PdV still in the dark over Butch
1 Sep 2010
GRANT BALL writes that Peter de Villiers’ refusal to hand Butch James a decent amount of game-time in his preferred position defeated the point of picking him.
James was ruled out of the Boks’ final Tri-Nations fixture with a shoulder injury, but it’s not clear how long he’ll be out for. That concludes an international season where there was little planning for the Bath flyhalf, who started his only Test of the year at inside centre and was used sparingly at No 10.
De Villiers may not have been sure of how to use him effectively off the bench – also a trend with other players throughout the De Villiers tenure – but some senior players wanted him in the squad, with reports suggesting they pushed for James to start ahead of Morne Steyn at Loftus.
That was all on the back of a season where he was in the Bok 22 in seven Tests, but started just one – in his unfavoured position of inside centre. He played a total of 138 minutes out of a possible 560, 52 of which were at No 12 against Italy in Witbank. He played just 49 minutes out of a possible 400 in the Tri-Nations in three cameos off the bench, while he wasn’t used off the wood in Wellington and at Soccer City.
These figures could be understandable if Steyn was on similar match-winning form as last year, but De Villiers didn’t have the courage or conviction to make any brave calls regarding James and Steyn. If James was so highly valued to be one of just a few overseas-based Boks in the squad, why not give him a chance to start in a Tri-Nations Test? That would have provided some evidence to finding out whether James still has it in him to start in a World Cup fixture in a year.
With the Tri-Nations title lost by the time the Boks returned home, the opportunity was there to experiment and rest over-played individuals, one of whom is Steyn. That never occurred and De Villiers said James understood the situation, but what else was the player supposed to say. Earlier in the international window during the Italian series, De Villiers already said Steyn needed a rest, but then continued to play him.
When James did get a chance to play at flyhalf, the Boks immediately looked more dangerous with ball in hand (think of the eight minutes he and Jean de Villiers formed the 10-12 combination in Auckland). He also showed his defensive ability in the closing stages at Loftus, and while he’s a vastly different alternative to Steyn, he can add value to a Bok squad.
As is the case with Frans Steyn – but for different reasons – there hasn’t been a 2010 plan with James, and therefore his potential hasn’t been maximised.
The question is what does the future hold for James? De Villiers has no grounds, barring injury, not to select him for the Grand Slam tour as he hasn’t done anything wrong, and neither has he had sufficient time to excel.
De Villiers said after the Loftus win that Steyn had been grossly over-played already this year. Selecting him for the year-end tour would be counter-productive, especially when De Villiers has players such as James and Pat Lambie at his disposal.
Whether James is good enough – and I believe he is – to be in the national squad should have been answered by now. But with De Villiers not granting him decent opportunities, the topic is still up for debate.
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88 Comments
1 Sep 2010, 05:28 am
I’ve never quite understood the point of picking Butch, per se!
Giving him minimal game time would, I think, be a feather (one of the very few) in PdV’s cap…
1 Sep 2010, 05:29 am
Steyn’s right foot must be getting sore as he’s not used anyhing else (including his brain).
Butch gets the backline going and can defend his channel.
Yes, there’s a difference, James is moe or less the complete F/H, Steyn a one boot trick. It has been shown up in Jame’s brief time on the field.
The senior players know this. Ditto STeyn, which s why the wanted them o preven them looking supid.
But we knew these things Frodo.
Also it seems that ‘The two great SA teams’ – W and NTvL are picking the squad anyway – and it shows by the losses.
1 Sep 2010, 05:31 am
@OCO(OCO)-2:
Sorry should be “WP and NTvL.”
1 Sep 2010, 05:42 am
Steyn is improving. He is not a leader kind of flyhalf like Butch and tends play better when the scrum half dictates play.
Butch is a great player, great at intimidating chickens like Carter but he is a walking red card.
Its great we have improved allthough this has come about at better reffing.
Pdiddy made a huge mistake by not playing Butch more or selecting a future prospect like FBrummer or Ebersholm.
