Midfield marvels have more to give
1 Sep 2010
JON CARDINELLI writes Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie are already the world’s best centre pairing but more game time together will ensure they’re immortalised as all-time greats.
Last Saturday’s Test marked their first start as a combination since the 2009 Tri-Nations. Over the past five seasons, injuries, suspensions, questionable positional switches and overseas sojourns have prevented them from taking their centre partnership to new, unprecedented levels.
They’ve been limited to 21 appearances in five years, their best sequence of six consecutive matches coming in the victorious Tri-Nations campaign in 2009. When De Villiers and Fourie have operated in tandem, the Boks have won 17 Tests and lost four. A midfield combo cannot sway a result without a strong forward showing or sharp halfback display, but there’s no doubt this pair is an unrivaled force on both attack and defence.
Interviewed after the win at Loftus Versfeld, De Villiers admitted he was aware of the modest tally. Both players have surpassed 60 caps, but have only played one third of their respective careers as a combination.
De Villiers said he was aware of the win ratio, and his tone seemed to suggest that with more opportunities, this partnership could do more damage in future. Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield have played 56 Tests together, and perhaps one day De Villiers and Fourie will be lauded for similar contributions.
The South African duo has been one of the best midfield combinations of the last decade, although it’s not uncommon to see great centre partnerships struggling to produce extensive runs. Ireland’s Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll complemented each other perfectly, while New Zealand’s Aaron Mauger and Tana Umaga were a potent blend of guile, physicality and explosiveness. What all three combinations have in common is that injuries affected the longevity of the partnership.
D’Arcy and O’Driscoll debuted in 1999 but only received their first opportunity to start together in 2004. The following six years saw them featuring 34 times, 24 of those on the winning side.
Umaga shifted from wing to centre around the same time an exciting talent from Canterbury got his international break. Unfortunately, the pair didn’t get many chances in the next five seasons. When Mauger and Umaga did play, they thrilled, and during a great period for the All Blacks, they were on the winning side 16 times in 18 Tests.
The comparison ends when you consider De Villiers (29) and Fourie (27) are still in their prime. They have more to give as a combination, and while eclipsing a record as formidable as that of Botha and Matfield is unlikely, they have to go to the World Cup with more caps as a unit.
De Villiers has played just two Tests at 12 this season and needs more game time. Some players will be rested for the Grand Slam tour, but he shouldn’t be one of them. Jaque Fourie has already had plenty of rugby this season, but solidifying a partnership as important as the midfield will benefit the Boks going into a World Cup year.
It presents the Bok coaching staff with a poser given the rise of Juan de Jongh. The 22-year-old is an exciting option at outside centre and can do a job at 12, and also needs opportunities. Should one of De Villiers and Fourie miss that global tournament in New Zealand, De Jongh will step in.
Those opportunities, however, are not as important as the ones afforded to South Africa’s first-choice combination. De Villiers and Fourie are already 15 Tests short of where they should be. They have some ground to make up. And after next year’s World Cup, a decision to move abroad could spell the end for a special pair. The next 14 months could be the last we see of them as a unit.
Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter
167 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All
1 Sep 2010, 08:59 am
@bananas(bananas)-97:
Maybe they felt guilty for not giving it to him in 08′ when clearly he was worlds best player again, he didn’t derserve it in 09′ and most people from NZ will tell you that. If his name was Steyn and he played for the Bokke we both know it would be a different story.
1 Sep 2010, 09:00 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-75:
Well lucky we dont care what the rest of the world thinks about Richie. Hes the best Flanker going around and has been for years.
Now if Richie was useless you would like him and says he plays by the rules. But seen as he is so good he must cheat and everyone hates him.
Thing is name one international team in the top 5 that would not have him
1 Sep 2010, 09:01 am
@bananas(bananas)-100:
They hate him becuase he’s so good, they also didn’t like Fitzy for some reason?
