New Sharks fullback Riaan Viljoen has given his first interview since rejoining the union he played junior for 8 years ago. Viljoen, who left Durban in 2004 to make his mark with the Valke, Griquas and Super Rugby Cheetahs, sat down with Sharks website editor Michael Marnewick earlier in the week.
A fair bit of attention in other parts of the media has been given to Viljoen’s admission that he’d like to play his way into the Springbok squad, with one website going so far as to suggest that he wanted to use the Sharks as a “stepping stone” to higher honours. Viljoen represented the Boks in two midweek games at the end of 2009, but has not yet managed to accumulate any test caps for his country.
Here’s what Viljoen said to Marnewick on the subject: ““I want to play regularly, be in the squad consistently and make a mark in the Sharks jersey. And hopefully make it into the Springbok squad as well.” That, to me, doesn’t really sound particularly different to the aspirations that any experienced player would have coming into a new set-up and let’s be honest, being selected for the Boks is far from an unrealistic expectation for Viljoen, given how close he has come in the past. What would be galling, though – and abhorrent to the fans, I’m sure – would be if Viljoen was perceived as not caring at all about the Sharks or their jersey and merely using the team as a springboard to further his own aims.
I really don’t get that vibe, though, from reading the interview, particularly the closing statement: “I would like to say to the fans that I hope I can make you proud and I look forward to the opportunity of playing for The Sharks.” It seems to me as though Viljoen is not taking anything for granted and knows he needs to play hi s way into the Sharks team first.
Sharksworld will hopefully catch up with Riaan for a chat of our own in the near future – in the meantime, I think it’s great to have such a competitive and versatlie player in the squad. Welcome to Durbs, Riaan Viljoen!
RV 12 and Tw 13.Try it plum.
Do not want to see Ludik on the bench.
Welcome aboard Riaan!
so he is new and improved ?
@Honey Badger (Comment 1) : Ludik is still doing rehab so dont think he will make the season start. Riaan Viljoen always tore the Sharks apart every time he played us so hoping he will produce the same for us! Its been a while since the Sharks had a 15 with a serious boot and a good running game…comparion to Jouba…maybe…
@Zibbie (Comment 3) : Yup like new Omo Power Foam!
@SheldonK (Comment 5) :
Welkom Riaan
@JarsonX (Comment 7) : no – not Welkom. Durban. Sheesh
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Piet Lindeque Loftus is calling for you boet we will take you with open arms.
The sharks can replace you with Trevor Halstead who would form a dangerous combo with oupa joubert.
Your mate francois venter is waiting for you.
I’m looking forward to see what Riaan can do in a Sharks jersey. I really rate him. I just hope Plum doesn’t coach all the natural talent out of him like he’s done with so many other players.
@Muzi (Comment 10) : How many young centres do the Bulls have? It would be silly for Piet to go to the Bulls.
@war1 (Comment 12) : It wouldnt be silly we lost dippies,watermeyer,moolman.
We only have Sadie,Venter and Meisikind we need cover for sadie.
I want to see the Lindeque and venter combo again at grey college they were amazing.
Swanepoel,Small Smith and Serfontein are not yet ready.
This guy was at Durban Varisty in my first year there. Amazing player. He’ll fit into the Sharks set-up nicely and will give us great versatility. It also means we can play Lambie at 10. With those two on the field the Sharks will have that x-factor we’ve been missing.
@Muzi (Comment 13) : We’ll rather give you guys Jouba.
@war1 (Comment 15) :
@Muzi (Comment 13) : Oh ja forgot about the centres you lost. I reckon they will use Visser or Kirchner there if Sadie gets injured.
@muzi. I’m sure he’d be going there if the Bulls made him an offer he can’t refuse… but maybe they don’t rate him as highly as you do either? If he’s not a standout for the U21′s, what would make him that for the senior side?
Louis Ludik will be playing a lot of Vodacom Cup Rugby you’d think. Riaan Viljoen an excellent fullback who’ll hopefully force Lambie into the 10 jersey.
