Jean de Villiers’s upbringing as captain of the South African rugby team for the 2011 World Cup tournament should start in Britain next month, says former Springbok centre Robbie Fleck.
Stephen Nell writes in Die Burger that unlike some other experts, Fleck believes the strongest possible Springbok team should be sent on the three-Test tour in November.
“Why should the players be rested? We should establish confidence in the team and win every match,” Fleck said here on Monday.
“If we can achieve that, it can be another successful year, under the coaching of Peter de Villiers.”
Part of the planning for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand should be to prepare Jean de Villiers to take over from John Smit, who captained South Africa to victory in last year’s tournament in France, Fleck believes.
Smit is expected to retire after the Test series against the British and Irish Lions next year.
“Jean has been a brilliant WP en Stormers captain,” Fleck said. “He has certainly staked his claim to captain the Boks after the Smit era.
“I would appoint him as vice-captain now. He is becoming one of the best centres that South Africa has had. There have been questions about his defence but he has eradicated them. He is undoubtedly the SA player of the year.”
No equal at present
Fleck said he had watched De Villiers well again last weekend and “none of the other centres, Jaque Fourie included, was in his league. He has no equal at present. I am immensely impressed by him, on and off the field.”
Fleck is not worried about the amount of rugby that De Villiers has played this year.
“He has missed a lot of rugby because of injuries. We must keep playing him. He has great confidence and is in a zone now where Brian O’Driscoll and Tana Umaga were at some time during their career. He should exhibit it at the highest level.”
Peter Jooste, convener of the national selectors, made it clear on Monday that the strongest available team would be sent to play Scotland, Wales and England.
“Peter de Villiers is establishing a new playing pattern and style. The seniors and the young players must get accustomed to it,” Jooste said.
“All the players who were part of our initial plans for the year will be considered. We will look at that squad first and then elsewhere to supplement the group. If players have done consistently well in the Currie Cup competition we will discuss them.”
Jooste expects a squad of 28 or 30 to be announced after the Currie Cup final on October 25.
“I cannot think that a watered-down squad will be chosen. Can you imagine the reaction if we lose Test matches as a result? We know who our best young players are. We should build momentum,” he said.
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What the hell have you guys done to the real lunchbox?
This is way to sensible a thought to come from Fleck.
I agree with both principals of the article.
Take the BOKS to the UK, not the wannabes. Build confidence.
Make JdV VC behind John and groom him to take over when John retires.
What about Victor? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
:grrrr:
Ahhh the legend speaks the truth, Matfield should be lucky to get a place in the starting line-up
@Sauce (Comment 4) : Legend?????? You surely must be joking 😡
Nothing against Jean de Villiers, but twice in the past year he has been unable to inspire his Bok laden side to beat the “lowly” Lions by a margin that would enable his team to progress to the business end of the respective competitions.
@Salmonoid (Comment 6) : must say, I agree… I reckon de Villiers’ captaincy skills are a little overrated
The Bok captain in waiting, whether that be JdV or whoever should be made vice captain now. Big Vic’s going to retire after the Lions anyway not?
@Pokkel (Comment 5) :
Only guy in the world who may actually become a legend for being called a legend when he isn’t 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : I feel the same way about Werner Greef 🙄
LEGEND!!!!!!!!!!!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 11) :
Who?
Greef or Fleck?
Probably neither. 😛
Fleck was on the receiving end of a legendary tackle though just as he thought he was going to score a try.
😛 😆
Leaving the stadium after the Sharks / Boland game in Wellington the other day I walked past Deon Kayser talking to group of youngsters. It immediately set my mind wondering to what memories he will always have of that same field he was now standing outside of.
In case your memories have waned here is a quick reminder-
http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/01/friday-funnies-deon-kayser-chases-down.html
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) :
That’s the one!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah I agree it was funny. Doesn’t change his legend status…
Although he was a fantastic player his legendary status is bestowed on him thanks to his personality and attitude as much as for his playing ability.
Which rugby player hasn’t done something stupid?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 15) : Mark Andrews
Hello all you ppl.
John Smit can go play overseas or he can retire For all I care!!!!.
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
Yeah I suppose you’re right. But then again you actually need to run with the ball to do anything stupid. 😉
@Reds (Comment 17) : I take it you didn’t watch the game this weekend?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 18) :
Or NOT run with the ball in Flecks case 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
lol.
Robbie Fleck 31 tests 10 tries.
