Springbokke EYT

[BillyWebb]

Ashley Johnson had to play at hooker briefly in the CC-semi against the Sharks, but I'd hardly say he is a realistic option to play there normally.

 

[PaarlBok]

Two young players (havent played S14 rugby) tonight in action , Juan de Jong & Ashley Johnson.

Juan the first player produced via Varsity Cup rugby
VarsityCup.co.za

De Jongh first Varsity Cup Bok
The electrifying midfielder has had a breakthrough year with the Cape-based union in 2009 and was this week named in the starting line-up alongside Wynand Olivier for South Africa’s opening tour match against Leicester.

The talented 21-year-old started in the 2008 Varsity Cup final, in which he suffered a serious hip injury that required him to undergo surgery. Upon his return, he suffered a broken ankle, but the determined De Jongh recovered and played an integral role in taking Western Province to the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Western Province backline coach Robbie Fleck, who also coached De Jongh at Maties, is thrilled with De Jongh’s inclusion in the national side and credits the Varsity Cup for unearthing the youngster.

“It's just unbelievable for Juan and I'm very happy for him," Fleck told varsitycup.co.za.

"Six months ago not many people would've known much about Juan de Jongh. But he took his chances at Western Province with both hands this season and now he is on the cusp of playing for his country against the champions of English rugby.

"It's a big opportunity for him and one that he richly deserves."

Fleck, a former Province and Springbok centre in his own right, believes it is vital that De Jongh is managed well.

"We can't push him too much - at provincial, Super 14 or Springbok level," warned Fleck.

"A player's first year is always easier than his second or third seasons - but with Jaque Fourie possibly on his way here [to WP and the Stormers], Juan could well have the opportunity to learn from the best outside centre in the world.

"Juan will get his chances in 2010, of that I have no doubt, but he cannot be expected to step into the Super 14 and dominate from the word go. Having a wise head like Jaque around would be the ideal scenario for a young talent like that," he added.

Fleck sees the Varsity Cup as the breeding ground of young, up-and-coming players like De Jongh.

"There is no doubt that the Varsity Cup is becoming the best breeding ground for future stars," said Fleck.

"The Vodacom Cup produced a few players early on, and a guy like Gaffie du Toit springs to mind here, but the Varsity Cup has ensured that other players don't slip through the cracks - as they have in the past. It's been an incredibly successful tournament based on talent identification alone."

One big mistake in the report, Flekkie is the from the enemies, Ikeys not Maties.

Then our first Paarl Gym player of coloured captain, Ashley Johnson

SARugby.com

Fairytale rise of No 8 Johnson
Springbok number eight Ashley Johnson sports a mop of black hair that makes him look more like a 1970s pop musician than a rugby union footballer.

But when he runs on to the Welford Road home of Leicester Tigers on Friday for the first of five South African matches on a tour of Europe it will complete another chapter in a fairytale rise up the ladder toward stardom.

A couple of months ago Johnson, 23, was turning out for Northern Free State Griffons before the proverbial two men and a dog in the second tier of the Currie Cup inter-provincial championship.

An injury crisis at elite-division outfit Free State Cheetahs ushered a dramatic change in fortunes for the player who jokingly says life is so hectic he does not have time for a haircut.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske, a former Bok hooker, needed someone in the middle of his front row and placed Johnson there, believing he was too short and heavy for the number eight slot.

However, as the injury crisis spread, Johnson found him at the rear of the line-out instead of throwing the ball in, and it is there that he caught the eye of Bok coach Peter de Villiers.

Leicester, beware! This retreaded hooker is a formidable force when he moves into overdrive, brushing off opponents with gay abandon as the Afro mop flies in all directions.

"I am not the fancy-rugby type," admits the man who defends his unusual hairstyle by claiming there are no good barbers in Bloemfontein.

"I enjoy playing a direct game, carrying the ball and bashing people out of the way. My role for the Cheetahs was to develop forward momentum and get us over the advantage line," he said before heading for England.

"Facing Leicester is a one-off chance as I do not know how much game time I'm going to get on tour. I'm starting this Friday but maybe I'll only get 30 minutes against Saracens or nothing at all."

Facing the Tigers in a den extended to 24 000 seats by the opening of a new stand completes a memorable week for Johnson, one of three uncapped forwards in the Bok starting line-up.

Last Saturday he was his usual hyperactive self in the Cheetahs team beaten by the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup final after a brave comeback petered out in the closing stages.

But the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle was softened within 30 minutes as his name was among 20 forwards and 17 backs chosen to face Leicester and Saracens plus Tests against France, Italy and Ireland.

 

[Thomond78]

the 7 reserves will be pick from the Leicester 22. Surely Ruaan will be there. Will be foolish not to pick a player that can cover 9,10 & 15. Thats what make Johnson so a attractive proposition, ever saw in your life a nr8 that can pack down in the middle of the scrum?

Emmm... Oom? Who was the number 8 for the Springboks in the RWC final in 1995...?

 

[RugbyReg]

Tim Gavin could, and did, definitely play lock. PB means that Johnson can also play hooker which I agree is very unusual.

our 91 RWC winning #8 was Troy Coker - played many games at lock. In fact John Eales played #8 that tournament as well.

Mark Connors played most of his early career at #8 then started playing more at lock.

Mitchell Chapman was definately more an 8 early, and then fillled in very well at lock.

Tim Gavin did indeed play tests in both positions.

Ross Reynolds is another. Tony Shaw another.

 

[Scarfman]

They mean 8 + hooker.