@hendrikp (Comment 18) : Well hopefully Plum uses the squad that has been built and guys like Ludik,JLP,Whithead,Sithole actually get rotated into the side during the year so that everyone stays fresh and match fit. same with the forwards, bismarck and alberts cannot play every min every week.
@SheldonK (Comment 19) :
Rest, yes.
But a rotation system never works.
The best players you would expect to play at least 75% of the time.
@war1 (Comment 15) :
no thanks boet i had to watch old wacko jaco this year 
I do not think i can stomach an oupa centre at the bulls.
@hendrikp (Comment 18) : I got good news boet Olivier will only be back by the end of january lol.
By the way i do rate olivier hehe.
Perhaps we will see the francois venter and sadie combo.
@Muzi (Comment 22) :
To be honest, at SR level I don’t think there are many 12′s that come near Olivier. He’s probably the first name I would put down on their team-sheet every week.
Very underappreciated player. I don’t want to see him in a Bok jersey again (at least not often), but one of a few players in that Bulls team I genuinely admire.
@Muzi (Comment 22) : Olivier and sadie will form a good combo ,they compliment eachother well imo.
Viljoen @ 15 ,nearly impossible to replace lambies fielding in south africa -viljoen the only player that can out do lambie in this regard + he is extremely dangerous from the back.
Mcleod @ 9
Lambie @ 10
Bos @ 12
Whitehead @ 13
back 3 -JPP RV Mvovo
-B-
9.Hoff
10.Michalak
11.Ods
12.MJ
13.Jordaan
14.Sithole
15.Ludik
not bad
@hendrikp (Comment 23) : “To be honest, at SR level I don’t think there are many 12?s that come near Olivier. He’s probably the first name I would put down on their team-sheet every week”
You will be slaughtered.
@Muzi (Comment 22) : sadie olivier reminds me of nonu smith
@Muzi (Comment 26) : oi we are all entitled to a change of heart now and then
What do you guys think about giving Louis Ludik a run at outside centre at some stage too?
@Muzi (Comment 26) :
I realize that! But 90% of those commenting are completely unreasonable. A lot of them form opinions and then never let go!
Olivier could almost single-handedly win the Bulls the S15, and those same people will still say he’s useless. There’s no reasoning with those kind of people
That’s why I enjoy SharksWorld – most of the time
SA 7 – 0 Aus sofar
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
Got the ball-skills?
Could be worth a shot at Vodacom Cup level.
SA 7 – 7 Aus
@hendrikp (Comment 32) : hehe that nice poor ludik vodacom cup
7 All HT
@hendrikp (Comment 30) :
keo.co.za would destroy me boet.
@robdylan (Comment 29) : shouldnt happen imo
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Ludiks virtues dont align with what an ideal outside center should have , he is a Terblanche type fullback -what would you think of jacobs playing at 15?
@Talent (Comment 38) :
what would you think of jacobs playing at 15? was synical hendrik ,like answering a question with a question
bbm hands over eyes face
SA 14 – 7 Aus min togo
@Talent (Comment 40) :
I know… that’s why I did the
. Because I thought you made a very valid point. 
to accomadate Ludik id play attempt viljoen at 13
@hendrikp (Comment 43) : oh haha
@Talent (Comment 40) : synical? Oh my goodness. Let me leave this one before I’m tempted to call you something nasty
I don’t get why Ludik is suddenly to be relegated to Vodacom Cup, after being a starting member of the Super Rugby side (and hardly putting a foot wrong) all season in 2011. In Mvovo and Pietersen, the Sharks are hardly short of attacking options amongst the back three and I think Ludik combined pretty well with them.
Our backline problems are in midfield, not at fullback.
SOUTH AFRICA 21 vs AUSTRALIA 7 Full-time (7-7 Half-time)
@robdylan (Comment 46) :
Maybe because Riaan Viljoen is better?
Would be like making a case for Meyer Bosman if Francois Steyn came back.
@robdylan (Comment 46) : dammit the spell check didnt work hahahaha Cynical -aggh rob not my fault my computer sucks and i cant spell, lets not name call becuase im alot better looking than you alrighty
.
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Between Ludik and Viljoen ,Viljoen takes it. From a player management point of view you have a point .
@Talent (Comment 44) : oh, so it’s fine to suggest Viljoen at 13, but not Ludik?
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Amamzing idea…send Plum a Xmas Card with those instructions! Ever since I saw Ludik at the Lions i thought he would be a good 13! He can be on trial at that Neo Africa series if he is healed by then. We surely cant do any worse than this year…
@robdylan (Comment 50) : yes ,however that post was hypothetical ,if you wished to accommodate ludik.
@robdylan (Comment 50) : Rob lets be honest Ludik has lost it when he was at the lions he was awesome.
Maybe its that long hair style i do not know.
Viljoen is waaaaaay better the guy has tree trunk legs.
Strong and a good line breaker.
@hendrikp (Comment 48) : nonsense. We have no objective evidence to go on to suggest that Riaan Viljoen is “better”
I would keep Viljoen at 15 and whithead @ 13 imo.
@SheldonK (Comment 51) : careful… the brainy squad is about to pan you for agreeing with my “way out” suggestion.
@robdylan (Comment 54) :
Hmm okay. I thought Viljoen has been excellent the last 2 years. Far better then I ever expected him to be. Probably hard done by not having played a handful of games for the Springboks by now.
Can’t quite say the same for Ludik.
But it’s nice to have some depth. Hopefully the competition will improve both their games.
I’m out. See you all.
@robdylan (Comment 54) : Viljoen has put on the springbok jersey ,if memory serves Ludik not.
@robdylan (Comment 54) : Buddy you should be asking the sharks management about your golden boy
Piet Lindeque forget ludik.
Why didn’t he make the step up yet.
What a travesty such a great talent lets hope you guys are not failing with Piet.
@Muzi (Comment 53) : you don’t think having his leg rebuilt from the ground up may have had something to do with the loss of top end?
That is precisely the reason I would like to see him at 13… I think he still does lots of things very well, but is maybe found wanting in terms of top end.
@robdylan (Comment 56) : Ludik is quick (yes he wont beat Usain Bolt but he will beat most guys), he is a big boy, tackles well and has an eye for the gap. Im sure i just described a good 13?
@Muzi (Comment 59) : Lindeque is barely out of diapers…patience young grasshopper! haha
@Muzi (Comment 59) : ok, can I explain this to you, one more time, very slowly.
Piet Lindeque is 20 years old. What bizarre reasoning exists in your mind that makes you think every 20 year old should automatically be playing senior rugby? It doesn’t work like that in the real world.
You need to take off your schoolboy blinkers, Muzi. Not every promising kid that stands out in a school game is automatically ready to play senior rugby the following year.
@SheldonK (Comment 61) : yes, you did to me. Maybe the kids have a different view of what makes a good 13…
@SheldonK (Comment 62) : “Lindeque is barely out of diapers…patience young grasshopper! hahahaha”
dude thats a good one dude.
@SheldonK (Comment 61) : Does he get his backs away like jacobs ,Smith or Cooper? But hey ive been wrong many times before and I like the guy ,he has all the heart.
@robdylan (Comment 63) : Francois Venter is 20 years old
And i have news for you Rob he will be playing super rugby yes a a 20 year old.
You see we give our young centres a chance.
That is why Dries Swanepoel and Jan Serfontein turned down the sharks.
@robdylan (Comment 64) : I am very disappointed with Plumtree and the sharks management.
I guess you guys will have to live with joubert.
you see .. we Lions are actually very clever … we export Ludik so we can play Taute @15 and be happy and merry
@Talent (Comment 66) : We talking about him playing 13 not 10 hey! He only needs to have quick hands to pop to the wing on the outside, and we cant say that he doesnt as we havnt seen him in that situation, joining the line from 15 he has gotten the wings away so id say yes he can. If i was defending that 13 channel id much rather be up against Jacobs or Whithead than Ludik.
@Muzi (Comment 67) : Rob has a point buddy ,why rush a boy into a mans game,the difference in pysicality could put him off and destroy his confidence.
@Zibbie (Comment 69) : Taute is a good 15 with a lot of skills alot like Dagg but he needs to learn what Dagg learnt that made him the player he is now. And that is that he doesnt need to sidestep,chip kick catch and grubber every time the ball gets kicked onto him. Sometime the best option is just to kick it out!
@Talent (Comment 71) : Venter is not that big yet but he looks at home.
@SheldonK (Comment 70) : some valid points especially about his D . I am just of the opinion he wont make the position his own . FB and 13 join the line in attack close to eachother; is the only reason people play fullbacks at 13 ,would you say ludiks attack was his strength?
@Talent (Comment 71) : Will Piet Lindeque get a chance next year ?
I hope he does.
@SheldonK (Comment 72) :
he is not perfect . but he is good . and can develop into a very great player . still young as well. Turns 21 next year !
@Muzi (Comment 67) : So Venter is 20 and Sadie has just got out of puberty…so they are looking to be the Bulls centres and by ur reasoning they should be. so then where are Swanepoel and Serfontein going to play when they are 20 and Venter and Sadie are 22??? Eish bru problem
Another clear reason to favour Ludik at 13 over Viljoen is that Viljoen’s big boot will be at best wasted and at worst a liability at 13… visions of Oom Stef booting away the tiny amount of good back that actually got to him…
@Muzi (Comment 75) : Who said he wouldnt
I rate him but for his own sake I hope he gets a slow intro to mens rugby becuase it hurts alot more and you dont want to have a kid finding his feet on turbulent ground now would you?
@Zibbie (Comment 76) : 100% and to be honest the best way for him to learn is to throw him in the deep end against Argentina at Newlands!
@Muzi (Comment 73) : looks at home playing in a watered-down Currie Cup where his team didn’t even make the semis?
Dude, put the XBox away for a second and come and play in the real world.
@robdylan (Comment 78) : aggg I thought you were fixed on playing ludik so i made space for him! Its not what I would have done but i was trying to find a solution for your opinion not my own.
@SheldonK (Comment 80) :
Would love for him to get a bok call up . from what i hear he likes proving people wrong when written off !!
exciting prospect !!!!!
@Talent (Comment 74) : Ludik’s strength was always his strong running, thats what made him dangerous at the Lions. He seems to have adopted the safety first approach at the Sharks and took minimal risks. I just think at 13 he would be allowed the freedom to take more risks with ball in hand. He is a safe option at 15 but to be honest id pick Viljoen and Lambie over him.
@SheldonK (Comment 77) : you make me laugh dude hahahaha cheers bud
@ Rob the argument should be ;between Ludik and whithead who should be considered at 13 (my answer whithead)
Between Ludik and Viljoen who should be 15 ,my answer is Viljoen -but i agree we cant just throw out Ludik he is a good player
@Talent (Comment 82) : glad to see your bike has so many reverse gears… comes in handy I’m sure
But you are right to an extent… in Viljoen, Ludik and Lambie, the Sharks have three very good backs who can all justify starting spots in a number of different positions. I get very annoyed when Ludik gets written off on the basis of doing absolutely nothing wrong in what was actually a bloody season.
@Zibbie (Comment 83) : I think there a large number of Bok places up for grabs in this Super rugby season and im hoping whoever the coach is allows every guy the equal chance to fight for a place. I dont care who the guy is, if he wants to play for the Boks he must be CONSISTENTLY better than every other guy in his position !
@robdylan (Comment 81) : Sir Francois Venter made you eat leka humble pie he proved you wrong and you know it!
And may he continue excelling in that number 12 jersey.
He will improve.
The bulls did not do a lindeque with venter we threw him to the wolves.
@robdylan (Comment 87) : Francois Venter will be a bok soon mark my word.
@Talent (Comment 86) : I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen enough of either player at 13 to say with certainty which would be better. Whitehead has more experience in the position, of course, but Ludik has more experience over-all
@Muzi (Comment 89) : you okes arent spartans
@Talent (Comment 93) : has ludik even expressed an interest in playing 13?before you get ahead of yourself sir.
@Muzi (Comment 90) : based on WHAT?
@Muzi (Comment 89) : how did he prove me wrong? What has he done?
Answer is, so far, NOTHING. Take your blinkers off. The Bulls didn’t even make the CC semis with your wonderfully promising 20-year-old carving up opposition midfields
@Talent (Comment 92) : Muzi has a very blinkered view of the world… in his world, Venter won Currie Cup player of the year and the Bulls won the trophy!
@robdylan (Comment 96) : funny that when pushed to substantiate his blinkered views, Muzi disappears… must be nap time
@robdylan (Comment 97) : im not gona gang up withyou against him rob
but Muzi rob has a point.
@Talent (Comment 99) : look, I do hear what Muzi is saying and it would be wrong of me to pretend that I’m not frustrated about the way the Sharks haven’t backed their young crop.
I’m not an expert on the juniors, though and tend to lean heavily on guys like Beet for advice and info about how the guys are playing. His view is that Piet isn’t ready to play senior rugby yet and I’ll go with him on that – where I differ from Muzi is that I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not being ready to slot straight into the seniors at 20. Being able to make that step up at a young age is the exception, rather than the rule. Piet needs more time. I’m pretty sure that Paul does as well, so let’s hope he’ll be given the time and specialist attention that he needs to make the step up too.
And as for Venter, well – while I don’t exactly think he’s shit or anything, I’m still waiting to see any evidence of him being the world-beater that Muzi seems to think he is. Maybe he’s just seeing the blue jersey and letting his prejudices fill in the missing pieces.
@Honey Badger (Comment 1) : And that will ruin Viljoen’s Bok aspirations.
@robdylan (Comment 100) : rob I think you got it spot on…just one thing-franscouis Venter is super slow!!! Will never be a world beater line breaker…but keep a eye on young Jan Serfontein!!! Really a awesome prospect.
@robdylan@SheldonK: credit where credit is due,guys! I’ve mentioned the idea of ludik at 13 quite awhile now (evil)
But the first one to mention this was … Actually plumtree himself..just dunno why he didn’t try it?? Since he mentioned ludik as an option at13 before the start of the 2010 sr season..which means 2 whole seasons ago..
Ludik has played at 13 for the lions before
With the benefit of hindsight we couldve even tried jlp at 13.. Wouldve saved some money ..
7′s QF
HT SA 7 – 0 France
Eberson try,
SA 14 – 0 France
2.5 min to go
Richards the best kicker in the team starting?
He’s done well for himself so far in the tournament, no one else has really performed to expectations.
FT
SA 14-5 France
Good hard win
SA playing Fiji in Semi
@Talent (Comment 25) : LOL, did you miss our entire season or what is your excuse for still persisting with MJ and MB ?
@Muzi (Comment 26) : The only reason nobody tore him a new one on this site is because the sharks don`t have a decent centre yet. Give him rope . .. he`ll hang himself with comments like that.
@bergshark (Comment 103) : I think if you check our comments history very carefully I`ll get the honours!
I think the best backline the Sharks can pick next year
9. McCloud
10. Fredrick Michelak/Lambie
11. Mvovo
12. Lambie(Yes I know his best position is FH but with Michelak at FH and not having any centers its best for the team)/ Jaque Louis Potgieter
13. Riaan Viljoen
14. JP Peterson
15. Louis Ludick
@Mutley: I think we need kockott back in the tank.(But he must improve his passing game,it is a non negotiable).
Re: backline play of the sharks: our handling must improve ( catching,passing).need clean fast accurate passes.and then catch those passes.it is the small things,the basics,that are the major things .
If our handling,and I must now include the whole squad,improves, then we will once again see those sweeping attacking movements that go for 60m plus and result in tries.but it begins with handling: catching the first pass,making an accurate pass,etc,etc,till the try is scored.
See charl macleod and meyer bosman will be on sabc2 on wednesday evening @7:30.
