Hougaard at 9

We are going to see this all S15........Hougaard will walk back into the Bok side at 9.......my definitive call. Also note the performance of Frans Venter at 12

The Vodacom Bulls sounded a stern warning ahead of their Super Rugby campaign
as they demolished the Toyota Cheetahs 32-10 in their pre-season friendly at the
Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

It may be early days and both teams will downplay the significance of the
win, but with both fielding near full-strength sides, the Bulls looked far
sharper and played at a significant pace, denting the Cheetahs' hopes ahead of a
big season.

Led by an exceptional Francois Hougaard, who showed he is just as dangerous
behind the pack as on the wing, the Bulls struggled to find their feet in the
first half, but accelerated in the second to leave the Cheetahs trailing in
their wake.

Hougaard was exceptional on attack, determined on defence and combined well
with his forwards to leave a lasting impression, while loose forwards Dewald and
Jacques Potgieter both played their hearts out, the latter denting the Cheetahs'
defence with some massive runs.

However, a special mention must go to Francois Venter. Under pressure from
IRB Junior Player of the year Jan Serfontein, the other Grey College centre was
dangerous on attack and made some telling hits when it counted to come close to
a man-of-the-match performance.

The scoreline could have been much bigger had the Bulls not fluffed four
chances in the first half. In reality, while the Cheetahs defended well in the
first half, they also scrambled well but had little ball to play with and did
little when they got it.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske will be happy his charges defended against the
tide in the first half, but with so much to attack from, the Bulls finally found
an opening.

The only score from the first half was Dewald Potgieter’s drive over from a
lineout maul. The Cheetahs played into the Bulls' hands by losing no fewer than
a half-dozen lineout balls, and struggled to get going.

In the second half, it didn’t take the Bulls long to add to the
scoreboard.

While the Cheetahs had missed two penalties through Elgar Watts in the first
half, Morne Steyn added two of his own in the second to stretch the lead – the
second being a 56m bomb from inside his own half.

DELICATELY POISED

At 13-0 the game was delicately poised, but Hougaard and Coenie Oosthuizen ripped it away
from the visitors as they scored twice in three minutes to make the result
safe.

Hougaard took the ball from a scrum, stepped Sarel Pretorius so perfectly
that his opposition number was left grasping at air, then chipped over Raymond
Rhule and was about to score, but was taken out by Francois Brummer in the
tackle. The ball rolled forward and Venter pounced to score.

A minute later, a Cheetahs mistake at a ruck was exploited. With the ball
popping out and no scrumhalf, Hougaard nabbing the ball and sent Lionel Mapoe
away for a try to make it 25-0.

The Cheetahs finally found their heart, and found some phases to attack,
putting the Bulls' defence under pressure.

It was no surprise when Willie le Roux stabbed a perfect grubber behind the
defence and only Johan Sadie and Raymond Rhule were left to chase, with the
winger dotting down for his side’s first try.

Rhule and Sadie combined again a few minutes later, attacking the blindside
and Rhule this time giving the scoring pass for Sadie to go in at the corner,
but it was too little too late.

The Bulls ended as well as they had begun, with Wynand Olivier ghosting
through the defence to be stopped short of the line, and Jurgen Visser there to
collect and finish off the try.

The Bulls will feel rather healthy at the end of all this, knowing they have
depth and talent, and are looking better prepared than last year.

The Cheetahs will scratch their heads and do a rethink. The same old problems
are back again and unless coach Drotske finds a solution they may have a long
season ahead of them.

Plagiarist if you are going to quote a report....have the courtesy to reference the original.

Saffex

This game - as well as the Sharks - Leopards game was not televised.   Since I wanted to see myself what was going on in the latter game I went to Pietermaritzburg to see the Sharks game and I posted my objective assessment on performances.   I  was very complimentary about Francois Steyn.    

I do not take everything jounalists write about players as the real truth - want to see whether the players perform well and would take a journalist's opinion with a pinch of salt.      For instance in the report quoted by you reference is made to the combination of Hougaard with the forwards - but no mention is made about his service to the backline at all.   Hougaard's problems never was with combining with the forwards - it was his kicking ability and his service to the backline that in 2012 cn really be best described as rubbish.