1 Sep 2010, 05:43 am
@OCO(OCO)-2:
Western and Northern Transvaal?
1 Sep 2010, 05:50 am
@Slartifartfast(Slartifartfast)-5:
Frikkin Laptop Keys.
1 Sep 2010, 06:00 am
Butch is perfectly armless.
1 Sep 2010, 06:38 am
butch is a sicknote! Always injured, plays 3 games or a 15minutes where he tackles hard and *poof* goes the shoulder! Leave butch at bath and draft in jaque louis potgieter already!
1 Sep 2010, 06:41 am
The only intimidation factor with butch kevinrack is when does he ever not tackle around the neck? Renowned headhunter, and you guys wonder why you’re labelled thugs?
Perhaps someone should teach him how to tackle legally. You yourself mention he’s a walking card…
1 Sep 2010, 06:48 am
Steyn has composure with the boot. But he lacks imagination.
Look at the world’s best FHs. They all have imagination. They ooze creativity. Steyn is possibly the least creative FH in the top 10 at the moment. He is utterly predictable. His lines are never imaginative. And his opposition read him like a comic book with extra big font. Which makes playing at 12 particularly difficult.
Butch is way more valuable. As is Lambie. As is F Steyn (and I don’t like him at 10), as is R Pienaar. As is Naas Olivier, as is Bjorn Basson, as is Peter Grant , as is Willem De Waal.
Fact is that we have 10′s that are better than Steyn.
Problem is we still don’t have a Carter or a Cooper.
1 Sep 2010, 06:51 am
@rugbypedia(rugbypedia)-10: is bjorn basson a flyhalf?
1 Sep 2010, 06:57 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11: No, he is a wing and FB. But I wanted a wild card there to exaggerate my point. Should have put him last in the list.
1 Sep 2010, 07:00 am
Butch was good, but too injury prone now and the game has changed. We accept Morne is a little one dimensional but the forwards have been cr*p this 3N – no front foot ball to work with. So what do you expect ??
As we all keep saying the coaching staff are stuck in 09 mode and dont have the brains or skills to adapt a more complete game plan for the Boks. They seem to live off the work of the S14 coaches to me ..
Keep Morne and develop another FH who can do both, maybe FH if FdP comes back ?? Just an idea the kid seem to be able to play anywhere.
1 Sep 2010, 07:00 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11: And anyone who scores 4 tries on a weekend deserves a crack at it
1 Sep 2010, 07:01 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11: all “pedia’s” are know for their high error rate.
1 Sep 2010, 07:06 am
@RedLion is born again(RL)-15: Perhaps. But never quite as many errors as the average Red Lion.
1 Sep 2010, 07:13 am
Grant and his agenda’s
refusal is such a STRONG word
missed opportunity yes but PdV has been quite consistent with sticking with the same players
we all know tht much
so whats new Grant?
1 Sep 2010, 07:21 am
SORRY TO SAY BUT THE ARCTICLE IS SPOT ON.
tHE MAN MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN ABYSMAL….bUTCH SHOULD HAVE ,at the very least, started in Brisbane and the home leg.
MS has andalways will be a 1 trick pony, and the pony loses that trick away from Loftus.
Butch a far ,far better option.
Without P Grant, i would stick with Butch and let Morne play for Bulls.
1 Sep 2010, 07:23 am
Yeah, and creativity is SOOOO important in a world cup, right?
After all, it’s not like you can expect tight, defensive games in the World cup play offs… Who needs a drop goal specialist to bring that web ellis trophy home. No, much more useful will be a no arms high tackler who is a walking yellow card waiting to happen.
Steyn has won 2 Super 14 trophies, multiple Currie Cups, the British Lions series and a Tri Nations trophy at flyhalf, and he is still only 26. I reckon he has proved by now that he can handle pressure at the highest level.
i don’t understand this obsession with replacing him with Butch Coathanger James.
