Super 14 warm-up matches were again played in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa over the weekend.

Blues (31) v Chiefs (21)

The Blues beat last season’s finalists, the Chiefs 31-21 in Albany on Friday night.

After an inital period where neither side could score in the first quarter, the scoring exchanges were kept fairly even for the first half.

The Blues then opened up a handy lead with two quick tries George Pisi and Rudi Wulf. A late try to the Chiefs Liam Messam gave the Chiefs hope, but they disappeared when Blues fullback Paul Williams scored his second try of the night to seal the game.

The Chiefs have now lost two warm-up games in a row, while the Blues have won both of theirs. It may have come at a cost however with a serious Achilles injury to lock Ali Williams who looks set to miss a large portion of the Super 14.

Hurricanes (26) v Brumbies (5)

The Hurricanes continued a solid buildup to this years Super 14 with a 26-5 thumping of the Brumbies in Wellington on Friday night.

The Brumbies spent prolonged periods in the Hurricanes half but could not crack a resolute and determined defence.

When the Hurricanes had their own opportunities, they made the Brumbies pay with excellent finishing.

The final analysis of 4 tries to 1 flattered the Brumbies who scored late in the game.

The Brumbies were without some key players, including Matt Giteau who is in a race to be fit for the Super 14 opening round. It highlights the lack of depth many of the Aussie franchises have and if Giteau is not fit, the Brumbies will struggle.

Reds (20) v Crusaders (12)

The Reds scored their second upset win in beating the Crusaders 20-12 at Ballymore on Friday night.

The Crusaders were without kingpins, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, but the Reds morale would still have been boosted substantially in beating the former Super 14 champions.

The Reds platform was laid in the forwards, who performed strongly.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie said after the game, “We had our moments at scrum time, we were good at lineouts, and we did some good mauling.”

McKenzie made an interesting move in playing Wallaby Peter Hynes (nromally a winger) at fullback, and had this to say, “He was solid, powerful, took kicks pretty well, and handled the territory side of it pretty well.  That was a good thing to come out of the game.”

The Reds look like they’ll be focusing on the basics compared to last year, but I still think the lack of a quality flyhalf and inside centre will limit their ability to score tries.

The Crusaders meanwhile look  like they’ll start the season fairly slowly, as they often do, and sides playing them early should look for easy log points.

Stormers (29) v Sharks (14)

The Stormers continued to gain momentum prior to the start of the Super 14 with a comprehensive win over the Sharks at Newlands on Friday night.

The Stormers now look to be South Africa’s second best side behind the Bulls, whilst the Sharks look to be in serious trouble.

The Sharks did lift their intensity and accuracy in all aspects, especially at the breakdown, but appeared to lose the plot and get frustrated in the second half.

The Stormers adapted better to the referee and look to be well organised, and more importantly have greater flexibility in the their game plan and mentality.

The Stormers will be happy to have scored three well constructed tries, while the Sharks will be desperately concerned with only being able to score 1 try in 2 games. Considering they struggled to pick up 4 try bonus points last year, is there anything to suggest this year is going to be any different?

The Stormers look to be a team on the rise, finally a side that can make use of all it’s talents and produce results. They’re looking good and other than their mentality, don’t look to have too many weaknesses.

It was disappointing to hear Sharks coach John Plumtree criticising the referee after the game. Sure the breakdowns are always difficult to interpret, and a grey area of the game, but good sides learn to adapt and overcome whatever is thrown at them.

“I loved the intensity of the first half, it was much more physical than the Force match. We made the Stormers react differently. But in the second, the ref killed it. We changed our habits according to what we were told, but he didn’t. We clearly weren’t allowed to counter-ruck. Hopefully the game doesn’t become tiddlywinks in future” said Plumtree.

“People don’t come to see 35 penalties in 80 minutes. I hope the refs settle down soon” continued Plumtree.

When the coach is spouting off like that, it doesn’t inspire much confidence for me. Sure you will get back refereeing. But the man providing direction for a side should rather look within first. The powder puff front row would be a good place to start!

The difference in attitude between Plumtree and Stormers captain Schalk Burger was clearly evident.

“It was pretty impossible to steal ball tonight. We knew it was coming as we spoke to Craig (Joubert) before the match, but it really wasn’t like the old days. Back then you could lie a little longer on the wrong side or keep your hands on the ball for that extra second, but it’s a lot different now. In the first half we struggled to adapt, but in the second we caught on” said Burger.

That for me summed up where both sides are heading this season. One team is on the rise, and the other is shooting itself in the foot.

Bulls (42) v Lions (12)

The Bulls got their season off to a winning start, beating the Lions at the new stadium in Polokwane.

Despite the scoreline, both sides will be fairly happy with the hit out.

The Bulls especially as the blue machine looks well-drilled and well-oiled in putting together 5 tries. Two came towards the end of the game, but the willingness to take the ball wide produced the desired results and like the Super 14 final last year, showed the Bulls are a highly versatile side.

Pedrie Wannenburg and Derick Kuun were strong on the flanks, showing the Bulls have plenty of depth to cover the loss of Dewald Potgieter and any others that get injured.

The Lions chose to mix and match their sides during the two games, and clearly had objectives they wanted to achieve. Poor handling cost them on occasion, but there were plenty of positives for new coach Dick Muir.

The early match was disjointed and lacked structure and the Bulls beat the Lions lost 25-3, but players such as Jonathan Mokuena showed that a full strength Lions side should be extremely competitive.

