In the Boks seat

Over the past week or so, it's been good to get back involved with South Africa-based rugby365.com. With the Springboks over in Europe for the end-of-year internationals, I've chipped in with a few exclusives on IRB World Player of the Year nominee Duane Vermeulen and his fellow loose forward Francois Louw. If you admire the Boks and want to know whether more are on their way to England, then these pieces should hopefully be of interest.

Friday thoughts on Freddie Burns, Dean Richards & Richard Cockerill

Gloucester’s Freddie Burns will make his 100th appearance for the Cherry and Whites this weekend when they travel to Sarries. One hundredth appearance? Incredible, really, given that it seems just a jiffy ago that I was asking Burns' lanky, teenage frame what it was like playing his first pre-season friendly against his home-town club, Bath.
So the hundred’s up for Freddie, aged just 23. And for all his Bath roots, he is perfectly happy to now describe himself as a Gloucester boy. I wouldn’t bet against him chalking up 300 appearances for Gloucester during his career.
Burns was, and remains, the one who got away for Bath.

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Last season, Bath collectively psyched themselves up for their home encounter with Leicester by watching the video of the 2008 game in which Butch James scored one of the most implausible match-winning tries ever. That last-gasp score was inspiring enough, but even more inspiring was the physical tenacity that Bath brought to their play that November day.



Butch James's modest celebration at The Rec, 2008
 

As a preparation tactic for last season’s game, it worked a treat. Bath won another pulsating game with another late try by another swan-diving South African – this time it was Francois Louw.
So, how have Bath prepared for Saturday’s 100th anniversary match with Leicester? By watching DVDs of those two fixtures, you'd expect. And with Louw away on Rugby Championship duty, it might be handy for the West Country side to bus in an additional South African or two for the occasion.

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Nilling a team when you are away from home is never a bad way to start a season. Bath’s performance against Newcastle last Friday was controlled, controlling and perfectly adapted to the conditions.
From beginning to end, it was a consummately professional showing. And I haven’t been able to write that too many times in recent seasons.
Newcastle were thoroughly beaten up. All of which made the post-match remark by Falcons boss Dean Richards that “Against bigger sides, Bath will become unstuck” distinctly perplexing.
Well, Dean, if Bath will become unstuck, then the outlook doesn’t look great for your nilled Falcons, does it?

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Talking of motormouthed coaches, it just won’t be the same on Saturday without Leicester boss Richard Cockerill in the stands. No more shouts of “That’s embarrassing, referee!” and the like.
Cockers is currently banned from being involved with Leicester on match-days following his outburst during the Premiership final, the transcript of which would no doubt be deserving of a Tarantino script. Still, it will be quieter in the West Stand on Saturday. And referee Greg Garner will be able to leave his earplugs at home.
For all his hollering and desk-thumping, I’d still rather have Cockerill there for a ding-dong Bath-Leicester scrap. He brings passion and unpredictability – two ingredients for any compelling spectacle. But then it’s not me who gets bawled at by him. Not yet, anyway.

I've teamed up with leading South Africa-based sports website rugby365.com

Over the past three years, I've done a fair amount of work for titles in South Africa and I'm pleased to announce I've started a collaboration with leading rugby website www.rugby365.com.

The merits or otherwise of national teams selecting players based in other countries - or, indeed, other hemispheres - is a hot topic, and former Springboks assistant coach Gary Gold adds to that debate in my first contribution to the website.

 Belfast-based Bok Ruan Pienaar



I hope to do more with Quintin, Jan and the other guys at rugby365 soon, so keep an eye out.

Guy Mercer: Bath Rugby's general-in-waiting

With a back row that boasts the likes of England skipper Lewis Moody, Springbok Francois Louw, British Lion Simon Taylor and England Saxon Carl Fearns, young flanker Guy Mercer could be forgiven if he showed a hint of frustration at Bath Rugby. But the local lad who has risen through the ranks at the club is far from down-hearted. In fact, he oozes an impressive blend of maturity and good sense. After interviewing him this week, I have a prediction: Mercer will skipper Bath within five years.