1 Sep 2010, 07:24 am
Div: Too late for Bismarck
2010-08-31 22:36Email | Print
Bismarck du Plessis (Gallo Images)
Hendrik Cronjé
Bloemfontein – Hooker Bismarck du Plessis will only know after the Springboks’ tour to Europe at the end of this year where exactly he ranks in respect of the national selectors.
Coach Peter de Villiers said that there was no truth in Du Plessis being third in the pecking order following the neck operation that effectively ruled him out of the Tri-Nations.
“If we look back scrumhalf Fourie du Preez was once in a similar position to the one Bismarck finds himself in now. He (Du Preez) only played about three games for the Blue Bulls while we played in the Tri-Nations,” said De Villiers.
“I think it’s just a little too late to bring in Bismarck. He needs game time and it won’t help our cause to give him 30 or 40 minutes at a time.
“We will enter a conditioning phase after Saturday’s match (against the Wallabies). It’s just good to keep him on the field, give him the 80 minutes that he needs and then condition him with the rest of the team as part of a unit. We will then re-examine the situation at the end of the year.
1 Sep 2010, 07:30 am
well butch does head hunt a bit but when he does tackle well he hits hard remember the hit on mortlock in the tri nations
1 Sep 2010, 07:42 am
@grant10(grant10)-18: I promise myself that I will not make snotty remarks to stupid comments today, but you’re making it very difficult.
P.Grant??? Really???? Without being sarcastic, I think that Rose is a better FH than Grant!
1 Sep 2010, 07:47 am
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-19: Well said!!!
MS was the best thing sice sliced bread when he slotted that penalty against the BI Lions. He is not spectacular, but does hi job very well. The gameplan revolves around him and FdP. If the loosies do their jobs by turning the ball over, we’re unstoppable. See 2009.
If Brussouw comes back, and is in good form, there is NO way this Bok team will not retain the Webb Ellis trophy.
1 Sep 2010, 07:56 am
Morne (Jannie de Beer) Steyn…..yaaawn. How come SA can produce so many quality loosies but ZERO quality all round no10s? Maybe with Jantjies and Lambie coming thru we may have that soon. Lets hope.
1 Sep 2010, 08:04 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-22:
1 Sep 2010, 08:16 am
Butch and Lambie for EOYT.
1 Sep 2010, 08:18 am
Lambie will gain valuable experience from Butch on the EOYT.
1 Sep 2010, 08:19 am
19. Tacitus— WOW you are a nob must have blue blinkers on ..take them off now before it’s to late
Please remind us who was our World cup winning flyhalf ? who held it together in tight games ? (there’s no bigger game then the WC FINAL )??? think hard before you write kak !!
Besides we have Frans he can do all thr drop kicks anyway !!
1 Sep 2010, 08:37 am
@RedLion is born again(RL)-25: Proving my point re: P.Grant
1 Sep 2010, 08:39 am
@gman(gman)-28: His success rate with those drops leaves alot to be desired.
1 Sep 2010, 08:44 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-23: “He is not spectacular, but does hi job very well.” That’s about the best you can say about the guy. He is good, and a great kicker and there is a place for that. Butch however does bring something extra to the party. He can be a walking sicknote and prone to the odd penalty, but this was an opportunity to see what he is still capable of. What little we have seen of him suggests that these is still some gas left in the tank.
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-19: Sometimes it is. You still have to spark the backline every once in a while, which, if you look at Butch’s play in the WC, he did do.
All WC flyhalf/Kickers were points machines, BUT they were also very creative. Think of the winners in the past, players like:
Wilkinson
Larkham
Lynagh
James
They were great creative flyhalfs. And judging by James’kicking on Saturday, somewhat of a points machine when required too.
1 Sep 2010, 08:47 am
Why Grant?
We know exactly what we have in Butch. And I have no doubt he will feature strongly on the EOYT.
1 Sep 2010, 08:52 am
Butch and Grant need to go with to the World Cup. We need the Maritzburg College Voodoo to work its magic.
1 Sep 2010, 08:54 am
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-19: butch has won a WC
MS away from Loftus is like a goldfish on the lounge floor…..good for mothing.