The Springboks will have the opportunity to complete the ‘Grand Slam’ when they embark on their European tour at the end of 2010.

The opportunity to play all four home unions and complete a ‘Grand slam’ does not come around very often. In recent years only the All Blacks have achieved this with regularity.

I am sure it is something that most of the Boks will be eager to add to their impressive rugby CV’s, however they may not have the opportunity they so desire.

With an important chance to defend the Rugby World Cup in 2011, many of the players may be forced to have a rest. At this stage, talk is that most of the Boks will rest during the Currie Cup, and perhaps only be available for part of the tour, with the remaining games used to build depth and expose new talent.

The Boks open their tour with playing Ireland in the official opening of the new Aviva stadium, the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

In consecutive weekends, there are test matches against, Wales, Scotland and England.

A match against the Barbarians is also being planned, but this match is yet to be confirmed.

Springboks end of year tour 2010:

November 6, v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
November 13, v Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
November 20, v Scotland (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
November 27, v England (Twickenham, London)
December 4, v Barbarians (TBC)

Springbok flanker Ruben Kruger has passed away at the age of 39.

Kruger was forced to retire from rugby in 2000 due to a brain tumour. He has been fighting its effects for some time, and unfortunately lost the battle to this cancer.

It’s the only battle I’ve ever seen him lose. Kruger is one of my top 10 players of all time and a Springbok legend.

Kruger was born on the 30th March 1970 in Vrede.

He was educated at Grey College in Bloemfontein (one of a long list who have gone on to become Springboks from this great school) before attending Free State University and played for Shimlas and the Free State Cheetahs, before a long and distinguished career for the Bulls and South Africa.

Kruger was the 596th Springbok, and made his debut in 1993 against a South Australian invitational XV, before his test debut against Argentina in the same year. His last test was as a replacement against New Zealand at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

During his 36 test matches for South Africa, Kruger scored 7 tries (35 points). My favourite was the try in the opening minutes of the 1997 test at Eden Park, during which Kruger unfortunately broke his ankle. It was typical Kruger, hard, uncompromising flank play, following up close to the ball and burrowing over.

He unfortunately was never awarded what I thought was a fair try in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when he was driven over the line but the ref did not award it. That could have been one of the most important tries ever for the Springboks, but perhaps it wasn’t awarded to add to the drama that later unfolded.

Nicknamed the ‘silent assassin’ by coach Kitch Christie, Kruger was fittingly named South African Rugby Football Union’s player of the year in 1995. He started in 5 matches, only missing the game against Canada in Port Elizabeth. He scored a try against France in the Durban semi-final and only admitted years later that it was not a legitimate try.

Kruger was one of the rocks which the 1995 Springbok Rugby World Cup campaign was built around. Together with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, he formed the hardest, most uncompromising flank combination I have ever seen. If ever I wanted to go into battle with anyone, those two guys would be the first names I’d ever put down.

Kruger was also selected for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, although not a regular starting member of the side.

Kruger also represented the Bulls (formerly Northern Transvaal) and led the side on occasion. As was his trademark, he led from the front, always playing hard and never giving up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player with such tenacity as Kruger, and the other key attribute he possessed was his stamina. He was a superbly fit individual and worked terribly hard to be the best in the game.

After his rugby career he became a camera salesman and owned a Minolta franchise in Pretoria.

What impressed me most about Kruger was not just his determination, dedication and never say die attitude. It was his demeanour as a person. He was not just a legend of the game, but a role model for all South Africans and a damn good oke.

My condolences to the Kruger family, all his teammates, and the many many people he influenced over the years.

RIP Ruben.

Rugby stats:

Status: LEGEND

Teams: Springboks, Bulls (Northern Transvaal), Free State Cheetahs, Grey College (Bloemfontein)
Springbok debut: 1993 v South Australia Invitation XV
Test debut: 1993 v Argentina
Test matches: 36
Tries: 7
Rugby World Cups: 1995 (South Africa), 1999 (UK)

Schedule for the 2010 Super 14

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

WEEK 9

WEEK 10

WEEK 11

WEEK 12

WEEK 13

WEEK 14

Week 15 – SEMI FINAL

Week 16 – FINAL

The Wallabies will wear a new playing jersey in 2010.

Their sponsorship with sports manufacturer Canterbury has ended, and they have a new 4 year deal with Australian company KooGa.

Their latest jersey utilises ‘technologically advanced materials’ which include carbon fibre and hydrosteel. In reality they’d be best to go to their local hardware store, get some hardener and harden up! A new jersey won’t save them!

The new canary yellow jersey has been labelled as ‘virtually indestructible’ but wait until the Springboks run all over it. It has new design features to enhance player comfort, but when you’re losing it doesn’t matter what jersey you wear, it’s uncomfortable!

Berrick Barnes and Benn Robinson can be seen modelling the new jersey here.

Thankfully the Wallabies will be wearing canary yellow because we all know there is only one Green and Gold!

The Stormers confidently demolished a second string Force side 54-12 at Newlands.

Whilst most of the Wallabies were rested by Force coach John Mitchell, the Stormers showed the ruthless demolition that is required by sides who aspire to be championship material.

It represented a significant step-up from from the second string Stormers side that only beat UCT 21-3 last week.

After 12 minutes the Stormers who started strongly had raced to a 21-0 lead.

The Stormers scored 6 tries in the first half and 7 tries in the match in total.

