The Deysel Twins…they are still on their journey.
The Deysel Twins…they are still on their journey.
SB
On the whole I agree with you on Wllie.
He was not really Meyer's first choise - he was picked to replace the injured Kirchner in 2013 and ian disaster in 2015 Kirchner was Meyer's first choice fullback - Kirchner was and Willie was just a player to play because Kirchner was not available,
Erasmus wants him to get a 100 caps for he Springboks s his retirement is iminent.- Ithink he wud be one player that Erasmus would like to see as a backline cioach and that is where his future lies,
Did Willie not play for Griquas?
Like the majority of our Bok heroes, he's from the majestic Western Cape.
From my Boland...Wynland...Hartland...love die plek!
kingcorn
Senior player
2830 posts
I remember when we use to discuss potential bok players and their abilities on whether they should be a bok or not or even fit to play in our fantasy teams. If a player reach his ceiling we would just call them a journeyman. One of this players that what do trials at WP but then end up at Boland on the fringes just to get a taste of provincial rugby. That said, Victor Matfield played one season at Griquas before heading to the bulls where they couldn't ignore him.
So is the greatest journeyman?
Willie Le Roux
He had many trials at WP but then ended up Boland. He was a 10, but wasn't physical enough, but had some pace and often ended up on the wing.
He then popped up the Cheetahs where he had some impressive spells, he then went to the Sharks for a couple of seasons and flirted playing in Japan in our off season for 2 or so years. He popped over to the UK where he had great success at Wasp.
All by still getting invited to play for the boks. He was Meyer first choice Full Back and the only player that could our backline to attack Vs Pollard and the other 10s robotic play.
By no means our greatest 15, but so much was created by him.
3 Seasons at wasp, 4 season in Japan while still playing for the boks. Debut back in 2013 for the boks and that time he was already 25 and it was the first sniff of a bok jersey.
10 years later and he sits on 90 caps and two world cup medals.
Now he is on 98 and he still playing impressive rugby for the bulls. At 35, all the trials he had, I would say he is the ultimate journeyman.
That is what I love about Tassie, the door is always open to a journeyman.
So next time you see an obscure selection, just remind yourself that there is a reason whe the coach selected him