1 Sep 2010, 09:01 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-102:
the
bulls
1 Sep 2010, 09:04 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-104:
Bulls???
I said name one INTERNATIONAL team not NATIONAL.
Good reading
1 Sep 2010, 09:04 am
McCaw = on par with Juan Smith (the Tendulkar of rugby) ..
1 Sep 2010, 09:04 am
Richie McCaw is brilliant player. He has been on the scene longer than Burger, but the one is still the most competitive guy on the ground, while the other had a great work rate and had to change his game because he is not quick enough anymore to be a factor on the ground.
On the Nonu issue. In a crunch World Cup semi or final one of the most important players are the guys in the midfield that can set up front foot ball and whose defense is rock solid. Every once in a while Nonu has a shocker and I believe he will cost the ABs in a big game come WC time. You have to compare him with Fourie and for me there is no comparison. The Aussies are also really missing a Mortlock type player.
1 Sep 2010, 09:05 am
Legendary Centre pairings of years gone by:
JDV-Fourie
Horan-Little
Little-Bunce
Du Plessis-Gerber
D’Arcy-O’Driscoll
Guscott-Carling
I’m sure there’s more but these spring to mind first….
1 Sep 2010, 09:05 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-105:
bulls
no 1
international
team now
ab’s follow
then boks
then
oz
1 Sep 2010, 09:07 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-109:
stormers
no 5
1 Sep 2010, 09:08 am
@Horings(Horings)-107:
Doesn’t every player have a shocker once in a while, he still out ran the Bokke defense in his socks…
1 Sep 2010, 09:09 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-109:
Think they might be a little light in the propping dept next season.
1 Sep 2010, 09:09 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-101:
If most people including NZ’s believe he did not deserve it in ’09 , I wonder why he did win it then ??? Just a general question, not directed at you !!
1 Sep 2010, 09:10 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-112:
then
maybe
not
1 Sep 2010, 09:13 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-113:
Good question, maybe the get SA campaign has been started up again and the world is conspiring to take SA down.
1 Sep 2010, 09:18 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-109:
Nope you have it wrong. The table looks like this.
#1 Abs
#2 Leicester
#3 Saracens
#4 Boks
#5 OZ
Get the idea
1 Sep 2010, 09:22 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-113:
He didnt play to the standard that we were use to,does not mean he played bad.
Thing is what alot of people dont take into account is not only his offense but his defense and his presence in the ABs make it a different team. Hes the captain and can change the look of the ABs by just being there,hes more than just a fetcher to NZ
1 Sep 2010, 09:23 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-115:
Well from a rugby perspective maybe
, but hey we just piss everybody off by winning WC’s , makes the IRB piss blood !!!!!!
Now just to win it NZ !!!!
1 Sep 2010, 09:23 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-116:
you have
no
idea
see my
post
109
1 Sep 2010, 09:25 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-111: Playing fantasy testrugby I know his form is very indifferent for the Hurricanes, but he has strung a few good games in a row for the ABs, so he could have improved in that area. If he played for the Boks he would have been a concern for me personally.
The same had been the case with Montgomery in the 2007 WC, where up and unders are a big part of a final and I felt Monty was not as sound under the high ball. He did very well though.
1 Sep 2010, 09:26 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-117:
Look good luck to him, just can’t help but wonder how FDUP must of felt, who in 2009 had a great season ??
1 Sep 2010, 09:27 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-119:
Yeah i saw it. My post stands,get the idea
1 Sep 2010, 09:30 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-118:
win it in NZ
1 Sep 2010, 09:31 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-121:
He had a great year,i am not doubting that.
I honestly understand where you are coming from as well,but thats not the only year where someone won it and its got questioned. When that little welsh winger won it ( Name forgotten ) ,who thought he was the best? Not me. But you would find a few NH people thought he was the best. Cant please anyone. I think in that year McCaw was awesome,but you cant win em all
1 Sep 2010, 09:33 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-124:
Cant please anyone = Cant please everyone
1 Sep 2010, 09:34 am
@Horings(Horings)-120:
Monty the legend he managed to fix his butterball hands in the twilight of his career thank god and go on to be a legend, still would you really rate him up there as a class fullback when you look at his ENTIRE career?