1 Sep 2010, 08:58 am
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-19:
I have no obsession with replacing him with Butch per se. Any other S14 number 10 would do…
Steyn has done well for himself. But he is no Carter. He is no Cooper. Can you imagine how those two would perform behind F du Preez or Hougie? Steyn has been very lucky to play alongside quality 9s. And when he hasn’t he has not exactly shone. I reckon Butch, Pienaar, Lambie etc would all be slotting drop goals left right and centre behind the right 9, if that is what was asked of them. Steyn is not special.
As for winning on drop goals. Just two world cups from 6 have been won this way. I don’t believe it is the way today’s rugby is being played. The others were won as follows
1987 NZ 29-9 FRA – Not won on a drop goal
1991 AU 12-6 ENG – Not won on a drop goal
1999 AU 35-12 FRA – Not won on a drop goal
2007 SA 15-6 ENG – Not won on a drop goal
How many Super 14 finals were won on drop goals?
How many Currie Cup finals have been won on drop goals?
Finally, read 28. GMAN(GMAN) – he makes a very valid point. Who was our #10 in the last world cup?
1 Sep 2010, 09:01 am
Butch
A physio’s wet dream…
1 Sep 2010, 09:06 am
@gunther(gunther)-36: I thought that was Deysel….
1 Sep 2010, 09:07 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-23: we know what we have in morne ( a one-dimensional kicking machine) but we need more in a flyhalf! If we are to be a dynamic team that can change tack during a game and shift momentum we need players who are adept at decision making and morne is not one of those…
Teams down under are not scared of morne with ball-in-hand, they know whatever he does is pre-meditated. We need more!
1 Sep 2010, 09:09 am
Elton “rocketman” Jantjes..
1 Sep 2010, 09:12 am
@gunther(gunther)-39: I’m looking froward to seeing what he can do this weekend against Province. He certainly shows potential. IMO more than Lambie at 10 at this stage.
1 Sep 2010, 09:13 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-37: definitely that *’showpony’ Deysel..
* JustRugby spotted and pin-pointed it last year already.
1 Sep 2010, 09:15 am
These idiots who go on and on about James being a walking card need to stop living in 2001.
James has had one yellow card this season for a careless tackle. As did JdV. As did Jaque Fourie. As did Quade Cooper. As did Owen Franks. As did Drew Mitchell.
When last was James suspended for dangerous play?
I’m guessing it was YEARS back.
1 Sep 2010, 09:15 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-41: He’s a bit of a moster when he’s fit, but only plays half a season, so that’s to be expected I guess….
1 Sep 2010, 09:16 am
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-42:
now
he’s
just a
walking
injury
1 Sep 2010, 09:17 am
Stormersgoy…
In my mind lambie is more a 12 or 15…
However nothing wrong with a couple of options.
Jantjes has lots of time on the ball. Like all gifted sportsmen.
1 Sep 2010, 09:20 am
@gunther(gunther)-45: I agree. He’s a great talent, but like a few youngsters coming through strong this year, we’ll see if he makes it in the long run.
1 Sep 2010, 09:21 am
@gunther(gunther)-45:
racist
1 Sep 2010, 09:22 am
Slade named in All Blacks squad
9:07 AM Wednesday Sep 1, 2010 Twitter
Colin Slade comes into the All Blacks squad, replacing Dan Carter.
Uncapped Canterbury first five-eighth Colin Slade has been included in the All Blacks squad named today for the final Tri-Nations test against Australia in Sydney.
There are no surprises in the 26-man squad unveiled by coach Graham Henry, with the only question mark in the leadup surrounding who would be included as the backup first five-eighth to Aaron Cruden.
That role falls to Slade, 22, ahead of two other likely contenders – Canterbury teammate Stephen Brett and North Harbour’s Luke McAlister.
The versatile Slade was drafted into the All Blacks squad as injury cover last year and has been a regular starter for the Crusaders in a variety of positions over the past two seasons.
His form for Canterbury in recent rounds of the national provincial championship appear to have won him the nod and he is likely to be named on the reserve bench for the test.
