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 2:17 pm
Overrated
November 25th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I am a big fan. He is going to make it big. He has all the attributes to become a good 9.
What school did he attend?
November 25th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
@Provincejoulekkading:
Hehehe.
Play this kid at 9 otherwise you are wasting him.
Bulls has some juggling to do…
November 25th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Na I liked him at 13, had a blinder.
Why would you sign a 3 year contract with a union when you the 3rd choice in your favourite position? Unless he has plans to play wing or centre I can’t understand why hes staying
November 25th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
@tsiko:
Paul Roos.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
@tsiko: Agreed. Natural successor to FDP post 2011.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
FDP will get plenty rest next year….and in 2011….Hougaard being groomed…he is only 21…great for Bulls…..come 2011 WC FDP will go overseas….Bulls are intelligent man managers…
November 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@PissAnt: Thank you P, you fountain-of-non-essential-information!
Did he play 9 at school? And do you know who the Craven Week scrummie was when he was in matric?
November 25th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
this oke is a pretender, if he had his own game & was not a Fdp clone! In the saracens game he was just useless!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Sweet Mary
Please, please let him turn into a Fourie DuPreez clone!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
This guy is a useless scrum Heini Adams much better. I think he plays better as a wing but nothing great about him just had a average Currie Cup and got into the Bok team.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
This guy is a useless scrumhalf Heini Adams much better. I think he plays better as a wing but nothing great about him. He had a average Currie Cup and got into the Bok team.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: clone = “fong kong” cheap low quality version of the real thing, knock-off (like them bulle jerseys y’all wear that lose colour after the first wash), umdubulo, umkokotelo = francois hougaard….
November 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@tsiko:
Yes he did play scrummy at school and the scrummy in the Craven Week side was one Clayton Stewart from Strand…
Hougaard did not even make the academy side.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
he was the best player on the park against the lions earlier this year, tim will tell but he has got talent…
November 25th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
and the negative & critizising bloggers are as always on form…
cut & paste this……
Fourie will be rested a lot in 2010……
and dream on …. this kid is the no 2 scrummie at the Bulls….
i as a Bull supporter is happy to have this “no hoper”, overrated, useless” scrumhalf at snor city, aka, CC & S14 champs of 2009….
Don’t tell me later i didn’t tell you to cut and paste this please.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
@Pepe: He aint THAT bad Pepe, but alot of pressure/expectation is going to be put on this good, just hope hes got the screws to handle it.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
@pissant – Many thanks
@staal – I couldn’t agree more. FH is strong, quick, kicks well, has good tactical awareness, defends well, very strong in the air. Don’t know whether he is strong minded, but if he is, then surely he is a very good replacement for FdP.
Much rather have him at my union than not.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
@Staal:
I’m with you on this one Staal !!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@Transformation: Even a cheap low quality FDP is better than no FDP at all. And light years better than anyone else out there.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@tsiko: @Staal: “tactical awareness” is that what he was showing you when he got charged down twice against sarries?
“very strong in the air” yes that’s why mapoe made him his ***** twice in the CC:..yeah keep dreaming
November 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
adams is a good 9 however he has no kicking game..
which is unfortunate..
November 25th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
@Transformation:
which white players do you rate then?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
@Transformation: So following your logic any rugby player who has ever had two kicks charged down in a game has no tactical awareness? The list would be endless.
Again. Anyone who has ever been beaten in the air tice in one game can not possibly strong in the air? Another neverending list.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
@Taahirah:
I think Transie makes a very valid point actually. How can you say a player who gets charged down twice in the same game has “good tactical awareness”? Furthermore, I wouldn’t call a player who gets beaten in the air as “strong in the air”.
The fact of the matter is that you list these as attributes or areas in which he is very good when there is evidence to the contrary.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
@Cyborg:
so players ith good tactical awarenss NEVER get charged down twice in one game? behind a scrum going backwards ? i think not….
November 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
@Taahirah:keep punting…
@charo: oooohh it had to be racial neh?…chips on the shoulder up in the Gold Coast…
November 25th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
@gunther:
That’s right, never. A player with “good” tactical awareness wouldn’t let that happen twice in a game. How on earth does this show “good” tactical awareness?
