Hougaard stays in Pretoria
Francois Hougaard has signed a three-year extension to his contract that will see him stay with the Bulls until the end of 2012.
Hougaard, currently on tour with the Springboks, made his Test debut against Italy last week.
He didn’t play Craven Week for Western Province and left the union at the end of 2007, but with Fourie du Preez and Heini Adams at Loftus, Hougaard has also been used at outside centre and wing this year. He will be hoping to shed the ‘utility’ tag and settle at his preferred scrumhalf position in the near future.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
@SodaJoe:hi CooldrinkJoe, i think Francois has potential, but the reality is that Frans Ludeke switched him to all sort of backline positions & thus he is 3rd choice @ the Bulls in his preferred position.
@groenie: i agree with you on Vermaak and i would guess pdv also rates him as he played in his U21 team in ‘06.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Yes he should have stayed in Pta, don’t know what he did to deserve being on the EOYT and then to be drafted into the main group. Probably the strong Bulls lobby the deciding factor. Perhaps he has promise (admittedly I am not convinced but many others see it) so the jury is out. A quota selection and I am very surprized that so few call it as it is. Or perhaps quota only applies to the POCs.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
@Shakes:
did more than the quota’s Ralapelle and Adams.
Oh, and they are both bulls by the way.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: Yes Brig looks like the Bulls do a good job of phucking up Black talent. The two huys you quote should have had the balls to leave ala Burton Francis who I believe has been the scapegoat for the Bulls k@k play before the return of their Boks.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
By the way Brig you right he did more than Adams he actually handed it to Sarries on a plate (singlehandedly nogal)
November 25th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
@Shakes:
jeez chilliboy has spent more time on the physio table than on the pitch..I would say the bulls have been very patient with him..
@Shakes: he no 1 scrumhalf in the world who can blame him for leaving… but answer me this, would he start at any other province?
November 25th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
@Shakes:
I love the way ts all his fault that we lost to saracens… not the abysmal scrum or the ridiulous reffing in the second half but his alone…how convenient..
November 25th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
@gunther: Yes Gunther your assertion on Chili is true. However Adams is a different story. There were many games in 2005 and 2006 that I thought Adams played better than FDP. Without a doubt he gets to the rucks quicker than FDP and he cleans out quicker than FDP. In addition he is very nippy and has a good eye for a gap. The Bulls management always judged Adams on his size rather than his capability. I blame him though for resting on his laurels. The Sarries game should be indicative of his value behind a losing pack.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
yeah was all down to Hougaard why we lost to Sarries he host it almost on his own. Pity Adams got injured because while Adams was whipping out the passes and keeping the front foot momentum going we were in control. Minute Hougaard came on and started that Fdp box kick **** we got done. Straight from the 2nd half kick off we were in trouble because Hougaard didn’t have a clue what to do and got charged down twice within the space of a few scrums, whole game turned retrograde moment Hougaard took over from Adams. Thats the un deniable truth.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
@Shakes:
adams is very good as far as he goes… however he has no kicking game…. but as for burton francis as a bulls supporterI am ver soory to see him go… I reckon he is much better than brummer…
November 25th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
@gunther:
What kicking game did Gregan (as example) have. This kicking game is not for all occasions. The game against France we only had 30 odd % ball of which 90% was kicked away by our two halfbacks (mostly kak kicks). We definitely need an alternate to FDPs strengths at 9 when things go pear shaped.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
@Shakes: this whole kicking game story by Fdp was 1st to compensate for Liefling’s lack of a running game, nowadays it is to shelter morne who also is limited it must be said, now the blue bulls fans expect every other scrumhalf to be kicking.
teams that have thinking & excellent flyhalfs ie crusaders & all blacks don’t have their 9s to kick away their possession.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
@Transformation: Looking at the current setup there seems to be no thought to bringing an alternate gameplan. How I wish that the ABs did not have their injury woes this year cos the wis this year has given most a false sense of security. If we continue I actually see us regressing towards 2011. It really hurts me to say this.