1 Sep 2010, 09:35 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-124:
True !!
1 Sep 2010, 09:38 am
To all NZ bloggers……………….see the “love to hate ” relationship most of us SAFFA’s have with Ritchie as a mark of respect !!!!!!!!
Well except for HG of course
Cheers all, till later !!!
1 Sep 2010, 09:39 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-128:
Cya Rugby
Have a good one
1 Sep 2010, 09:40 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-128:
Cheers mate
1 Sep 2010, 10:11 am
Fark what a lot of temperamental wining chewawas!
1- Smith & Nonu are NOt vasly superior That is a mentally retarded comment, mate u lost the plot go review some games or see a doctor or just shut up..
2- if WO was better he would have prooved so in his 30 odd tests appearances in all hus test games he has been ****! I have always backed him in Super but he just can’t make the changes by looks if things.
1 Sep 2010, 10:18 am
Fourie is ok in attack, but when he comes up against Real Line breakers and Tackle breakers like Nonu and Toeava he is a liability on defense because he is so tall and takes a long time to get down to tackle. I remember the Blues – Stormers game, the Stormers won mainly because Andries Bakker was unstoppable in the lineouts and ball carrying, but Fourie was completely owned by Toeava. Toeava consistenly broke the line at will, and had about a million metres gained. I rate Jean De Villers as the best #12 in the world, but the best outside centre would have to be Conrad Smith, and before Smith it was Stirling Mortlock. It was never Fourie.
1 Sep 2010, 10:30 am
You can’t just count the try scored by 12/13 to measure their effectiveness. Count the trys scored by 11/14 & 15 too when a particular 12/13 combination is playing. I haven’t got the stats, but I’d put $’s to donuts that Smith/Nonu come out WAY ahead of JDV/JF on this basis. And also on team winning percentage when each pair has played.
1 Sep 2010, 10:41 am
Just get Butch James at 10, and J&J will be back to their best!!! Steyn plays to deep, and thats when he is killing his centres. Becuase he cant get them over the advantage line!!Butch will!!!
1 Sep 2010, 10:42 am
yeah, yeah
sure they are
whatever you say
just one question…….
Was the opening sentence directly sourced from Fourie himself ?
1 Sep 2010, 10:51 am
Yeah so true , these two guys are very good combination. Can still go strong untill the WC next year. Surely we have enough backup. So someone recons the priest might be axed
1 Sep 2010, 11:30 am
Goodbye Adi Jacobs
1 Sep 2010, 11:31 am
This article is a nonsense. How can they be the best centre combo when neither of the two can even pass? and people wonder why Bok wings get no ball. Nonu and Smith aren’t much better but they are better. Jauzion and Bastareaud too.
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-101: Shane Williams was the best player in ’08, he ran rings around everyone.
1 Sep 2010, 11:33 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-91: Nonu has come up against the best defenses in the world and been on the right side of the ledger most of the time. Are they leaking tries in midfield. No. The AB midfield is very solid and has been for a number of years. Opposition aren’t scoring tries down his channel. Name a test where they have in recent memory.
If he was **** he would of been gone long ago.Henry isnt a romantic. He doesnt hold onto players if he thinks they cant perform. Nonu owns the 12 jersey at the moment. Mcallister and Stanley are clearly in his shade.
1 Sep 2010, 12:46 pm
@bananas(bananas)-97:
What did McCaw do in 2009 ?