Cruden is set to make his first test start in the test on September 11, replacing Daniel Carter, who is recuperating from ankle surgery.
Henry has stayed true to the core of his team who are unbeaten this year, including five-from-five Tri-Nations wins to seal that competition a month before its completion.
Australia have won one from four Tri-Nations tests and face South Africa in Bloemfontein this weekend before returning home for the finale.
The All Blacks gather in Auckland on Sunday and cross the Tasman that day.
All Blacks squad:
Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Victor Vito, Samuel Whitelock and Tony Woodcock.
Backs: Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Josevata Rokocoko, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley and Piri Weepu.
- NZPA
1 Sep 2010, 09:22 am
@gunther(gunther)-45:
jus
because
he’s not
part
of the
tribe
?
1 Sep 2010, 09:26 am
Porra
No racist would be if I said you were a fat smelly greengrocer who sold “overripe” fruit…
1 Sep 2010, 09:29 am
@gunther(gunther)-39: rocketman is rokocoko…
1 Sep 2010, 09:33 am
@gunther(gunther)-50: ooooohhhhhh!!!
1 Sep 2010, 09:44 am
Transie@ 51
It’s a musical reference.
Jantjes mother was clearly an Elton John fan…
1 Sep 2010, 09:47 am
MS was the flyhalf of the team that scored the most tries in the S14. And that with, if you believe the **** that’s written on this site, with donkeys like WO and Kirchner on his outside.
We need to have a reliable goalkicker. With that I mean someone who has consistently over the coarse of a season kicked well. Not someone who occasionally kicks long kicks. And someone who can drop kick. Do not underestimate MS’s ability to clinch matches with drop kicks. It will be an important skill in the WC.
Having said that MS should be rested and Butch should be the flyhalf on the EOY tour but to make him first choice flyhalf in the WC without another reliable goalkicker (and ‘drop-kicker’) in the side could cost us dearly.
1 Sep 2010, 09:50 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54: I cant agree more with that statement.
The future at 10 is Elton Jantjies and Lambie, though. They will have to spend some time with Vlokkie or Percy, though.
For now, MS is the best we’ve got, and he suits the gameplan superbly.
1 Sep 2010, 09:56 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54:ja against the highlanders, most well drilled teams score a lot of tries! How many tries has WO scored in Test rugby?
1 Sep 2010, 09:58 am
Piet Devilluars can really be a controversial one..
Preaches how players need rest then when tri-Nations lost and over And Senior Players call for changes he ignores them, must be that terrible ego of his always getting in the way..
1 Sep 2010, 10:00 am
His ego far exceeds his technical/coaching ability!
1 Sep 2010, 10:01 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54: nobody is saying morne should be dropped! We’re looking at a complete Bok 22…what do we do if MS is injured at the world cup? The next thing people will be accusing the coaching staff of lacking foresight and not identifying a backup that can equally slot in and do the job…
the all blacks are playing cruden & slade in 2 weeks time ie searching for answers but our coaching staff want to play our first team to the fround because apprently the ‘fans’ demand it! Stupid if you ask me
1 Sep 2010, 10:02 am
@gunther(gunther)-53: Correct. And she knew he was going to be a kicking flyhalf rather than a running one, and that tries would be few and far between. Hence the following line: “And I think it’s gonna be a long long time till touch down brings me round again…”
1 Sep 2010, 10:04 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-56: You’re missing the point. I think we’re all in agreement re:WO.
The point that was made is that MS CAN create tries, if the S14 is anything to go by, as he was the FH of the team that scored MOST tries in the comp. They scored most tries, despite having WO on his outside. Imagine how many more they would have scored if they had JdV or JdJ at 12.
1 Sep 2010, 10:08 am
@Guns(Guns)-58: quite right, he is so egotistical that he was fuming when wp re-called their defence coach after he had asked him to help with tweaking the springbok defence. I don’t know why Os agreed to work with such an egomaniac, Os must be mal
1 Sep 2010, 10:10 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-59: Elton Jantjies and Lambie should be the 2 FH’s taken on tour. They can be those complete FH’s you’re talking about. Jantjies has more talent IMO, and playing with Carlos can make him the most devastating FH in SA. That some time in the future, though. Iamgine this backiline post 2011.
