'He has probably got more hair products than my wife does'
Jono Ross is in a mischievous mood. Faf de Klerk’s hair was a much talked about commodity around the globe during the World Cup and his fellow South African isn’t slow in lifting the lid on what it is really like sharing a dressing room with his pal on a daily basis at Sale.
“I said this to someone the other day, he has probably got more hair products than my wife does,” quipped Ross to RugbyPass with a smile.
“He is washing his hair and conditioning it three times a day with highlights and what not. He takes a lot of care. A lot of shampoo, a lot of conditioner in the dressing room. Blow drying, in the mirror, always busy with his hair.
“To be fair to him, he might have those sort of flash things but he is a real down to earth guy. He is a hard-working, hard as nails person and I have a lot of time for him.
“We spend a lot of time together and he is a great, great person before the rugby and all of that. He has had a tough career. Things haven’t just been handed to him, he has had to work really hard to get to where he is. He deserves credit and I have a lot of respect for him.”
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A lot of respect, too, for so many more of the World Cup-winning Springboks squad. Ross only got in the door at home in Manchester at 3am on the Saturday morning of the final due to travelling back from Sale’s defeat at Bristol and the early kick-off in Yokohama made for a lack of sufficient shut-eye.
The victory eventually meant he wasn’t put out in the slightest. Of course, there was sympathy for the vanquished Tom Curry, his club colleague whom he described as being one of the best players of the tournament. But to see friends such as Handre Pollard and Vincent Koch crowned champions, that was priceless.
All the more so what success can potentially mean for Ross’ native South Africa. “It’s huge for the country, it’s a rugby-mad place. It’s a country politically, from a crime perspective, that has been in a very bad place.
?? South Africa ??
? Good morning ??
? Sawubona ??
? Molo ??
? Goeie more ??
? Dumelang ??
? Avuxeni ??#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/ed01fc7sxY— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) November 3, 2019
“I speak to my parents and it is a lot of big negative feeling around the country due to those problems and only something like that really unites us as a nation. In 2007 with the Rugby World Cup, in 2010 with the Football World Cup there, the nation just comes together and sort of forgets about all the past and the problems that we are facing.
“It gets together due to a team that really inspires our country and the amount of everyday people loving the fact that South Africa has won, it really puts South Africa in a good place hopefully for a month or so so. It really is inspirational. Siya Kolisi, his story and where he has come from to be the first black captain, was huge. It is really big for South Africa and I’m really happy for them.”
Nearly 6,000 miles separate Ross from Johannesburg and his current home in Manchester and while he is well used to living abroad having spent time at Saracens and Stade Francais before pitching up at Sale in 2017, being away from family remains a drawback, particularly when he himself mentions the crime rate that exists in South Africa.
In the hour of his greatest triumph, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus remembered his late Munster colleague Anthony Foley https://t.co/TMUvPcg7zK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 5, 2019
“I don’t think you can worry about that stuff. Obviously, it can happen, but it can happen anywhere. I can walk outside and get hit by a bus. I’m not worried about that, but I am sad to live away from my parents and my family and my wife’s family. That is tough.
“We enjoy the lifestyle we have in South Africa. My wife is from Zimbabwe, so we miss that but in terms of things like that [parents and crime rates], you can’t worry about that. It would be great to have family, have weather, have the things that we want, but we really enjoy Manchester and that is the process we are in at the moment.
“Manchester is a fantastic place. It is small but there is so much going on. It is not like London where you can get lost because it is so big. It is small so the boys can hang out and there is enough to do so that you are never bored.
??? MATCH ACTION | Sale Sharks v @WaspsRugby #YourSharks triumph under the Friday Night lights!
Image credit: @Sporturo #SharkTime | #SALvWAS | @UKFast | @BMITheAlexandra pic.twitter.com/ktFTItc2Gq
— Sale Sharks ? (@SaleSharksRugby) November 9, 2019
“It’s a great place, a great club. The club is a really humble place to come to and South Africans seem to fit in well. All the guys here enjoy it and we get on well with all the English guys. It is important when foreigners come in that they buy into a culture, not try and make it what you had in the past but buy into what it is. That is going really well.
“Living in the (winter) darkness is as English as it gets and we get out when it is raining hard. In South Africa when it is raining you close the doors and snuggle under a blanket and carry on whereas now you go walking when it is snowing, raining, sunshine, whatever it is.
“We try and involve ourselves in some of the Manchester food culture, we get out and experience Manchester as best we can, we enjoy going to watch Man United play, we try our best to interact with as many English people as we can. It is important to take in the culture, the English culture, and we try our best to immerse ourselves in Manchester.”
Fascinating insight on how Steve Diamond approaches Premiership Rugby life in Manchester with Sale https://t.co/ILp1nctTKh
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) September 14, 2019
London was Ross’ first port of call when he left home in 2012, joining Saracens for a season where he was restricted to a mere two LV= Cup appearances before returning to the Bulls. His old club are now in the eye of a storm following last Tuesday’s salary cap punishments handed down by Premiership Rugby, but he doesn’t feel it is a topic he can publicly discuss.
“I don’t really think it is my place to comment. I don’t really know what is going on so I don’t think it is my place to have anything to say about that. I am sure whatever process will go ahead and the outcome will be the outcome. As a player, I don’t worry about that. I just want to play well and make sure our team plays well.
“As a player, the salary cap is not our problem. We focus on playing on the field and the outer stuff that is going on has nothing to do with us. We just have to keep our head down and keep playing. Of course, it was (a talking point). Guys were shocked about it but the players, it was probably chatted about for five minutes and then we carried on training. It is not really our area. It is difficult to discuss.”
The salary cap is something frequently mentioned in connection with Sale. For years they took part in the Premiership having spent far less on wages than they were permitted to.
Now, after finally entering a campaign having spent the full £7million allowed, there is an expectation on them to be more consistently competitive on a weekly basis, not only in the league but finally having a better crack at the Champions Cup where just two of 18 matches have been won in their last three participations.
Despite the largesse of a squad heavily bolstered by a South African influx, Ross, four games into a league season where they have already been beaten twice ahead of next Saturday’s European trip to Glasgow, still feels it might be awkward to successfully challenge on both fronts.
Lood de Jager's injury for South Africa in the World Cup final against England has turned out to be serious and will impact on his new club Salehttps://t.co/VQuJXQ0LuU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 5, 2019
“It is going to be difficult (to do both). We have improved this year but we are under no illusions about the quality of the teams we have in our group (La Rochelle and Exeter complete the line-up). It is a tough competition.
“There is a different expectation (in the league) from what we have had in the past. We are expected to win games. There is expectation but you can’t let that weigh down on us. We will continue to have a clear process of thought, stick to what we train and our game plan. Hopefully, the rest will take of itself.
“We know we need to improve, we know we are not the finished article. But we will be competitive and that is what we strive to do. There is expectation but the players just need to be focused on improving every day, every week and if we do that we will be in a good place.
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“It would be massive for the club (to be successful). As players you remember those moments when you win things more than anything. There is lots to remember but you are ultimately judged by what you won and if we could win something it would be huge and a very proud moment.
“It [the 2006 Premiership title] gets spoken about a lot, the big French influence with (Sebastien) Chabal, Sebastien Bruno and these guys. It is spoken about a lot and the club dream of these moments. Hopefully, at some point in the future, we can achieve that.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass Rugby Explorer series pays a visit to South Africa
Comments on RugbyPass
well remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
13 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
12 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
3 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
3 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
12 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
13 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
12 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
12 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
12 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
123 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
12 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
13 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
3 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
12 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
13 Go to comments