FdP off to Japan

[PaarlBok]

Brute site

Du Preez commits till 2011, then off to Japan

The Vodacom Bulls scum half, Fourie du Preez, on Wednesday extended his contract with the union till the conclusion of the Super 15 competition in 2011.

Du Preez, who turns 28 next week, also signed his Springbok contract that will keep him in Green and Gold till the end of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.

He will then join a club side in Japan.

Du Preez, who made his debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in 2001 and for the Vodacom Bulls in 2003, wants to end his successful relationship with the Bulls on a high.

“These were the best rugby years of my life and I could never have played for another union. By revealing my plans for the future now, it will give the Bulls sufficient time to plan for the future and possible successors. There is already some excellent players like Francois Hougaard knocking on the door, so it is time to move on,” Du Preez said.

“I was happy to be involved with the Bulls during arguable the best era they have ever had. It remains a massive honor to be part of the structures started and maintained by world class coaches such as Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke. The leadership of Victor Matfield and the bond between the team members is also something I will always treasure. There is still time for me to add value and it is something I look forward to.”

With regards to the national side, Du Preez indicated that the joy he had playing for the Springboks in 2009, made it easy to commit himself to the national cause till after the World Cup.

“There is the chance to play in another World Cup, but also the knowledge that I will enjoy the experience. Last season was the most enjoyable I have had in the Bok jersey and think Peter de Villiers deserve a lot of credit for that. I feel we have the experience and core group in the team to make a serious run at the Webb Ellis trophy again,” Du Preez said.

His decision to play in Japan was equally easy to make, he said.

“After 11 years at the Bulls, I am affording myself the opportunity to change the scenery and to expose myself to a different culture. This contract will allow me that,” Du Preez said.

“I think I can learn a lot and broaden my horizons in the game at the same time, which will help should I opt for a career in coaching later on in my life.”

Ludeke indicated that Du Preez’s decision will leave them with enough time to start a succession plan.

“Again Fourie did not only act in his own interests, but thought of the team as well. As one of the architects of the success the Bulls enjoyed in recent years, his input in our planning will be highly valued and it is nice to know he will be around for a while still. I know he had many offers and options, but he again showed his commitment to the Bulls.

Ludeke said investment in possible replacements will start soon.

“Fourie is a student of the game and will help in the process to indentify and bring the right successors through,” Ludeke said.

Fourie du Preez facts:

Vodacom Blue Bulls (debut, 2001 vs Leopards). 51 matches, 100 points.
Vodacom Bulls (debut, 2003 vs Brumbies). 89 matches, 90 points.
South Africa (debut, 2004 vs Ireland). 55 tests, 65 points.

 

[Lee Grant]

Great player and it's not a term I use lightly.

The Boks were lucky to have him so soon after the great Joost departed. It's a long time until the 2012 season starts but there is nobody I would nominate now to be his long term Bok successor. There are some good scrummies in the RSA but nobody of his calibre.

The player most like him in style and ability plays for us - Will Genia.


PB - who is your pick for reserve scrummie for the Boks this year? And who to be his long term successor?

 

[rustycruiser]

They two replacements I rate most aren't even playing scrummie this year. Francois Hougaard and Ruan Pienaar.

 

[Blue]

I feel ill.

It's inevitable, but I feel ill.

 

[PaarlBok]

You right, we have a wealth of 9s running around. Rustys 2 players plus Pie Eater the freont runners and altho I am biased I,d like to add Dewaldt Duvenhage and Vermaak to that list. Dewaldts improvement as a 20 year old at S14 level doing justice to his talent who I have been watchings since a U14 schoolboy player. The kid had to deal since that timw with quota opposition and good to see he came tops every time.

 

[tranquility]

Ruan Pienaar is a very fine player.

 

[Reddy!]

Afraid of being shown up by Genia so he is pissing off to Japan. What a sook.

 

[rustycruiser]

Afraid of being shown up by Genia so he is pissing off to Japan. What a sook.

Nah. At that stage he will have added two more S14 titles, two more Tri Nations titles, and successfully defended the World Cup in New Zealand to his resume. Oh, and another Currie Cup. FdP will deserve a break after that!