He was ABs best player in TriN – contrary to SA opinions, it is still possible to play well in a losing side (eg J.Smith in JoBurg). Safas also delight in saying McCaw was outplayed by Brussow in 2009. Despite the fact the stats show Brussow no more than ‘matched’ McCaw in the breakdown, alone, McCaw was very prominent at lineout, as a ball-carrier, at re-starts and as a link man. Brussow did not figure there whilst McCaw was outstanding in all facets throughout and, in particular, on the EOYT vs Aus, Wales, Italy, Engl and France. The matches vs Aus and France, McCaw was immense, making tries and scoring them too – and he collected 2 x MoM on this EOYT.
If the ‘Year’ was confined between June and August only, then I personally would have given it to FdP who was superb throughout BIL Series and also through TriN. It must be nb’ed, however, that both M.Phillips and W.Genia were not outplayed there. The season does not start and end there though – on the Boks EOYT, FdP was so poor he was subbed off in both losses to Ireland and France. Now Transformation informs me that, for some unknown reason, the International season laps over the calendar years and not confined between Jan – Dec. Which makes it trickier. But if, indeed, the final 6mths of 2008 is ‘joined’ with the 1st 6mths of 2009 to make the season – and thereby when to judge a players form from-to – then also remember FdPs’ form the previous year with another poor EOYT and a TriN that ended being nilled at Newlands and subbed there too. McCaw was immense that day….
1 Sep 2010, 12:58 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-138:
Shane “One hit wonder” Williams,nah stll wasnt good enough in 2008. McCaw was better
1 Sep 2010, 13:12 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-138:
Its impossible to cherrypick a few games where SW played well enough to pick up a Player of the YEAR Award whilst ignoring others who performed for the whole 12mths.
If FdP was more ‘worthy’ in 2009 than McCaw despite mixing the sublime with the sub-average, and Williams wins it from a handful of games too, then it makes a (further) mockery of an entirely subjective Award.
Knowing your distaste of the IRB Rankings system, I find it hard to believe you have a clearer opinion on individual awards which are grossly more subjective and do not have results upon which to judge.
Which was a greater shock – SW winning in 2008 or McCaw in 2009 ? The fact that it was 1 player contending in both (and other) years tells you all you need to know. The Award is not on 1 or 2 games of individual brilliance but in maintaining the highest standards over many.
1 Sep 2010, 13:21 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-140: Bp I wouldn’t have thought that, Its an “annual” award which means it should just be about the season/years performance and nothing more. I believe it should also only take into consideration the performances in Tests – not sure if thats how it works or if subjectively other performances are included
1 Sep 2010, 13:32 pm
This was funny
New Zealand Rugby
Commentators Handbook: An
extract
By Ray Hartley
Posted in General
Stumbled across these pages torn from the
New Zealand Rugby Commentators
Handbook …
C: Dealing with defeat
Remember that an All Black team may lose a
game, but it is never beaten by an
opponent. Example: “The All Blacks have
played way below their potential today.
They have only themselves to blame for
losing ”. Or: “It might have been a different
story if X had not been injured, or taken out
in my opinion, early in the game ”. A very
good alternative is: “The All Blacks just
didn’t take this game seriously enough after
their runaway victories of the past ten
years ”.
Never, ever say things like: “The Springboks
are truly the best team in world rugby, they
have shown the All Blacks who is boss ” or
“Wow. That was an awesome Springbok
performance and now we know why they
won the World Cup. ”
D: Use of language
Words play such an important part in rugby
commentary, so choose them carefully. For
example we use the word “pass” to
describe the movement of the ball between
All Black players, but the words “forward
pass” to describe the same thing done by
an opposing team.
The addition of an adjective can really work
wonders. So the All Blacks get “well-
deserved penalties” and the opposition get
“unfortunate penalties”.
Referees always apply the law harshly to
the All Blacks, but miss important infractions
by the opposition. Example: “Aw, how could
the ref not see that Smit was smashing his
head against Vickerman ’s fist? And now he’s
given an unfortunate penalty against the All
Blacks. ”
E: Tries by friend and foe
Remember that all tries scored by the
opposition are suspect and were not
properly grounded. Example: “Habana
bursts through, there’s no one near him.