There were problems with the scrum and at the breakdown, but the Stormers backs looked particularly sharp. Straight running and the ability to create space for their teammates was a highlight. The influence of Juan de Jongh, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana was especially evident.

After the match Alistair Coetzee said, “I’m unhappy with our discipline at the breakdown. It’s still at that stage of the season where referees are basically coaching players at the breakdown during the matches, and we got pinned quite a few times for not rolling away or holding on after the ref had called ruck. It is something we need to analyse and work on in the coming week.”

“I’m not too worried about the scrum. These are the pillars of the game we wanted to better this season. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t look for the short cut. We know what we wanted to achieve in this game and we got what we wanted” said Coetzee.

The injury to Willem de Waal may be a blessing in disguise. I favour Peter Grant at flyhalf, he has the ability to set the backline away and then de Jongh and Fourie can create space for the outside backs. I am sure Habana in particular will benefit and score many tries this year.

If de Waal is selected, he’ll bring a steadier kicking game, but I doubt the Stormers backs will score many tries, and the mindset of the Stormers may turn more and more defensive. I’d rather see them back their ability and score tries.

Habana set to be a crowd favourite

The crowd of 18 000 cheered Bryan Habana from his first touch, and he looks set to become a crowd favourite on his new home ground of Newlands.

Earlier this week Habana said “No matter how big the stage is that you have played on, you do obviously feel nervous when you are starting out with a new team. I obviously also want to make as big an impression as I can for my new franchise, and it will be crucial to win our opening Super 14 match.”

“I can’t believe how welcome everyone makes me feel. Everywhere I go people are going out of their way to welcome me to the Cape. It is really humbling. Of course in Pretoria you get the true blue Bulls fan, and they are special people, but it is astounding how in Cape Town you can be 600 metres away and people will shout out to you and let everyone in the shopping centre know you are there. This is fanatical rugby country” said Habana.

Habana knows what a winning culture is like, and it appears he wants to recreate the success he had at the Bulls down in the Cape.

“I had an honest chat with Rassie Erasmus when I was being recruited by the Stormers. It took me about 10 days to make up my mind, and one of the things I wanted to make sure of was that I was moving to a place where a winning culture could be created. I was impressed with Rassie’s plans and his determination to get the Stormers and Western Province to succeed. I felt I wanted to go somewhere I could make a difference, but I would never have moved down if I could not see the potential for the Stormers to be a winning franchise” said Habana

“The work ethic here has been amazing. To see the work the guys are putting in, and to be part of it, has been really encouraging. Work ethic is a big thing at the Bulls, and it was one of the reasons I might initially have been sceptical about moving down, but thankfully my fears have been completely allayed” continued Habana.

The Stormers have started well and are working hard. They’ll welcome back captain Schalk Burger soon, and appear set for a big Super 14 season!

The Super 14 almost always uncovers new stars each season. This year watch out for Jonathan Mokuena!

Mokuena led Griquas with distinction during the 2009 season, winning the Vodacom cup and playing above their weight during the Currie Cup.

Now he will be turning out for the Lions in this year’s Super 14, and believes great things are in store for his side.

Whilst I’d suggest his side will improve, I don’t see them as genuine semi-final contenders, but Mokuena is one player who may push on to higher honours.

Earlier this week Mokuena told Supersport “It’s ‘lekker’, there’s a great vibe around here. The guys are hungry and usually when there’s hunger, there’s danger.”

“The danger is that there’s a pride of Lions hungry to prove themselves. There’s a new vibe in the Lions and that’s good. We know that good things await just around the corner for us and there’s a hunger in the team to not be mediocre this year. We want to push our own standards higher” said Mokuena.

Coach Dick Muir has not selected his captain yet, and Mokuena has already shown he possesses great leadership qualities. Muir’s dilemma in appointing Mokuena may be that he has not secured a starting position just yet. However if captaincy does go his way, Mokuena has shown he leads from the front and is not adversely affected from the extra responsibility.

“It’s great. I like competition, it brings out the best in me. Also, Dick made it very clear on day one that nobody will simply walk in and claim their jersey in this team. That’s the secret why we will do well. We have a big squad and everyone knows they have to perform if they are to do well” said Mokuena.

“I’ve got to take time and set my sights on improving my game as a player. But that is where I believe I have a small advantage coming from Sevens rugby, whether it be my defence or attacking abilities, or the way I run support lines, you have to be sharper at Sevens. It gives me an edge. I want to make that number eight jersey mine this season. I know I’ll have to play well to get it and help the team achieve its goals. But that is what I’m aiming for” said Mokuena.

With his sevens skills, playing in a side with Carlos Spencer, and the open game plan favoured by Muir, we may see the sublime ball skills and ability to put players around him into space that Mokuena possesses. His workrate is fantastic, which one needs from your eighth man, and he is solid on defence.

Number eight is an area I believe the Boks need better backup if Pierre Spies is to get injured (without moving one of our flanks such as Juan Smith, Schalk Burger or even Danie Rousouw).

At the moment this is how I rate our current number eights:
Pierre Spies
Ashley Johnson
Duane Vermeulen
Ryan Kankowski

Spies is world class and one of the top 5 players I have ever seen. Johnson is raw but has great pace for a big man and gives good options with ball in hand. His workrate and overall polish need improving, but there is loads of talent there.

Vermeulen is a solid player and needs to take the step up. His basics are good, and he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses.