 

[PaarlBok]

Genia sure the least of Fourie,s worries, maybe Genia will end up in League before FdP ends in Japan. Haqts of to our Legion to give the Brutes more then enough time to plan. So the measure stick is Genia, lets see in a few weeks in Brisbane the way FdP and Duvenhage match up to the Aus great!

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Great player and it's not a term I use lightly.

The player most like him in style and ability plays for us - Will Genia.

Agree with first part, but not the second. FdP is a true rugby great, and in a fair world he would have been IRB POTY last year.

Genia had a great breakthrough season, but I'm not nervous to see him on an opposition teamsheet as yet.

 

[Blue]

Genia is a great find. But has only really ones season behind him. He will go on to greatness.

Fourie has done all any player would set themselves to do. For a few years he really has been the best 9.

After having a crack at a WC defense, there really is no more reason to hang around. Japan will be a nice retirement for him.

 

[DPK]

Great player and it's not a term I use lightly.

The player most like him in style and ability plays for us - Will Genia.

Agree with first part, but not the second. FdP is a true rugby great, and in a fair world he would have been IRB POTY last year.

Genia had a great breakthrough season, but I'm not nervous to see him on an opposition teamsheet as yet.

He wasnt? Who was? (Better be a bloody good answer...)

 

[Blue]

He wasnt? Who was? (Better be a bloody good answer...)

McCaw. How, I do not know.

 

[Lee Grant]

IRB player of the year in 2009 was Richie McCaw - a reasonable player.

Genia and FdP - I did say most like him in style and ability - and used the word "most" deliberately.

Anybody closer in those two areas?

Let us Aussies hope that Genia will turn out to be as good as FdP or near to it.

For SAffers Reddy was only stirring.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

IRB player of the year in 2009 was Richie McCaw - a reasonable player.

Genia and FdP - I did say most like him in style and ability - and used the word "most" deliberately.

Anybody closer in those two areas?

Let us Aussies hope that Genia will turn out to be as good as FdP or near to it.

For SAffers Reddy was only stirring.

Not that long ago, everybody was saying Mike Philips. Unfortunately due to work, woman & other commitments, I've seen no 6N and little of the EOYT so cannot really comment.

 

[Lee Grant]

Phillips is a good big scrummie and has a better pass than Genia or FdP, but he hasn't been playing a lot. He just come back recently after being out for 4 months and then was hurt again; so we'll slot him in for comparison when he's back to full form and fitness.

 

[DPK]

Phillips is a good big scrummie and has a better pass than Genia or FdP, but he hasn't been playing a lot. He just come back recently after being out for 4 months and then was hurt again; so we'll slot him in for comparison when he's back to full form and fitness.

I agree, Phillips looks like a centre when he runs the ball. Hopefully he is fit for the June Internationals or at least the EOYTs.

 

[PaarlBok]

Genia and FdP - I did say most like him in style and ability - and used the word "most" deliberately.

Anybody closer in those two areas?

Lee myself played scrummie on my day and think they are a bit different in style. Genia is playing more on his own type of scrummy, love to attack the advantage line and playing around the scrums , rucks type. FdP do this only when the gap opens but he use his 10 much more with a very good long pass. Thats the reason why I mention Dewaldt Duvenhage. Dewaldt have a crisp service and have fantastic hand and passing (reverse, underarm)skills to get the inside forwards going and a educated boot, in fact he is a very good place kicker. Thats also the reason why he still get the pill away behind a back paddling scrum or under pressure.

I'd say Pie Eater plays more like Genia and the one thing I hate about Januarie is that he take 5 steps before passing. That takes a 100 yards of free space away from the wing. Still Pie Eater have that kind of skollie in your face type of attetude, another important skill you want from your 9.

 

[Godfrey]

I know its a language thing, but honestly it seems like someone just pokes words out of your posts and replaces them with random things they make up.

 

[PaarlBok]

I know its a language thing, but honestly it seems like someone just pokes words out of your posts and replaces them with random things they make up.

and whats your problem? :nta: