Bryan Habana and Tonderai Chavhanga are the most feared finishers in the S14. Now for the world…
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’ judgment has proven reassuringly accurate thus far.
Chris Hewitt writes for Sports Illustrated that he opted to retain John Smit as captain, recognised the importance of the continued involvement in the squad of Victor Matfield, and it is reliably learnt is seriously considering roping in Percy Montgomery to tutor the next generation of Bok backline stars coming through.
Even his statement that three South African teams would make the semifinals, mocked by many, isn’t proving the most unconsidered utterance.
Both the Sharks and the Stormers look set for the semis, whilst De Villiers could be forgiven for underestimating the destructive effect Frans Ludeke would bring to the Bulls.
It is therefore not hard to believe the whispers that De Villiers’ first-choice back three is shaping up as Conrad Jantjes at fullback, with Bryan Habana and Tonderai Chavhanga on either wing.
Allied to his attacking approach, the trio would form one of the most dangerous and unpredictable back threes in world rugby. The crucial ingredient is pace, and in Habana and Chavhanga, the Boks will field the quickest men in the game.
Habana’s performance against the Blues was a well-timed reminder of his pedigree. The diving catch, burst down the wing and perfectly timed inside pass that led to Derick Kuun’s try was pure genius. His work rate was noticeably up, and he looked relentlessly threatening.
Habana now needs to maintain the hunger. It is sure to have filtered through to him that De Villiers is not impressed with past achievements. There will be no comfort zones in his side.
Even more impressive has been Chavhanga. He has improved every game, and quiet early showings have snowballed into destructive dominance. He was brilliant against the Force, very effective against the Blues, Chiefs and Reds. His 50m burst against the Crusaders was the Cape side’s highlight in their muted attacking effort that evening.
His great challenge will be to stay fit. His career has been decimated by injury, and hopefully the recurrent hamstring problems have now been addressed through training adjustments.
Jantjes, too, will have to prove his long-term fitness. If he can, though, his keen positional sense, high-ball solidity, counter-attacking flair and booming boot make him the natural choice to succeed Monty.
Seven years after his international debut, he now provides enough solidity and experience whilst remaining an attacking weapon.
World Cup-stand out JP Pietersen provides perfect cover. He plays all three positions, and as Jantjes, Habana and Chavhanga are unlikely to all remain uninjured throughout the year, is likely to earn his fair share of caps.
De Villiers has shown the courage to commit to an attacking game. He has shown the persistence to endure the contract chaos that has subsequently endured.
All that’s left now is for him to back his instincts and pick the players with the ability to make the Boks synonymous with brilliant backs, and not just a brutish pack.
What are the odds that he won’t?
Bring on Wales.
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Agree with two of them – but am not a big Jantjes fan.
De Villiers’ first-choice back three is shaping up as Conrad Jantjes at fullback, with Bryan Habana and Tonderai Chavhanga on either wing.
Now THAT is NO april Fools Joke.
THAT is a GOOD back three
Nessa
Jantjes is our best long term bet IMO.
Percy and Stefan the ONLY other contenders IMo are a bit long in the tooth and to rope them in for a few games will be good but not long term.
I know – we are a bit thin in the fullback department in SA.
I believe Brent is playing really well over at Saracens. Read an interesting write up about him again yesterday.
I never paid attention to Jantjies…but I have to say he’s impressed me in the 3/4 Stormers games I’ve watched this season. He also got good reviews for the games I missed so I’m assuming he does deserve a chance.
If I remember correctly he has had a lot of injury problems?
Not as much as you would think Nessa, but he wont let the Bokke down if he becomes the 1st choice fullback
Think Steyn will fit in fine in 15.
wassup peeps?
Hey Rob
How was the Virgin flight. 😉 Did you get your free calf massage?
Hey Rob D!! Back in the land of no Sunshine?? 🙂
Hey Rob – sounds like you had fun last night? 😀
Off to get some lunch. Back in a jiffy.
airlines…. gaaaah!
They’re accountable to nobody
it’s very sunny here, Ice 😉
better put some sumscreen on ROBOTO!!!
now that would be the height of optimism 😉
Ha ha ha…the reverse to that “optimism” joke rob is…
South African bowlers going out to bowl at Sehwag and deciding against sunscreen…
Ice
Don’t be so cheeky, I can actually see a speck of blue sky in Manchester today! 😛
Haha Villie…I can see the whole blue dome!!
Morituri te Salutamus
Hoesit BF, Kom djy vannie maggiestraat af?
Typical WP slant here. Way too early to start including Jantjies or Tonderai as certainties. Both are injury-prone and known to in off the boil for no good reason. Lets see a full good season first. And JP remains our only big AND quick wing, and has improved his positioning, tackling, catching and handling immeasurably.
