In the first discussions of the Super Rugby squad contenders for 2015 (in December), we discuss 2 positions in seperate Articles (Props & Hookers) and also seperate the Articles of the 5 SA Super Rugby participating franchises.
That means 10 Super Rugby Articles to start off with, to be done as time allows me to do, considering one has to have some holidays and some off time too, before the new year becomes a burden on the batteries again.
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 Lions 2015 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Emirates Lions are much in the same position as the Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks, with excellent props serving their cause for 2015, with recent Springbok tourists at tighthead, Julian Redelinghuys and Ruan Dreyer both standout tighthead props and Schalk van der Merwe easily seeing off all comers in 2014, no matter who they were and what their pedigrees were.
The Contenders:
Name: Schalk Willem “Hond” van der Merwe:
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Schalk “Hond” van der Merwe is yet another product of Grey College in Bloemfontein.
In 2007 he played for Griquas at the Under 16 Grant Khomo Week.
He then played for Free State in the remainder of his junior days, representing them in the Under 18 Academy Week in 2008, whereafter he was also selected for the SA Schools Academy side.
In 2009 he played Under 19 rugby for the Free State and in 2010 he played Under 21 rugby for them.
In 2011 he represented the Free State at Under 21 level and also played for the Emerging Cheetahs in the ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies. His senior career also started at Vodacom Cup level for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and he first played in the Currie Cup also in 2011
He played Varsity Cup for Shimlas in 2012 as well as representing the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Premier Division and playing for them in the Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation games.
In 2013 he again played for Shimlas in the Varsity Cup, then played for neighbours Down Touch griffons in the Currie Cup First Division as well as for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
He plays loosehead prop and is a tremendous scrummager!
He joined the Lions from the Toyota Cheetahs prior to the 2014 season, and what a season 2014 was for him!
He demolished all comers in 2014 and never stood back for any opposition, whether from South Africa, New Zealand or Australia.
Schalk would definately have made MY Springbok squad for The Rugby Championship and End Of Year Tour in 2014.
Rugby Career:
- 2007: Griquas (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
- 2008: Free State (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Schools Academy)
- 2009: Free State (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2010: Free State (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2011: Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Emerging Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup), Free State (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
- 2013: Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup), Down Touch Griffons (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Free State (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Xerox Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Julian Redelinghuys:
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Julian Redelinghuys was born in Krugersdorp in 1989 and attended Monument High School.
He started playing youth rugby for the Golden Lions and was included in SA Schools squads in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, he joined the Natal Sharks academy, where he got selected for the SA Under 20 team for the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.
He played several games for the Natal Sharks in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions, but did not make a Super Rugby appearance, despite being named in the Sharks squad for the 2012 Super Rugby season.
In 2013, he joined the Golden Lions.
He played in both legs of the Lions’ Promotion / Relegation matches after the 2013 Super Rugby season, which saw the Lions regain their spot in Super Rugby.
He was then included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season and made his Super Rugby debut in a 21–20 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. 2014 Was capped off for him with a call-up to the Springboks where he played in 2 Tests for the Springboks on the End Of Year Tour to the Northern Hemishere, making his Springbok debut against Italy on 22 November 2014 as Springbok No 866. He could cement his place in the Springboks in 2015.
Rugby Career:
- 2001: Lions (Under 12 Nike All Stars)
- 2002: Lions (Under 13 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2005: Golden Lions (Under 16 Grant Khomo Week)
- 2006: Golden Lions (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Schools)
- 2007: Golden Lions (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Schools)
- 2008: Sharks (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2009: South Africa (IRB Junior World Championships), Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2011: Sharks XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby – Squad Member), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), MTN Lions (Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Xerox Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
Name: Ruan Martin Dreyer:
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Ruan is a product of Monument High School, born on 16 September 1990.
In 2006 he started his junior provincial career, playing for the Golden Lions in the Under 16 Grant Khomo Week and advanced in 2007 to the Under 18 Academy Week and in 2008 he played in the Under 18 Craven Week). In 2009 he played Under 19 rugby for the Golden Lions.
In 2010 he played his first senior rugby for the Lions in the Vodacom Cup, then played for South Africa in the IRB Junior World Championships before playing for the Golden Lions in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2011 he played for UJ in the Varsity Cup and also continued to play Vodacom Cup and Under 21 rugby.
He played Varsity Cup rugby again before playing Super Rugby in 2012 for the MTN Lions and representing the MTN Golden Lions in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
With the Lions out of Super Rugby in 2013, he represented them in all othe rsenior rugby.
In 2014 he was a regular in the Lions Super Rugby match day squad and also played for them in the Currie Cup Premier Division before being called up to the Springboks as tighthead prop cover, but did not get game time on the End Of Year Tour.