He’s under the posts. Did he ground that
properly? Referee should ask the TMO. That
looked suspect to me. ”
All Black tries are always grounded, even in
the most unlikely of situations. Example:
“ January gets the ball, he’s tackled! Did the
tackler knock it out of his hands and apply
downward pressure. The ball was definitely
grounded under that mound of bodies and
it looked like an All Black hand to me. Can
you believe the ref didn ’t ask the TMO? This
could swing the game.”
In a situation where the opposition scores
more tries than the All Blacks, tries should be
downplayed. Example: “The Springboks
have been awarded that suspect try but
Dan Carter ’s boot is still the big points maker
in this game. Isn’t he having a blinder?”
When the All Blacks score more tries, this is a
better?approach: “Montgomery can kick
until he’s blue in the face, but the All Blacks have scored more tries and we all know
that ’s really what rugby is all about.”
1 Sep 2010, 13:50 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-141: no, Williams was better. McCaw was even out injured for a couple of the 3N games. I’m willing to bet like many calling for McCaw’s win that year you didn’t even watch the Wales games.
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-142: Williams was good in EVERY game. I know because I watched them all. NZ’s media cried long and hard about Richie and as a result the whole system for choosing the IRB player of the year was overhauled, now we have a **** system whereby a dud winner was chosen in ’09 along with a load of dud nominations.
1 Sep 2010, 14:03 pm
“….Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie are already the world’s best centre pairing…”
LMAO so JON CARDINELLI is a COMIC
Joke of the year
1 Sep 2010, 14:25 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-143:
I, too, presumed it was an ‘Annual’ award adjudged between Jan – Dec. However, Transformation is adamant that it is not. Given his keen eye for discrepancies, Im sure he will be along shortly to disclose his findings.
Either way, lets remember this Award is for cvonsitently high play over a 12mth ‘season’ and not awarded for isolated Tests when a player performed outstandingly whilst disregarding others where he was not or, indeed, poor.
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-145:
He was good in most games of the 2008 6N. He never seems to stick out during the EOYT when the opposition are of a higher quality (and, dare I say it, Lord Barry, higher-ranking too).
Dont get me wrong, I think he was superb at times too. But to say on 1 hand that McCaw in 2009 was a ‘shock’ but that SW was not in 2008, well I think you may have lost your objectivity there old boy.
To say McCaw was, in any way, a “dud” in 2009 suggests to me that you completely missed the Autumn Series. McCaw was immense and collected 2 MoM’s – watch ABs vs France (Marseille) and Aus (Hong Kong) and tell me who you think was the most dominant player on the pitch. The ABs were unbeaten in those 5 consecutive Tests with McCaw prominent in ALL.
1 Sep 2010, 14:33 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-145:
BTW – I not only ‘watched’ it but from the comfort of my seat in the stadium. SW played well that day but I dont even think he was the best Welsh player that day. Wales had to take a 29-9 beating that day, a couple of jinking-runs aside, what did SW produce ? certainly not tries.
1 Sep 2010, 14:48 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-134: Why was Wynand Olivier the best centre in the super 14 because he got good ball from Morne Steyn. So he is not close to killing anyone. You should probably stop commenting or you could kill me by laughting to much at you. Dude do you even think what you are commenting? Really. Why is Steyn not having a great year is because he does not have a real no.9 and no.12 to work with. Thats why he always are the best in super 14 because he has a great 9 and 12. WYNAND OLIVIER is and will be our best inside centre
1 Sep 2010, 15:06 pm
“…there’s no doubt this pair is an unrivaled force on both attack and defence.”
In defence maybe…but on attack, no.
How many tries have they created for the players on their outside? Not too many if you ask me. They can’t even create space for their wings. The poor wings have to go and look for the ball in other areas if they want to touch it.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.