Adriaan Strauss

Yes ... he's playing awesome rugby.

He's a little long in the tooth ... but ... is there anyone better as cover?

I hope Rassie convinces this old codger to return to test rugby.

Strauss played awesome rugby for the Cheetahs and made his name there.   He then was contracted by the Bulls and his career took a nosedive.   He progressively became worse every year.

I think  the coaching curse of Ludeke, Marais, Meyer and Coetzee was the main reason for the decline.   Combined they managed to nearly destroy his playing potential - hence his announcement of retirement from international rugby last year. 

However, under a new coach Strauss is a completely new player =- he obviously is fitter than he was in the past and his performances this year was vastly superior and remind me of the way he played for the Cheetahs years ago.   

This shows the value of proper coaching once again - poor coaches are destructive, good coaches make a huge difference in player performances.    With rare exceptions  this is a youngish Bulls team - watch them next year in Super Rugby and this year in CC.    

Yeah ... yeah ... we've heard it all before, Tokks.

You should just copy and paste it in every post. It'll save you time from actually having to type it out.

Coaching has nothing to do with it. He has had a change of attitude and that's made the difference.

Try to wake up will you, Tokks!!

DumbAss!!

BS as per normal from a dimwit.  

I think he is just one of those players that does not thrive with the added pressure of captaincy. 

Blueblob please oak, Strauss captained the Cheetahs for many years and played great rugby. Captaincy was NOT the issue. 

Tell me, Tokks ... what exactly do you think can be taught to an old hand like Strauss?

He's been around the block several times over and knows exactly what's needed to be a quality player. The only thing that can determine what level of play he produces is his approach to the game ... and of course his attitude ... both of which cannot be coached.

Feel free to edit the above post. Your comeback needs a little work.

CC

It is not what can be taught to players and especially not Strauss.   The problem with the coaches mentioned was more to do with the game plans of the coaches - their management of players (eg  fitness levels) and the leadership and loyalty coaches should instill in players.

When Strauss was captaining the Cheetahs he was leading a team that ended up in the play-offs of Super Rugby because of comprehensive rugby (the 15 man game).   The Chweetahs backline scored more tries than the Bulls and the Stormers teams did in total.  In those backline tries Strauss, Labuschagne and Van der Walt played key roles by joining up in moves.

When he and Labuschagne went to the Bulls all of that vanished insofar as both  are concerned - all that because of a game plan dominated by the 12 man game played.   Strauss was confined to the Tight 5 and dared not be adventurous in  backlines which showed zero up to this year

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