Can SA Rugby Afford to Lose Josh Strauss to Scotland?
September 13, 2012 in Uncategorized
| Full name | Joshua Zac Strauss | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 October 1986 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | Bellville, South Africa | ||
| Height | 2.00 m (6 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[2] | ||
| Weight | 114 kg (17 st 13 lb)[2] | ||
| School | Paul Roos Gymnasium | ||
| University | Stellenbosch University | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Flanker / Eighthman | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2012- | Glasgow Warriors | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2007-2008 2008-2009 2010-2012 |
Lons-le-Saunier Boland Golden Lions |
13 3 23 |
(10) (5) (20) |
| correct as of 18 May 2012. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2011-2012 | Lions | 30 | (40) |
Josh announced his departure from the Lions two days ago, with the news that he has signed a three year contract with Scottish side Glasgow Warriors, along with this announcement it has also been confirmed that due to being constantly overlooked by Heyneke Meyer and the Springbok selectors, Strauss will look to fulfil his dreams of test/world Cup rugby with Scotland.
Josh, who is 25, probably has about 5 years of professional rugby left in him, assuming he isn’t affected by serious injuries. Among the players who have recently donned the Springbok #8 jersey under Meyer , Pierre Spies(27), Duane Vermeulen(26) and Willem Alberts(28), one can safely say only Alberts won’t make the next World Cup, as he’ll be 31 at the time, Spies will be pushing his luck at 30 and both Duane and Josh will be 29 in 2015. In terms of other specialist #8 options in the country, young CJ Stander(22) is also leaving for Europe, Ryan Kankowski(26) left for Japan, Ashley Johnson(26) joined London Wasps while Keegan Daniel(27), based locally, will also be 30 by the time the next World Cup comes around.
I can’t help but feel we are rather short on quality options based locally. With some of the above mentioned players not exactly setting the world a light at test level the past couple of seasons.
Josh will join fellow South African and promising Tight Head prop WP Nel in Scotland, Nel is believed to be eligible to play for Scotland already(qualified by way of a grandparent)
Other than being an exceptional ball carrier and all round loose forward, Josh is also able to play lock, having done so in his most recent Lions outings. He also has great captaincy skills, having captained the Lions to their first Currie Cup trophy in 12 years. in saying this, The Springbok Captaincy remains an area of concern, as current Bok Captain, Jean de Villiers, is unlikely to be around in 2015.
South Africa has always been known for the wealth of loose forward depth we have, It is then unlikely that we’ll struggle to find suitable replacements in this position. I do however rate Josh as a Special player.
Should we face Scotland in the next few years, will we regret running out against top class players like Josh and WP , who in all honesty should be in the current Bok squad ? Can we afford to let quality/form players give up on the dream of playing for the Springboks?
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GEN DE LA REY said on September 13, 2012
The short answer is probably yes. But if a lot of other people continue to follow the few players you mentioned we may become short on tallent in near furure
Although he is a very good player and a good leader. He is one of those players that can easily play in the bok team and I agree a player like Jacque Potgieter is a way worse player than Strauss. But then Josh isn’t a blue bull.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again HM is a lot more cunning than we think.
His undeserved call ups of Bulls players is done with 2 things in mind. Encouraging young players to move to the Bulls and fustrating players at other unions so that they leave the country.
Both these are done with one goal to make it easier for the bulls to become sa’s no 1 team again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
hmmm….interesting take on the whole scenario. I agree Josh is miles ahead of Potgieter. His exclusion to this day is rather strange, but then Meyer has also left out guys like Brussow or Aplon before, only difference being that at 114kg, Josh would actually be perfect for Meyer’s game.
Baylion said on September 13, 2012
I read somewhere that CJ left, in part, because HM wanted to convert him to hooker and he obviously felt that his chances of making it to the Bok side as a loosie is slim.
I think Warren Whiteley, with enough game time, can make the step up at #8
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
The conversion thing makes no sense. first I’ve heard of it, so I’ll have to read up a bit.