Many may be surprised I have not put Kankowski directly behind Spies, but for all his talents with ball in hand, he is not a player I’d pick in my side. He struggles when his side is going backwards, has poor handling skills and has a low workrate. My biggest concern is the way he disappears when the match is tight and tough.

Mokuena however may just be the man to take his opportunity on the international stage and show us all the potential I see in him. At 28 years old he would still be a great asset for Peter de Villiers, and a superb backup for Pierre Spies.

Lookout for a big season from Mokuena!

Super 14 warm-up matches were played in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa over the weekend.

Hurricanes (17) v Blues (19)

The Hurricanes took this game to the small Wairarapa town of Mangatainoka (famous for brewing Tui beer!) about an hour and a half north of Wellington.

The sell-out local crowd weren’t treated to a large score, but thoroughly enjoyed the game despite the poor weather conditions.

The Hurricanes led 17-12 with 10 minutes to go before a try to Blues replacement Taniela Moa sealed the game for the Blues.

After the game Blues coach Pat Lam said “I was very pleased with how the boys played today. They’ve worked really hard during the pre-season but you need to transfer that onto the field which they I thought they did today. The key guys really stepped up today.”

The Blues were well led around the park by Stephen Brett and Alby Mathewson, and while the Hurricanes will once again be strong this year, the Blues showed they may be tough to beat also.

Highlanders (31) v Chiefs (24)

The Highlanders beat last season’s finalists the Chiefs in their game in Dunedin.

The match was played in warm conditions in Dunedin, and the Chiefs dominated the opening exchanges. After 20 minutes the Chiefs had opened a 19-5 lead.

However this Highlanders side showed last year they possess a lot of determination and spirit and never give in. They managed to claw their way back into the game and scored 14 points in the last 20 minutes to eventually win 31-24.

The Highlanders did suffer a potentially serious injury to their No. 8 Nasi Manu, who left the field with a shoulder problem.

Waratahs (24) v Reds (26)

The Queensland Reds scored an upset win over the NSW Waratahs in the small NSW town of Lismore.

Both sides are due to meet in the opening round of the Super 14 in 3 weeks time.

Matches between these two sides often turn ugly and the Waratahs would have expected a comfortable win.

Both sides were missing many of their top players/Wallabies. The game was close throughout however it required a 45 metre penalty 32 minutes from time to seal the win for the Reds. Hero of the moment for the Reds was new flyhalf Tim Walsh.

The Reds are hoping for a change in fortunes this year and are now coached by former Waratahs coach Ewen Mckenzie. After the game he said “We’re trying to develop some habits around winning so it’s a good result for us from a confidence point of view. I know people say it’s a trial and whatever but you’ve got to start somewhere.”

He has his work cut out for him trying to turn a losing squad into matchwinners on a regular basis, but has tasted success before. I expect improvements from the Reds but can’t see them threatening the log leaders.

Free State Cheetahs (13) v Eastern Province (9)

The Cheetahs were unconvincing in beating Eastern Province at the New Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Eastern Province played with passion and determination in front of their home crowd as they tried to show their region does deserve a Super 14 side.

The Cheetahs failed to start their season with any real momentum and would have been hoping to score more points. However mistakes stopped them from gaining any momentum and they have plenty of work to do before their opening Super 14 encounter with the Bulls.

One positive for the Cheetahs was the experience gained by new flyhalf Sias Ebersohn who will be playing his first season of super rugby. Ebersohn controlled his backline well and was rewarded by scoring the games’s only try.

One suspects it may be another long season for the Cheetahs.

Stormers (54) v Force (12)

Despite playing a second-string Force side, the Stormers will be very happy to have won comprehensively in their first match at Newlands.

To win the Super 14 you have to win almost all your home games, and nothing is better than creating the winning habit.

The Stormers scored 6 first half tries and had raced to a 21-0 lead after only just 12 minutes. Good sides make the opposition pay, and it was good to see there was no let up in intensity. Later in the match when Stormers coach Alistair Coetzee made many replacements, the Stormers lost their sharpness, but they will have achieved many of their objectives from this match.

The breakdown and scrums highlighted areas for the Stormers to work on, but their backs looked sharped running into space and creating chances for each other. Perhaps this is the influence of Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana!

Habana scored his first try for the Stormers in the 37th minute and both him and Fourie were substituted around the 50 minute mark.

It was not a great start for the Force, but they wanted to test their second string players and will look to field their top side against the Sharks on Tuesday.

Defending Super 14 champions, the Bulls have been working hard on improving a weakpoint – their scrum.

Whilst the Bulls were superb in almost every department in 2009, their scrum (co-incidentally so too the Springbok scrum?) was an area they struggled in during both the Super 14 and Currie Cup.

A trait of true champions is the desire to self-reflect and desire to keep improving, no matter how good they might be. And that is where the Bulls greatest strength lies.

It is good to see Bulls coach Frans Ludeke working hard on improving the Bulls scrum, and unlike his predecessor Heyneke Meyer, work hard on defending the Super 14 title earned in 2009.

Ludeke had this to say “I think the importance of the scrum was shifted into the background, but that is definitely no longer the case. Fortunately we saw in November that the Bok scrum was under pressure and it was a timely wake-up before the World Cup next year. We are not blind to the problems we experienced at the Blue Bulls last year, but there’s no need to panic.”

