'We have never not thought about being in the Premiership... but we haven't reached our extreme potential'
It’s eight weeks and counting since GJ van Velze was last seen in the line of Gallagher Premiership fire. Bad enough that Worcester were beaten on February 16 at Harlequins, but the injury price paid by their skipper is still hurting as they continue their fight against relegation with Saturday’s home game versus play-off chasing Sale.
Van Velze had been having a rough enough day as it was. Harlequins hooker Max Crumpton wound up banned for three weeks after admitting to “punching or striking” the South African. Then came the 56th minute arm damage that is still keeping him sidelined and leaving him skippering his team from the frustrating vantage point of a seat in the Sixways stands.
Annoying? Without a doubt. “I don’t care what position the team is in, whenever you’re injured is always frustrating,” he told RugbyPass, still uncertain of his exact comeback date. “I’m on the mend. Not exactly sure how long it is going to take, but I’m definitely on the mend and things are going well.
“There was no way (of playing on with the injury). It was a previous fracture that I re-done just in a different spot, into the joint which made it very difficult. I had my two operations and it’s going well.”
With van Velze decommissioned, Warriors have been involved in an intriguing relegation war that has four battles remaining. Thirty-six points last season was enough for a comfortable 11th place conclusion 14 points clear of relegated London Irish.
(Continue reading below…)
Eleven months later, everything is still on the line despite Worcester already having 32 points so far. They are three points ahead of bottom side Newcastle and two behind Leicester, fellow strugglers who meet head-on this Friday night at Kingston Park.
You’d imagine van Velze would be interested from afar in that outcome, but the emphasis is instead on Worcester taking care of business themselves in a run-in where three of their four games will be at home.
“I wouldn’t have a clue what our budget is, but we have a squad that has an extreme depth in talent so it’s very competitive. We have never not thought about being in the Premiership. There is still a few hurdles to overcome.
“But we have been in this position before. We know how to deal with the pressure, we know how we can control and we only need to worry about what we can control – there is no point worrying about things outside of our control.
“Playing at home is extremely important. Our fans have been extremely loyal. You can’t question where their hearts are. We’d love to repay them for what they are putting into the club, the hours in the season supporting the team.
“We have an extreme, diverse group of players from all over the world, so we’re extremely grateful we can play at home as it brings out the best in us.
“We’re a very abrasive team at home and it’s one thing we have developed over the season, something a lot of people wouldn’t give us a lot of credit for in the past. We have become really abrasive and that comes through at home.”
Nearing the end of his fifth season at the club after joining from Northampton, van Velze signed up last December for a couple of more years with a team he hopes can soon live up to its promise. “I’ve enjoyed working here. I have relished the challenges we have had and the things we have had to overcome the past few seasons. I’ve settled in and the club has got extreme potential.
“We haven’t reached anywhere close to that potential yet. We have got a good academy that brings through a lot of youngsters, the likes of Ted Hill. That is very exciting for the future. We can’t dwell on the past – we haven’t had success. But we can’t dream about the future yet. There is a lot of work that needs to be done now in this season, so all of our focus is on that.”
Wednesday night was a break in the weekly routine, an opportunity for some Warriors to stage a training session for the visiting Wolverhampton under-12s. It stirred some sweet memories in van Velze about his own days as a starry-eyed kid rubbing shoulders with the professionals of the day in Pretoria in his native South Africa.
“I went to a high school that’s just opposite Loftus Versfeld, so we would sneak classes to go and see the pros train. It was always a dream from a very young age. That era of the Bulls was very successful, so it was easy to find a role model within them,” he said, going on to highlight the importance of the modern day professionals being an approachable, open book.
We’re having a brilliant night with @WorcsWarriors! They’re leading a #TrainWithYourHeroes session with local winners @WolvesRUFC U12s. Session led by stars @Ted_Hill26, @JackSingleton14 and @GJvanVelze pic.twitter.com/8cHpg5UKxZ
— Gallagher UK (@GallagherUK) April 10, 2019
“The more we expose youngsters to quality coaching, to professional players and see what is actually possible, then the better for the game. This game needs to grow and we can’t stagnate because otherwise we’re going to fall behind. Whenever we have got the opportunity to work with kids and inspire kids we should take it with both hands.”
Now 31 and on the go in the senior ranks since a Vodacom Cup debut in March 2008, van Velze is fully appreciative of the opportunities he has had at home on the Super Rugby scene and in the English Premiership.
There was a time when he took it for granted, but an innocuous collision with Saracens’ Michael Rhodes in September 2016 knocked him out for the whole season and that career-threatening fright highlighted the fragility of his profession.
“I’d a very unique experience,” he recalled. “I never had brain trauma, trauma to the brain tissue which you would think about with a concussion. I damaged my ear canal which gave me problems in balancing. To explain it in layman’s terms, it was like a vertigo which gave me symptoms that were concussion related.
“It took us just over three months to diagnose what the problem was. I got told to just stay home and rest, which was probably the worst thing I could have done because you don’t get better, you only get worse. But I’m grateful for what it [that injury] has done to me.
“It put things in perspective a little bit. It was the first time I went through a long-term injury. Before, the longest I’d been out was 12 weeks so in a career where I’m now 31, to have gone through until 29 without any long-term injuries, I was very lucky.
“I probably in a way got a bit complacent. Complacent with the game, complacent with how fortunate we are playing the game, so when you spend those long times on the sideline and you’re not sure you’re going to play again, you’re extremely grateful when the opportunity comes again. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it and played some of my best rugby last year which was fun.”
In the meantime, his preparation for the rugby afterlife continues apace with his shoe-making (Van Velze and Smith Superior Leather) and lamb farming (Little Pretoria) businesses. “When you’re injured it definitely emphasises the fact rugby can get taken away from you. We’re very fortunate at Worcester with player development but if you can take any club as a model, Saracens have hit the nail on the head in terms of players developing outside of rugby and the importance of having a balance in your life.
“I’ve had the fortunate event of going into two businesses which I’m really enjoying and learning a hell of a lot. I definitely don’t know everything about it. I’m still making quite a lot of mistakes but I’m happy with that, happy to learn as we go.”
Learning on the go just like Worcester on the pitch.
Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
4 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
4 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
4 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to comments