On Whiteley, while he is quick and exciting. I am not yet convinced, but I agree, enough game time, he might become a top class player. I can say the same about Nizaam Carr though. (actually see them playing a similar style, wit Carr’s link-up play slightly better) , I also still feel Coetzee would make a good no8
Baylion said on September 13, 2012
Whiteley had some injuries and often played behind Strauss off the bench. I would like to see him getting some decent game time. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong but he’s big, fast and plays a more traditional (Sharks style?) #8 game
http://youtu.be/xVn-Ma1D5fI
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
But so does Kanko and Daniel – I’m not sure if I’m a fan of that style of #8 play. I prefer a slightly more versatile player, who doesn’t fade away when the going gets tough… that’s why I like Coetzee, although he doesn’t have the pace of Whiteley, I also doubt Habana was at top speed in that clip, he had to chip, dodge the other defenders, run around them and watch the bounce of the ball, while Whiteley looked to be at full pace and Habana still outsprinted him, – no denying he is quick for a loosie though
Baylion said on September 13, 2012
According to Beeld:
Dit is wel bekend dat die Springbok-breier, Heyneke Meyer, Stander se heil op haker sien.
http://www.beeld.com/Sport/Rugby/Josh-Strauss-kan-in-2015-vir-Skotland-uitdraf-20120911
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
interesting and strange – Meyer is starting to look more delusional by the minute, a 1.9m hooker…
Baylion said on September 13, 2012
Bismarck is 1.89m and Adriaan is “only” 1.84m
Remember HM likes ‘em big!
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
How could I forget.
I think CJ may even be a bigger loss, should he also run out for another country, at 22 years old, he could have had a bright future in the green and gold, specially under Meyer, CJ has also been one of the form loosies in SR this season, and I’m surprised Meyer doesn’t rate him in his natural position.
as a hooker competing with Bismarck, Chiliboy and Strauss(never mind Maku, Liebenberg, Burden and Visagie) he imo has even less chance of making the Bok team.
powa said on September 13, 2012
I agree that we can’t afford to lose players but there are only so many places in a Bok team and according to the coach he doesn’t fit into the plan. It is the professional era and players have a limited earning lifespan. If he can play for Scotland, live in a 1st world country and earn big bucks for playing less rugby, good luck to him.
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
true Powa, from a neutral point of view, He’s better off, no doubt. From a South African point of view however, I’m immensely disappointed, In our squad currently, we have Jacques Potgieter, who after one season of SR got called up, Siya Kolisi was on the verge of a call-up and Duane got called up when he wasn’t exactly match fit. Daniel was in the squad for a while and then dropped. – I get that you are trying to be diplomatic Powa but Josh fits the plan better than Daniel(Meyer likes ‘em big) . he is also more experienced than Potgieter or Siya and is in better form than Duane(Duane being injured the entire season) . – there is plenty of reason for Josh to feel he deserved a call-up at some stage, he has been overlooked imo
powa said on September 13, 2012
I agree and I like him as a player for the Boks, but he hasn’t even been invited to any of the training camps, or has he?
To me that sends a message and he only has a few years left. I don’t think he can afford to hang around and wait for a call up
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
http://img.skysports.com/12/04/218×298/Adriaan-Strauss-Heyneke-Meyer-Springbok-Head-_2752866.jpg
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
Powa, I agree, if I was in his situation, I would probably have done the same, what you have said basically establishes that Meyer doesn’t rate him OR, if you’re a bit of a conspiracy theorist, see GEN DE LA REY’s comment
powa said on September 13, 2012
Check this out
It is an “unrealistic expectation” to think that the South African Rugby Union can keep all its top talent in this country, SARU Chief executive Jurie Roux told supersport.com.
After a season where both Ireland and Scotland have targeted rising talent to play in their local leagues with a view of qualifying for the country, Roux reacted to the latest spate of signings which could well see South Africans qualify for their adopted countries ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/120913/Unrealistic_to_keep_all_SA_talent_Roux
Met uysh said on September 13, 2012
And here we thought we had a wealth of talent in loose forwards….suddenly our stocks seem bleak….
Hanjo said on September 13, 2012
I agree, while doing the post I was seriously surprised when naming all the loosies that have left (or are leaving) and also looking at our current options, and how old some of them are.
We have some young, exciting players coming through, but very few specialist no8′s. perhaps in the long run, someone like Marcel Coetzee might benefit from moving to the number 8 jersey.