End of the line for poachers – Kuün

Derick Kuün, back at his preferred position of loose forward, believes the changes to how referees interpret the breakdown law will have a dramatic influence on the role and style of openside flanks.

Jan de Koning, rugby365

Kuün, speaking to rugby365.com as the defending champion Bulls stepped up their preparations for the Super 14 season, said the influence some these opensiders had on the game may be dramatically reduced.

He felt the influence of master poachers like Heinrich Brüssow, Richie McCaw and George Smith may be minimal – unless they make major adjustments to their game.

The decision by match officials to be ultra-stringent on the tackler at the breakdown means the roaming flank is now going to have a bigger influence on the game than those who used to be very active at the tackle.

And that, according to Kuün, is right up his ally.

The return of Springbok Gary Botha from English club Harlequins means Kuün has returned to flank and are no longer bound by the restrictions of a hooker.

“It is a big move for me, but at least I am in the position that I want to play – a position I feel I can make a big contribution,” Kuün told rugby365.com.

“He added he seems himself as a very different kind of openside flank, that the likes of Brussow, McCaw and Smit – the classic fetcher.

Additional freedom

“What separates me from other openside flanks is my support play, how I link with the backs,” he said, adding: “[Bulls coach] Frans [Ludeke] also saw it that way.

“I really enjoy the additional freedom.

“At hooker I always had to scrum a lot and it was very intense and on the flank I have the additional space to play that kind of game and that is what I enjoy.”

And, of course, there is the influence of the new law interpretation that he feels will also benefit him.

“We saw [in the pre-season game against the Lions], it does require a huge adjustment,” Kuün said.

“I don’t think a player like Heinrich Brüssow will have the same impact he did last year.

“Deon Stegmann [the Bulls' other specialist openside flank] and myself looked at it [in the game against the Lions] and we realised that if you are the tackler you have virtually no impact in trying to turn over the ball, because [as the tackler] you simply can’t play the ball.

“Everybody will realise it is going to be a major adjustment to the opensiders and that is why I feel I will have an advantage, because I do roam a bit more.

“We also have a good kicking game and that is what I am good at.”

Asked if he felt it will also affect other master poachers like Richie McCaw and George Smith, Kuün said he believes so.

“Just have a look at how the referees now approach it.

“I looked at what they did in the Sharks versus Stormers game, as well as our early game, the [Bulls'] White team against the Lions [last Saturday], and then our [Bulls] Blue team.

“The referees are very strict at the breakdown now.

“If they continue to apply the law like that, opensiders will suffer a lot more – they won’t get away with murder, like they did.”

Kuün, who is one of the Bulls’ strongest leaders and even captained the Southern Kings against the British and Irish Lions last year, made his name as a junior as a loose forward.

However, after representing the South African Schools, SA Under-19 and SA Under-21 teams at flank, Heyneke Meyer decided to start playing him at hooker.

Kuün consequently played at hooker during the last couple of seasons, but due to the return of Botha and the availability of Springbok hookers such as Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bandise Maku, Kuün will mostly be used as a flank in the 2010 tournament.

He has 80 provincial caps to his name since he made his first class debut for the Blue Bulls in 2004. He also has 42 Super Rugby caps to his credit, having made his debut for the Bulls in 2007.