Hey Clark. No- Im now just a small cog in a big corporate machine. Sneaking in a quick visit amongst my people lest I be forgotten and my voice echo forlornly as unheeded white noise in cyberspace… 😆
Biggie Fishy,
All I can say to that is to copy comment from other threads:
slimgat
01.04.08 14:09:41 – KSA Shark ©
What you talking about???
01.04.08 14:02:23 – Ice
Oh thats just sad
01.04.08 13:20:38 – provincejoulekkading
Poetic justice… 🙄
Why is my name dragged in everywhere?? 😯 😯
😉
Hey Fish! Hope that little phrase is directed at me?? 😉
Hi BF – how is the new job going?
Man who eats photo of father, soon spitting-image of father.
Kal…
Have to go folks…check ya later
Love your new picture BS!!! 😉
Yes to Habana and Chevange….
Jantjies is not the man….he runs onto the line very well and has a good DISTANCE boot but that is exactly where that ends….
JPP has been poor this season and I cannot believe that he is still in the Sharks line-up!?!?!?
They should give Adi a fair run…at least 2/3 games….
Steyn has not set the world alite at 10 so he wont be selected there…
And since JdV is playing well the last few gamkes I also suspect he will retain his pos….
So either Steyn and JdV will share the centgre combo or JFourie will make a smashing retunr….
I do believe PdV will make a place for Steyn and Steyn does do everything that Jantjies does and better at 15….
And the accuracy and extra interest in the boot and fearlessness in the air is also well noted….
I have a suspicion that PdV will select Bobo in his squad….
I don’t think he will deserve it though but I just have such a feeling…
And Ricky has been playing well and has improved even further on his speed he started working on at the LIONS…
And the kicking he started at the LIONS (now can do it with both feet – thank you Andre P)…
So we will have a great starting and back-up scrummy which ever way they go…
My only problem is after JdV and a hopeful JFourie we only have a decent centre back-up in Steyn…
The rest are all borderline even for S14….
And behind Habana/Chevange we have no one to talk of without feeling a lil embarrassed….
Forwards especially the loosies we have names coming out of our ears….
Even at prop….none of our scrums have stood back for any of the NZ/AUS scrums….(baring the Bulls vs the Reds game)
Bryan Habana and Tonderai Chavhanga are the most feared finishers in the S14. Now for the world…
BWHAHAHAHAHA!
whatever you are puffing
its worth the money.
Bryan is an exceptional player,
and an inspiration to watch
but feared?
get real.
As for tonderai or that clown jantjies
surely thou jest?
TC is a average S14 wing
at a push
and jantjies is a clown
being paid to imitate a rugby player.
As oopoosed to this slapping on the back
yankee kak
why don’t you fired up
passes made,passes attemted,
tackles made,
yards made,balls lost forward ect
with that of other sides
in the S14.
“Bryan is an exceptional player,
and an inspiration to watch
but feared?
get real.”
Hearing Flavell and another Blues player screaming “Watch Habana watch Habana!!!” on separate occasions suggest you’re incorrect!
Hmmm…you enjoy this talking to yourself thing then? 😮
people say i am being hard on jp, but his laziness looks to have cost him his bok place. and i am pleased, he shouldn’t be rewarded for his poor performances so far. maybe this is the kick up his doet he needs.
TT
I personally think all the WC Boks are suffering from ‘burnout’
Name one WC Bok who is actually taking the S14 by storm.
The only ones i can think of is Schalk, Bismarck and Johan Muller.
JP wont be dropped from the Boks in the same way Steyn wont be dropped…
Wes!
ITS ALIVE
it is slowly trying to get back into the swing of things, yes 😉
👿
ITS ALIVE
02.04.08 08:57:03 – provincejoulekkading Edit
Hasn’t moved off that bench though. 😆
Howdy people… 😎
hoesit charlie.
How to make a long lost friend feel Welcome 101.
Die Tenk! 😯 Why is anybody suprised that our WC Boks- particularly the youngsters, are struggling? Anyone heard of Tim Herbert Noakes III?
Rob,
Dydelik my broe… 😉
Hi BF and Charlie! 😉
Hallo Nessa… 😀
Hope our boy Adi is going to play this weekend – missed him last week.
Next time I see him I have to rag him about the song he sang on Sharkbite – it was soooo cute!!
what song, Ness?
Anyone know if you can get Sharkbite on Kuduclub?
Can you believe he sang “Buttercup”?
oh no!
why did he do that?
Janine and I were rolling on the floor. Not that he has a bad voice – it just wasn’t the kind of song I pictured him singing (if at all).
Nessa,
Maybe he just want to work out his options after rugby… 😆
Charlie – he can serenade us ladies any time! 😉