Mark Andrews 77 tests 12 tries.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 21) : Fleck was a centre and Andrews a lock…
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
My centiments exactly… 😐
@VinChainSaw (Comment 21) :
LET’S put that in perspective though
Robbie Fleck 31 tests 10 tries
Jaque Fourie 39 tests 22 tries
Jean Div 43 Tests 16 tries
Mark Andrews 77 tests 12 tries
Victor Matfield 77 tests 5 tries (shocking if you consider how much time he plays at wing)
Bakkies Botha 52 tests 7 tries
Kobus Wiese 18 Caps 1 try.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
Victor Matfield 77 tests 5 tries (shocking if you consider how much time he plays at wing)
@robdylan (Comment 22) : and Eddie was a prop was he a legend? NOT! But Mark’s cousin was not as bad as Eddie. IMO Eddie was the most overated No.3 in SA rugby the luckiest person ( even more so than Fluke Whatsin) to be gifted a Bok cap.
Flecks biggest obstacle was his insufferable ego.
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) :
The text from the link posted by Salmo.
This week’s Friday Funny comes from the Super 12 a few years back.
Deon Kayser gets the better of former team mate Robbie Fleck after Fleckie broke through the line and was away for the try. Fleck casually strolls in, not realising that the rapid Kayser is right behind him.
Kayser effected the tackle brilliantly, knocking the ball out of Flecks hands and causing him to nose dive into the turf, causing some people to coin the phrase, ‘The Fleck Flack’.
Great chase by Kayser who always gave his best when playing for EP, the Sharks and the Boks.
The lesson from this one – this is rugby and you have to put the ball down to score, as Fleck will keep telling himself when he wakes up with cold sweats thinking about this night after night.
😆
Hey Vic is doing a live chat on the BBRU site.
Live Player Chat: Victor Matfield
07 October 2008 (09:44)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls’ captain Victor Matfield will be available on Tuesday between 16:00 and 16:30 for a live player chat.
You are invited to bombard Victor with all kinds of rugby related questions but please keep your questions as short and clear as possible.
Do you think they will publish ANY of my questions if I send them in?
Ah the Legend.
He is talking absolute horse @$#% however.
But still a legend.
Smit must remain captain.
@MorneN (Comment 29) :
BUT that is what he is saying.
He wants JdV to be Vice captain and as Smit will probably retire after the Lions tour, JdV can take over then.
@MorneN (Comment 29) :
Ek stem Morne.. 😉
Check nou…Luke Twatson is gonna be vice… 😈
I think Fleckie is even more of a legend than the like of Henry Honiball and Andre Joubert…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) :
I mean Smit to captain us to 2011.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 33) :
😯 😯
Bob? Boooooob? Booooooooooooob? Come out of there son, that stuff will fry your brains.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) :
Ja I agree KSA. Bob Skinstad is also more of a legend than those two mamparras…
@MorneN (Comment 34) :
At 33 Years of age? I think he will be a little to old by then.
We cannot use Os as an example of a player who can make the RWC at 35 he had a long break in the middle of his career and he only played a bit part in the RWC.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 36) :
😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) :
A bit part?
He played a hell of a lot of games over 4 years under Jake.
Plus with all John’s recent suspensions and injuries he had some decent breaks in the last 2 years!
@MorneN (Comment 39) :
None of John’s rest priods were two years long though 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 40) :
Uhm, end 2006 when he klapped that Frenchie – was it 6 weeks? Then only S14 and he got injured in the 3N of 2007 and missed basically the whole thing.
Then he got injured again in 2007 and missed the whole thing. If I remember he was injured for the Frogs too when he played there.
All in all, I reckon he has been off for about a year now!
@MorneN (Comment 41) :
Okay you have a point but I will not be surprised if he retires after the B&I Lions tour. and if he does then I would like to have someone other than Queen Victoria to be appointed Captain.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) :
I hope he does not.
But if that happens then Juan Smith thanks very much.
Smit won;t retire after the Lions tour.
But he will accept a two year from Bath or a French club or something to top up the retirement coffers.
Don;t forget he has been tempted before.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : Jessie Jean 16 intercepts & Mossie got 22 from his distrubition.
Must say both of them pretty impressive players. Hope they’ll be in top notch with AD at the end of the year.
@PaarlBok (Comment 45) :
We certainly have the centers to bury the lions
Adi
Frans
Jean
Jaque
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) :
3 solids and 1 wildcard there.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 47) : bet I know which one is the wildcard
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 48) :
Adi… 😈 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 49) : guess again 🙂
@VinChainSaw (Comment 47) :
Dont judge a man by his hair – you of all people should know that.
@Salmonoid (Comment 51) :
Ooh, you cut me deep sunshine… 😉
This is what the WP scribes write about after their team has made an early exit to the Currie Cup…..