Publications
Partners
Stephen Nell
Cape Town – Juan de Jongh will take to wearing the Green and Gold of the Springboks as well as he has taken to his Western Province jersey.
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus believes a place in South Africa’s touring squad for the rugby tour of Europe in November will aid the development of the 21-year-old centre sensation and will not be too early in his career.
“It will be a great experience for him,” said Erasmus, who actually had De Jongh in his Super14 plans as far back as 2008.
“He already has the experience of touring with us in the Super14 and has won an under-19 title with Western Province. Juan is also the kind of guy who will not become conceited should he be picked to tour with the Boks.”
De Jongh is set to be in the WP starting line-up for Saturday’s important Currie Cup match against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
Province will know by kick-off exactly what they have to do to ensure they top the Currie Cup log before next week’s semi-finals. That will be determined by the earlier game between Griquas and the Sharks in Kimberley.
De Jongh, who was rested on WP’s substitutes bench for the weekend’s clash against Boland, should be an important player as the Capetonians seek to score four tries against the Lions’ rush defence.
While he started the Currie Cup as an outside centre, he has filled in comfortably at No 12 since Morgan Newman’s injury. De Jongh and Frikkie Welsh have complemented one another well in the WP midfield.
Erasmus believes De Jongh is equally comfortable at inside or outside centre.
“He has the distribution and defence of an inside centre, and the pace and step of an outside centre,” said Erasmus.
De Jongh still weighs less than 90kg, but Erasmus does not believe that will be a hindrance to his career.
“He is about Matt Giteau’s size. Some guys are on the small side, but know the art of being physical. Heinrich Brüssow is a small flank by world standards and I was also not big when I played,” said Erasmus.
It is only due to injuries that De Jongh did not come through the ranks much earlier.
He already made a big impression on Erasmus as an under-19 player in 2007 and toured Australia and New Zealand with the Stormers last year.
De Jongh suffered a serious hip injury in the Varsity Cup final of 2008. His first game back after surgery was in March this year, but he broke an ankle.
He was taken into the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch in 2007.
“The word explosive applies to Juan. He’s a bundle of energy,” said the Institute’s programme director, Steph Nel.
He added that De Jongh made his mark in the under-19 final in 2007 “when he tackled an opponent off the field and scored a brilliant try”.
Cape Town – Juan de Jongh will take to wearing the Green and Gold of the Springboks as well as he has taken to his Western Province jersey.
Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus believes a place in South Africa’s touring squad for the rugby tour of Europe in November will aid the development of the 21-year-old centre sensation and will not be too early in his career.
“It will be a great experience for him,” said Erasmus, who actually had De Jongh in his Super14 plans as far back as 2008.
“He already has the experience of touring with us in the Super14 and has won an under-19 title with Western Province. Juan is also the kind of guy who will not become conceited should he be picked to tour with the Boks.”
De Jongh is set to be in the WP starting line-up for Saturday’s important Currie Cup match against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
Province will know by kick-off exactly what they have to do to ensure they top the Currie Cup log before next week’s semi-finals. That will be determined by the earlier game between Griquas and the Sharks in Kimberley.
De Jongh, who was rested on WP’s substitutes bench for the weekend’s clash against Boland, should be an important player as the Capetonians seek to score four tries against the Lions’ rush defence.
While he started the Currie Cup as an outside centre, he has filled in comfortably at No 12 since Morgan Newman’s injury. De Jongh and Frikkie Welsh have complemented one another well in the WP midfield.
Erasmus believes De Jongh is equally comfortable at inside or outside centre.
“He has the distribution and defence of an inside centre, and the pace and step of an outside centre,” said Erasmus.
De Jongh still weighs less than 90kg, but Erasmus does not believe that will be a hindrance to his career.
“He is about Matt Giteau’s size. Some guys are on the small side, but know the art of being physical. Heinrich Brüssow is a small flank by world standards and I was also not big when I played,” said Erasmus.
It is only due to injuries that De Jongh did not come through the ranks much earlier.
He already made a big impression on Erasmus as an under-19 player in 2007 and toured Australia and New Zealand with the Stormers last year.
De Jongh suffered a serious hip injury in the Varsity Cup final of 2008. His first game back after surgery was in March this year, but he broke an ankle.
He was taken into the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch in 2007.
“The word explosive applies to Juan. He’s a bundle of energy,” said the Institute’s programme director, Steph Nel.
He added that De Jongh made his mark in the under-19 final in 2007 “when he tackled an opponent off the field and scored a brilliant try”.