Like in the case of Steyn - where there is clear evidence of imnpovement - albeit against a much weaker team - I would like to see how Hougaard performs in the Super 15 itself - before I will form an opinion of whether he got out of his bad  habits of 2012.   I sincerely hope he does - he certainy has the required  physical attributes - where he was lacking was in reading of the game and his ball sense.    If he improve on the latter scenario then he would be tops in the world.   Early days - but 2013 for him might be better than 2012.

By the way I saw Steyn close-up and he did slim down and look slimmer than he did when he was playing for the Springboks.    The fat is gone and he did not really go for crashballing - he tried to run into the gaps between opposition players and not directly at them.  He is still not off-loading balls in tackle situations - but if Carlos Spencer keep drumming it into him - that problem can also vanish.

I hope the improvement in the performances of both Steyn and Hougaard is sustained over the next six months - we need them despeately - Hougaard even more so than Steyn.  

Dave  

Take a deep breath and slow your pulse rate down a tad.

Having a coronary over Hougaard is just not worth it, boet!!

He just isn’t Bok material. Let’s face it … he isn’t a wing and just doesn’t have the skill set needed to be an International scrummie!!

He can’t kick out of hand and has a shoddy pass to the right. Makes me think of January and his loop de loop passing style.

He brings nothing to the Green and Gold.

Now I realize that you obviously worship this chump … but unfortunately, it doesn’t change the fact that he will always just be an average provincial player.

Sorry!!

Encouraging news  regarding Hougaard. If he gets his mind right he could be the best scrumhalf in the world.

Mike I told you they would knock Frans Steyn into shape. Remember last year he got married and was also injured - plus having played soft rugby in France prior to coming back. If these two guys are on song its a big boost for the Boks.

capone kapish to you re Hougaard!

Best scrumhalf in the world ........ ???????

Pfffffffffffffffffffahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!

Good one Beanie!!!

Moffie shut the fuck up you waste of space

Capone, if that is your best rugby take, I suggest you stick to taking the piss.

Saying Hougaard is not Bok material has to be worse than Moffie's take on Fourie being crap or Beenkop saying the same about Matfield

I have read some shit in my time, but not rating Hougaard is laughable

capone name me a scrumhalf in world rugby who is a better athlete.

Hougaard needs to get his mind right and he will be a great player.

 Yeah Beeno, if he gets his head right and learns to pass and kick, he'll be a great halfback!

Pienaar's very average but still streets ahead of Hougaard at 9.

Moolaa you are speaking complete shit. Pienaar was piss poor on the EOYT and there is stuff all wrong with Hougaard's passing its no better or worse than Pienaar's. He does not have Pienaar's boot, but Pienaar cant compete on an attacking or defensive front.

And who the hell wants a 9 that kicks the crap out of the ball all the time. Hougaard's boot is good enough for a 9.

Whatever the case the matter will come to a head this Super 15. The bulle have the very good Vermaak if Hougaard doesnt settle down. I hope however he does as he is an extraordinary talent.

What must not happen is that they try to make a Fourie DU Preez out of Hougaard. He is an attacking scummie and must play to his strenghts. Allow Morne etc to do most of the kicking. I agree with snapster that Hougaard's kicking is adequate. Its stupid to compare him in this respect to Du Preez whose boot was brilliant.

I look forward to seeing how Hougaard goes for the bulle.

I've yet to see anything special from Pienaar, Piet van Zyl or Rory Kockott wuld be my choice as the Bok scrummie.

Denny one forgets about Kockott. Also watch Reinach and Groom. Reinach played some great rugby last year.

Saffex –

You are not being realistic. Take off the blinders dumbass and look properly at the man.  

Brent Russell was a highly skilled runner … elusive … fantastic high paced lateral movement … blistering acceleration.

He wasn't good enough. Why??

At flyhalf he sucked cause he didn’t have a kicking game. Not out of hand and not as a place kicker.  He was a poor defender and just too damn small.

The mere fact that he was a talented athlete didn’t help. There's more to it than merely being an athlete.