“There will definitely be a lot of focus on the scrums, but we already started bringing in specialists like Balie Swart last year and this year will be no different. This facet of the game will be given all the importance that it deserves” said Ludeke

The Bulls have some exciting additions to this years Super 14 squad including the return of experienced hooker Gary Botha.

Fellow hooker Bandise Maku has experience with the Boks from the end of year tour, whilst ex-Cheetahs player Bees Roux gives extra stability at tighthead.

Also waiting in the wings at tighthead are Frik Kirsten, Dean Greyling and Rossouw de Klerk whilst the loosehead side will most likely be down to two experienced stalwarts in Jaco Engels and Gurthro Steenkamp.

If the Bulls can get a good scrum they will once again be tough to beat as they possess the best lineout in the world, and one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the game in Morne Steyn. With all the basics covered, there are very few weaknesses which a top side needs to have.

Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik are still embroiled in a contractual dispute between the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) and the Sharks.

Both players left the Lions late last year and have been training with the Sharks, although Ludik is still recovering from injury.

Like Jaque Fourie whose case needed arbitration, Ludik and Alberts contracts’ with the Lions have technical loopholes.

Allegedly the main loopholes in the contracts are that the players are employed as a “professional analyst” not rugby players, and remuneration amounts for allowances, deductions, match fees and bonuses are not stipulated in their contracts.

Whilst technically it is possibly enough for the players to get out of their contracts, they were certainly happy to receive money for being “professional analysts.” Where is their integrity? If they were happy to recieve money they should have honoured what they signed.

It does show how poor the state of the Lions rugby union was. Their on-field performances and condition were poor, but they weren’t helped by incompetent administrators. Someone should be fired for this, but in all of that agents, players and representatives of the unions should have done better in putting agreements together.

It is pointless trying to blame others. I truly believe most unions will not stand in the way of players moving if things are done in the right manner. No union wants a player who is desperately unhappy to be there. However rather than walk away from an agreement, you need to speak to the appropriate people and show some integrity and honesty. Just as most employers will respect an employee who comes to them openly and honestly.

We now have a situation that is a lose-lose for all involved. Reputations, relationships and money are all on the line. Unfortunately the Jaque Fourie case set a precedent that all further disputes must now follow.

Because the Golden Lions Rugby Union have not provided clearance for these two players, SARU regulations state the players cannot play any level of rugby for the Sharks.

Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl said “We would like to resolve the matter. I think it’s rather a matter of SA Rugby having to revisit their regulations. It’s disappointing that they do not want to get involved.”

Van Zyl obviously wants Alberts and Ludik playing as the Sharks are paying them salaries.

I would suggest that if the Sharks do play Alberts in their warm-up matches without the necessary clearance, they are facing serious repercussions. Unfortunately this sort of behaviour cannot be condoned and the players should not be allowed to play.

I remember when it was an honour for players to represent their provinces and they played for no money at all. I hate to think all players are greedy and lack the courage to do the right thing. I hope Alberts and Ludik prove me wrong, but I fear that for all their talent, they’ve showed poor sportsmanship on this occasion!

Springbok captain John Smit will also captain the Sharks in the 2010 super 14.

In recent years Smit has not been the first choice captain as Johan Muller and Stefan Terblanche have captained the Sharks at Super 14 and Currie Cup level.

However Sharks coach John Plumtree has opted for Springbok captain John Smit. It’s a great move in my opinion as the Sharks have tended to lack direction at crucial stages of their campaigns recently, and when you have one of the best captains in world rugby in your side, why not use him!

Some may argue the burden of captaincy when he is already captaining the national side is possibly too much. I disagree as true leaders want to lead and Smit’s general play has never suffered.

Sharks coach John Plumtree had this to say, “It was obviously a tough decision to make, considering the exceptional work put in by Johann Muller and Stefan Terblanche over the last two years. John Smit is widely acknowledged as the best captain in world rugby and is an exceptional leader. With the three of them being good mates, he will continue to have the full backing of Johann and Stefan and all the players are very supportive of this decision.”

Meanwhile Smit said, “I am very conscious of the fact that I can call upon the advice and input from two great leaders in Johann and Stefan, making my job so much easier.”

If anything it may signal the intentions of Plumtree as I would not think it makes sense to have Smit as captain if he is not going to play almost every game and the majority of the games. The question is which position does Plumtree have in mind? Hooker or tighthead prop?

I’m guessing Smit will be considered predominantly at tighthead prop because if he was to play hooker and ‘job share’ with , , I am sure Plumtree would have considered a different captain.

Here’s hoping the Sharks have a great season. I suggest the more John Smit is on the field, the greater the Sharks success in 2010!

Defending Super 14 champions, the Bulls, suffered another setback when star flanker Dewald Potgieter sustained a crucial training injury.

Bulls team doctor Org Strauss confirmed the injury on Wednesday morning. The injury happened at training on Tuesday afternoon and is the second serious knee injury the Bulls have suffered at training recently after Francois Hougaard was injured last week.

“Dewald has a grade two tear of his medial ligaments and it is difficult to say how long he will be out. However, we can say he won’t be able to play for at least four weeks at this stage” said Dr Strauss.

The normal recovery period for a grade 2 medial ligament strain is 4-6 weeks. It means that Potgieter will miss the Bulls opening Super 14 game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on February 12, and I’d expect most likely to miss another 2-3 after that.

Potgieter is an important cog in the Bulls machine and was most likely to occupy the important openside flank position. Deon Stegmann is an adequate replacement and more suited to openside than blindside, but the Bulls will miss Potgieter’s abrasive running and high work-rate.