 

[Ishmael]

Well, TPN has played both 8 and hooker. Not sure whether he's played 8 at test level though.

 

[RugbyReg]

Brendan Cannon then. Played 8 at colts and I think a year after. Then switched to hooker and it saved his life. Was in a bad car crash and the doctors said all the extra neck strengthening work he did probably saved him.

 

[Scorz]

Well, that's a surprise. Why wasn't the Bokke coach present for the beginning of the Bokke tour?

 

[PaarlBok]

Well, that's a surprise. Why wasn't the Bokke coach present for the beginning of the Bokke tour?

I saw him on the pavillion last night. Muir(he is the coach the white collar lot praised the most on TSF) went with the dirt trackers , the french xv stayed behind till this monday and GG is with them at the moment. Last time they tried this late departure thing (comes from the Bulls way of preparation in their S14 tour) it worked very well. Thought you saw the result in Hamilton.

 

[RugbyReg]

France v SAF is on ONE this weekend! Well done 10!

 

[Scorz]

Well, that's a surprise. Why wasn't the Bokke coach present for the beginning of the Bokke tour?

I saw him on the pavillion last night. Muir(he is the coach the white collar lot praised the most on TSF) went with the dirt trackers , the french xv stayed behind till this monday and GG is with them at the moment. Last time they tried this late departure thing (comes from the Bulls way of preparation in their S14 tour) it worked very well. Thought you saw the result in Hamilton.

The result in Hamilton was due to the Bokke not going there until the game? Okay. I gave more credit to the players who outscored the AB's.
When the Irish coach didn't bother coming out a few years back, it was an issue. Wondered if this would be too!

 

[Blue]

So the entire front row that played against Leicester are injured and going home. Steenkamp, Chilibaby and Jannie Doep. Good riddance.

Nasty thing to say but I hope this is the end of these guys international careers. They just don't have it...

To be replaced by Win du Preez and Andries Strauss (hallelujah), and an about turn by Puppet on the overseas policy.

CJ vd Linde who plays for Leinster has been recalled. No surprise - we have a real TH prop crisis. Nobody back in SA is good enough for test rugby at the moment on the TH.

 

[Pfitzy]

Have to say that CJ probably doesn't rank up there with the all-time greats of the trade either. But at least he's not useless.

 

[Blue]

Have to say that CJ probably doesn't rank up there with the all-time greats of the trade either. But at least he's not useless.

Nope he isn't a great but he is solid and can play both sides. I still maintain he is a better LH than TH and Leinster have played him at LH recently. He only really started playing TH in 2007.

 

[PaarlBok]

Snor namesake Pieter who played TH for the Hane was called up over the weekend to help GG with the scrumming. Glad they picked du Preez and Strauss and quite surprise with the CJ call up. Thought WP Nel could have been a good call. Would have tried BJ Botha then who is a specialized TH. Anyway show there is still hope we will see Jean & Steyn maybe next year in the green jersey.

The should have prepared in Slaapstad with the winter weather we have at the moment.

 

[PaarlBok]

France v SAF is on ONE this weekend! Well done 10!

Thats surpring, saw Lee is also surprised about our matches being televised there. The Sarrries match will also been show live here, in fact they show even our schoolboy 7s finals live here on saturday.

 

[rustycruiser]

CJ vd Linde who plays for Leinster has been recalled. No surprise - we have a real TH prop crisis. Nobody back in SA is good enough for test rugby at the moment on the TH.

Why CJ and not BJ. van der Linde has been injured for most of the last year, and only recently returned to the Leinster line up. One start, and two runs from the bench in the last few weeks. Meanwhile BJ Botha has been one of the form THs in the Magners League. Is it CJ's work in the loose that gives him the nod? Because I would rather have the better scrumming TH at this stage.

 

[Blue]

CJ vd Linde who plays for Leinster has been recalled. No surprise - we have a real TH prop crisis. Nobody back in SA is good enough for test rugby at the moment on the TH.

Why CJ and not BJ. van der Linde has been injured for most of the last year, and only recently returned to the Leinster line up. One start, and two runs from the bench in the last few weeks. Meanwhile BJ Botha has been one of the form THs in the Magners League. Is it CJ's work in the loose that gives him the nod? Because I would rather have the better scrumming TH at this stage.

I think that one game BJ played against England in the 2007 RWC really hurt his cause. He got pounded.

Didn't you know SA have new policy. They only pick props coming off injury

Saw a Leinster game over the weekend and he looked OK scrum time but was lumbering around the rest of the time.

 

[rustycruiser]

He got pounded.

So he has something in common with every other Bok front ranker that has pulled on the jersey in 2009.

 

[Thomond78]

Well, that's a surprise. Why wasn't the Bokke coach present for the beginning of the Bokke tour?

I saw him on the pavillion last night. Muir(he is the coach the white collar lot praised the most on TSF) went with the dirt trackers , the french xv stayed behind till this monday and GG is with them at the moment. Last time they tried this late departure thing (comes from the Bulls way of preparation in their S14 tour) it worked very well. Thought you saw the result in Hamilton.

The result in Hamilton was due to the Bokke not going there until the game? Okay. I gave more credit to the players who outscored the AB's.
When the Irish coach didn't bother coming out a few years back, it was an issue. Wondered if this would be too!

Different context, Scorz; DK had just been appointed under a month beforehand, and his coming out, fresh out of coaching the Munster lads in the HEC, would have caused problems. As it was, Bradley did a very good job; cracking game between the two teams.