I mean ... duh..uh!!!

At fullback he was found wanting under the highball and once again he had no kicking game.

Do you think him being an athlete jutified his selection? 

No ... of course not. That is why he was dropped. He just wasn't good enough. Didn;'t have the skills need for the position.

I loved the man. I was a big fan … however … I had no choice but to face the facts. There is more to playing international rugby than merely being an awesome athlete.

Hougaard is in the same boat. An awesome athlete he is. No doubt about that. One WITHOUT the vital kicking game needed at scrummy. Poor right pass. 

All he can do is run!!

Sorry, bud!!! Accept it!!

Hougaard in my opinion should never have been allowed anywhere near the Bok camp. He doesn't have the skill set.

He's just not good enough.

Is that now clear enough for you?

If you can't see that then ... well ... perhaps you shouldn't be on this message board.

Sooooooo … aimlessly kicking the ball away is sufficient is it??

I mean that's all a Bok 9 needs, right?

Taking good front foot ball and giving it to the opposition with a poor tactical kicking display is acceptable … is it??

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Mediocrity does it for you, hey Saffex!!!

Why select the best person in the position when  we can bring in some average Joe with many shortcomings. 

For crying out loud, Dave!!

Pull your head out your ass, will ya!!!

Bullshit, there is nothing wrong with his pass either way. His weakness is his boot, so bloody what, the only 9's with great boots were Fourie du Preeze and Pienaar.

Hougaard has no peers on attack and defence and is a player always looking for work. His pass is as good as any scrumhalf out there and his boot is adequate for a 9.

Only a complete bloody idiot would question his ability.

This lad is one of our best player if not our best back and the lad is pissed off given the pathetic treatment Meyer dished out on him. He is so going to shove it up Meyers arse this S15, and it looks like your arse will be alongside that of our coaches.

Russel was a class act, but physically not able to crack it at the highest level. Hougaard is a different Beast

He is the closest thing we have had to Joost - Hougaard will walk the Bok side this year at 9 - I'd put my mud shack on that!

WHAT????

Comparing Hougat to Joost is ridiculous.

One of the greatest Springboks of all time ... to this ... dweeb .... you've lost it Dave.

The only reason he made Meyer's team was because he was a Bull. Talent had nothing to do with it.

Meyer realised it and corrected his error.

Same reason that neanderthal Jacques Potgieter .. as well as Greyling and Werner Kruger made selection.

They are Bulls.

TALENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Oh ... and another thing ... dont use the word "beast" when refering to Hougat. He's by a long shot not.

Nope I said Hougaard is the closest thing we have to Joost and this is a fact. Joost was an attacking 9 second to none, Hougaard is the same type of player.

Joost and Hougaard are on par with regards to passing and kicking. Both are exceptional on attack and defensively. Joost was the master, Hougaard a worthy pupil.

Hougaard will be our Bok 9 and what Meyer did to him was insulting, much like Meyers results in 2012

Apologies Saffex ... that you did.

Let's just agree to disagree.

I dont see what you see in Hougat. Not even close.

Have never rated him and untill he shows a dramatic turn around ... never will.

Kockett is my man for the Bok 9 jersey.

I hope Meyer can entice him to give SA another shot. 

Let's face it ... Pienaar needs to take his walking papers ... sooner the better.

I do struggle to see how you dont rate Hougaard as a player. I would understand if he was a marginal player like Kirchner or say Deysel but Hougaard is one of those standouts - he struggled last year thanks to Meyer, but pre 2012 he was awesome.

To me saying you dont rate Hougaard, equates to you saying you dont rate JP, Habana, Bismark or Matfield.

Anyway, each to their own. Kockott is a quality player, poorly treated in SA. He should have made the Bok squad a few seasons back

JP, Habana, Bismarck and Matfield are in a league of their own.

Hougat isn't anywhere near them.

Habana struggled for a long time to find form and I must admit I had grown tired of his constant selection during that period. He didn't deserve it.

Now I can't see anyone taking his jersey from him.

It's great to have an on form Habana showing his magic.

.

Habana struggled at the start of 2012 and I called for his head. He found his form and proved me wrong.