It also opens up chances for Pedrie Wannenburg and Derick Kuun who has moved from hooker to flank. Bothare good quality replacements with loads of experience, and these serious injuries are going to test the Bulls depth.

There was positive news in that Francois Hougaard and Wynand Olivier are recovering nicely.

Hougaard had surgery on a torn meniscus last week and has started gym work, and could still make the opening game, while Olivier is training nicely after knee cartilage surgery in December last year.

Akona Ndungane, Bakkies Botha and Chilliboy Ralepelle are all still recovering from their injuries and won’t take part until the later rounds of the Super 14.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is consulting with all the stakeholders to ensure his players can perform at their peak potential.

Whilst Springbok coaches have consulted with and Guru Sports Scientist Professor Tim Noakes in the past, his advice hasn’t always been adhered to.

It appears Peter de Villiers is not prepared to run his players into the ground and wants to work with the provinces and South African rugby public to ensure he manages his assets carefully.

This sort of consulting has long been overdue, and for those who criticise de Villiers, one cannot fault his thoroughness and willingness to explore avenues previous Springbok coaches have suggested but never implemented.

Whilst all the players have had a minimum 4 week break off-season break and should be primed for a strong 2010 season, de Villiers is planning to ensure his top Springboks are at their peak for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, but also to ensure they are well managed in 2010.

“It’s the right time now to be considering 2011. I want recommendations by rugby unions because we have to work together in the best interests of the players. My job is to consult with all the stakeholders – there is many more than just SA Rugby. There are unions, sponsors, suite holders. There are also agreements with SANZAR that need to be honoured” said de Villiers.

He continued, “I want to see what the unions have to say. What is easy for the Lions and Cheetahs may be difficult for the Blue Bulls and Sharks. I sincerely believe that the unions will make decisions in the interests of the players and SA Rugby. As soon as I have finished consulting with the unions, I will go to the sponsors. The findings of the report will be made public as the public are also stakeholders.”

It shows a great maturity to want to make the results public and acknowledge just how important the fans are to this process. Whilst the fans want to see the top players every week, I believe we are also sensitive to ensuring players are not run into the ground and are rested adequately.

de Villiers also thanked the Super 14 sides who are co-operating to keep players fresh during 2010.

“Rest is the component that will be very important in the discussions (with unions). I know some of them have already cancelled Monday training sessions. It’s a step in the right direction as it is 14 weeks of Mondays, which amounts to two weeks’ rest” said De Villiers.

On Sunday the contracted Springboks were lectured by Professor Tim Noakes in Cape Town about managing themselves.

“The general theme was that they need to cut back this year and do everything next year. South Africa’s players cannot expect to be competitive in the World Cup unless they play less” said Noakes.

However whilst players are mindful of rest, they also hate to sit on the sidelines and worry about losing form and their rhythm. The provinces that pay their salary also want to see them play as many games as possible which can make it hard for players to rest, especially during important games.

However it is exciting to see South African adopting a more professional attitude and taking the advice of the Sports Science community. I am sure it can only lead to better performances and a winning Springbok side!

The Lions are looking to play an expansive brand of rugby in 2010.

Under former coach Eugene Eloff, the Lions tried an expansive approach but failed dismally.

Subsequent analysis showed the Lions players lacked the conditioning to be able to adequately implement a running game, and it showed with inconsistent play and defensive lapses that cost them dearly.

After Eloff was fired, and Jake White’s team came in and analysed the Lions’ players and structures, it was discovered that the players were extremely poorly conditioned.

The approach in the 2009 Currie Cup under caretaker coach Hans Coetzee was back to a structured, defensive orientated game-plan which we know Jake White favours.

However it is no secret that new Lions coach Dick Muir favours a running game and versatility among players.

New signing Carlos Spencer is the ideal player to exploit Dick Muir’s preferred style and says the Lions will play an expansive game to outrun their Australasian opponents in the rarefied atmosphere of Johannesburg.

“Dick and I have talked about it and being at high altitude we can afford to throw the ball around. With teams coming from Australasia, the idea is to run these guys around when they come to Ellis Park. An expansive game will suit us to try tire them out, and I’m excited about that” said Spencer

“The skill levels of the South African players has changed over the past few years. That’s the reason why a South African side has won the Super 14 twice in three years. Look at the Bulls, their skill levels have definitely improved in the way they play now. After my first training session with the Lions, the skills were great, especially among the young guys” said Spencer

I’ve often wondered why our highveld sides don’t try this approach more often. A negative mindset, poor conditioning and inadequate ball-skills are the only factors that will hinder it’s execution. We have the aid of altitude, what better way to make it count than running the opposition ragged, and the best way to do that is with an expansive game plan.

I’ll look forward to seeing a new approach, better fitness levels and better results from a Lions side that appears to finally have the right attitude and playing to win, rather than trying not to lose.

For once it appears as if coaches are working together for the greater good of South African rugby, as the Springboks vie to become the first side to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup.

Springbok conditioning coach Neels Liebel has said that contracted Springbok players are likely to be rested for during the 2010 Currie Cup.

One could see towards the end of 2009, many of South Africa’s leading players such as Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Morne Steyn etc were jaded and not performing at their best.

Resting at the end of 2006, and during the 2007 international season worked for the Boks at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and the strategy looks like it will be repeated for the 2011 title defence.