9: Hougaard
10: Jantjies
11: Shadow
12: Lambie
13: Watermeyer
14: Mapoe
15: F. Steyn
Exciting times
1 Sep 2010, 10:13 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-61: no, you are missing the point…super rugby is not TEST rugby…Ms couldn’t create tries against France last year, he was dismal against ireland and kicked everything even when it was apparent even to a fool that rob kearney was gobbling upn everything and running it back at us with gusto! Morne & Fdp kiked and chased us to defeat!
Between the 2 of them they couldn’t switch it up and release our centres, they only did that when there was no time left on the clock!
1 Sep 2010, 10:16 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-61: plus the fact that the blue bulls scored more tries than both the crusaders and reds doesn’t mean morne is far more dynamic than both carter & cooper…
1 Sep 2010, 10:17 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-59: I agree with what you say in terms of that we need a back up for MS. For the trinations though I believe we should select our best. There is still a lot at stake ito the Mandela cup (equal to Bledisloe cup).
1 Sep 2010, 10:22 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-8: I agree Transie, it was amazing he made it through a WC.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Butch but I don’t think he’s the answer anymore and he is very injury prone.
And for the statement that the some senoir players want him to start, I think that rumour started at the same place as the John Smit will retire after his 100th cap.
1 Sep 2010, 10:25 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63:
yeah i like the look of that backline though i’d have Basson before Hurdles… And still, there’s Mjekevu, JJ Engelbrecht, Mvovo, Killian
1 Sep 2010, 10:29 am
Butch, in my mind, is the still our best flyhalf. Im not a big fan of Steyn, Yes he has a brilliant boot, but has done nothing to prove he is a better all round player than Butch. You hardly see him on defense and when you do, its a 50/50 that he will miss the tackles. He has two of the best centres in the world along side him and he cant get them away and moving. He plays way to deep and does to much meaningless kicking. I know alot of you dnt agree. But Butch, plays flat and attacks the gain line, gets the backs moving, and on defence he is brilliant, and everyone thats saying he is a card risk…How many, including for Bath, cards did he get in the past 3 to 4 years. Not many. You also forgetting he was the flyhalf that steered us to world cup victory. Morne cant be mentioned in the same league as Butch. Cos Butch goes in the league, with greats like, Stransky, Larkham, Wilkinson. an even higher league than Carter is, Carter doesnt have a world cup medal, and neither does Steyn! Just give butch his fair chance, and next year he will take us to world cup glory again!!
1 Sep 2010, 10:33 am
@JA-JA(JA-JA)-67: certainly…i have nothing against butch, he’s been a good servant of bok rugby but he only went to the world cup because our flyhalf cupboard was BARE!!! Andre Petoroos was having bum problems, Jaco vd Westhuyzen was pure kak, i can’t even remember what was up with Liefling then Jake pulled a rabbit out the hat and selected Meyer Bosman but subsequently chickened out after the 49-0 debacle and fell on to Butch who hadn’t been in the Springbok frame for YEARS
1 Sep 2010, 10:36 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63: I would rather have de Jongh at 13 than Watermeyer.
1 Sep 2010, 10:38 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-71: I think Watermeyer is better suited to the 12 role. Also watch Marcel Brache become a great prospect at 13.
1 Sep 2010, 10:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-70: I’m 100% with you on that, Butch is a legend but people hoping he can play 10 games in a row is building castles in the sky. The man is broken and it’s clear to see.
1 Sep 2010, 10:42 am
This is a typical report England re Butchie
Butch James facing nine months
out with knee injury
Bath Rugby fly-half Butch James is expected
to be out of the game for nine months after
a scan on his injured knee yesterday
confirmed the South African ’s worst fears.