Will be interesting to see how he goes this year, its another year down and he is getting on now.

Wing is a young mans game these days - time will tell

Habana shoul dkeep his jersey anothe rsaeason but is going to b eunder some pressur efrom the young guns. Snapste rmentioned Jordaan. Add to that  Rhule, Van der heever and JJ. Allende can also play wing isfyou wan tabig boy.

Al dont write off Hougaard. He just needs to put it all together and that in my view is not impossible. I hope like anything he succeeds as he could be as good as the great Joost. Certainly he is as good as Joost as an athlete. He also has guts, can break and tackle. He needs to speed up his pass and whip that backline away and also get a bit more active. None of this is so difficult. The raw material is there. Maybe in the end its whether he has the mind of a scrummie. This season should answer all this.

Beanie

When you say Hougat needs to put it all together ... what do you mean by that?

Put what together?

Was that just something you thought up at the last moment cause you didn't really know what to add to this thread...?

What I would like to see is Hougat and other potential rugby players managed and guided properly in South Africa.

Has the coach gone to Hougat and told him that he needs to work on X if he wants to be selected?

Has the coach gone a step further and put him in contact with somone that can help develop him and enable him to realize his potential?

No ... he's left the man to sort it out himself.

Put what together?? He's blundering around in the dark. The only thing he can put together is what he's dished up for us already and that it seems isn't good enough for Bok selection.

Saffex

I think the real prpblems with Hougaard are -

*   His inability to read games propertly and display real ball sense;

*   His defensive kicking that was constantly charged down; and

*   Slow and inaacurate passing that was partiularly noticeable in 2012.

I think the first issue is the most difficult to overcome.   Hougaard is in a way self-centered and does not see what is the broader situation in games and he  he must tune hs passing game to best advantage of his team.   Scrummies in essence must read the situation properly and instinctiely and act acordingly.   It is virtually 100% certain that Hougaard would not have made the pass Pienaar made directly to Pietersen - who scored the match levelling try for the Springboks in the third test in Port Elizabeth.    The question is how do you overcome this deficiency - it cannot be done through physical development - it is a mental thing that needs to be corrected.   Can it be done?   I am not at all certain about that.    I think he should get special advice from pteviosu top scummies like Divan Serfontein and get his mind changed to better usage of the balls he has at his disposal.    

Nobody wants a scrummie that kicks balls away aimlesslt - but the problem was Hougaard constantly being charged down when trying to make defensive kicks - don't tell me it did not happen or that Hougaard overcome that  problem.   By October last year this deficiency was stronger than ever.   There is no way that a scrummie should never kick balls - this can be both a defensive and attacking mechanism.   Aside from the charge down problem already mentioned - even if Hougaard did defensive kicks it generaly was merely a way to run at the Boks - it virtually neer ended up outside of the field of play.   Secondly on attack kicks can b a very effective weapon if done properly - look no further than Habana's try at Dunedin.   Hougaard cannot kick balls to svae his life.   However, this is a problem of a technical nature and could possibly be corrected by coaching.

The passing scenario s something which I spelt out to you word for word - namely a tendency to slow down the game or run a few paces before passing.  As a result the service to the backline was slowed down drastically.   You apparently agreed that it did happen - but then made a statement that he corrected that deficiency.   In the tests last year he did exactly as what he did earlier in Super 15 -  and I think it was ths issue rather than anything else ,that  pissed off Meyer completely and let to his non-selection for later tests,    On the positive side he did get a bit of playing time on CC level and  he did show some signs of improving.  This rubbish - putting the whole backline under pressure - can be get rid of through coaching and I am fairly sure it will be possible to ensure better sservice delivery by Hougaard.   

You never see anything wrong inpolayer performancs of players you favour - so I don't think you would even consider what I wrote above - but I will lay a bet on it - if Hougaard does not adjust his playing style - no newspaper and no Saffex will be able to write him into the Springbok team

Bullshit Mike, there was nothing wrong with his passing at all. His passing has been fine all these years, why would it suddenly become an issue in 2012 - complete and utter rubbish and smacks of rugby ignorance.

Same with his decision making, that has never been a problem - the issue if anything was the pattern he was being asked to play which required him to kick far too often - not a strength of his.

Meyer tried to make him play a game he was not suited to . The pathetic kick and chase is not Hougaards thing and he suffered as a result.

Meyer was piss poor in asking the Boks to adopt and outdated Bulls gameplan and in the process quash the natural instincts of an attacking player like Hougaard.

Those that know their rugby, would realise that Hougaard does not suddenly become a poor scrumhalf after challenging for being the best 9 in the game a season before. A rugby fundi would not suddenly declare that Hougaard after years of being able to pass well, had suddenly miraculously lost this art. It all smacks of ignorance.

His display against the Cheetahs is exactly what he is about and should never have been in doubt or questioned - Meyer fucked this up completely as he did with many things in 2012

That's exactly it ... Hougat doesn't have the necessary skill set to play international rugby. 

He is one dimensional. Easily read. Predictable.

He cannot give the coach what's asked of him and therefore a liability.

That I'm afraid is a fact.

We haven't conjured it. Its there for all to see.

Except you of course ... those who would not see.

Cap, what is a certainty is none of that is a fact - its a load of bullshit!!

Capone

It is no use to argue with Saffex about Hougaard.    When I pointed out to him that Hogaard in the one English test took a short kick when a penalty was given to the Springboks directly in line with the posts in the English 22 - and the need was to convert the penalty to give us a two try cushion - Saffex said he was being adveturous and showed individual flair.   That is fine - but what happened next?   His teammates did not expect that rank stupidity and by a miracle we got the ball back from the resultant maul.  Hougaard then rolled it along the ground to Morne Steyn and we lost possession.    Flair - my arse!!!!

However, I hope he has learnt something from last years problems and that we see a better player this year.

Yeah beats the hell out of kicking it - good on Hougaard and him rolling the ball to Morne is bullshit

Saffex

I am not in the habit of making things up. That incident happened exactly as indicated and he did  roll out the ball to Steyn.   It is NOT BULLSHIT.   It happened exactly as I said - and Meyer replaced him immediately after that indicent and sent in Pienar.  

The incident just proof how utterly you refuse to see mrhstivr things on the players you support.   My advice is look at th players you punt carefully and if they deserve credit confitm when they did well - but if they bugger up criticize them and see whether they improve in the next game.   Ultimately you can then build a profile of a player and see whether he really isworth supporting when suffest payer selections.   The less the criticism - the better the player.

To support a player blindly - can only mean that you end up being open to criticism   

 Hougaard is a damn good scrumhalf and only an idiot would argue otherwise. 

His only weakness is his kicking, oh and also he is sometimes slow to pass from rucks, and perhaps his pass could be more accurate and longer especially when passing right. 

 Right on kiwi girl. Hougaard as I said, but IT was missed by ou al, needs simply to whip hIs backline away quicker its about not hesitating -getting all your ducks in a row likeDu Preez did and stuffed up many a backline movement.

His pass is not too bad. He also needs to take on the opposition a bit more and not be quite as passive. Leave most of the kicking to the flyhalf.

He has to realise he is NOT a Fourie Du Preez clone but a sniping dangerous scrummie with an attacking mindset. He is more of A jOOST TYPE SCRUMMIE.

I hope ou al is getting a glimmer he and Mike are smoking something strong. Fancy writing off hougie and being disparaging re Frans Steyn.  Crazy stuff really!! Hahahahahahhahaha

Beeno

Irrespective of what you wrote - I do not accept mediocre performance by players = amd I was with reason not satsified by what I saw of Steyn and Hougaard in 2012.   I stay with this and said they - like all other players must prove that they deserve selection.   Nobody does deserve selection - irrespective of past reputation.   That is not disparaging anybody - it merely is a statement of fact.

Beeno

Irrespective of what you wrote - I do not accept mediocre performance by players = amd I was with reason not satsified by what I saw of Steyn and Hougaard in 2012.   I stay with this and said they - like all other players must prove that they deserve selection.   Nobody does deserve selection - irrespective of past reputation.   That is not disparaging anybody - it merely is a statement of fact.