All 5 Super 14 coaches appear to be co-operating with the Springbok management to manage the players during this year’s Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions. It has taken some time to achieve, but the provincial coaches have pledged their support in ensuring the Boks get the rest they require/are requested.

“We are hoping that our players get some time off during the Super 14, but I can understand if they don’t. The coaches want the Boks to do well, but at the end of the day, they want to win and their jobs are on the line. We are planning to pull the 26 contracted players out of the Currie Cup this year, a plan that has not yet been approved by the relevant authorities and stakeholders. If it is approved, we will go through with it” said Liebel.

The plan is for the top Boks to be pulled out for most of the end of year tour and possibly some of the 2011 Super 15 and Tri-nations. This policy was met with some criticism in 2007, so it remains to be seen just exactly what is allowed to transpire.

The Super 14 coaches were asked for their opinion on resting the Springboks.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has said “If I were Peter de Villiers, I would request that Springboks be withdrawn from the Currie Cup and possibly also the end of year tour. They are not tired during the Super 14.”

With only Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussow affected from the Cheetahs, this policy would certainly help Naka Drotske against his rival teams however, so no wonder he supports it! The teams affected the most would be the Bulls and Sharks, and the Stormers/Western Province.

The Lions are unlikely to be seriously affected and with coach Dick Muir on the Springbok coaching team, their full co-operation comes as no surprise.

“We’re all working towards a national solution. I think one has to consider individual cases and not make any blanket decisions” said Muir.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has been part of the Springbok coaching team in the past, and is also likely to be very co-operative.

“We will consider the request depending on our situation. I’m aware of the bigger picture and don’t know which players Peter has earmarked” said Coetzee.

Sharks coach John Plumtree suggested he’d agree to requests but that players liked to play.

“It makes it much easier if you have depth. My experience is also that players prefer to play and do not like to rest. New Zealand learned some hard lessons by removing players from the Super 14″ said Plumtree.

The Bulls provide the bulk of the Springbok side, and whilst they are affected heavily from resting players, they are prepared to serve the national interest and bigger picture.

“We support Peter de Villiers and I have a good relationship with him. I’m sure we’ll have a good discussion about how players should be managed. We see the bigger picture” said Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.

The co-operation of the coaches will ensure the Springboks remain successful and have a great chance of defending their World Champion title in 2011. At the moment all coaches are in agreement and say they’ll co-operate. However this is South African rugby, and when the pressure goes on and coaches feel the heat, anything can happen! I’m hoping for once we finally have the national interests at heart first.

Former Springbok flanker Wickus van Heerden has signed a new contract with the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU).

van Heerden spent 9 seasons at the Lions, before moving to the Bulls and winning the Super 14 and Rugby World Cup in 2007. He then departed to England and has been playing for Saracens, but will return to South Africa in time for the 2010 Currie Cup.

He will finish with Saracens on June 30, before taking up his contract with the Lions from July 2010 to October 2012.

van Heerden is looking forward to returning to the union where he first started playing professional rugby. “Since my time at the Lions I have grown as a player and have gathered much experience at both the Bulls and Saracens. I am hoping to utilise this experience and make an impact when I join them later this year. The Lions have always been a very special team to me.” said van Heerden.

With Springbok ambitions possibly his primary motivation, van Heerden has a great chance of representing the Boks on the end of year tour if he can show top form. Peter de Villiers will be looking at resting many top Boks on the 2010 end of year tour, and someone with van Heerden’s experience, especially of northern hemisphere conditions will be invaluable.

Since Dick Muir has taken over at the Lions, his influence and direction may be luring players such as van Heerden and Carlos Spencer to what was the most successful union in South Africa during the 90′s.

Are we seeing a change at the Johannesburg based union and a return to their former glory days?

Former Springbok Wikus van Heerden is leaving Saracens to return to South Africa later this year.

At the conclusion of the current English season, van Heerden will pack his bags and return to his country of birth.

Saracens director of rugby, Brendan Venter said “Wikus wishes to return to South Africa for the sake of his family, and we accept his wishes. He is a formidable loose forward who has represented the club with distinction over the past couple of seasons.”

van Heerden is an uncompromising flanker who always gives 100% and never lets any side down. He is an asset to any side and is still young enough to play for the Springboks.

Is representing the Springboks the decision for his return? Whilst he has yet to sign for a province, and one would imagine he’d be keen to join up with the champion Bulls side again, his motivation may be the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

“This is purely a personal decision. From a rugby point of view I have never been happier at any stage of my career. Saracens is now a fantastically well-run club with a very bright future, and I wish I was able to stay and be a part of that future. For the next five months, I am 100% focused on ensuring we finish this special season with at least one trophy” said van Heerden.

If he was happy at Saracens and had no intention of playing for the Springboks again, I’m sure he wouldn’t be returning. To be elible for the Springboks he would have to play his domestic rugby in South Africa. Surely he wants to challenge once more for a Springbok spot and go to another World Cup.

Gary Botha also recently to South Africa, and the success of the Springboks in 2009 and the lure of defending the Rugby World Cup may well bring more South Africans plying their trade in Europe back home.

I am sure Jean de Villiers will return, but there could be more. It will certainly help South African rugby and may be just the remedy Peter de Villiers needs to give his top players a rest.

The Stormers aim to produce their best performance in their Super rugby history.

For a franchise that often has bucketloads of talent, they’ve failed to deliver on most occasions. Other than semi-final appearances in 1999 and 2004, they’ve often disappointed more than dazzled.