Fact of the matter is if this had happened to a player like Francois Steyn half the bloggers here would have been up in arms about him being stupid and being tactically clueless.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
@Cyborg: So if I were to bring you evidence of a game in which say Dan Carter got charged down twice you would slant him to have no tactical awareness? Or having been beaten to the ball in the air twice renders JP Pietersen useless?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Cyborg: You do know that tactical awareness and the execution of an action based on that awareness are two seperate concepts? FH might have been tactically aware of the situation but poorly executed his kicks for a number of reasons?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Transformation:
seems to be a pattern though in your posts.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
@Cyborg:
yes they would and they would still be wrong and that first kick from the base of scrum in freefall with nobody to pass to ….what would you have done mr “tactically aware”
November 25th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
@charo: that’s what your race radar picks up when i’m praising heirich brussouw?! When victor annihilates isaac ross & i cheer that’s what you decipher, a racial undertone? When i cheer “bulging armsi” luke watson, when i rate LITTLE joe pietersen, when i rue the fact that jano vermaak got injured u pick that i’m racial?
When i say louis ludik is better 15 than frans steyn…
You know what….mnxim!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Surely you don’t go from raw talent to being a Springbok? This chap hasn’t even extended parts at Currie Cup or Super 14 level. Maybe he should put in some time and prove himself at those levels before he is taken to the summit. The message his inclusion send to other rather talented S/H’s is a poor one.
If we had a lack of talent then fine try such an experiment, however we are highly talented in this position. No need.
This chap must be very highly regarded OR IMO very highly connected.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
@Transformation:
if anyone has a “race radar”………..
November 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@Taahirah:
And what are those reasons?
@gunther:
Probably the same thing that Hougaard did. But then again I do have poor tactical awareness. Hmmm…
November 25th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
@charo: whatever charo, you won’t succeed ou toppie…ha ha ha…between sarel pretorius & francois hougaard who had a better currie cup?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
@gunther: lol, that’s why mpho mbiyozo got man of the match because francois hougaard was the best…
take ur blinkers of Gza!
November 25th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
@Transformation:
bad day at the office today?
November 25th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
@Transformation:
lol its always blinkers and bigots with you hey…so what if he was man of the match…. does the best player always get man of the match houggaard was injured just after half time was he not? look at the boks on saturday jaques fourie man of the match WTF?
November 25th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
all this pissing backwards and forwards is quite futile… the guy is just starting out his career how how fares only time will tell…rate him or don’t rate him for whatever reason you want the selectors clearly see something in him … lets se how he goes…
November 25th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Him and his bloody “winning culture”
we used to talk a lot… but now he can take a jump for all I care
November 25th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
@gunther: you okes being ridiculous, are you unable to convince me that francois hougaard is good & deserves to be on the bench of the springboks? That’s what i was waiting for not this labeling, i’m quite disappointed…
November 25th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@Transformation:
I dont agree with you Hougaard is a great 9 he did play **** against saracens but to be fair he did not play at 9 for a long time and was put under a lot of pressure with his scrum going backwards at 100km an hour.
He is strong on his feet, great defender and can pass with same speed an accuracy as Fourie and has the pace of Bryan Habana, you should judge him after the next super 14, I am sure you will have to eat your words!
November 25th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@Transformation: Tannie. I just think they are saying it’s too early to tell, but on first look he is going to be something.
But can’t really follow your thread.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
@groenie: He does remind me of FdP a lot actually. But needs to speed up his pass, and get a bit more accurate with the box kick.
But reads a game well, very forceful around the fringes, long pass.
But honestly, I think Kockott, Vermaak & Sarel Pretorious are all better.
I think Ruan is a better 10 than 9.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
@SodaJoe:
Yes I would pick Vermaak as the back up to Fourie for the boks, but Hougaard will get a lot of game time at 9 in the next super 14 and who knows he might even out play fourie, his pass will get better and also the box kick, being around fourie a lot of him will rub off.
I read on the bulls site that Hougaard is the 4th fastest player in bulls squad, with speed like that he will be very dangerous around the fringes, lot like Joost was in his prime.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
@Transformation:
who’s doing the labelling ?
@SodaJoe:
nobody can..
November 25th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
@SodaJoe:
you are not the only one….
@Transformation:
who is doing the labelling?
November 25th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Its still an elitist sport amongst a small enclave of the population, whichever way you like to view the parameters.
If it ever got to become the popular sport of choice amongst the bigger fraternity, then the sky would be the limit. it won’t. I doubt.
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.