Jean Deysel retiring

The following from Planet Rugby:-

"Ulster have confirmed that South African loose forward Jean Deysel has retired from all forms of professional rugby with immediate effect.

Deysel enjoyed an excellent career that saw him win four caps for the Springboks. In addition to representing Ulster, the 33-year-old had stints with the Lions and the Sharks in his homeland, as well as short spells with Toyota Verblitz and Munster.

Commenting on the announcement, Deysel said: “Looking back over the last 15 years, there were some highs, some lows, a good couple of laughs, and a few tears as well, but the thing that made the journey worthwhile is the people I met along the way.

“2018 will be the end of my rugby career, but also the start of a new journey off the field.

“I would like to firstly thank the Lord Jesus Christ for blessing me with the ability to play and then secondly my family and close friends, the Lions and Sharks franchises, teammates and coaches over the past 15 years for their support, encouragement and motivation.

“We really enjoyed our time in Belfast and it will always be our home away from home. I want to thank Ulster Rugby for giving me the opportunity to represent this proud Province. I am taking back many memories to cherish and will definitely miss the support and friendliness of the fans since our arrival in Belfast.”

Ulster’s Operations Director, Bryn Cunningham, added: “It is always sad when a player retires and this time is no different. Jean is someone who is not only hugely respected by the players and staff here at Ulster Rugby, but more widely across the rugby world.

“He can rightly be proud of what he’s achieved in a memorable career, during which he played at the highest level. Jean’s abrasive style of play was great to watch and he will be remembered as being a warrior on the pitch.

“Off the pitch, Jean has remained humble and respectful of others, key characteristics we hold in such high regard within the Ulster Rugby culture, and has been a pleasure to work with. He is a very popular member of the squad and his presence will definitely be missed.

“On behalf of everyone at Ulster Rugby, I’d like to wish Jean, Cindi and Zanru all the best for the future.”

Obviously everyone should share the good wishes to him and his family.

However, my one memory of Deysel related to an incident in  a match between the Sharks and the Stormers years ago.   Due to injuries the Stormers got a loosie by the name of Sinclair = actually a player from Canada - to help out.   Fairly late in the game Sinclair was in the middle of a driving maul co-ordinating the maul - when Deysel slapped him in the face a couple of times.

Sinclair got out of the maul and gave Deysel the neatest uppercut I have ever seen and he landed on his backside about three meters away.   Sinclair was red-carded, but when the disciplinary hearing followed and the video  was reviewed it was decided that the red card was sufficient punishment of Sinclair - but Deysel got a far as I can remember got a week ban.            

Mozart

He was basically on par with Alberts insofar as actual loose forward performance is concerned,   Look at the addition I made to the original posti ng   

Juan Smith is the gold standard blindside flank. Very underrated. Deysel wasn't fit to wipe the mud off his boots. That said, Deysel had his moments. His best test was the 2011 away test in Australia. He came off the bench and ploughed into the Wallabies at will, it sparked our entire game as we put them under many phases of pressure. He didn't get the credit for that, a back who went roughly 20 consecutive phases without touching the ball did. He was always a blunt instrument, and as we saw when the Sharks played the British Lions, he could be blown away. 

Not blown away by that Sinclair upper-cut???  

Juan Smith earlier in his career had ball handling problems - but in the later tests and games got over it and became a very good 7.  That was perhaps the reason why he was underrated by some people.   Not by me though.

No, they said he was a donkey. It took winning a World Cup for South Africans to see how good he was. To think, everyone knew that Pienaar, Pretorius, Watson, Botha (hooker), CJ and a few other fringe players were our best hope for a World Cup in 2007. What a way to end your coaching tenure, dispensing egg as though it were M134 Minigun fire . 

AO

I never saw any comments about Juan Smith being a donkey.  I made some scathing remarks about some of the players listed - especially about CJ van der Linde.   Did Meyer not used him in some tests in 2012?

However, earlier in his career Smith had some ball handling problems - but that was solved by 2007.   I always thought of him as a very good loosie.

I was also impressed by his approach towards the game and the public.   This was typified after he was recalled by Meyer to play in a test against Argentina.   He failed badly in that test - but what I did admire about him was the public apology he made after the test - saying that he wants to apologize to the team and the rugby supporters in SA for his failure in the test,   Quality guy.      

Rooinek

And then there was the upper-cut by Sinclair!!!!!!