The key ingredient South Africa's URC teams so badly needed
The one consistent among South Africa’s trio of BKT United Rugby Championship coaches in Jake White, John Plumtree and John Dobson, was the size of their smile in welcoming back their World Cup title-winning Springboks.
Munster’s Graham Rowntree also grinned in welcoming Bok World Cup winner Jean Kleyn back into the team.
The Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen did not have such a luxury as there were no World Cup winners from his squad, but for the other South African three, the return to action of these world-class players could not have come sooner.
Jake White raved about veteran Willie le Roux’s authority as a player/coach in the build-up to the Vodacom Bulls win against Connacht. Le Roux, in his BKT URC debut, justified the hype and the pre-match purple prose.
World Player of the Year nominee Eben Etzebeth took charge of the Hollywoodbets Sharks forward pack against Dragons RFC and the result was the most emphatic Sharks performance of the season.
Etzebeth was huge in everything he did.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks had lost their opening five league matches, including a home match to Connacht, but with Etzebeth at the forefront of the World Cup stars, the hosts were unrecognizable from the side that laboured through the opening five matches.
Bok World Cup scrumhalves Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams were on fire, with the latter bagging a brace and again showcasing his electric pace.
Plumtree, back at the Sharks for a second stint as coach, finally got to flash that big grinning smile after the Hollywoodbets Sharks scored 69 points against the Dragons. This is why he came back to Durban, to lead a squad of gladiators and world class players.
White’s Vodacom Bulls were also such a different prospect with his World Cup players and this week Dobson got the necessary relief from four successive defeats overseas when veteran Deon Fourie led the DHL Stormers World Cup-winning quartet back into training.
Utility back Damian Willemse, who started for the Boks at fullback in the World Cup final but has produced his best rugby for the DHL Stormers at inside centre, spoke refreshingly of his desire to win the BKT URC title for a second time. His teammate and No 10 Manie Libbok was as enthusiastic about dominating in a league that he made his own in the past two seasons.
Fourie, seemingly younger with every passing week, immediately added punch to the preparations and brought calm to the pack.
The leadership, said Dobson, of his World Cup quartet, was something that had been missing for the DHL Stormers this season.
“They’ve won international rugby’s biggest title a month ago and there was always the danger of a World Cup hangover, but from what I have experienced this week and what I have observed in the performances of the Boks World Cup winners for other teams, it has been the opposite.
“These players have come back wanting more success, wanting to inspire success and wanting to showcase the qualities of world champions,” said Dobson.
“We are fortunate to have so many of the winning World Cup squad playing for SA teams in the BKT URC because it tells the next generation of players that if you perform in the BKT URC, you will get noticed internationally.”
Dobson’s DHL Stormers play Zebre Parma in Stellenbosch this Saturday and White’s Vodacom Bulls host Plumtree’s men in what should be a bruising battle at Loftus Versfeld.
Tighthead prop Wilco Louw has been impressive for the Vodacom Bulls since joining from London’s Harlequins and his contest with star scrumming loosehead prop Ox Nche is reason enough to pay to go to Loftus.
Nche has been described as the most destructive scrumming prop in the game, but he is up against a giant-sized boulder in Louw.
Outside of this duo, who will be dabbling in the dark arks of the front row, the World Cup-winning backs on either side make Pretoria’s Loftus the place to be this weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments