Brutes 2010

[PaarlBok]

The Brutes sure had a historical big 2009 season. Not only do they have the S14 trophy in the cupboard but went one futher and adding the CC.

It is always one thing to get to the top but the real secret is to stay at the top. One thing I learned about them as my biggest rival since I can remember , is that they are always difficult to topple. They have this winning culture in them that it aint easy to halt the bastards and I am saying this in the best respected manner.

They will not lose many players , only Habana as a big star player but they sure show they are on the right track appointing Mr Blue Bull himself, Heyneke Meyer. I had the rumour from long time ago and it look like Heyneke will do the same type of job Rassie will do at the Stormers. The all important player contracting and making sure their structure stay as it has been for the last 10 years.

Other player poaches are Bees Roux (Griquas)& Gary Botha (NH),

Superrugby

Heyneke Meyer back at the Bulls

The Super 14 and Currie Cup champions, the Blue Bulls, announced on Tuesday they had secured the services of Heyneke Meyer by appointing him as the Executive: Rugby Coaching at Loftus Versfeld.

It was also revealed that head coach Frans Ludeke had signed an additional three-year contract.

Meyer's focus will be on high performance across all levels of Bulls rugby, with particular attention to coaching structures, development and support of clubs, coaches and referees.

Meyer, who led the Blue Bulls to four Currie Cup titles as well as Super 14 glory, will be responsible for enhancing and maintaining the structures he initiated in 2000.

Owing to his vast experience as a top professional coach, the highly regarded Meyer will serve as a soundboard for all Blue Bulls coaches by providing advice and support. The coaches of the Vodacom Cup, under-21 and under-19 teams will report to Meyer.

Ludeke, who led the team to Vodacom Super 14 as well as Absa Currie Cup glory this year, joined the Bulls at the end of 2007 for a three-year tenure (until October 2010), but the Board decided to offer him another deal until the end of 2013.

Ludeke said on Tuesday that the Bulls’ immediate goal will be to build on what they have achieved over the last couple of years.

“The challenge will be to win the trophies we have won in 2009, but with all the structures that are in place I am confident that we will go from strength to strength in the future."

“The team started training for next year’s Super 14 tournament on Monday and I am quite pleased with how things are going. At the moment our first priority is the conditioning of the players and later on we will start to hone the skills.”

 

[Blue]

Fantastic news.

Will be interesting to see who starts at 11.

Gary Botha will maker a huge difference. Hooker was a weak link in the pack for the last 2 years.

 

[PaarlBok]

Think TH is the Bulls problem position. Hopefull Rossouw de Klerk will start showing his worth in that position next year.

 

[rustycruiser]

Gary Botha 1st choice hooker, and Chilli/Maku 2nd and 3rd (I guess)? I heard that Kuun was shifting back to loose forward because of Botha coming back. Although he has Spies, Stegman and Potgieter to contend with. Not sure he could displace any of the three.

 

[PaarlBok]

There are rumours either CB or (John Smit from Sharks)will move over the Jukskei to the Lions. He is out now for three months and I dont think the Lions will want him now. CB should play as much as possible.

 

[rustycruiser]

There are rumours either CB or (John Smit from Sharks)will move over the Jukskei to the Lions. He is out now for three months and I dont think the Lions will want him now. CB should play as much as possible.

From what I read, Chiliboy is under contract until 2011. Lions better bring their checkbook if they want him. With that said, I hope he goes. Over. Rated. Big time.

 

[PaarlBok]

Oh I nearly forgot, JL Potgieter also now back in Brute camp and Jaco vd Westhuizen to join in January.

Rusty we will only know if he is worth anything if he plays.

Also think he is overrated but being a black person obvious important he gets on the wagon on merit.

 

[The Jackal]

From what I read, Chiliboy is under contract until 2011. Lions better bring their checkbook if they want him. With that said, I hope he goes. Over. Rated. Big time.

That we can all agree on..

 

[BillyWebb]

Smart move by the Bulls in appointing Heyneke.
He has the respect of the players and administrators and he is a pretty sharp operator.

Paarl is right, they do need to fix the frontrow a bit, but otherwise they look like they'll have a more than useful squad again. Derrick Kuun going back to being a loosie seems strange to me though. Unlikely he's going to displace any of the incumbent squad members.
He would've been better off staying at hooker and maybe changin provinces?

 

[Blue]

Smart move by the Bulls in appointing Heyneke.
He has the respect of the players and administrators and he is a pretty sharp operator.

Paarl is right, they do need to fix the frontrow a bit, but otherwise they look like they'll have a more than useful squad again. Derrick Kuun going back to being a loosie seems strange to me though. Unlikely he's going to displace any of the incumbent squad members.
He would've been better off staying at hooker and maybe changin provinces?

Front row is crap so I am surprised they haven't looked at more props.

Steenkamp has really ben exposed, and the rest of te pro stocks have battled a bit.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bees Roux should make a differense. Still cant figure out the Puma fatty still without a contract. That Puma tight 5 is really a huge unit and the Lions dont have a shortage in the big men department.

 

[Pfitzy]

Leegranting for a minute - but there was a talented young centre at the Bulls a few years back. I was trying to think of his name and his method of demise: was it ?Ethan? Botha who crashed his car?

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja Ettiene Botha. He came through the Falcons or Red Devils like we call him. He & AD Jacobs played under Snor and was a outstanding pair those days. Pretty sure if he was still alive they would have been the Bok midfielders.

 

[Pfitzy]

Thanks Oom. Damn shame that - makes you realise you've got to enjoy every minute.

 

[PaarlBok]

Yep Ettiene was just about to make his Bok break through when he died.

 

[Blue]

Yep Ettiene was just about to make his Bok break through when he died.

He was all but guaranteed selection after an amazing season.

Total shame.

 

[rustycruiser]

While Etienne was in amazing form, he still had to deal with Jake Whit and his obsession with size. Botha was not a big man. But hell, he was fun to watch. IIRC, JdV and Jacque Fourie had aleady replaced DeWet Barry and Marius Joubert in 2005. But JdV was injured in 2006, and that was when Wynand Olivier got the call up after replacing Etienne at the Bulls. So probably a good bet that Botha would have got the nod before Olivier.

 

[rustycruiser]

Blue, turn your speakers up boet! Everyone else, mute them. :fishing



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e6HjLPYxzs

 

[rustycruiser]

While Etienne was in amazing form, he still had to deal with Jake Whit and his obsession with size. Botha was not a big man. But hell, he was fun to watch. IIRC, JdV and Jacque Fourie had aleady replaced DeWet Barry and Marius Joubert in 2005. But JdV was injured in 2006, and that was when Wynand Olivier got the call up after replacing Etienne at the Bulls. So probably a good bet that Botha would have got the nod before Olivier.

Google answers all :

Perhaps the greatest honour that Ettienne Botha would never know was Jake White's admission last week that he would have become a Springbok.

White, in an interview with the Pretoria News recently, said Botha would have worn the Green and Gold during this year's Tri-Nations tournament given the injuries that the Bok coach had had to deal with.

 

[Blue]

Shit Oom you almost made me cry.

We haven't seen a 12 in SA who could step like that since this guy.

That brought back some memories. I took some visitors from the UK to a Bulls S10 match in those days (one guy went to Rugby - the school - so that gives you an idea of what I'm talking about).

I don't think I have ever seen such shocked faces in my life. Loftus today isn't for the faint hearted but back then it was pretty rough.