Where is Fourie du Preez?

This interesting question was asked by a reader when the injury of Van Zyl was reported on.   The answer is simple -  Du Preez would not play in Super 15 because it involves playing in successive weeks and he is not fit enough to play every week.  When the latter is required in tests - he got injured because of fitness deficiency and is then out for months.

The problem is that his club will refuse to pay out when he gets injured on Super 15 level and he is not worth his price in SA if that happens.  It is indeed doubtful whether in view of his deficient fitness level - he should be in the Springbok team at all.   He has been above average in his first game for SA and below average in the game the following week - that happened repeatedly in the RC and EOYT games he was involved in over the last 30 months.   Bad news that one.  

Ou Mike, you've slagged him off ever since you watched him play in a test at Twickers...let me guess that's roughly twenty years ago, guess what I'm trying to say is that nothing has changed.

Some of us have good memory.

What's that Moronic phrase....."played the fool with"....yes, Aaron Smith played the fool with Reinach. The gap in class was wider than like the Corinth Canal. By contrast F du Preez never looks anything but the best scrummie on the park.

Du Preez to retire next January

Decorated Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is set to retire next January, which will come at the end of a compressed Japanese season. Du Preez currently plays for Suntory Sun Goliath in the Japanese league.

He returned to South Africa in early March and is hoping to form part of the Springboks’ World Cup squad and suggested he would play no rugby between now and July 11 when the Boks take on a World XV in Cape Town.

“There are some insurance issues about playing for another club when you’re under contract in Japan but Suntory are okay with me playing if I want to,” Du Preez said.

“I had some discussions with the Bulls last October about the possibility of playing Super Rugby and I was also approached by a couple of other unions about playing for them this year.

“But I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t want to do that, although things could change in the coming months. There is still such a thing a loyalty in rugby, so I would struggle to play for another union other than the Bulls.”

Read more at http://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/south-africa-countries/letter-from-south-africa-march-43633#ZETQWwOaHrVgwxkz.99

"JUST how highly Springbok coach, Heyneke Meyer, rates Fourie du Preez came to light recently in Shanghai, of all places. There as a guest for the Laurens Sports Awards, Meyer spoke about his hopes for the Boks this year.

Not only will the scrumhalf wizard be Meyer’s first choice for the Rugby Championship (SA, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina) taking place at the end of the Super Rugby season, but he’d want him as his top No 9 for the England-hosted World Cup later in the year.

Back home from Japan, Du Preez is quietly working on his fitness. A minor back injury has kept him out of serious rugby lately, but Meyer is confident, given the right preparation, he will be ready for the challenge of the Rugby Championship and the World Cup.

Victor Matfield, in the midst of his much publicised comeback, and incumbent Bok skipper, Jean de Villiers, who is working hard on overcoming injury and regaining fitness, are both possible contenders to lead South Africa in the World Cup. But it’s an open secret that Meyer would not be averse to Du Preez leading the Boks – in both tournaments.

[Maybe you should skip the next part because you just might crap yourself] 

Of Frans Steyn as part of his squad, Meyer had this to say. “Frans and I have a good relationship. But it’s not about me or any one player. There’s no place for egos in the World Cup. We want our best players there, that’s all. I’ll do anything to win that World Cup.” Meyer could be thinking, too, that if De Villiers and Matfield fall short of consideration for these two major events of the rugby calendar, Fourie du Preez could well become the new Springbok captain. Already Du Preez is working with the Springbok management on a programme to bring him to peak fitness. Yes, that’s how highly the coach regards Du Preez – as the very lifeblood of his team.

It’s been a big week for South African rugby at the Laurens World Sports Awards, what with Schalk Burger being chosen for the Comeback of the Year Award. It’s been an incredible return for the burly loose-forward to the game he so dearly loves – 12 months in which it seemed he might never play again to where he stands now, on the brink of being chosen for yet another World Cup. Not long ago he was literally on the verge of death. Suffering from bacterial meningitis, he was in intensive care for five days – headaches, nausea and convulsions were all part of the suffering. Three back operations followed. Now he’s back, playing as well as ever. Or not far off it anyway.