Rugby Career:
- 2006: Golden Lions (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khome Week)
- 2007: Golden Lions (Under 18 Academy Week)
- 2008: Golden Lions (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2009: Golden Lions (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2010: Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Golden Lions (ABSA Under 21 Competition), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championships), Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2011: MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), UJ (FNB Varsity Cup), MTN Golden Lions XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Lions (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2012: UJ (FNB Varsity Cup), MTN Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2013: MTN Lions (Lions Challenge), MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), MTN Lions (Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Xerox Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tours – Squad Member)
Name: Jacques van Rooyen:
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He represented the TUT Vikings in Varsity Cup rugby in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, making 25 appearances in total.
He also played for Irish side City of Armagh in the 2011–12 Ulster Senior League.
In 2013, after impressing at amateur club level with Pretoria Police, he joined Johannesburg-based team the Golden Lions. He made his first class debut in the opening match of the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a substitute against the Leopards. Two weeks later, he made his first start in the same competition against near rivals the Blue Bulls. He made 6 appearances in total for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup, including playing in the quarter final and starting the semi-final, as well as the final, which the Lions won by beating the Pumas.
He was also included in their squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season and made his Currie Cup debut in the opening match of the season against the Free State Cheetahs.
He was then included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season and made his debut in a 21–20 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Rugby Career:
- 2008: TUT (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2009: TUT (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2010: TUT (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2011: TUT (FNB Varsity Cup), Armach (Ulster Senoir League)
- 2012: Armach (Ulster Senior League)
- 2013: MTN Lions (Lions Challenge), MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2014: Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Xerox Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Corné Fourie:
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Corné was schooled at Hoërskool Waterkloof and started his junior career at the Blue Bulls in 2006 when he played Under 18 Craven Week rugby and was also selected to represent SA Schools and also in the same year already played for the Blue Bulls in the ABSA Under 19 Competition.
In 2007 he already played Vodacom Cup for the Blue Bulls and was selected to play for South Africa in the IRB Under 19 World Championship, as well as playing for the Blue Bulls Under 19 side.
He played for Tuks in the Varsity Cup in 2008 and again represented South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championship and continued to play at Under 21 level for the Blue Bulls.
In 2009 he played for Tuks, the Under 21 side and the Blue Bulls in ther Vodacom Cup.
In 2010 he played for Tuks, and the Blue Bulls in ther Vodacom Cup.
After again playing for Tuks and in the Vodacom Cup in 2011, he played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup Compulsaru Friendlies and in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.
He moved to the Pumas in 2012 and played for the Ford Pumas in the Vodacom Cup, represented the SA Barbarians South side during the Castle Incoming Tours and played Currie Cup First Division rugby for the Ford Pumas.
In 2013 he continued his senior rugby in all competitions for the Steval Pumas.
2014 Was his breakthrough year in Super Rugby, for the Lions, where he represented them 12 times, whilst still playing his provincial rugby at the Steval Pumas.
Rugby Career:
- 2006: Blue Bulls (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Schools Under 18 B), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2007: Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Under 19 World Championship), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2008: Tuks (FNB Varsity Cup), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championship), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2009: Tuks (FNB Varsity Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010: Tuks (FNB Varsity Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup)
- 2011: Tuks (FNB Varsity Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)x
- 2012: Ford Pumas (Vodacom Cup), SA Barbarians South (Castle Incoming Tours), Ford Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2013: Steval Pumas (Vodacom Cup), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
- 2014: Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), Steval Pumas (Vodacom Cup), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Starters:
What a difference the year 2014 made! Before the start of Super Rugby 2014, we wildly speculated who would start at prop for them and at the end of 2014 one tighthead had a few Springboks caps under the belt whilst another tighthead prop was also a Springbok tourist.
For me though the surprise was at loosehead prop, where Schalk van der Merwe broke the spirits of many, many tightheads all over South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in 2014… he was sublime and would definately have made MY Springbok touring side in 2014 as well!
So, Schalk van der Merwe at loosehead, Julian Redelinghuys and Ruan Dreyer at tighthead (difficult to judge who is the better tighthead) and additionally they will have Jacques van Rooyen also getting some game time at loosehead prop.
Does one need more than these 4 monster props, really?
Ok, so there is also the choice of Corné Fourie as a loosehead prop from the Steval Pumas.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Lions hookers.
Freegin strong lot of props for the Lions!!
For props I identify the top 5 players in the team, preferably 2 looseheads and three tightheads. The rest will only come into contention due to injury.
As for the Lions they do have 4 good props. Jacques van Rooyen had not a lot of exposure at superrugby level, he is a loosehead with some exposure as a tighthead.
For the Lions they may be short in depth. This only becomes a concern with 2 injuries or more.
2 @ dWeePer:
Now compare your statement, or apply it to a position at the Cheetahs or Stormers…. that being in the case they suffer 2 prop injuries.
Then compare the Lions props to the depth of the New Zealand and Aussie props…
You’ll pretty quickly come to the conclusion that the Lions are blessed with 5 strong props compared to barely 2 or 3 at some other places.
The Lions played with these same 5 props in 2014 and their front row was a force to be reconed with.
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