Kebble: PRO14 more physical than Super Rugby
Former Stormers prop Olli Kebble is set to qualify for Scotland within the next 12 months, but for now he has his eyes firmly set on helping Glasgow Warriors go one better this year and win the PRO14.
Kebble, who left South Africa to join the Warriors and is now a permanent front-row fixture in the side, said he never regretted making the move, and at 27 years old is now enjoying every moment of his rugby in Scotland.
He said the arrival of New Zealand coach Dave Rennie had really sparked a “hunger” in the side to succeed and while they narrowly lost to Leinster in an epic final in May, they were hoping to go one better this season.
“I’d say when Dave Rennie came in, he brought a massive aspiration to the squad and we were very disappointed to lose the previous year in the semi-final. We went one better but still one short of winning the league was a disappointment,” Kebble said.
“We’ve had a long time to think about that final, and this year is an opportunity for us to go one better.”
Kebble could follow in the footsteps of Allan Dell and WP Nel in continuing Scotland’s import of South African players into their international team, but the big prop isn’t focusing too much on international rugby, even though he admits it remains a dream for him.
“I wasn’t too apprehensive about moving to the UK because I had attended school there before and have lived overseas before. I wasn’t too worried about the change of environment and knew a bit about Scotland. I’m also good mates with Huw Jones, who played for Scotland at the time and it meant I had some kind of connection there,” he said.
“It was a pretty easy decision and since I’ve been there I’ve been enjoying it up there. I’ve been there for two seasons now. It took a bit of acclimatising initially but really loving it right now.
“It has always been an aspiration for me to play international rugby, that is for sure. But I wouldn’t say I’ve given it too much thought. I’m just trying to play well for Glasgow and if I do play well, hopefully I will give myself a chance in future. But Glasgow are the ones who contracted me, so I’m concentrating on my club rugby at the moment.
"I know how important s&c is, but having a 180kg bench press doesn’t mean you’re the best tackler or defender."
For @RugbyPass – Edinburgh's Nick Haining on ??????? ambitions, the cutthroat nature of academy life, and why weight training isn't everything.https://t.co/ISwvKKBRA7
— Jamie Lyall (@JLyall93) September 26, 2019
“I think it is a case that the grass is not really greener, it is what you make of it. But I can say that I have never had any regrets in the past. There are certain times I miss Cape Town and my family, but I do feel I made the right decision in moving over.”
Kebble believes those who still believe Northern Hemisphere rugby is slow and cumbersome, are not only wrong, but in for a surprise should they tune in to watch some of the derby games. The intensity is just as high as anything he experienced in Super Rugby.
“In PRO14 in particular, the rugby is of a very high standard and not always forwards-orientated. If you look at Glasgow in particular, we are one of the best attacking teams in Europe. PRO14 perhaps from a South African perspective isn’t as known, but the level is impressive. It is some of the toughest rugby I’ve played so far, and that is comparing it to European Cup, which is close to test level.
‘It happens a lot easier (for white coaches)… it’s difficult to say it's deliberate, but that's the trend in our country’
– @JLyall93 interviews South African Deon Davids, ex-coach at @SouthernKingsSAhttps://t.co/LZ2VHO2pHn— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 30, 2019
“It’s a different game from Super Rugby, especially if you take into account how long the season is over there. You are going to have highs and lows and you can’t peak for 30 weeks in a row. At the Stormers was 15 or 16 weeks, so you go no-holds-barred approach. For us, when we do go into those big derby games – Leinster, Edinburgh, Scarletts, I find that the intensity is up there and it is more physical than Super Rugby.
“Super Rugby at times is quicker, but PRO14 is physical.”
While Scotland doesn’t possess the player pool that South Africa does, Kebble believes local rugby administrators can take a leaf out of the way Scotland nurture their talent better.
“There are certainly less rugby players in Scotland but they do nurture the talent better. Scottish rugby players – in my experience – are incredibly hard-working. What they don’t have what South Africans have in terms of size, they work incredibly hard to get to that level.
“I think in South Africa it is so easy to be lost when you are a talented player, because there are so many talented players. It is a lot easier to identify the talented players in Scotland because there is a smaller pool.”
The former prop does have one desire though – and that is to see his South African opposition be supported better. Having experienced the support of fans while he was at the Stormers, Kebble wants his team-mates to experience the battle in South Africa with fans getting behind the Cheetahs and Kings.
“I’d like to see them get behind the Kings and the Cheetahs more. For all the teams coming down here, I’d like to see some big crowds backing the teams when we play them. We want the Kings and Cheetahs to do well in the competition and we want to see them have the support.”
For now, it is packing down in the scrum with a mission. The PRO14 Championship eluded them last season. Kebble wants to do his part this season to make sure it isn’t the same.
by Brenden Nel/PRO14
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments