Bryan Habana is not irreplaceable after all.
JJ Harmse – Sport24
The question whether the Springbok wing can be replaced at the Bulls was answered emphatically in the right-hand corner of the eastern pavilion in front of a crowd of 34,000 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
A Highlanders attack was stopped close to the Bulls’ line. Danie Rossouw then fed Gerhard van den Heever and it was all over.
The 21-year-old wing first cut inside and then outside the Highlanders, who now know what it feels like to chase shadows.
The run of 70 to 80m was delightful and the statement made by it undisputable. Yes, the Bulls lost a big one, but in Van den Heever they have unearthed another special talent.
It is almost fitting that two of the most insightful things that have happened with South African rugby in recent years – the @tlantic Sevens Series and Varsity Cup – can claim Van den Heever as one of their products.
He did special things at that level and is busy repeating them at Super 14 level.
Bulls star Pierre Spies said that it was encouraging that their younger players were excelling.
“Yes, it was nice to see Shadow (Van den Heever) run like that,” said Spies, who himself scored two tries in the Bulls’ 50-35 win.
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March 15th, 2010 at 9:16 am
yeah JJ…Habana was over-the-hill and had nothing to offer SA rugby and was taking early retirement in the Cape…
THAT try by van den Heever was awesome…!! Kudos to the kid… but one try doesn’t a Springbok make…
he really needs to work on his defence and his reading of the game before he can get a serious look-in at higher honours…
March 15th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Reply to UFO @ 9:16 am:
Sour grapes
he’s scored in every game he’s played in this season
This against the four top contending Kiwi and Aussie teams…
Love the way he’s so unemotional about scoring a try…. in sharp juztaposition to some of the other soccer wannabe prima donnas we see that are playing in the Cape…
March 15th, 2010 at 9:41 am
And that WAS probably the try of the Super 14 season
March 15th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Like the kid – and playing with that team will just build his confidence at the right time of his carreer.
:thumbup:
March 15th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Reply to DavidS @ 9:40 am:
sour grapes…?? get real… I’m been cheering on the Bulls all season (and all other SA teams) and say they are THE team to beat and can’t see them NOT winning their second consecutive title…
but if you see a little constructive criticism as sour grapes… well… that’s your choice…
if you read my post with both eye’s open you’d see I said that try was awesome… and probably a contender for try of the season…
but he still needs to work on his defence and reading the game…
but of course the Bulls don’t have too… if they are happy leaking tries and happy for van den Heever to camp on his own wing and not look for work the way Habana does… well… that’s their call…
March 15th, 2010 at 10:11 am
tHIS IS A GREAT hABANA TRY THOUGH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jG1phhA514
March 15th, 2010 at 10:17 am
for sure it was David…
did you see the try scored in the school’s game this weekend… Westville against Kearsney…
the young Westville winger scored a try of note… in-out in-out twice to flat-foot the defence and run the length of the field… could also be a try of the season contender if they include schools rugby…
March 15th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Reply to DavidS @ 9:40 am: Ja and go and look at the try’s he scored, Saturday he had to run around forwards, sjoe!! that was difficult. The others he had open try-lines. I have no problem with this dude, he is kick and he thinks on his feet, but old JJ is trying to write him (as he did with his article on who would replace Brussow, Kuhn) in the Boks side.
This dude needs to learn how to defend. Let’s leave him alone and let him develop as a player. If idiots like JJ is putting to much pressure on him he can maybe fade away.
Habana took a few games to get into the Bulls game plan when he moved from the Lions and he will take a few at WP/Stormers as well. But nothing has showed me that he is not the quality world class winger anymore since he moved to the Cape.
March 15th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 10:18 am:
He beat number 11 twice in that run.
1st with a step and then outsprinting him to the tryline. He was running at a angle and the #11 had a straight line.
Not all open trylines either.
He had to brake some tackles on the way to the tryline a few times in weeks gone past.
March 15th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I’d rather have Gio.
March 15th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Who gave him his nickname ‘Shadow’?
Usually people who own a black dog will name the animal Shadow.
March 15th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I reckon his nickname should be:
‘The Flying Dutchman’
:thumbup:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 3:09 pm:
March 15th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 3:09 pm:
:thumbup:
March 15th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Reply to fyndraai @ 2:38 pm:
Anybody with speed could have done that, does not make you even a mention in the same breath as Brain.
Need to prove much more before I will rate him.
Blou Koeie rave gewoonlik oor al 22 spelers in hul span en almal is wereldklas.
Like I said I like the dude but he needs to prove much more.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Reply to fyndraai @ 2:38 pm: I have just watch that try again….the number 11 was running through when he got the ball…..so he did not beat him, winger was going for outside line…..then he beat a lock and a prop and number 11 had a 10 meter catch up to do and did run him in and push him to score in the conner……so my point again…..any wing with speed could have scored that try…..Aplon scored better onces beating locks and props than he did….
March 19th, 2010 at 4:00 am
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 9:30 pm:
Kyk dit weer, maar onthou om die keer eerste jou strepies brilletjies af te haal.
March 19th, 2010 at 4:08 am
En verduidelik dan sommer ook hoeveel drieë Habana gaan druk met De Jongh wat weier om na links te pass.
March 19th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Reply to fyndraai @ 4:08 am:
Brian needs to send this clip to De Jong…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZRcEVJ6CE4&feature=player_embedded#
March 19th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Reply to fyndraai @ 4:00 am: Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 6:18 am: You are funny
March 19th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Reply to fyndraai @ 4:00 am: Dir gaan glad nie oor streppies brille hier nie…..ek het van die begin af gese die ou het talent maar los hom dat hy groei……jy moet onthou ek het vir 14 jaar in PTTA gebly, ek weet hoe daai ligblou almal se oe opfok as dit kom by kies van spelers.
March 19th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 6:50 am:
It’s a pretty serious deficiency for a player wanting to take the next step… and this youngster has heart hence I would like him to go far…
March 19th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 8:27 am: Let him first finish a S14
March 19th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 8:33 am:
Exactly… same as all the youngsters… however… I do expect anyone too old to play Craven week to be able to pass equally well both left and right…
March 19th, 2010 at 8:56 am
That should be basic skills