Cup rugby for the Blue Bulls where he impressed with strong ball-carrying performances, strong defence, and providing that hard edge which is expected from looseforwards at the Bulls.

Expect this all action loose forward to hit the ground running in his first season of Super Rugby. An abrasive and aggressive player, Potgieter does not know how to take a backward step and opponents will soon learn about the former EP Kings player’s bone crushing defence. Having paid his dues in the lower echelons of the game, Potgieter will be keen to announce himself to the big time big time.

Career:

• 2011 – EP Kings Currie Cup First Division, SA Kings Nations Cup in Romania, Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup
• 2010 – EP Kings Currie Cup First Division
• 2009 – EP Kings Currie Cup First Division, Sharks Vodacom Cup
• 2008 – Sharks Vodacom Cup
• 2007 – Sharks u.21 Absa Cup
• 2006 – Sharks u.19 Absa Cup
• 2004 – EP Schools Craven Week 2004

Name: Christiaan Johan (CJ) Stander

Position Loose Forward Height 1.88 Weight 106 Date of Birth April 05 1990 Place of Birth George Provincial Debut 2010 v Pumas Provincial Caps 27 Provincial Points 30 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

CJ matriculated at Oakdale Landbou (Agricultural) School and South Western Districts had the honour of captaining the South African Schools team in 2008 and SA Under 20 in 2010.

He was born in George and attended Blanco Junior School. He started his rugby career at flyhalf before settling into his current position of No. 8 in Under-13, although he did campaign at lock for the South Western Districts Under-13 team. CJ comes from a sporting family.

This will be a first Super Rugby campaign for one of the most talked about loose forwards in the country. The former SA u.20 and SA Schools captain had a great Currie Cup season with the Blue Bulls although he was still a junior player and brings a massive work rate, great rugby brain, impeccable leadership skills and tremendous ability in the loose to the team.

Squads:

• 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup
• 2010 – Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup,SA u.20 IRB Junior World Cup (Captain)
• 2009 – SA U.20 IRB Junior World Cup,Vodacom Blue Bulls u.19 & u.21
• 2008 – SWD Schools Craven Week, SA Schools 2008 (Captain)
• 2007 – SWD Schools Craven Week, SA Schools Academy
• 2006 – SWD Schools Craven Week

Additional Players

There’s still the tough Tukkie, Warwick Tecklenburg, just itching to get a run.

Starters:

The starting trio with balance later in the competition should be the 3 Springboks, namely Deon Stegmann (No 6), Dewald Potgieter (No 7) and Pierre Spies (No 8 & Captain).

At the moment Dewald Potgieter is still injured and on his way back through rehabilitation from injury. It has just been learnt from the Blue Bulls that Jacques Potgieter will be out for about a month due to a back strain injury, posibly missing 1 or 2 Super Rugby games.

Both Arno Botha and CJ Stander should fill the gaps nicely at No 7 in the meantime and on the bench.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Bulls Scrum Halves.