And then we must tackle.we mustnt just defend,we must go out and dominate the tackle
Kockett will be a huge boost for you guys. Shame he couldn’t stay with us he thought he would play behind Vermaak and as soon as he left so did Vermaak, but on the other side Vermaak left because he enjoys being on the bottom half of the table
@bergshark (Comment 114) : doing what?
@robdylan (Comment 117) : that looks like Pasella’s(afr magazine program) time slot… They visit often Rugby players at their homes…
@robdylan (Comment 100) : Well he does give us an awareness about young players . Arno Botha and Louis Fouche are the only two I realy think will be world beaters ,Fouche is underated ! Does any one remember in the u21 final when he butch james tackled our prop(cant remember name) into touch-can kick and run lets hope the bulls dont make him a into another one trick pony.
@Original Pierre (Comment 110) : we have no one else
Bos is a fantastic passer and distributor, at the moment I think his position is safe. Dont forget that he was part of a failing combo ,how often did Stef miss one of his offloads /arm through the tackle offloads ? Maybe a new partner will help him shine…
It’s so nice to look ahead towards the new season… Our backline… Man, we have options.
9. Hoffmann/McLeod
10.Lambie/Bosman/JLP
11.Mvovo/JPP/Sithole
12.Bosman/Lambie/JLP
13.Ludik/Whitehead/Ndungane
14.Ndungane/Ludik/Viljoen
15.Viljoen/Ludik/Ndungane
The reason I would like to see Ndungane outside or at full-back is because he lacks the real skill to be a succesful winger.
Ohw, and I even left out our youngsters so who knows what superb talent will come through the ranks this sesaon
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 121) : Love the fact that you left out Marius Joubert!
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 121) : not sure if odwa would make a good 13 ,maybe a good fullback! and hes not as bad as people think at wing! -and I dont understand the anti charl mcleod movement ,he is by far the best scrumhalf we have and must be close to the bok squad
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 121) :
) he is a a good tackler ,has a higher work rate and a better feel for fielding. Mvovo is good but needs to work on his finesse .
9.Mcleod
10.Lambie
11.Jpp(why was he behind mvovo?)
12.Bos
13.Whithead
14.Mvovo/Odwa
15.Viljoen
-There is a case for odwa over mvovo (ill be knocked for saying that
-Bosman is such a good distributor we have to persist with him imo .
9 10 12 -potent distributors
Whithead is the playmaker/link player in outside midfield we have been looking for ,hope he fits in !
@robdylan (Comment 87) :
I know Ludik played a few games at wing for the Lions . How bout giving him a go on wing for the sharks as well ? Or would you rotate Viljoen and Ludik from Fullback ?
@Zibbie (Comment 127) : I think Ludik lost a bit of pace after his injury against the British Lions. Plus we have JPP, Mvovo, Odwa and Sithole fighting it out for two wing spots so there is more than enough depth at wing.
@Mutley (Comment 112) :
hahaa . we Lions are so bord we now fix the Sharks problems
@bergshark (Comment 114) : Can we send in some questions we`d like answered?
The biggest problem this past season imho with the sharks backline has been their defence. Dunno if that has been addressed yet..?
@bergshark (Comment 132) : A lot of defense has to do with each guy’s attitude towards it, which is something very difficult to train or fix.
My next Bok team;
1.Beast(lh)-just incase iv switched numbers again
2.Bis
3.Jannie(th)
4.Flip
5.Bekker
6.Brusouw
7.Smith
8.Burger(c)
9.Mcleod
10.Lambie
11.JDV
12.F Steyn
13.Fourie
14.JPP
15.Taute
@Talent (Comment 134) : I really like that side except Flip Vd Merwe-he is a liability at the moment and it would take a brave coach to pick him. I would also have Hougaard at 9 instead of McCloed. The first Bok test next year is in Durban so remember this side and see how close you get…
This great news for us. I thought he and Israel Dagg were two of the best FB’s in the S15 this year. Lets hope our coaching improves though, because it really doesn’t matter how good the players are, if the coaching is shocking.