James limped off at half-time during Bath’s
15-14 win Guinness Premiership victory
?over Newcastle Falcons on Sunday, sparking
fears that the World Cup-winning Springbok
had yet again been hit by the knee trouble
that has plagued his career.
A damaged anterior cruciate ligament will
require surgery – although James has
vowed to return to rugby.
Bath today released a statement, which
read: “Butch will be raring to get back onto
the pitch for his team when he is fighting fit
and will be eager to put his shirt back on
when that time comes.”
And head coach Steve Meehan paid tribute
to the No 10, who returned from the Tri-
Nations last summer to play a major role in
Bath’s challenge for honours this term.
“Butch started 20 Guinness Premiership
matches for us this year and seven
Heineken Cup matches. He has played more
minutes than anyone else for Bath and has
done a bloody good job,” said Meehan.
James played for the Natal Sharks in his
native South Africa before signing for Bath
in 2007 but his career with the Durban-
based Super 14 side and the Springboks
was hampered by injury.
In 2002 his appearances were restricted
following knee surgery but in 2004 he
played in every game for the Sharks and
looked certain to be recalled to the national
squad until an injury to the cruciate
ligament of his left knee, 12 minutes into
the last game against the Stormers, ended
his season and kept him out of rugby for
six months.
1 Sep 2010, 10:51 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-70: Transie, even Jake White had to eat his words about Butch. He wanted Andre as his flyhalf for the World Cup but realised during the WC after Eddies infuence on Butch just how good Butch was and why the senior players rated him so much. It must be admitted that Butch’s game improved significantly after Eddie Jones’ input. Up until then Butch was more renowned for his no arms tackling and abrasiveness than for his rugby brain.
1 Sep 2010, 10:53 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-65: If the Boks can execute the gameplan as effectively as the Bulls did, he could be better…. but yes, I see your point. I would love to have one of those guys in my team.
1 Sep 2010, 10:55 am
Katman
Superb
1 Sep 2010, 10:59 am
@gunther(gunther)-77: Yes, top marks Katman.
1 Sep 2010, 11:03 am
I’ve just read on rugby365 that PdV will be called in by SARU regading his statement that the Boks back Bees Roux in the alleged murder case.
Shame, the guy cant get a break!
1 Sep 2010, 11:04 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-75: i must admit, this mythical exponential improvement by Butch after EJ’s influence is just that, a myth to me. But hey, Pdv is the man in the pound seats if he slelects Butch, it’s his arse for the grill.
1 Sep 2010, 11:09 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-79: yep, now he will be fired!
1 Sep 2010, 11:24 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-81: Nah…. I cant understand why he’s in trouble. He said that they dont support the act, but the colleague. He should have kept his mouth shut rather. I feel for the guy….eish…. had the pleasure of meeting him last year. Very appraochable guy.
1 Sep 2010, 11:57 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-74: what you fail to mention is that he played a full two years of rugby prior to that. This is a more typical report
:
‘Butch James of Bath holds the Guinness Man of the Match award during the Guinness Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and Bath’
It’s irrelevant now tho, Meyer will be your new coach and Derick Hougaard will play 10
1 Sep 2010, 13:53 pm
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63:
More like:IMO
9.Hougaard
10.Jantjes/Lambie
11.JPP (only 23)
12.F.Steyn
13.De Jongh
14.Mapoe
15.Basson
1 Sep 2010, 14:41 pm
People amaze me. Why would you not want to take Butch James to a world cup. He is certainly the second best flyhalf in the country and has won a world cup.
Hypothetical question. If Morne Stey gets injured during the world cup next year, who would set your mind at ease more when coming into the side? Jantjes? JLP? Lambie? Or someone who actually has a world cup and proved on saturday he still is hungry and a bloody good player.
Give me a effing break.
1 Sep 2010, 15:01 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-85: agree with you John
1 Sep 2010, 15:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-65: DUDE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUGBY
1 Sep 2010, 17:32 pm
@Spieeeees(Spieeeees)-87: you don’t have to get emotional..bring forth your views
hahahaha
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