However lock Anton van Zyl spoke of the desire to perform well this year. “The high expectations of supporters are justified. The team started showing promise from the end of last year’s Super 14 through the Currie Cup, and there are also new acquisitions. We’re working hard at becoming the complete package, not as individuals, but as a team. As a team we’d like to come up with the best Stormers performance ever, but on a more practical level and in terms of vision, we’d just like to improve our performance every week. We’d like to perform better as a team than any Stormers team before us” said van Zyl.

“There’s a huge emphasis on harmony in the team context to ensure that we’re all pulling in the same direction. Last week during our training camp, for example, we spent some time away from rugby to ensure that we get to know one another. It’s important that everybody pulls together in tough times” continued van Zyl.

Every year I pick the Stormers to do well, and almost every year I tear my hair out to say I’ll never make that mistake again! This could be the year however (like every other year!). There is a lot of talent, good depth, but perhaps the injection of Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie, 2 experienced players, could be the trump card.

I’d like to see them throw caution to the wind, play attacking rugby and utilise their talent. Too often I think they fear losing more than striving to win. I am sure if they start well they’ll have a good year.

Their first performance wasn’t anything spectacular however.

Whilst it was essentially a second string side that play the University of Cape Town (UCT) at Riebeek West, they’d have expected more than a 21-3 win.

Tries were scored by wing JJ Engelbrecht, lock Rynhardt Elstadt, and replacement back Jurgen Visser.

To win the Super 14 you need great depth, players who can step into your starting lineup or reserves and ensure a side doesn’t lose any value. It’s important that the Stormers develop depth to avoid a repeat of last season where injuries were plentiful.

I still think the Stormers will have a good season, but there’s been nothing special served up yet. They’ll need to hit the ground running ahead of their first clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on February 13!

Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee have had their contracts with Western Province rugby extended until 2012.

It shows confidence and satisfaction in the performance of what has been an underperforming coaching team by Managing director of WP Rugby Ltd, Rob Wagner and his board. They obviously believe that although the results have not been forthcoming, Western Cape rugby is moving in the right direction.

The 2009 Currie Cup was a step in the right direction, but after the 2009 Super 14, I’m not sure I’d have given them a 2 year extension so hastily.

Wagner appears confident ahead of the 2010 Super 14 and said “There are three reasons why I’m confident about the new season. The first is the rugby institute that has been established at Stellenbosch, the second is the High Performance Centre in Bellville, and the third is team management and players. We are now entering the third year with this management. The extension of their contracts will help establish confidence among the players.”

I am glad Coetzee’s value as a coach has been highlighted as he did a great job with the Western Province Currie Cup side in 2009, and finally stepped out of the label as a token assistant coach. His ability to get the best out of players has been highlighted as a key strength.

Rassie Erasmus meanwhile will take on a role similar to a director of rugby as senior professional coach. He will keep an eye on the institute and high performance centre whilst still performing a hands on coaching role as needed.

The results in the 2009 Super 14 may have been disastrous, but I’m hoping that the lessons have been learnt. With a centrally-controlled training facility in Bellville, the rugby institute producing talent such as Springbok centre Juan de Jongh and other structures in place to aid in the success of WP rugby, there can be no excuses in 2010.

With a star studded lineup which now includes new Springbok acquisitions Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, much is expected of the Stormers. However each year I predict the Stormers look dangerous and will set the competition alight only to see them underpeform dismally. Let’s hope 2010 finally brings some results!

Young Bulls star Francois Hougaard is likely to miss the early stages of the 2010 Super 14 after suffering a knee injury in training.

The Bulls have not had the smoothest start to their 2010 title defence with the negative publicity surrounding Pedrie Wannenburg and calls for him to be punished after admitting to drug use and alcohol abuse.

Hougaard is highly rated by the Bulls and performs a valuable role as a utility back. With injuries to many of the other wingers, Hougaard was considered a key component to the starting backline.

Bulls team doctor Org Strauss confirmed Hougaard is likely to be out for 4-6 weeks after injuring knee cartilage at Monday’s training session.

Hougaard is reportedly in a great deal of pain and said “We were doing a contact session where a lot of emphasis was laid on keeping possession when I heard a click in my knee. I tore my cartilage and as a result of this Dr Eugene Pelser will fix me up on Wednesday in the Little Company of Mary hospital” said Hougaard.

The meniscus (knee cartilage) is a c-shaped ring that gives stability to the knee. I would expect it’ll be closer to the middle of the season before Hougaard truly regains his confidence and just hope it doesn’t impact his future. The less cartilage one has in the knee the greater the strain on the muscles and ligaments supporting the knee. It takes time to build up the muscles and adapt to a less stable knee.

With at least a 4-6 week layoff, Hougaard may miss more than the opening Super 14 game against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Injuries to fellow Springboks Bakkies Botha (Achilles tendon), Chiliboy Ralepelle (foot) and Akona Ndungane (leg) are also likely to see them miss the opening rounds, and it will be important to the Bulls that their younger and less experienced players step up to the mark and gain valuable log points to ensure they don’t slip off the pace.

Young Gerhard van den Heever is likely to occupy one wing, while the other wing could be anyone’s guess but may come down to John Mametsa, Stefan Dippenaar or even Jaco van der Westhuyzen who is returning from Japan.

Hopefully there are no more dramas before the Super 14 clash with the Cheetahs on February 11!