Strauss named Springbok captain; Planet Rugby

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has announced that Adriaan Strauss will captain South Africa in the upcoming three-Test series against Ireland.

The coach made the announcement at the team’s training camp in Stellenbosch on Monday ahead of the series against Ireland, which starts on 11 June in Cape Town.

Strauss will become the 57th Springbok captain. The Bulls hooker follows in the footsteps of long-serving Springbok captain, Jean de Villiers as well as Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez.

Coetzee said he decided to appoint the captain before the first training session.

“Adriaan’s leadership qualities are impressive and well-established and he has the respect of his team mates on and off the field,” said Coetzee.

“He enjoys the respect of all the players and he has always fulfilled a leadership role wherever he played, since coming through the junior national structures.

“Adriaan has shared the vice-captaincy role with Bismarck du Plessis for the Springboks and is also a former Toyota Cheetahs skipper and current Vodacom Bulls captain.

“I have no doubt he will be successful in his role as Springbok captain, which is a huge responsibility,” added Coetzee.

Coetzee further explained that Strauss will have a strong leadership group around him to support him in his role to lead the Springboks in the coming series against Ireland.

“Adriaan is blessed with a strong leadership core around him consisting of Patrick Lambie, Warren Whiteley, Frans Malherbe, Beast Mtawarira, Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw,” said Coetzee.

“I have been impressed with him in my interactions with him and I have the utmost faith in him.”

Strauss said he was humbled by the trust and confidence shown in him by Coetzee.

“I am very grateful to the coach for entrusting me with this enormous responsibility,” said Strauss.

“I am incredibly humbled by this huge honour and also excited about the role. It is not everyone that get the opportunity to lead the Springboks, so I consider myself very blessed indeed. I shall do my very best to justify the trust shown in me.

“I am also very fortunate that I will be able to lean on the assistance of a great leadership group within the squad. There’s a fantastic energy in the squad, but the hard work starts now.”

The 30-year old hooker, who was born in Bloemfontein, has played 54 Tests matches for South Africa since making his debut in 2008, scoring six tries to date. He also presented the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, where he earned his 50th Test cap against Samoa.

He became the 800th Springbok when he was called up to do duty in the 2008 Castle Lager Rugby Championship, making his debut on 19 July 2008 against Australia in Perth aged just 22-years old. He has played in a total of 57 Springbok matches, including three non-Tests.

In 2012 and 2013, Strauss shared the vice-captaincy with Du Plessis. He is a very strong and experienced hooker and respected leader in the South Africa game.

Strauss has amassed 130 Vodacom Super Rugby caps for the Toyota Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls. The former Grey College hooker represented the SA Schools in 2003, SA Under-19 (2004) and SA U21 (in 2005, when they won the IRB U21 competition in Argentina, as well as 2006). He made his senior debut for the Vodacom Bulls in 2006, before joining the Toyota Cheetahs the following year. He re-joined the ranks of the Pretoria side in 2015.

 Congrats to Strauss, it's a great honor!

 Yes congrats to Stauss, the man selected by Beeno to be Bok captain.

 Err, Beeno, I draw your attention to this wee post Beeno1
 
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Posts: 19476RE: BOK CAPTAIN
May 30, 2016, 08:37:19

 given the quota requirements how about beast or bongi or kolisi or paige etc. We have zuma as a president so why not!

Whitely should have been chosen if AC really was able to take a calculated risk...which is against the grain of Saffa reasoning...he has proven that he can lead men into battle...a really good general but Adriaan is the next best choice...I have always rated him as a very good team leader who gives 110% of himself and leads from the front...also he has the required skills so AC is more or less on the right track...AC's side is not perfect but a huge improvement on the past...ie in the right direction...if he sticks to a long term plan and builds...the hiccups will be there but I only hope he sees a picture where SA must go...even with our handicap of politics...he really has almost impossible task but lets give him credit...a good selection of choices when your hands are tied.

Alistair's choices have surprised most of us and lets give him credit and hope he knows where to take us despite the odds.

Two huge problems SA has is first the politics and our conservatism that hampers so-called  sensible risk in our mindset but to venture is against our natures. We have the inability to trust new talent to our peril. Lack of foresight because we fear losses...a trap for developement.

People criticise April's inclusion as well...despite his perfect play at 10...really has played well for Sharks with a challenge against the absence of Pat...he seems to have character for tough matches and imho deserves his chance.

 Sorry to be a damp squib, but this is a step back IMO, unless it's only a temporary measure for the Irish tests.

  Draad it was made clear that it was only for the Irish tests -  I suspect Pollard may become the long term coach.  

 clevermike
 
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Posts: 23079RE: Strauss named Springbok captain; Planet Rugby
May 30, 2016, 20:40:26

  Draad it was made clear that it was only for the Irish tests -  I suspect Pollard may become the long term coach. 

No sh1t Sherlock?

I'm also a bt disappointed. Adriaan Strauss has had a very ordinary Super Rugby season so far. If it wasn't for quotas then Malcolm Marx would be in the squad and could well have forced his way into the starting XV.
Still, congratulations are in order. Well done Adriaan Strauss!

The one guy I really didn't want as captain. Poor form all season and also not a good leader in my view. Why do we insist on picking players on reputation instead of form. Is he gonna play himself into form as Bok captain? And it's not like he has a sterling reputation either. Not a single guy in the Bok squad respects Strauss as much as they do Whiteley. Hell, I don't think anyone in the country does. Even if his leadership skills are second to none...you get picked on form and talent first and foremost. From that bunch then you then pick a skipper. Jeeeezuz!!! Regqrdless of the above, I'm generally happy with the squad. My feeling is that the Lions players picked for the back line will all be starting. That says something about the way we'll approach the Irish tests. I hope it goes well and a small step in the right direction ensues.

"Not a single guy in the Bok squad respects Strauss as much as they do Whiteley." 
Really? Because...?

Makes more sense than Louw who is not good enough to start and Vermeulen who has not lead much.
The only long term option is Malherbe

@ Cer Why would they? Whiteley is a key figure in apositive paradigm shift currently occurring in SA rugby as well as having been in great form for two years now while Strauss is...i dunno can you think of anything? I gave an example in another post of how I don't think he is able to control his side. On Saturday the ref warned him that there had been too many infringements and Strauss asked if time would be halted so that he could speak to his side. When play started again the Bulls infringed THREE times within 60 seconds. The last infringement by a young player who stood on the wrong side of the ruck and shoved Faf. That doesn't sound like a team that respects it's captain to me. For me he is one of those guys that appears to have leadership skills, and maybe he does but I don't think he's got enough of them.to be a S18 captain, let alone Bok skip. If Bok rugby is going to evolve then they will need a captain that has proved succesful in playing the game they want to play. Again, I don't think Strauss has that in him. He has had the odd good game here and there but Whiteley is in another league all together. Just my opinion.

 Plum I guarantee you the seasoned players in the Bok team respect Strauss and want to see Whiteley confirming  his place at test level. Coetzee said he wanted to talk to his leadership group, which paranthetically included Whiteley.....he thinks he got his answer.
Strauss will be a different player in the tests. He has always looked comfortable at test level.

 Whiteley really deserved the shot but he will have the chance to be groomed in which is probably what will happen eventually...his talent will eventually prove itself and come through...he has what it takes.

 Sounds like Strauss has a shot for captain after the June series.
Rugby 365 Article

 Not really my choice but I guess he'll do ... for now.
What is it with selecting the 4th, 5th best player in his position as captain?
One could possibly look past that had he been as dynamic as Smit ... but he's an average Joe in every way ... including on the field.
Perhaps it'll lift his game.
 

 I'm going to be controversial...again. In 2012 I picked Duane for captain of the Boks, but Meyer went for JdV. He was WP captain and Stormers Captain. Spies was injured and Duane was not a Bok yet, but the sure pick for Bok 8. Last year, when Duane was finalising his French contract, SARU tried to keep him in SA and offered him the Bok Captaincy to try and keep him playing in the country. I think he would have been almost everyones choice for the current captaincy if he was still playing here. Now I know my choice for captain is not a current franchise or provincial captain, but he is a established Bok, the president of the SA Players Association and I would like to think he is the first name to be penned in on the team sheet. I don't really have to name him, do I?

@Moz. Yeah, maybe I am being a tad impatient. My gf is a Bulls fan and i've been watching all their games this year. Game after game we've been saying that even Skara and Akker are outplaying him. So yes I do hear ya. Just, annoys me that we've picked a captain that we hope will hit his straps the Bok Jersey. I don't dislike him, really I don't. I'll give another example. This one from a WC match. The ABs were on their own try line at the end of the first half against Fiji. Fiji were strumming the crap out of them. The ABS had already conceded one scrum penalty and another would have seen a penalty try awarded. They packed in for the scrum and the AB 9 shouted "Cumon brothers! Cumon brothers!!!" Fiji never got that penalty try. That's what I want for the Boks. That's what the Lions are. And Whiteley is a big part that. When ever you listen to their interviews they always talk about how they play for each other and how they couldn't hope for a better bunch of teammates. In reality they could have better teammates, we all now that. But it's that belief in each other that I think is a big part of what has carried them. Graeme Smith was the youngest ever captain of a national side in SA and he lead the Proteas brilliantly for many years. Despite what many say, the guy was a legend and picking him early was a big part of what made him succesful. I wish the Boks would do something similar. Granted Whiteley is 21 anymore.

Coetzee needed to choose a captain that have played quite a couple of games for the Boks, had previously been a captain (provincial or national), a player given the chosen squad that is a sure starter in his position and one that is not based overseas.
There aren't a lot of players that fit that bill.  
Also Coetzee needs to make a winning start as coach and he needs to balance experience with bringing in new players and achieve the transformation targets. I don't think he will include a bunch of new players in his starting lineup. He might let some start like Jaco Kriel and bring some other new caps in from the bench.

 Whiteley is anything but assured a test starting spot so he was never going to be an option. Your captain has to cone from a certain starter 

"Your captain has to cone from a certain starter."

Dave, while I agree with you I can think of a few players who were only certain starters because of their leadership skills. Francois Pienaar and John Smit are two who spring to mind.

I'm of the opinion that you pick your best XV and then pick your captain but that's definitely not been the case in South African rugby.

Putting together a list of people that are certain starters in the next few years would be difficult. At this stage without Bismark- Strauss is a certain starter. 

Agreed Rooi....I for one would not have Strauss as my starting hooker. Bismark and Marx are ahead of him as is Akers for that matter. 
His form has not been great, solid at best.
I know you share my thoughts on him.
Hence my call that Malherbe is probably the best candidate 

Yeah, i hear what you guys are saying. Just think Strauss is getting the job because he looks the part rather than deserving it. Of course these guys all work hard etc so really they all deserve it. How Bismark, Marx and Ackers are all behind Strauss is a complete mystery to me. Agree with Saffex on that one. Hopefully he's one of the very few reputation picks. And i hope that he proves me/us wrong.

Really can't wait for Marx to start. Man that guy looks like he has serious potential. Where the hell have all these new young players come from? Snyman, Marx, Faf, Kirsten, Du Preez brothers to name but a few. The fact these guys are all just into their twenties and already there is debate about them ousting seasoned players is pretty crazy. Bloody hell!