Fourie du Preez’s decision to play in Japan has yielded an
interesting and unexpected result. Two trophies in five months is a fine
haul for a top player, even one as decorated as the Springbok veteran,
but who could have predicted that Du Preez would return to South Africa
fitter, stronger and having taken his attacking game to a new level?
In late February, Du Preez’s club Suntory Sungoliath captured the Top League title after winning 12 of their 13 matches. Three weeks later they won the Japan Rugby Championship to complete the domestic double. It was a massive result for the club, but for somebody as accomplished as Du Preez, there was more to be gained than silverware. In a short space of time he’d been forced to alter his game to suit the Asian rugby ethos. And the results could see him returning to the Test scene as a more complete player.
Former Bok technical adviser Eddie Jones first worked with Du Preez in
the build-up to the 2007 World Cup, and played a big role in bringing
the great No 9 to Suntory at the end of 2011. Jones knew what Du Preez
was capable of, but the South African would need to adapt if he was
going to succeed in Japan.
‘He’s one of the best players in the world, so you don’t really tell
these players to play a certain way. But having said that, he had to
change his focus. It’s probably the quickest competition in the world in
that there’s less emphasis on physicality,’ explains Jones. ‘Teams are
able to generate very quick ruck ball, and the Japanese are generally
very fast over the first 10m. So what that means is that your attacking
ball is quicker, but the line speed of the defence is also much faster.
Fourie has had to adjust in terms of his fitness, but he’s a good
athlete and it didn’t take him too long.’
Apart from Du Preez, Suntory fielded another seasoned Springbok in
Danie Rossouw. The former Bulls players reckon the level of competition
in Japan is on a par with South Africa’s Currie Cup, although they
concede the Top League demands more in terms of speed.
‘I was really surprised when I first got there, the [local] guys are
skilful and happy to learn,’ says Du Preez, who is contracted to Suntory
until the end of March 2013. ‘A lot of people think it’s easy rugby,
but it was pretty tough. If you watch any top game the skill and
structure levels are top class. It’s been quite refreshing.
'The game is not as physical as Super Rugby, but definitely faster. There are fewer set pieces, fewer kicks, more quick taps and in general everything is done at 100% pace. At Suntory the focus is attacking, aggressive rugby, meaning there’s an emphasis on keeping the ball more and playing on the gainline with options from No 9 and 10.
‘Obviously I have been used to a more field-position/conservative
approach at the Bulls and Boks, so it took me a few weeks to get used to
the Japanese style. The intensity we had at Suntory’s training sessions
was very high and that helped me adjust my game.’
Jones
highlights Du Preez’s value to Suntory during the Japan Rugby
Championship knockout games, and at the same time suggests that Du Preez
could take what he’d gained in Japan and use it to good effect in South
Africa.
‘He returns to South Africa in fantastic physical shape, and would have
taken his skills to a new level. That’s what this time in Japan has
done for him. You look at the players who compete in Japan and then
return to Super Rugby. Peter Grant has made an impact for the Stormers
as has Tamati Ellison for the Highlanders. And there is no way those two
are in the same class as Fourie. So yes, you can expect him to be much
better if he decides to play for South Africa. He’s going to be at his
physical peak in the next two or three years; I think he still has
plenty to give.’
Du Preez agrees that his time in Japan has given him a lot more than a couple of winner’s medals. From a rugby and lifestyle perspective, it’s an experience he will never forget.
‘A lot of time is spent on individual coaching and conditioning so I’m
in much better shape now than I was when I first arrived after the 2011
World Cup. I was forced to look at the game in a different way in terms
of the pace. As a player I’ve definitely improved in a few areas like my
speed and clearing at the rucks.
‘Experiencing a completely different culture was also one of the
reasons I decided on Japan. The Japanese are a remarkable people who
work really hard, are very friendly and helpful. The language is
difficult, but I try and the Japanese try.’
Du Preez wasn’t the only one who needed to adapt to a new way of life,
as he took his wife and young son with him to Tokyo for that five-month
stint. The Du Preezs embraced the challenge of living in an environment
very different to that of Pretoria or anywhere in the Western world, and
even spent their free time exploring the surrounding mountains as well
as the vibrant city of Tokyo itself.
Du Preez also took advantage of the fact that there were some familiar
faces at the club. He first lived in the same apartment building as
Jones and his family, before moving closer to the Suntory training
ground where former Wallabies flank George Smith resided. There were
also braais with his old Bulls buddy Rossouw, as well as a few skiing
trips with JP Nel, another well known South African rugby player who
competes in Japan.
‘It was a bit easier initially to have those guys around. I’ve lived in
Pretoria my whole life, so getting out of there was quite an
adjustment. It is something really different. As an international player
you see the whole world except Asia. Japan is an awesome place. I was
only there for a few months, but it was a life-changing experience.’
While he mixed with old team-mates and former rivals, he also made an effort to integrate himself into the local structures and mentor the young Japanese players at Suntory.
‘He’s all about helping the younger players,’ notes Jones, who took
control of Japan’s national side shortly after the conclusion of the
domestic season in March. ‘Fourie often worked with the two other
scrumhalves at Suntory individually, long after regular training was
complete. It goes to show that he’s still a strong team man and was not
just in Japan for himself.’
Du Preez will rejoin Suntory at the end of the year, but there is every
chance that Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer may require his services
before then. Du Preez initially signed with Suntory believing it would
mark the end of his illustrious international career, but given the way
the Boks slumped at the 2011 World Cup and his subsequent rejuvenating
time in Japan, the 30-year-old admits a comeback could be on the cards.
‘I originally thought the World Cup would be it for me, but losing to
Australia in the quarter-finals might have changed that. Going to Japan
was a lot better than I thought and I was able to get back into shape,’
he says.
‘Maybe that hunger is back again. It is still too early to say. I
haven’t got around it in my head whether it will be good or bad for me
[to rejoin the Boks]. Never say never.’
At the time of writing, Du Preez was yet to decide on his future with the Boks, but his long-time mentor has no doubt that South Africa could do with his strengths, both well-established and recently acquired, in a year of rebuilding.
‘He’s only 30 and we could see him playing some of his best rugby over
the next few years,’ says Jones. ‘He’s also in the best condition he’s
been in for a long time, and I’ve noticed the difference that’s had on
his overall performance.
‘The only question I would have is: Does Fourie still have the desire
to play international rugby? It’s something I know he will think deeply
about before he makes a decision. I believe he could still make an
impact in a starting capacity, and it also wouldn’t hurt to have him in a
mentoring role. He’s one of the sharpest players in the game, and any
team that taps into that intelligence will benefit enormously. To have
him looking after a scrumhalf like Francois [Hougaard] will have
long-term benefits for the Boks and obviously for Francois himself.’
http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/japanese-stint-rejuvenates-du-preez