The Southern Hemisphere loose forwards with their eyes on Bath

Bath Rugby saw off a bid from arch rivals Leicester Tigers to secure the services of Springbok flanker Francois Louw, I can reveal.

But the South African flanker, pictured, says a "captivating" visit to Bath early this year made the choice between The Rec and Welford Road a straightforward one.

I exclusively revealed in January that Bath were interested in seven-cap Louw and we reported in April that a deal had been signed.

This week, following the conclusion of the Super 15 competition in the southern hemisphere, both Bath and Louw's hometown side, Cape Town-based Stormers/Western Province, confirmed the 6ft 4in blindside specialist would be moving to The Rec.

I can also reveal that another southern hemisphere loose forward, Julian Salvi, approached Bath with a view to returning to the West Country next season.

Brumbies openside Salvi enjoyed a spectacularly successful year at Bath in 2009-10 when he was named the club's best forward, and recently asked his agent to contact the Bath management to discuss the possibility of another spell at The Rec.

However, Bath's loose forward division was already full to capacity, with Louw and young openside Carl Fearns the new additions to a back row that already boasts Lewis Moody, Simon Taylor, Ben Skirving, Andy Beattie and exciting prospect Guy Mercer.

"Julian instructed me to get in touch with Bath first but unfortunately Bath were full," said Salvi's agent.

This week, it was announced Salvi would instead join Leicester on a two-year deal.

One man who is delighted to be heading to The Rec rather than Welford Road, however, is Louw.

"Playing overseas is always something I've wanted to do and Bath were the first club to approach me," he explained.

"When Bath flew me over for a visit, I was blown away by the ethos among the team and the whole set-up. It was all first class. And it was all in such a beautiful city. I was instantly captivated. What's not to like?

"It was a tough decision to leave Western Province, but easy in the sense that Bath had created such a great impression.

"There were a couple of other interested clubs. Leicester were top of the Premiership and that created a pull, but Bath was always the club for me.

"It's important to be at a club that's going forward, and I could see that was the case at Bath straight away."

The 26-year-old, who has penned a three-year deal with the club, says he is in for the long haul.

"When I sat down with Bath, I explained that I was fully committed and not just doing a little stint overseas," he said.

"I want to shape myself into a team and be part of a growing team going forward."

Louw, however, won't give up on his international ambitions while at Bath. He has been named in South Africa's provisional World Cup squad and is likely to join the club following the conclusion of the competition.

"If the opportunity comes up to play for my country [while I am at Bath] then I would play in a heartbeat," he said.

"Bath know about my commitment to South Africa and my willingness to represent them."

Francois Louw exclusive - another Springbok on his way to the West Country

My ventures into the blogosphere have been curtailed of late due to a book deadline and an outbreak of technical incompetence. But in case you missed it, I had an exclusive on Springbok Francois Louw moving to Bath Rugby from Super 15 high-fliers the Stormers, see
The Bath Chronicle and SArugby.com.
This has been in the offing for some time too, see my earlier postings
Picture: Steve Haag, Backpage Sport

Should English clubs think twice before recruiting abroad?

On Thursday I broke a story about Springbok Francois Louw being lined up by Bath Rugby to replace the departing Luke Watson.
The story, it seems, is gaining traction in South Africa. As I write, it's the lead on www.sarugby.com.
But, as somebody points out in the comments section on that website, aren't we capable of producing loose forwards of sufficient quality in England?
Bath are not short of young, up-and-coming back-rowers, with home-grown starlets Guy Mercer and Josh Ovens leading the charge. I can't help feeling that the club's insistence on travelling around the southern hemisphere in search of an 'international-calibre' star to replace Watson is a kick in the teeth for these young guys, who have been knocking on the door for a good while now.
Moreover, an all-international back row can be a dangerous thing in World Cup year. Should Bath sign Louw and should Simon Taylor get a recall from Scotland - as his form merits - then Bath's entire first-choice back row of Moody, Taylor, Louw could be away at the start of the 2011-12 season.
Then the home-grown lads really will have to stand up and be counted.

Picture: Francois Louw, front, and Luke Watson during their days playing together for Western Province and The Stormers. Credit: Steve Haag, Back Page Sport SA