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'He threatened the surgeon he better do a good job, the best job he has ever done'
Lood de Jager is a man on a mission at Sale, arriving back into the Gallagher Premiership club on crutches just two days after his most recent operation with a view to getting stuck into his rehabilitation and accelerating the process to ensure he will be in the mix for the Springboks when they host the Lions in South Africa in July.
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The 28-year-old Springboks lock tore his meniscus when landing during a lineout drill at training in the build-up to Sale’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 match at Scarlets on April 4. It was feared the injury would rule him out the Lions tour but he has bounced back in determined fashion and is hoping to add to his 45-cap haul when the Boks get back playing for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final.
So one-track-minded has de Jager been about his latest setback that he even told his surgeon that must perform his best operation ever, and he then packed off his family to South Africa to begin his rehab without distraction rather than heading home himself and spending some time with his folks.
It’s an attitude that has left new Sale boss Alex Sanderson hugely impressed and admitting he will be really proud if de Jager makes it back in time to line up for the Springboks versus the Lions in just over 13 weeks’ time. “He has done something to his meniscus, a tear, and they have had to stitch that back up,” said Sanderson when asked by RugbyPass for the latest update regarding the second row who missed the end to the 2019/20 league season with a shoulder issue.
“If it wasn’t for that it could be six to eight weeks but with that, it’s more like twelve weeks. He won’t make the back end of this season but he will make pre-season and at the very best he could feature on the Lions tour all being fit.”
"Quite a weird accident…"
– Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth has been speaking on @TheRugbyPod about his recent injury setback https://t.co/hjZuvfoTFd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2021
Quizzed on the attitude shown by de Jager in the face of his latest injury adversity, Sanderson added: “I’m constantly amazed and surprised by this fella. I said ‘go home’ to him. He hadn’t seen his parents (in a while). When you get a big injury like that on the back of another injury, I’m sure he would like to go and see his folks.
“He has sent his missus home and his kid and he is still here to do rehab by himself. He is staying in one of the lad’s houses because he can’t get around. He is so keen to get back on it. Positive in terms of being able to come back and be back stronger. He is a brilliant advocate for anyone who gets injured and goes around kicking stones.
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“He’s like, ‘Right, I’m injured. Get me in’. He threatened the surgeon he better do a good job, the best job he has ever done. Threatened him – and then two days later he is on here on crutches, he is in the meetings, he is playing his music in the gym.
“He brilliant and he is still contributing in meetings, is still doing the lineout analysis. The guy is massively helping us even though he is not playing… too right I will be really proud (if he plays against the Lions). He should do, he has been playing his best rugby.”
"That speaks volumes of the bloke that he is"
– How Sale won their Manu battle https://t.co/aRLC2Xw81k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments